mrgrta

Allie, your pictures look incredible. Your ps did a great job. I think your thighs look great now the way they are. I wish mine looked like that. I've thought about getting some lipo to my thighs, but I'm worried about being left with hanging skin. Anyways, you have a lot to be proud of!

Fanny, I just looked at your pics. Everything looks amazing! Did you just have a breast lift or did you get implants too? I am trying to decide on what I want done to my breasts. Yours looks so good. The blisters don't look very comfortable, but those should heal soon. Hopefully everything is still numb so you don't have to feel those. Your belly and bum look great. Your surgeon did a wonderful job. Also, did you have anything done to your thighs? They don't seem to have any sagging skin. I wish my thighs looked like that! Congrats.

I had my surgery yesterday. It lasted 6 1/2 hours. I had a circuferential tt with fleur de lis, lipo, muscle repair and hernia repair. I ended up having 3 hernias instead of just one. That is where the majority of my pain is. The incisions don't hurt too bad. I went home around 4 in the afternoon and when my husband got me into the house, I fainted! It was pretty scary. I was cold and clammy and turned white as a ghost. I have a pain pump that wasn't working last night because it was clamped off. Once I figured that out, I unclamped it and it is working now. I've been up and moving around the house a little today because I'm paranoid of blood clots. Other than that, most of the day was spent in the recliner. I followed up with my doc today and they removed the bandages and put me in a compression binder. I have 4 drains in place. The doc said he removed around 8 pounds of skin and removed more through liposuction. From what I can tell so far, my belly is pretty flat. Just wanted to give you all an update.

Dr. Schulman, I was just wondering how successful thigh liposuction is. I am considering having this procedure done, but I am worried about being left with hanging skin. My thighs are pretty muscular now and I do work out 6 days a week, but I can't seem to get rid of the inner thigh flab near the groin area. I am also wanting some lipo done to the outer thighs as well. I have heard that some people have this done and then wish they would have just left their legs alone because of hanging skin. I am 37 years old and didn't know if age makes a difference or not with lipo. Also, could this be done with local or iv sedation vs. general anesthesia? Thanks for your time.

Laura- You look amazing. I can't believe the transformation. You must be really happy! I have a question for you. Where is your port located? I had my tt in April and my port was moved next to my bb and it sticks out like a sore thumb. It looks like there is a golf ball under my skin. I am seriously considering a low profile port. I can't even see your port in your pics. Cathy

How many weeks post op are you? I wasn't allowed to do any strenuous exercise until I reached 6 weeks post op. Before that, I was walking. I always wear my binder when exercising but I still seem to swell. It's not horrible and it does go away quickly, but this is the only time I seem to swell.

Congrats Sue. I'm glad to hear that you're doing well. Exercise will make you feel so much better. I couldn't wait to get back to that. I felt so sluggish for sitting around for so long after my surgery. I am 6 weeks post op and I'm still wearing my Spanx 24/7. I find that I start to swell if I don't. The doctor told me I could take it off at night, but I'm still wearing it anyways. I do wear my binder when I'm exercising because it gives me more support. I'm so happy for you. Thanks for posting the update.

Congratulations on your weight loss. You look amazing!!

Dr. Schulman, I am interested in getting lipo to my inner and outer thighs. I don't really have any hanging skin, just some localized fat deposits, despite all of the exercise that I do. Can you tell me what the recovery would be like and approximately how long I would need to be off work? I am a nurse and am up on my feet for 12 hour shifts. Also, is this something that could be combined with a breast lift or would they need to be done separately? Thanks for your time.

Good luck with your surgery. You'll do just fine and you will look amazing! Keep us updated.

You look wonderful!!! What a transformation. It doesn't look like you have any swelling at all. No fair!

I have a few before and after pictures up. The quality is not very good because of the flash and resizing of the pictures, but you can get a good idea of the results so far. I am 3 weeks post op as of yesterday. I had a circumferential tt with lipo, fleur de lis, and hernia repair. When you click on the link, you will have to put in a password of tummytuck. http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/viewAlbum.php?albumid=9049

Thanks everyone. I posted a 4 week picture today and I can't believe the difference. The incisions are fading a little bit now and the swelling is going down. If you look close in the 4 week pic you can see my lap band port sticking out like a sore thumb. I really wish I would have gotten the low profile port, but it didn't work out. I may consider getting it done at a later date. I just hate to get cut open again!

I don't live in NY, nor do I personally know any of the surgeons there, but I would go to Dr. Schulman. He has a thread on here and is kind enough to answer our questions about plastic surgery. He is experienced in working with weight loss patients.

I've heard of it. I think they probably use some iv sedation as well as local; especially if they are going under the muscle. I can only imagine what that would feel like! I am considering a breast lift without implants with iv sedation. I don't want general anesthesia. FYI- If you have any type of sedation, you will need to be monitored by a CRNA or anesthesiologist.

I am feeling amazing. I went back to work this past weekend. Each day I try to push myself a little harder on the exercise without overdoing it. I still can't believe that big old belly is gone. I have almost forgotten what I looked like before the surgery. This has been a big self confidence booster! Thanks for asking.

Congratulations on the engagement!! That is so exciting. Between the engagement and a hot new bod, you must be on cloud 9.

Looking wonderful! You must be really happy. Keep us updated on round 2.

My ps has you wear the binder 24/7 for 2-3 weeks and then switch over to Spanx until you hit the 3 month mark. The Spanx is definitely more comfortable, but the binder cuts down on the swelling for me. I have been switching back and forth. I do wear the Spanx at night because it makes sleeping so much better.

openag-my ps estimated that he removed 8lbs during the surgery. I have really been watching what I'm eating and I was able to start walking at 2 1/2 weeks post op. I can't lift weights, run, or work out on my elliptical trainer until 6 weeks. I started off walking 3-4 miles per day and now I'm up to 7-8 miles. I don't know if this is true or not, but I've heard that having these big surgeries speeds up the metabolism. When are you having your surgery?

flirtylass- Yes, my ps does lift the mons area with all tts. He also did some lipo to that area as well. He did tell me that sometimes patients with massive weight loss would have to return at a later date to have a pubic lift, but so far I don't think that I would need that done. It looks pretty good already. As for recovery, I did not think it was too bad. I was driving at 7 days post op and sleeping in my own bed at 9 days post op. I took 3 weeks off work, but that is because I'm on my feet for 12 hour shifts. Otherwise, I think I could have gone back after 2 weeks. Everybody is different with their healing, but that was my experience.

Yes, I had and still have some numbness. It feels weird. Around week 3, the numbness started to fade for me. The only part that is still pretty numb is right above my pubic bone.

Thanks everyone for your compliments. I am hoping to post some better pictures in a couple of weeks when I go back to see the ps. Their pics are so much better quality. I'm going to get a copy and hopefully scan them onto here. Flirtylass- I am so glad that I got the fleur de lis. It pulled me in so tight and got rid of the upper belly flab. As of today, I have lost 7 inches across my belly and 6 inches across my hips. The circumferential part took inches off my butt! I also had lipo to my hips and those giant rolls you see in my before pics are gone. I was wearing a tight 14/16 in pants/jeans before surgery and now I am into mostly 10s and some 12s. My bmi before surgery was right at 29. I still have some weight to lose, but not enough that it will ruin my results. I can't answer your question about arm pain, but the tt pain was not bad at all. Maybe OhJuli can answer about the arms. She had that done recently. BethfromVA- They cut around the old belly button and made a new one. It is finally starting to open up more. It was pretty tight and closed for awhile, but looking better every day. Suemagoo- I know you are going to love your new belly. This had made me want to work even harder to get to my goal! Savannahsmommie- I lost 85 lbs pre op with the band. I have lost an additional 12 pounds since the surgery 3 weeks ago. Some of that was cut and sucked away and some I have lost on my own. Good luck to all of you considering this. It really is the icing on the cake after losing weight. I have no regrets.