33 & 1 Child - Tummy Tuck & Back Lipo (Michigan) - Dr. Gray

Before having my son in 2013 I weighed 200. I've always been a curvy girl but never had a flat tummy. After having my son my stomach was wrecked with stretch marks and loose skin where there was no sucking it in anymore. My boobs and butt have also lost their plump. I found Dr. Michael Gray after doing an Internet search on the best PS in my area. The staff was very patient, answered my questions over the phone and even gave me pricing when I found that some wouldn't give me quotes or estimates over the phone. Dr. Gray stays booked so my consultation was like 3 weeks out, this all happened in like October 2015. Anyway, Dr. Gray saw my tummy, he answered all of my questions and plus more. He explained a lot of extra - why, how, etc. I can appreciate him trying to be thorough. He spent about an hour and a few more minutes with me. I even had to bring my two year old with me and he was very nice and playful with him, looking for things to help me preoccupy him and telling me short stories about his family and daughter when she was my sons age. Overall, it was a nice uplifting experience. A good thing to know is he does talk very fast and seemingly repetitive. I have to admit I did feel like he was rushing me at times because he talked so fast, but after he spent that much time with me just talking about what I want to look like and what he can do I realized that just may be his personality to talk fast like that.

I finally got my husband on board from my and I meet again for a second consult in January 2016 to review new questions and refreshing my memory. I then scheduled my TT for March 23rd.

So I've been completely obsessed since then with looking through pictures, comparing stomachs, belly buttons, researching the good, bad and ugly, on YouTube, any website that talks about a TT I've been on it, day and night it seems that is all I have been doing. I really just want to be prepared, educated and knowledgeable and know how to get the best results and care. I understand this is a major surgery and this decision can go right or left so anyone doing this should know and understand all involved and know and trust your PS.

Well this is my journey.

Had my Full TT and Lipo to the back (flanks) Wednesday 3/23. My appt was at 3pm so I didn't get home until 8ish. I slept alot, barely ate much but crackers. I meal prepped ahead of time so I wouldn't have to bother or worry about food, but I didn't have an appetite to each much for 2 days. I weened myself off the meds by day 5. Although, there is still tolerable soreness I don't need meds that strong for it. I took a shower day 2 also changed my dressings. My tummy looked super swollen and big and so does my vag area. I asked for a very low scar so when I say he put it low, it's dips down to the mid of the vag. I have two drains and they are doing pretty good I guess. Dr. Gray wanted to see me on day 5, so I went for my appointment, he told me I could stop wearing the Ted Hose Stockings (Thank God, those were cutting into the back of my knee). He said drains would come out at my next appointment which is next Thursday as long as they are draining under 25cc's for at least 3 days straight. Overall, he said it looks good and to start using his Therascar product which I bought for $44.00 and they said it last 2 months. I am supposed to apply it twice a day. He also said I could stand up straight. I've been trying but not all the way upright yet. My back feels heavy and without the cg my upper body feels so weak. Anyway, that's my update if anyone has any questions, please reach out, I'd be happy to share my experience.

Tomorrow I will be 3 weeks Post Op. I was finally able to get the drains removed on Monday - THANK GOD!!!!! The drains were starting to be very annoying and painful at times. I'm still not able to stand up and that is my pain now. Dr. Gray advised me that I could stand up at like 5 days PO and ever since I have been trying but I am so tight that I feel like I can't. This is starting to really bother me, I don't know if it's just in my head or if I really just can't stand up straight. I'm still bent over and my back is killing me. Overall at 3 weeks PO I feel at 40% of me; Out of breathe when I walk too much, exertion when doing too much. This week is just more comfortable since getting the drains out. My results are still up in the air. I have a pouch at the bottom of my stomach that I am hoping is just fluid and flattens soon. The scar is looking great, Dr. Gray even had to say "Wow", he thinks I may have virtually no scar after I'm done healing. I am using a combination of Dr. Grays scar treatment and my own concoction of vitamins and oils for skincare. Looking forward to next week, more healing, seeing better results and feeling normal.