mcgreen

Hi all- as background I've been MIA for awhile; whenever I struggle, instead of posting and reading more, I find I go away from this site which is insane because this site has been such a great resource for me. Surgery was in 5/07. From my heaviest weight I'm down close to 150 lbs; some of that was preop weight loss. I really have plateaued and my weight hasn't budged much so I got a consult this summer with the famous Dr J Lo :thumbup: I was amazed that he told me that my weight was ok where it was- I think we all have a screwed up mental image of what we are like. Shortly after this, I had band problems and had a total unfill. My weight jumped up 10 lbs but then plateaued again and so I kept my surgery date which is coming up this thursday! I'll be all nice and bandaged for halloween! I'm having a lower body lift and a breast lift/reduction. Reading other's stories has been of tremendous help for me in preparing for this surgery so I hope that my journey through this will help others as well. any advice or suggestions you flatlands chicks (and guys) might have would be greatly appreciated! I will take photos but I'm shy so it may be a while before yall see them

So I'm a bit grumpy- have had an infection of the open area near my drain site as well as my right breast. The right breast still hurts from the fat necrosis and started to drain. Add to that, I now have 2 sizable seromas- grumpy city. Right now I'm frustrated with the surgery and am wondering why I put myself through this. bah.

Hi Becky! good luck with your surgery- I found ice packs helpful; my back hurts from being in that piked position for so long; its great for my back as well as my tummy. Don't forget to have a pillow in the car for your ride home- it protects your tummy from the seat belt good luck with your surgery!

Thanks for posting your photos Karey! I hope your dehisince heals up quickly and you look FAB!

Hi Cathy- I agree with the ladies above- I'm 9 days out and can barely care for myself much less kids. You can't lift anything heavy, sit for any extended period of time ( I just now can sit for 20 minutes three times a day). Today was the first day I could shower and then get dressed without assistance. I encourage you to pursue the surgery however be prepared to get extra assistance from family/friends for at least 3-4 weeks. Best wishes to you!!

Hi Donna- I weighed over 300 lbs for more than 5-10 years. My peak weight was 340 and I was down more than 140 when I met my surgeon. I waited until my weight was stable more than 6 months before making my appt. My band was placed in 5/07 and I lost 100 lbs by Jan 08; some weight was lost pre band. I still need to lose about 20 lbs- I wasn't sure until I got this flab cut off. I'll wait until about 2-3 months post op to be sure. I really am ok where I am and part of why I did the surgery now was to figure out what I looked like without all that extra stuff. When my weight dropped 10 lbs below where I am now, I was incredibly bony on my upper body so I wanted to see what things looked like and then decide from there. Everyone is different but most PS like their pts to be stable (weight wise) for at least 6 mos to 1 year before doing surgery. When you get within 20 lbs of your "goal" then I think that would be a good time to see some PS. Definitely visit with Dr LoMonaco. When I went for my post op visit- there was a woman there who had a brachioplasty (arm lift) 2 months ago- her scars were BEAUTIFUL! It renewed my interest in that surgery. Cost- my surgeon fee's were more than 15k. Hospital etc were more than that. costs change based upon market, hospital etc. Plan way ahead. good luck! today I think I pushed it a bit much went out 2 times and am sore and ready for a nap. The fat necrosis is variable. He seemed to indicate it would resove in a year or so. I'm a breast medical oncologist (give chemo for breast cancer) and have a lot of patients who have developed fat necrosis and my impression is that the most of the time it stays. I'm no expert in that though Hi Karen- things are going well. I do feel stronger daily- I really miss exercise and feel like I could go out and run/walk but even though I feel that way, being up an hour or so wears me out! Baby steps! I haven't taken pain meds in over 24 hours excluding some tylenol so think I'm doing well for being 1 week out. happy weekend all!

Just got back from seeing my PS. I have some fat necrosis of my right breast- its tender. That's where the blood supply to some of the fatty tissue of the breast becomes compromised for whatever reason and the tissue forms a hard scar. I also have a little bit of skin necrosis where one of my drains was. Have a topical treatment for that. My right nipple is larger than the left but he feels that's a function of swelling/remodeling of the breast itself and should sort itself out. SO happy drains are out! I can now also sit! 20 minutes 3 times a day! I'm going to head to the store tonight :thumbs_up: I can begin to drive at the end of next week. Very happy with the increasing freedom! :frown:

glad things are going so well for you!!! :thumbup:

congrats on your freedom, Karey!!!! best wishes for a speedy heiny recovery! I think it would be helpful for people to see where your incision opened- people are always willing to post the good results and complications are downplayed. I'm sure that despite the open area, you look FABULOUS! yea for sitting!

Hi Pammycakes! I'm a spivak patient as well :rolleyes2: I just had a lower body lift; breast lift/minor reduction 10/30 with dr LoMonaco (Bodylifthouston) He specializes in post weight loss plastics as opposed to MD's who do a variety of kinds of work. I'm a week out and am already happy with the results, I suspect I'll like them even more as time goes on. Spivak recommends Dr Heller (Baylor)- he was on faculty where I work before he moved- I don't know how much post-weight loss plastics experience he has. Dr Bonnie Baldwin has a good reputation in plastics work as well. I encourage you to get several consults and ask to see the good picture outcomes as well as the not so good so you can get a realistic idea of what can be done for you! Definitely visit Dr LoMonaco! good luck!

that happened to me today! They told me I could have my binder off up to an hour and so I took it off to shower and stayed out a bit and I felt like every incision was going to burst! I was thrilled to get the binder on! hang in there- glad you are getting your staples out!!!

best wishes for your appt tomorrow! You have been a blessing for all of us going through this process (or who are thinking about doing so) by sharing your journey! good luck and thank you!

you look GREAT! congrats!!! :thumbup:

Hi Karey! I'm even more amazed at what you've been through this year after having gone through just this! Likely I'll talk myself into the arms and inner thighs but just not together. I don't like feeling this helpless! Glad your husband is a great source of support for you! you are right about the modesty. I will give in soon and just let my dad help me- He hasn't seen me naked since I was 5 so things will have changed - ha. I am feeling better every day. My back is uncomfortable from being in this piked position all the time. I slept in a bed last night with wedges, rather than the lift chair- my back still was sore but it was a different area that bothered me so the other area could rest. I can't wait to be able to lie flat! my drains are realy dropping off in output- today both were less than 15 cc so hopefully they'll be out this week! I'm trying to get up more today to ensure that when they come out, they are leaving based upon the best estimate of output possible, not just because I've been so sedintary. Hi Kelly! I am at their house- came here on Saturday. Thanks for the clothing tips! I don't know how much smaller I will truly be- I started out for this surgery much heavier than many of you who've posted. I'm 5'9' and was around 200 lbs (I'd gained after my lowest weight of 189 after my band was totally unfilled). I was wearing a 14 top and 14/16 bottom. If I end up at a 12- that would be great but I'm thinking I'll be a proportionate size 14. For me, I'm happy- I know most people want to be thinner. I just wanted the extra flab gone and now it is - woo! thanks! good luck to you as well! I'd encourage you to come to houston to get an opinion - the more people you talk to, the happier you might be with your results!

Thanks Sam and Josie! I took a 3 hour nap this afternoon! I'm like a baby Josie- I'm in houston as well- spivak did my band in 5/07. Dr LoMonaco was my plastic surgeon- he does beautiful work- when you are ready for consults, I highly suggest you make an appointment with him. I'm a big beliver in going to a sub-sub specialist- ie a doctor who focuses on one thing- he does pretty much only post weight loss plastics and I swear if you go to someoene who does a lot of what you are going to have, you get good results :biggrin: His office staff has been amazing- they are calling me daily to make certain I'm ok; that I have everything I need and answer any/all questions I have re do/don'ts :biggrin:

Hi all- thank you all for your well wishes! I came home (well, to my parents' house) on Saturday. I felt worse that day than I did the day after surgery but wanted to get the heck out of the hospital. I've been sleeping in a lift chair and am doing ok on the whole. Took a shower yesterday and am pleased with how things look even considering how swollen I am. He removed 10-12 lbs; my former floppy F's are now a C/maybe small D's and back up where they belong ; my tummy is flat and my outer thighs/butt no longer are droopy cottage cheese! Getting in/out of the girdle is a challenge. My mom has bad vision and can't help well and I refuse to let my dad see me naked so I'm relying on friends and co-workers to come and help me out. I think it will be easier once the drains are out. Its hard to find a comfortable position. The lift chair has made getting up much easier than it was in the hospital. I've really cut down on my pain meds and am trying to use them sparingly. When I get to 1 month out, I will post pictures. :thumbup: On the whole, I'm pleased with everything but I'm not as enthusiastic about rushing right in to have my arms and inner thighs done. I am a control freak and I hate being helpless. I'm a horrible patient (I work in the medical field) and I know I'm driving my doctor and his team nuts. thank you all and I'll keep you posted :smile2:

To add to my fun, just got my period. woo.

hang in there! this will pass soon and then you will be able to enjoy all this pain and effort you've been through!

thank you so much, Karen! I appreciate learning from your experience and the encouraging words thank you too, Gone4Ever!

Thanks for your support everyone :biggrin: I have to say I'm seriously freaked out. Other than my band surgery, I really haven't had surgery, broken bones etc and am worried about how I"ll tolerate the pain. I'm a WIMP. Add in my parents are older and really can't help me much post surgery, I'm a nervous wreck. It will be ok, I know it will sort itself out- it's just the unkown that's freaking me out. That and the what - if's.

Amazing- you are GORGEOUS! Congrats!!!

J- thank you for sharing your story! You've had such an amazing journey- I'm thrilled for you they were able to do all those surgeries at once and that the outcome looks so good! It has to be liberating being without all that extra skin and ostomy bag! Best of luck to you as you continue on your journey!

Thank you both! I went to Target today to stock up on stuff I'll likely need post surgery; wedges are coming from makemeheal.com; have my compression garmets and rented a lift chair. I am living with my parents for a couple of weeks post surgery. My mom is being supportive; my dad not so much. He can't understand why I'm spending a car's worth of money on "cosmetic" surgery. Staying with them for 2 weeks will be a great motivator to recover :eek:

You look AMAZING! congrats!

Hi Karey! I'm amazed at how much you've done this year and am glad you are recovering. Can't wait to see you bandage free and feeling well! Congrats!!!