sillykitty

You know ... I'm not really sure Out of pocket. I'm not patient enough to go through the process to see if I could get some insurance coverage. This surgery took care of the areas that bothered me the most, tummy, thighs and boobs. I am so grateful that my surgeon could handle all these in one surgery, and without a thigh lift. I originally got a quote for my lower body only because all of my other consultations were 8 hr surgeries for lower body alone (LBL, thigh lift, lipo & fat transfer). When my surgeon came back with LBL only and a 3 hour surgery I asked if I could add on boobs. The way I look at it it was ultimately a cost savings, because a stand alone BA would cost more than than adding it on to my LBL. I think long term I want a arm lift and face/neck lift. I am curious to see you, @ms.sss & @mousecat88's results. Also I want to see how I end up scaring from my LBL. The arm lift scar is the only real deterrent for me. I figure i can push the face/neck lift maybe 10 years down the road? I'm curious to see how the filler, botox & laser resurfacing works. But none of those address my neck though. I also really thought I would want butt implants ASAP. I know it's vain, but I really like the curvy aesthetic, and was bummed at the thought of a pancake butt. But my new post LBL butt is small but perky. So I'm going to roll with it for a while. and see how I feel about it. (along w my booty panties of course 😂) Cost is definitely an issue. I'm in a fortunate (financial) position of having no kids. So it is just a matter of economizing in other areas of my life. My budget is my own and I'm not accountable to anyone how I spend my money. Bigger issue for me is down time from traveling. My actual time off is minimal. But to not travel for 4-6 weeks is significant. My boss has been very supportive, but I can't imagine he will be as supportive if I do it next year and the year after, you know?

Hope you don't mind, but commenting here A total of 400g of skin & fat was removed, though he said it was mostly skin Holy crap that's a tiny amount (0.88 lbs for my fellow Americans). For contrast I had 4.5 lbs removed from my LBL. I'm an inch taller and about 15 lbs (pre surgery) heavier than @ms.sss There was only a "little bit" of muscle tightening done on my abdomen I'll have to ask my surgeon how my muscle were. He predicted I had no real need for tightening (I told him to anyway, cause I want a wasp waist please). I wonder if resistance to diastasis recti is genetic? I assumed mine was because I've never had children. But I was talking to my mom, and she performed the "test" my surgeon did for me (basically how much of difference does "sucking in" make), and she doesn't seem to have much if any diastasis recti either despite pregnancy and weight fluctuations. There was minimal lipo on my flanks and pubis, and no lipo on my arms nor stomach So interesting your surgeon did lipo. Mine didn't as I he didn't feel there was much if any benefit. And you are far leaner than I am. He had predicted pre-surgery that I would not need to have the drains in very long due to my size I wasn't aware of the connection, but when I mentioned my lack of swelling to my surgeon he said it is due to my lower BMI. Apparently fat swells more than any other tissue.

Random musings: I'm clearly in a vanity phase right now. There was a good Groupon sale yesterday. I am now the proud owner of certificates for ... Botox, Laser Resurfacing, Filler, Hydrodermabrasion, Chemical Peel, and more 😲 I'm justifying it that I have a high profile meeting coming up. Shower chairs are really nice ... if it didn't look crazy I'd like one at home I really respect my surgeon. During my in person consultation he mentioned two points on the LBL incision that commonly has delayed healing, at the butt crack due to movement and tension & at the front midpoint due to poor blood supply. Guess the two areas I'm oozing from .... This is going to be a long weekend. Been kept busy with work these last few day. But now, just stuck in a hotel room and freezing temps outside. It also doesn't feel like Christmas at all without all the reminders, like music in stores and decorations.

And interestingly, my incisions are completely uncovered, and have been since the 2nd day post op

Here's the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K2TWL6F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2Wz3DbE7DE8XR

This thread turned harsh pretty quick ... I actually chose a VSG because I didn't want to risk dumping. It was important to me to be able to eat "normally" post WLS. I didn't want to have any off limits foods.

He did. He does not as standard practice, but I told him I was a big baby and scared, so he offered it. 😂 I am 11 days post op now, so any experal has well worn off. Numbness is just a side effect of the LBL. According to some who have had one, like @catwoman7 it maybe long term or even permanent.

I'd say about 3 days ago ... so day 8 or so post op? Yes hunching over and then subsequent sore back, that makes you unable to get comfortable, ever .... worst part for me

Agree, I never thought I would have hospital food envy! To be fair my food was technically nursing home food, the care center was like 75% nursing home. But that makes it kind of sadder because it's not just a short hospital stay's worth of meals, but month after month, year after year 😲

Nope, my incision is completely numb. I'm even sleeping on my side now, right on my incision. It just feels .... lumpy 😳 My tt muscle tightening doesn't hurt from sitting or leaning back. Up until a couple of days ago I just couldn't lay completely flat on my back. Little too tight, I'd have to either prop up my knees or my head.

Roll with it. Just focus on protein shakes and your water.

I'm kind of fascinated how 4 of us had surgeries close together and how different our experiences have been in some ways. First off I am sooo glad I don't have to do compression garments. All of your experiences sounds no fun at all. @rs have you looked into the compression garment @mousecat88 bought on amazon? I feel bad yours are hurting so much I'm also find it interesting the difference in tummy tuck pain. Both @ms.sss & @mousecat88's have been less than mine. And @mousecat88 describes her tummy as feeling loose without them, and mine feel like this: @ms.sss, should have taken meal pics. I want to know if Canadian hospital food is any better? Finally 🤣 at the tt being like adding a pack of gum at checkout Edited to add: My VSG pain was about a 1.5 and my PS pain peaked at about a 7

Day 11 post op ... checking in. I continue to feel really good. Everyday my stomach is slightly less clenched and my numbness lessens each day. Only annoyance is the LBL incision at my butt crack is a little sore and oozy. Dr. said that is common, and will probably the slowest point to close up and heal properly. I was told to keep it clean and dry. So I'm packing it with gauze. I've been reading bustmob, which is the best breast augmentation forum I have found. I am completely amazed at how I have had almost zero pain or discomfort from my BA. Most women's experiences are quite different, with weeks of pain and limited use of their arms. On the topic of my BA, they have started to drop slightly, and are looking slightly less freakish. My mom is doing fine. She has been a big help. I haven't needed any physical assistance, like getting up etc. But she has done laundry, gotten us food, CVS runs, etc. I know that she feels much better being here and having her peace of mind I'm doing well. I appreciate her sacrifice being here for the last two weeks. It's not a lot of fun being stuck in a hotel room with no car and freezing rain outside, when she could be at home in sunny SoCal with her friends and pups. It has been all smooth sailing ... but it is almost another full week that we will be together 24/7, so we'll see 😳😂

@KaysMommy I ❤️ your sweater dress

Speaking of skinny ... I vote yes .... do you have a necklace to go with?

Head hunger is just as real as physical hunger, and IMO tougher. If I have physical hunger I can satisfy it with something on plan and healthy. But head hunger is usually in the form of pizza or burger or ice cream, right? It gets easier when you can start to differentiate the different types of hunger feelings. Physical hunger = eat something on plan. Stomach acid = make sure you're on a ppi. Head hunger = come up with a strategy to distract yourself.

Isn't it funny how we gravitate towards surgeons who fit our needs best? I am grateful for the drains. Yes they are kind of gross, and awkward. But I've had practically no swelling, so it seems they are doing thier job. As appealing as drainless tt's sound, I'm suspicious of them. That fluid has to go somewhere? And because I've had no swelling, I am also grateful that my surgeon doesn't believe in compression garments. The stomach girdle I had on in the care center rubbed, and bit into me. I was so glad to get that off. I had a catheter the first night in the care center, it was put in during surgery. It was removed after my surgeon checked on me the next morning and gave the okay for me to get up. I was definitely grateful for it. It's not easy to get out of a hospital bed. I'm glad I didn't have to worry about it the first night. I have gone back and forth between sitting in bed propped up with pillow and a recliner. But those are my two options in this hotel room. I'm sure if I were home I'd be fine on the couch. I recommend getting a tailbone cushion. My tailbone has been consistently sore since surgery, peaking about 4-5 days post op. The cushion provided at least a little relief. I was extremely hunched over the first couple of days, but gradually and naturally I started to stand up straighter. In the care center one of the nurses was constantly telling me to stand up straighter. With a tiny bit of hindsight I would have told her to shove it, I'll stand up straighter when it doesn't hurt so badly to do so 😂 I was able to drink plenty of water/liquids. I thankfully had zero nausea. I can maybe thank my Scopolamine patch? My appetite only returned a day or two ago. I just wasn't that interested in food & didn't have much hunger. Of course the awful hospital food at the care center didn't help 🤮. I have been trying to be good about protein. I went back to my post WLS protein playbook of premier protein, protein water and protein bars, along with meat/cheese rolls up, and cheese and crackers. Now that I have my appetite back I have a hotel fridge full of takeout chinese 😂. I'm excited for you ... one month countdown about to begin. So many of us taking the plastics journey together at the same time

And conversely, I was allowed showers without restriction after 48 hrs, with my drain in, and no compression gear. Seems like plastic surgeons have as many different protocols as bariatric surgeons do

@rs So sorry to hear about the garment pain! That sounds awful 😭 I had a realization last night that I went off the pain meds too soon. I could have saved myself some misery if I had stayed on them and slept off some of the pain. Just a thought, no need to suffer if you don't have to.

Third day in a row of feeling really good. Took my longest walk yet, all the way down to the hotel lobby 😳😂. I'm also standing up completely straight now. Definitely still feel odd. From my butt to my rib cage is still mostly numb, and my stomach is still clenched like I should have the world best 6 pk (spoiler, I don't 🤣) It's been quite the roller coaster ride. I think I could have avoided some of the blahs, if I had stayed on the pain meds a few days longer. The sharp pains were gone, so I thought I was out of the woods. In hindsight, the achey pains were debilitating in a different way, and I should have respected the more. It would have been better if I had taken the good drugs, and slept off some of that pain.

Glad to hear all went well @ms.sss! Get some rest!

Agree on the speedy recovery! That is amazing!

Done My thighs were smoothed out w the LBL alone. My surgeon was the only one I saw that could get those results without a thigh lift. I had low expectations that my inner thigh sag would be resolved. But I think it's going to turn out really well. 😁

@Sophie7713 That is the perfect Florida Christmas dress! @Deedee12 Very flattering dress! @AngieBear Loving this professional look. Very polished! Love the necklace

Not far ... 15 miles, but cause it's LA, 45 minutes 🤣