Jean E.

You are definitely worth it! Congratulations on your weight loss! What a blessing you are!

Hey everyone, After losing 286 lbs. I am getting ready for my first skin removal surgery in 43 days. With the busy holiday season I know the time will fly by. I still can’t believe I am at this place in under two years. SW 487. CW 201 I am having arms and thighs done first. Any advice would be welcomed. Has anyone done that? What was recovery like? I am an impatient patient and tend to push and expect allot of myself. But I need to be realistic. Just how incapacitated will I be having all 4 limbs cut on at once? I can handle pain, I just don’t do helplessness very well. So I need realism and tips please.

Great! I hope you get what you want. They are even smaller now. Scars look great! Good luck with your surgery. Is it scheduled?

Keep up the good research. You are doing a great job!

I go to my first post op tomorrow and hopefully will get at least one drain out but the other is putting out way too much to remove.

Having a 360 Lower Body Lift in two days (Apr 4). I am excited and praying all goes well. Excited to get rid of this skin and the related issues before the Summer weather sets in.

That’s almost exact what I had too, I think. LOL

It is day three and I am hoping to have a better day today. Yesterday was rough but I did get up and walked 4 times. Friends, this surgery is no joke. It is rough but will be worth it. TIP: get your legs as strong as possible before the surgery. You must use your legs for all things movement wise because you can’t strain your core. Alao try to build up your core as much as possible. Especially the lower back because walking hunched over and sitting in a beach chair position pits a strain on those muscles.

Insurance paid for the tummy skin removal only.

Thanks!

Thank you!

Congratulations on your weightloss. I had the arms and thighs done at the same time almost 3 months ago. Let me see if I can answer some of your questions from my experience. 1. I had a drain in each arm for a week. 2. I was able to work from home after a week and a half. 3. Pain was about a 6 but frustration of limitations was worse. If they have to do Lipo the pain and recovery is worse. I didn’t have that. My incisions extend from below my elbow down the side of my chest about 4 inches. 4. I didn’t wait long at all after reaching my goal. (Have lost 305 lbs.) 5. Insurance paid 6. It’s a life changer 7. All companies are differentl. Take lots of pics, document, and visit your PCP if you get rashes so they are on medical record. Don’t self medicate. Insurance companies don’t like paying for those creams and such so this may help them decide to pay for the surgery. 8. The surgery should tighten both tris and bis. But it is important to work out those arms so they have good muscle structure and form to shape that skin around. Good luck! Enjoy the ride.

Did you have a lbreast lift and implants done at Baylor?

The things I specifically mentioned, that aren’t really pleasant to talk about, I don’t recall hearing about in the detail I shared. That’s why it caught me by surprise. Perhaps the thought was that it was understood to have these limitations, but I think we move through life so fast we take all that we do for granted and don’t realize all of the details. When you mentioned it was just you and your precious daughter I felt it would be helpful to prepare as much as possible. I wouldn’t say the pain in my arms was worse. I too have a high pain tolerance. When I say you can’t do something, it’s not about the pain. You literally can’t because your arms will be swollen and tight. And to get optimal results, they don’t want you stretching your arms. You can do this girl! I will be brutally honest with you. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything at all.

Sandee, congratulations on your upcoming surgery. I don’t have pics yet but I will say I carried my weight in my butt and thighs mostly so my legs had allot going on. They were horrible! I started in a women’s size 34/36 pants and I comfortably wear a misses size 14 pants (even in jeans) and a medium in tight fit leggings (Academy BCGs). I hope that gives you an idea. Additionally, according to my surgeon, I am still considered early in my recovery and I still have swelling in my legs. I was shocked at how helpless I was. I am very independent and just “knew” I would be able to do everything....NOT! First of all you will have 4 drains and you will need someone to strip those for you. Mine came out in a week. I had to have help standing for about 4 or 5 days. I have a recliner with a handle and could not raise or lower my legs for a couple of weeks. You cannot reach or pull or push up to help stand. Build up your core muscles because you will need them. I had to have help lifting my legs for about a week to get in and out of bed. I had to have help cleaning myself after using the bathroom. Again you cannot reach. I mean physically cannot. That was probably about 5 days or so. I couldn’t wash or brush my own hair for two weeks. Showering is a production, because after you shower, there may be a solution that has to be put on your incisions as well as any open blisters that you may get have to be doctored and dressed. You won’t be able to do all of that. Obviously I needed help dressing. I went home with the legs and arms wrapped and they will have to be kept wrapped except while in the shower. At my one week visit, I was put in an upper body compression garment that I could not get in and off by myself for over a week. I also needed help getting the compressions on and off my legs. Remember you can’t reach or pull. The biggest shock was the limitations of my arms and how swollen my hands got. I couldn’t even hold a fork. Not that I could reach my mouth anyway. I could not feed myself for about 4 days. But I got inventive. You need a spoon and or fork with a long handle, like a wooden spoon. I also used an ice tea spoon as I became more able to grip. By about the 5th day I could use chopsticks for some things. The most frustrating thing was not being able to drink without help. I couldn’t reach to get my water and I couldn’t even hold it. So my suggestion is get a long straw. Like one of those yard drink straws. Then you can sit you drink container (with a lid) in your lap or beside you with your straw right there. Drinking water is important. Keeping a T.V. tray beside me helped. Keeping my arms propped on pillows was essential. Meal prep as much as you can for at least a weeks worth of meals. Do a walk through of your daily routine and notice how much you reach. For everything you have to reach for, move that stuff to waste level. That will help allot. Things you wouldn’t think of , for instance my vitamins are kept in a basket on top of my frig. Every two weeks I fill my daily pill box that stays on my counter. When it came time to refill my pill box, I couldn’t reach up and get the heavy basket from the frig. Things like that need to be thought about. I know this seems like allot, but the more you are prepared, the easier it will be. It will go by faster than you realize. By two weeks I was back working from home and getting around great. Days 1-5 are the worst I think. You’ve got this! When is your surgery? I am having a 360 lower body lift in April.

I was working in two weeks and I do have a desk job.

The incisions are great. Still have soreness and swelling but that’s going to take time. Thanks for asking.

Dr. Rukmini Rednam and Dr. Scott Reis

Wow! Looks great!! Thanks so much!

Thank you! I live in Houston. The arm surgery is no joke but so worth it.

Thank you! My thigh incision is from my knee all the way up through my groin. I am glad you are consulting with several surgeons. They need to know exactly what they are doing. Especially with the legs. And they need to be specialized in post weight loss surgery. Apparently the skin is different with patients who were obese and those surgeons know how to beat handle and get the best results. I love my surgeon. They have been fully transparent and very open with information and they did a great job. I live in Houston. Yes, I would do it again.

Thanks! I am still loosing a little. In the 180’s now. I had my DS 20 months ago. I will be having a 360 body lift, breast lift, and possible implants

Congrats on the weight loss!! Where abouts in Houston?! I’m south of Houston. In between Galveston and Houston. West

Do you mind if I ask what your final bra size is?

Thank you!