Mama needs a new belly!

After years and years of thinking about it I finally found the perfect doctor and pulled the trigger. I had my tummy tuck 5/25 with Dr. Grawe in Columbus Ohio. I could not be more excited about everything, her office is top notch. Every single interaction has been perfect customer service, from booking the consult, to making payments, my surgical coordinator, PRE op, nurse responses, surgery day, post op care. Just perfect. Dr. Grawe is fantastic but so is her staff and that’s just as important!

Here are my before pics...
I lost 60 pounds with health eating and exercise but my stomach skin was holding me back! Stretch marks are not a concern to me at all, but my stomach skin made me look much heavier. It also was annoying and painful when trying to do crossfit and any exercise really and I had to basically strap my stomach skin down.
Three kids, three c sections, lots of weight gain and loss - and 60 pounds gone maintained for a year. It was time!

I’m gonna give you the play by play of surgery day because leading up to surgery that’s one thing I wish I could have heard more about!
The morning of surgery I was surprisingly calm. Dr. Grawe has her own surgery center at her office which made this so easy. I was the first surgery of the day and I arrived at 6:30. I wore a sports bra, zip up hoodie and t shirt, sweats and sneakers. I had showered in hibiclens that morning and took my nose ring out. I got called back and saw Hilary who’s an ANGEL! She cracked jokes and made me feel so comfortable as if I was her only patient for the day.
I did a urine test and changed into my gown and surgery socks and hopped into bed. I took something to prevent stomach acid from being aspirated and she pricked my finger to test my hemoglobin levels and got my vitals. I peed like five times bc I was nervous! Lol.
The anesthesiologist was super sweet she came and started my IV and asked me a lot of questions. (Be honest with her she’s the one responsible for keeping you asleep and alive!!!) then Dr Grawe came and marked my belly! I made sure to remind her I wanted exparel for pain numbing - she injected it into my muscles during surgery an it numbs the muscle repair area for 3-4 days. She’s such a nice woman. Then I walked into the OR. This was not super scary for me bc I’ve had 3 c sections. For some It might be disturbing but just close your eyes once you’re on the table y’all!
Anyways lots of people were doing their jobs in there. I was helped onto the tiny table and strapped down. I stared breathing oxygen while everything was set up and Hilary stayed by my side rubbing my leg which calmed me so much.
Then the anesthesiologist gave me something to relax which made me a little sleepy. Soon she said ok you ready for sleep and I was like YES PLEASE. I was breathing in with the mask and she told me to take deep breath and I’d feel stinging. I felt the anesthesia go in, it was cold and stung a little but it lasted like two
Second and I was out!
Felt like I took a great nap and woke up in recovery with Hilary smiling at me. She said surgery I came out of the OR at 9:29, It was 9:50 when we were talking and she was amazed that I was already so awake. She asked me my pain level which I put at 4-5/10, just mostly burning in muscle repair and incisions. So she gave me one Percocet some crackers and water. I had to pee immediately so I walked to the bathroom on my own with Hilary near me and peed and got dressed. He called my hubby and got me in a wheelchair to push me to him but tbh I could have walked.
My hubby was out back with the car and I got into the car fine and off we went. So can out of the OR at 9:29, woke about 9:50, in the car about 10:10! Really amazing experience and I’m so glad everyone works on Dr Grawes team as opposed to a surgery center where she has no control. You can tell everyone there cares deeply about the experience of every patient.