Frangipani

Hi Jody, Thanks for the encouragement -- it really helps make me feel better about my decision. And yes, that would be great if you could post for me again. Thanks for the offer!!! I still cannot get over the fact that pear-shaped me of all people, is paying to have fat put back into my behind -- go figure!!! By the way, I came across this Dr. in my searches and talk about beautiful behinds!!!! I like his informational website too. If I were still looking for a Dr., I would definitely be headed up to SC to talk to this guy. Check it out Better Buttocks Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Happy Bandiversary Daddy!!! 180 Pounds is ASTOUNDING!!!! Congratulations!!!!!! :drool::party::party::ohmy::huh2::sad: I didn't realize that you and I were only one day apart. My bandiversary is tomorrow. Well, I'm having some more surgery done at the end of this month, but am trying to go at it full tilt with the exercise until then. What a hard-working group we have here. This thread is already three pages long and it's only August 6! Great job everyone:thumbup::cry_smile::thumbup:! August Exercise Challenge 3/15 sessions

Hi Cori, Thanks! I won't know until closer to the time if DH will be able be there or not -- his work schedule is always very busy and unpredictable, and he also has to take a trip sometime around that time. If he can't make it, there's a service that can help me out. I would have them there to pick me up from the hospital, and if need be, stay with me at the hotel for a while. Also, I have been to the hotel so many times now that I know all the front desk staff and they would be right there if I had any problems (doubtful). The first time I had way more surgery (including that open myomectomy, if you recall) and was up and about very quickly, so I'm not too concerned about this one. You know me, I'll be fine and will probably be climbing the walls within a very short time! :cry_smile:

Just a quick update........ Even though I'm still gathering information about this whole new buttocks augmentation procedure, I've decided to do it. I gave it a lot of thought and I don't want to risk coming out of surgery with a flat behind. My derrière has always been ample and I simply cannot imagine not having at least a little something there ! I will keep you posted Karey, and anyone else who is interested.

Hi Karey, I will definitely keep you updated. I'm just really glad that my Dr. raised this whole issue with me and at least got me thinking about it, because I never would have dreamed that I might benefit from buttocks augmentation once all the excess skin is removed. However, I now do realize that excess skin is about all I have left back there, and once that's gone....well...... I have a friend who is a size zero and thinks she is SO HOT (self-confidence is a good thing, even if a bit overblown -- right :thumbup:?), but truth be known, she has a totally flat backside and from the back she looks like a very elderly lady. The image of her flat backside keeps running through my head as I consider my options...........

Thanks Dr. S! You're always so wonderful with the prompt and thorough responses. The procedure you describe sounds like the very same procedure that my Dr. is proposing to do (i.e., using flaps that are not completely disconnected from the blood supply, but merely rotated and placed) I'm so glad to hear that I (probably) won't need to stay off my backside, for two weeks either. I have a list of questions that I'm putting together to discuss with my Dr., and that was definitely one of them. If you are able to post any other photos, that would be great. Thanks again, :thumbup::smile::wub:

Hi Shalee, Congratulations on your first consult!!! How exciting -- flatlands here you come!!!:biggrin::smile::eek: Keep us posted!

Hi Cori, Thanks girl!!! Your messages are always so encouraging and uplifting -- I really appreciate it :teeth_smile::smile: Wow! I've been lurking around on the Make Me Heal buttocks augmentation forum and there is a whole "booty" subculture out there, that I just cannot relate to. Some of these ladies want and are having HUGE backsides done -- cartoonish might even be a better description. I'm not sure what this is all about or why someone would want that, but surely this will be a passing fad. After unsuccessfully attempting to sift through that section of the forum in search of helpful information, I finally gave up. I did post a query to a Dr. on a different section of the forum and hopefully I will hear something back. A huge booty is definitely not for me -- all I want is what I had when I was back in college when my body was at its best -- just a small, lady-like, gently-rounded curve, and that's it. I trust my Dr. 100%, but I still wish I could find some additional information on this procedure as it always gives me peace of mind to know as much as I possibly can about something before I do it..........

Hi Dr. Schulman, I'm scheduled to have a buttocks/outer thigh lift and liposuction next month and my Dr. is proposing to do the autologous fat/tissue transfer in the buttocks that you discussed in page one of this thread. If you don't mind sharing, I was wondering how satisfied your patients are generally with this procedure. Also, do you have any other photos that you could share? Since this seems to be a relatively new procedure (I think?), I'm having a hard time finding many photos on the web.

Neal, You look fabulous and you now have an abdomen that most guys would kill for!!! Congratulations :biggrin::thumbup::biggrin:!!!!

Good morning ladies! Kari, Thanks for this feedback. There is a huge disconnect for me. However now that you mention it, that disconnect definitely did work both ways as I didn't perceive myself to be as heavy as I was either. Thanks Jody! I missed you too! Thanks Candle! BTW, I just found out that I'll be getting together with a friend in Vegas in November and I was thinking perhaps we could meet up then if that works for you. I will PM you with the dates once I have them anchored down. Thanks again Kari! How are you feeling? I know that this whole thing has been difficult, but WOW look at your ticker!!! At least you came out of it with a little windfall in that you're almost there with your goal weight -- Congratulations!!!! :biggrin::thumbup::biggrin: Yeah, the staying off the backside thing will be a bit tough and I have other concerns as well, which is why I'm still investigating and thinking this whole thing over. I never thought in a million years that I would ever need to add to my backside, but I guess I must have done a pretty thorough job of cleaning the "junk out of my trunk" because there is virtually no fat left. Grrrrr....... considering that I have always had a fairly large derrière, it is highly ironic that I am suddenly faced with the prospect of actually having to go through a special procedure to enlarge it!!!! Hi Lulu, Great to hear from you and thanks for the very lovely compliment!!!! Hi Salsa, My Dr.'s general rule is six months. However, when a pushy broad who's on a mission rolls through the door most "general rules" tend to go out the window :frown::tongue::tongue:! All kidding aside, I definitely am doing this quicker than most patients would, but I also seem to bounce back and heal more quickly than the norm, so my Dr. is comfortable in moving forward with this. I really don't seem to have much swelling, but I probably do and just don't realize it. That said, I have to believe that the swelling is going to get a whole lot worse after Round 2 -- and I am not looking forward to that........... Thanks Babedoe4! You are definitely headed down that road! Congratulations on losing 63 pounds -- that's WONDERFUL!!!!

Hi Karen, Congratulations!!!! I know it's hard not to be nervous, but trust me, it will be all be just fine and you will be SO happy with the results. Good luck and I look forward to your updates!!!! :biggrin::smile:

Hi, Well I have a date for Round 2 -- August 26!!! I haven't decided whether or not to do the new fat grafting technique on the backside using my own tissue, but will decide that later and provide more detail if anyone is interested. Cori, They say that you should do PS for yourself only and it's really true. Those people close to you love you just the way you are and will of course, not believe that a single thing needs to be changed. However, if something is driving you crazy, by all means you should change it. I can just about guarantee that you will be very happy that you did. I am so glad that I had my PS done and it is giving me far more satisfaction than I ever dreamed it would. This was truly the best money I have ever spent, and I know that I'll enjoy and appreciate these surgeries for the rest of my life -- truly..... As far as the breasts, once you choose your Dr. (who will almost certainly offer the same or a similar technique as the one Dr. Schulman uses on the breasts if you are not able to get out to the east coast to use the wonderful Dr. S himself) he or she will be able to help you figure this out. Once I started looking at photos I pretty quickly decided that an implant was for me -- though I saw many gorgeous breasts that were done without the use of any implant at all. Becky, I miss you and hope you are having a wonderful time on your trips. I hope everyone else is having an excellent day! :biggrin::smile:

Hi, I'm back from Miami one day late because I missed my connection through Puerto Rico. No problem though, the airline put me up in a hotel and fed me dinner and I got to spend a fun day in Puerto Rico and (of course) do a little shopping at Plaza Las Americas!!!! I had SO MUCH fun in Miami, and once I got out into South Beach night life scene, it took me all of about five seconds start enjoying myself . In fact I enjoyed it so much, that it was my friend who had to drag me home :thumbdown::biggrin:! I'll keep this short for now, but the Dr. gave me the green light to schedule Round 2, and so I will probably do it in about three weeks. We are talking about doing a fat grafting technique on the backside, which I believe is the same procedure that Dr. Schulman talks about in detail on his thread. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I think I will probably do it. More about that later.... Cori I couldn't have answered your question better than Kari. I love my silicone implants and they feel very natural. One thing to keep in mind is that the technique that Dr. Schulman describes and an implant are not going to give the same results. Both procedures will offer fabulous results but when you look at photos you will notice that they are distinctly different from one another, and it will be up to you to decide which "look" you like best. Hope this helps, have a great night! :redface::smile::crying:

LuLu, Love the new avatar -- you're absolutely adorable, and look how tiny you are!!! All of your hard work is really paying off, sister! Congratulations :thumbup::thumbup:! I'm still taking it slowly with the exercise, but will crank it back up again once I meet with my Dr. and get the all clear. Off to Miami for a few days, will check back in next week. Have a great weekend everyone!!! July Exercise Challenge 7/12 Sessions

Hi Jody, There should be a size chart on the back of the Spanx package. BTW, buy your Spanx at Stein Mart where they're something like $9.99. At most other stores you'll pay the regular retail of $20 or so. Enjoy the rest of your beach vacation -- talk to you soon!

Jody, Thanks sweetie! I really do wish you could be there, and definitely hope to see you sometime soon. Are you still at the beach? If so, I hope you're having a great time!!! Well, I am an adventurous and (relatively) fearless person, but for whatever reason, the idea of going "clubbing" makes me very anxious. I want my friend to have a wonderful time and I'm not going to steer her one way or the other, but I'm really hoping I won't have to deal with that one. My life has been through enough dizzying changes lately, and I think it's time to just sit back be a little staid and boring for a bit until I become comfortable with the reality of the new me. I don't know, am I making any sense here?

Hi Sweety, I too have always found that things happen for a reason and I'm sure that this will all work out even better for you in the end. Good luck with your fill today! :thumbup::smile::smile:

Cori, thanks for checking back in. You are such a dear, sweet lady and I always enjoy hearing from you :thumbup::smile::smile:! Becky, have a wonderful trip -- we will certainly miss you too girlfriend!!! I wouldn't be surprised if you did have fat necrosis. I'm pretty sure that I did. Because I kept my drain in so long, I saw the output change from a thin, clear fluid to a thick, viscous fluid. I asked my Dr. what that was all about and even though he didn't specifically use the term "fat necrosis," he did tell me that what was coming out of the drain during those last three weeks was mostly fat. I suspect that you would have also seen the same changes had you kept your drain longer. Karen good luck with your next PS appointment. I'm very excited for you!!! Now that I've been through all of this and have seen what they can do (which was way beyond my expectations), I consider this body contouring to be nothing short of a miracle and I'm looking forward to following your upcoming journey.

Hi BBK, Thanks for sharing your photos -- the tummy looks wonderful and you have such gorgeous skin. I'm sure you will be very happy with everything once your Dr. makes the revisions. I am extremely happy with my implants, and even though I did go up one cup size (there was no way I was going to pay good money for a measly "B" cup :cursing:), you can have an implant and still remain the same cup size you are now. I am SO happy with the way my implant fills out my breasts (especially the upper part) and gives me really nice cleavage even when I'm not wearing a bra. So my vote is to go for it :thumbup::thumbup::thumbdown:.

LOL -- every time this discussion about fat necrosis comes up I've thought the very same thing :biggrin:!

Steph, I'm glad to hear you're doing well!

It's so great to be part of this incredibly dynamic group!!! Well, I'm still plugging away slowly here. I just had my last surgical drain removed and didn't want to risk excessive swelling so I took a few days off and then started back in again last night. So far so good with the swelling, but I'm still going to ease back into this slowly, just to be on the safe side. One 30 minute walk yesterday. Have a great day everyone!!! July Exercise Challenge 6/12 Sessions

Hi Karey, I'm glad you're feeling better and had a chance to get out a bit. I didn't know your were a Grandma! How wonderful is that???? I'm sure having your grandson there is the best medicine in the world:thumbup::crying::thumbup:! You are quite a woman -- even as you're recovering from surgery you took the time to write a very helpful and informative post about what can cause Lap Band complications -- thank you for that!!! I have a very simple and easy recipe, Campbell's French Onion soup with some Water, beef bullion and fresh ground pepper added to taste. Once heated, add some grated Asiago cheese. You can enjoy this straight up as a soup and it's also very good over mashed potatoes. I hope you're having a good day -- talk to you soon! :eek::smile::frown:

Jody, I wish you could be there too! My best friend is flying in for the weekend. I haven't seen her since the Holidays and I'm really looking forward to seeing her. The only thing that makes me a little nervous is that my friend is single and she keeps talking about wanting to go out to a club. Lord! I can't even remember the last time I was at a club shaking my booty. In fact, I'm not even sure I remember how to do it! I did find a really hot, "clubby" sort of a top yesterday on the island and once I find a suitable bottom, I'll be all set with the outfit. However, I am SO hoping that I won't have to wear it for this purpose. I'll be a good sport if she really wants to do it BUT my plan is to completely wear her out during the day so that she'll be too pooped to party at night. How much you wanna bet that I can do it too? :crying::smile::eek: I am so happy not having that drain -- I feel like a new woman!!! I'll keep you posted. If my Dr. gives me the thumbs up, I plan to get round two scheduled ASAP -- possibly even in August. I feel just fine again now, and I am SO ready to have this all done and over with! Kat, as pretty as you are, I'm sure you're a knockout now with the new bod!!! This period of swelling will be over before you know it, so hang in there!