Cherishthepast

I went in today to talk with my PS regarding the look of my left side versus my right side - lower back. A little history, I had TT w/MR and Lipo in December; since then, the PS has given me additional lipo on my right side due to a dog ear, approximately a month after the lipo he took about 3 inches off the right side to remedy the problem. Well, 3 weeks later I called him and went in today to show him that my right side still isn't the same as my left. Yes, the dog ear is long gone; however, I seem to be a little fleshy (lack of a better word) on the right side still. I told him I'd pay for him to remedy this for me and he said don't worry, I'm not going to charge you - I see what you're referring to and I'll do some lipo and remove additional skin from the area. The area in question is actually more to my back than side - I have a type A personality and know that for most people this wouldn't be a problem but little things like this can drive me insane. I'm so happy that he doesn't think I'm crazy person - if he does he hides his thoughts well Anyway, I'm scheduled (6/22) to have what I know will be my last revision. Yippee!!!

It's up to you. I didn't take mine with me; yes, he's very supportive and was there for me through it all. I personally wanted to do the consults alone, which had nothing to do with not wanting hubby seeing anything. I really don't think there's anything he hasn't already seen. I went to 5 different consults before picking the PS I felt suited me. I'm anal and didn't want my husband or anyone else having to go with me to these appointments and hear me grill the docs. All in all it was best for me to go alone. Hubby, took me to most of my post op appointments and was my nurse during the first week or so. He has been the BEST support system a girl could ever ask for. By the way, I'm going in tomorrow to have a revision done on my TT; yes, hubby will be right there with me.

I started getting consults in August 2010, had a total of 5 consults and had the actual surgery on December 22, 2010. As long as you're w/n 20 pounds of your goal weight I say go for it - start calling and scheduling your consults.

Congrats!!!! Please keep us posted.

My insurance paid for my TT w/MR. DON'T give up, I went to 5 different consults and the only doc that was willing to submit the paperwork was the first person I saw and the surgeon my LB doc recommended. I love my PS and am glad he was willing to take my insurance. Everyone else I saw said that insurance wouldn't cover the procedure - I assured them they did as I did lots of homework and spoke with the reps on a regular basis to make certain that I covered all bases. As a previous poster noted, most plastic surgeons don't want to take the reduced fees paid by the insurance and want you to pay in cash or finance the procedure through the many medical finance companies.

Please wait... I had a number of consults when I started considering TT and breast augmentation and during that time (August 2010), I was told that I didn't need a lift. Well, I had the TT w/ MR (December 2010) as the insurance picked up the cost and I decided to wait for the breast once I saved enough funds. I just spoke with my PS about my breast again (9 months later) and now I need a lift due to additional fat loss. I'm glad I didn't do the augmentation with the TT now - the thought of droopy mellons versus my current tube sock look would have been very bad. I am close to my goal and plan to have the girls done this fall after I enjoy the wonders of summer - pool, pool, pool....

I waited 6 wks before returning to the gym and my cardio/boxing classes which includes LOTS of stomach crunches and situps. Even after 6 wks I took it slow - I was back up to speed after 2 wks of working my way back into things. Take it easy, you're body needs lots of time to heal.

I had to wait until the drains were removed - 6 days before showering. I'd strongly suggest contacting the doc. I also took the advise of others on the board and purchased baby wipes, I used these after using the restroom to freshen up. This coupled with sponge baths helped - then on day 7, the day after the drains were removed I couldn't get in the shower fast enough.

I never took a measurement. I woke up from surgery with a flat tummy and still wearing a size 10 jean. Note - The day of surgery I was in a size 10 jean; 4 months later, I'm in a size 6. There has been no change in my weight since surgery; however, the swelling is a lot less - still happens once in awhile and the incision is still somewhat sensitive.

I have thin crust once in a while, I MUST take my time and chew very well. Also, I'm usually done after 3/4 of a slice.

Last year this time I was down to 174 pounds and was between a size 12-14 depending on the jeans. I'm currently ranging between 157-160 pounds (a year later) and now find myself in a size 6 jeans - YIPPEE. I thought that I wanted to reach 145-150; however, I am happy were I am and don't want to get to the ideal weight the BMI chart states for normal weight (140). At the rate I'm going if I went as low as the BMI chart says I'd be a size 0. I exercise 4 days a week, spending 2-3 mornings boxing (1 hr each session) and swimming 2-3 evenings (45min each session). I've come to realize I'm losing inches as muscle is replacing the fat. Yes, I'm tossing the BMI stats and going with size and how I feel, which is GREAT. I have lots of energy and can out walk both my husband and 16 yr son. I sleep well now and take NO meds. I'm done fixating on pounds and that damn scale.

Try adding unflavored Protein to your soups. I use unjury which I had preop and still almost 2 years later love. When I think I'm not getting enough protein (remember protein helps us not to look like sharpees when we loose the weight) anyway, I add the unflavored to soups and sometime yogurt and I love the chocolate with my coffee in the morning - makes a great mocha. From experience, I know that just drinking shakes can drive you mad - spice it up, look for recipes that you can use to incorporate the protein into. Checkout unjury.com they have a number of recipes for protein shakes, drinks...

Lately I've been making ginger lemonade or limeade. I boil diced ginger in 4 cups of water, strain it into a pitcher and sqeeze 4-5 lemons or limes sometime some of each then fill the pitcher with ice. I drink this with 2-3 packets of equal or splenda and find it very refreshing and a great way to get away from the crystal light and water madness. By the way, the pitcher usually last me a few days. Hope this helps.

Hi Mimi - I try hard, I recently lost my job and refuse to let this derail me. I know that there are better things ahead, I just need patience and definately need to keep myself busy so that I don't let myself get in a bad place. Boxing has been key to keeping me on track. I get up on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 5:30 for my 6:00a class - can't say that I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed but I feel so much better once I'm in class - also the guy that sits at the front desk looks forward to me walking in the door as I greet him with "GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!!!" - he said he really missed my greeting when I was out healing w/TT. I'm 49 and there are people in my class from their early 20's to late 60's, we all go at our own pace and the instructor pushes us as we wouldn't push ourselves - he now knows us enough to know what each is capable of. Check your local gym and see if they have something. We spend the first 1/2 hour doing various cardio, the last 1/2 hour we put on our gloves and start punching. By the way, it's a great way to rid yourself of stress. I've been doing this for 6 months now, I had to stop for 3 months while I healed from the TT, now that I'm back I tend to shy some with the ab workouts but that's just me being overly cautious. Oh, I never boxed a day in my life until I started this class - go for it!

3 weeks ago I went in to the PS office to have lipo on my right side (at the end of the TT incision) due to dog ear. I went in today for my follow up and there's still some swelling and the dog ear is smaller but still there. Well the current game plan is to wait another 2 weeks allowing additional swelling to go down. If the area isn't as smooth and pretty as the left side, the PS will remove the skin in his office using a local - the area is approximately 2 1/2- 3" long. Note: it's barely visible but I'm striving for perfection - at least as far as the TT is concerned. With all this said, has anyone else had revisions made due to dog ear(s)? Yes, I'm still VERY happy with my TT and the results

a HUGE thanks to everyone. Wishing us all continued success.

Hi Jess55 - Thanks! I know exactly how you feel as I've been obese my entire adult life and am glad that it's behind me - for good. Continue on your forward progress. Thanks LapNYC. Congratulations on the size 6, I never thought this would happen and find myself looking at the tag of clothes in awe. Yes, the tummy tuck went fine, I went in Monday to get an adjustment - I had a dog ear on the right side. About a month ago the PS did some lipo on the area to correct it; however, it was still there (yet smaller) he had to remove it surgically in his office with a local. The incision was a breeze, those darn shots to numb the area was a different story. I go back next week, crossing my fingers that this did the trick. All in all I'm VERY happy with the results of the TT. Yes, I back to pre TT activities, boxing, general cardio and swimming. I'm taking this week off until the incision from the adjustment heals. Hey, what happens if we continue to drop sizes? I worry that I'll have trouble finding small clothes - going from one extreme to the other, though, much happier on the smaller of the extremes. Hi Shoegal - hang in there. Last year I found I continued to hit plateau after plateau; however, my sizes continued to go down. I was extremely frustrated as I gauged my success on pounds. Don't do that to yourself. I still feel fat and find myself looking at earlier pics to put things in perspective. Also, the more I exercise the less movement I see on the scale, I've been told by the doc repeatedly that muscle weighs more than fat - I think pounds are pounds. Anyway, don't get discouraged the one thing I wished I'd done was take my measurements; that way you'll see the inches go down even if the scale doesn't move. Sounds like you're doing great!! Keep in touch and let us know when you've reached your goal or if you need a little push now and then. I need a push on a regular basis and thanks to the trainers at the gym I'm getting it. Thanks! So very true; it took me a year to realize that numbers aren't everything. I still sometime lapse into that frame of mind and quickly remove myself from the scale

Yes, Mimi - your surgeon should repair them for you w/o it costing you any additional fees. I had mine repaired Monday (4/25) in the PS office under a local. Everything went smoothly and it appears that the right side now looks like the left - no more dog ear. I'll know for sure in a few days once the swelling goes down. Give the office a call and let them know.