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The decision to have a tummy tuck (complex...
The decision to have a tummy tuck (complex abdominoplasty) was processed over many years. I had lost over 90 lbs and was left with a body that just did not fit my life. Something needed to change; I needed to feel like myself once again. I am very active; I ride horses almost daily and do many outdoor activities including biking and running. All of which are less enjoyable with excess skin. For my 42nd Birthday I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Ekstrom. I scheduled my appointment 6 months in advance so I could really think about how the surgery would affect my life and if it was the right choice for me. I really had to dig deep and know that I was doing this for me as my husband was very unsupportive. I don’t blame him as our relationship had been a bit rocky over the past few years and we had grown really far apart. He was thinking I was doing this to look for his replacement. However I saw it as a way to improve my life and something I needed to do. Several weeks into this journey I would be able to confirm where our relationship actually stood. Although this should not be part of this process, it was and I learned so much from it. It’s so rewarding to believe in yourself, even if the one person you expect to have your back does not.
It’s a really scary process at first so having the right surgeon is key. Leading up to my appointment I was getting more and more excited but still was unsure of the unknown. Realizing that thinking about doing it and actually doing it are two different things. However it was starting to get a lot more real and this might actually happen!
Finally, my 42nd Birthday is here and I am overjoyed to the possibility to change my life forever. After meeting Dr. Ekstrom for the first time I was 100% sure I had met the right doctor. Her confidence in her answers to my many questions left me with no doubt she was the one. She is straight forward in her answers and you can clearly see the passion she has for her career. I never even met with another surgeon, I did not need to, I found the perfect one!
The final decision to have the tummy tuck was done and my quote was prepared. I was pleasantly surprised how affordable it was. Thinking of the amount of overhead in her business, years of education and the number of appointments involved the quote was much less than I expected. Now my focus was to get myself in the best physical condition that I could and save up for the procedure. Saving was easy, I made a few adjustments to my lifestyle and in just over a year I saved all of the money including enough to pay my bills in advance through my recovery. Being self-employed means you can only take time off at certain times and you must be able to cover your expenses while you are recovering and unable to work. This meant the only time I could do this was just prior to Thanksgiving. I made my appointment to set a surgery date and gave my deposit.
This next appointment with Dr. Ekstrom was equally as amazing as the first. Any surgery is with risk and deciding to have an elective surgery is even more of a consideration. I however felt I did not have a choice, either live unhappy and limited or take the risk to have a better life. She understands this process so well and helps you make the choice that is right for you. At no time did I ever feel pressured or feel that I was unable to ask a question about the process. The next appointment was 2 weeks prior to the set surgery date and covered risks and complications. Also paid for the surgery and got my compression garment, wow this is really happening! After getting surgical clearance from the surgical center is when the “what the heck am I doing” part of you really kicks in. Fortunately I was very busy for the next couple of weeks so time flew by and OMG the surgery date is here!
Obviously you are a bit freaked out and the staff at the hospital knows this, they are very good at making you feel comfortable. My husband is there with me while Dr. Ekstrom is making the surgery drawings, he is really unsure about all of this still and I think was worried for my safety at that point. It finally hit him, this is a BIG deal and YES I am doing it! That is about all I remember at this point, out I went and off to change the rest of my life in ways I had no idea.
Surgery was a bit longer than expected but once I woke up in recovery the realization of what just happened was quite clear. Let the recovery begin! I went home that night feeling great that I had finally had the courage to do something for myself and there was no turning back now.
Recovery was much more pleasant than I expected, with the exception of one of my drains irritating me the pain was very manageable. In fact I only took prescription pain meds for a few days. I did also experience dizziness for a few days which caused some anxiety however it was manageable. Dr. Ekstrom did an excellent job preparing me for the recovery and she was very accessible during the critical first week which certainly put my mind at ease. I cannot imagine another doctor being so attentive to her patients. She had me so well prepared I just do not feel it could have gone any better, even having the drain issue and dizzy spells.
Now several weeks post op the results have exceeded my expectations. I never really knew how much this experience would change my life. Besides looking so much better ( size 12 to a size 6) which is actually very secondary, I feel amazing! I feel so in control of myself, confident and focused. The pain in my hip is gone and I believe it’s due to the change in my posture; I can stand up straight now. Although my relationship with my husband is still a bit of a struggle he and I have become much closer through the process as he truly now understands how unhappy I was before. He enjoys the new and very happy me and in turn has taken a good look at himself for improvement. I never really believed this process would have helped my marriage but it might have in fact saved it. Looking back I would have done things a bit differently with him and forced him to be part of the process as I feel it might have been easier on him. I did discuss this with Dr. Ekstrom during a follow up appointment and she was happy to give me some helpful advice from her experience with other couples.
To anyone considering this procedure be prepared for a journey like no other, a journey to a new person you never might have never met.
It’s a really scary process at first so having the right surgeon is key. Leading up to my appointment I was getting more and more excited but still was unsure of the unknown. Realizing that thinking about doing it and actually doing it are two different things. However it was starting to get a lot more real and this might actually happen!
Finally, my 42nd Birthday is here and I am overjoyed to the possibility to change my life forever. After meeting Dr. Ekstrom for the first time I was 100% sure I had met the right doctor. Her confidence in her answers to my many questions left me with no doubt she was the one. She is straight forward in her answers and you can clearly see the passion she has for her career. I never even met with another surgeon, I did not need to, I found the perfect one!
The final decision to have the tummy tuck was done and my quote was prepared. I was pleasantly surprised how affordable it was. Thinking of the amount of overhead in her business, years of education and the number of appointments involved the quote was much less than I expected. Now my focus was to get myself in the best physical condition that I could and save up for the procedure. Saving was easy, I made a few adjustments to my lifestyle and in just over a year I saved all of the money including enough to pay my bills in advance through my recovery. Being self-employed means you can only take time off at certain times and you must be able to cover your expenses while you are recovering and unable to work. This meant the only time I could do this was just prior to Thanksgiving. I made my appointment to set a surgery date and gave my deposit.
This next appointment with Dr. Ekstrom was equally as amazing as the first. Any surgery is with risk and deciding to have an elective surgery is even more of a consideration. I however felt I did not have a choice, either live unhappy and limited or take the risk to have a better life. She understands this process so well and helps you make the choice that is right for you. At no time did I ever feel pressured or feel that I was unable to ask a question about the process. The next appointment was 2 weeks prior to the set surgery date and covered risks and complications. Also paid for the surgery and got my compression garment, wow this is really happening! After getting surgical clearance from the surgical center is when the “what the heck am I doing” part of you really kicks in. Fortunately I was very busy for the next couple of weeks so time flew by and OMG the surgery date is here!
Obviously you are a bit freaked out and the staff at the hospital knows this, they are very good at making you feel comfortable. My husband is there with me while Dr. Ekstrom is making the surgery drawings, he is really unsure about all of this still and I think was worried for my safety at that point. It finally hit him, this is a BIG deal and YES I am doing it! That is about all I remember at this point, out I went and off to change the rest of my life in ways I had no idea.
Surgery was a bit longer than expected but once I woke up in recovery the realization of what just happened was quite clear. Let the recovery begin! I went home that night feeling great that I had finally had the courage to do something for myself and there was no turning back now.
Recovery was much more pleasant than I expected, with the exception of one of my drains irritating me the pain was very manageable. In fact I only took prescription pain meds for a few days. I did also experience dizziness for a few days which caused some anxiety however it was manageable. Dr. Ekstrom did an excellent job preparing me for the recovery and she was very accessible during the critical first week which certainly put my mind at ease. I cannot imagine another doctor being so attentive to her patients. She had me so well prepared I just do not feel it could have gone any better, even having the drain issue and dizzy spells.
Now several weeks post op the results have exceeded my expectations. I never really knew how much this experience would change my life. Besides looking so much better ( size 12 to a size 6) which is actually very secondary, I feel amazing! I feel so in control of myself, confident and focused. The pain in my hip is gone and I believe it’s due to the change in my posture; I can stand up straight now. Although my relationship with my husband is still a bit of a struggle he and I have become much closer through the process as he truly now understands how unhappy I was before. He enjoys the new and very happy me and in turn has taken a good look at himself for improvement. I never really believed this process would have helped my marriage but it might have in fact saved it. Looking back I would have done things a bit differently with him and forced him to be part of the process as I feel it might have been easier on him. I did discuss this with Dr. Ekstrom during a follow up appointment and she was happy to give me some helpful advice from her experience with other couples.
To anyone considering this procedure be prepared for a journey like no other, a journey to a new person you never might have never met.
Provider Review
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
39 Salisbury St., Worcester, Massachusetts
If I could give Dr. Ekstrom and her staff 100 stars it would not be enough. This entire journey was so amazing and I really attribute this to Dr. Ekstrom’s experience and passion for excellent results. In reality the procedure is very affordable and I consider my journey priceless. I have no regrets of any kind and it would do it again tomorrow but only with Dr. Ekstrom!