Scamp

When I went through this choice of a normal tummy tuck or a Fleur I was torn - My partner at the time said 'It won't be any more painful but the results will be better' For once he spoke sense lol... They said I would look 'boxy' if I had normal tummy tuck... I didn't wanna look like a box, lol I don't know if Fleur de lis is anythign about a Lower Body lift type thing its just an upside down T shape that brings everythign in from different directions and re-sites it in a much better way to rid you of all the excess, leaving a more natural shape. The Dr said he did a 'mons lift' at the same time though which is a little bit of lower body... I remember when the surgeon had gone down to prepare.. I got them to bring him back up to 're-line' me - I leant forward and the lines he had first put would have still left me with sagging excess so he got out his biro and drew more lines on me. I really did not wanna have to do it again... 🙂 I am very very glad I had the fleur de lis!!! I had it in 2010 And I am as happy today as I was then. Though I do have scars - I am still so so so happy with the result, not that I have thought of taking a picture in a longggggggg time... My before and afters are pictures are on this thread.. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/418611-tummy-tuck-without-muscle-reconstruction/?tab=comments#comment-4727014 Just took you a today pic... lol

I will always say that this cheap and cheerful method worked a dream - I tried massaging - Did nothing - I kept this cheap tape on the areas for 3 months - It supported the scar whilst it healed - and the scars I did this on are thin white lines - The ones I did not are uglier and a lotttt fatter and look kinda stretched. I tried a cheaper version of this tape on one leg and used this tape on the opposite leg - I regret that now as the leg this tape was on has a ten times better scar than the other leg.. For the incision that went at bra band height - I put this on in a tightish circle right in a ring on me - It stayed put well and worked great - Can hardly see that scar now. Anyways I used this - And changed it taking it off BEFORE showering and putting new on afterwards and I also kept my Design Veronique compression garment on for 3mths as that held the tapes in place easier. https://www.amazon.com/3M-Micropore-Paper-Tape-rolls/dp/B002P70T52 Good Luck

I had an Inverted T tummy tuck (fleur de lis) and this was part of that procedure 😊

I am veryyyyyyyyyyyy Happy - If you check out my profile - activity - I have put pictures on previous replies (I will try to link them here but they might not show) Yes I have scars - LOTS of scars. But - To be honest almost ten years on of Op1 next year - The emotional scars I had before were ten times worse than a few pale scars that I never think about much any more. I feel thatthe scars from the surgeries are part of the journey to find me.... Under the skin I was in there - The skin made me feel like an alien. After all the weight loss I was still an alien - Just a different type of one. I am not 100% because I have larger lower legs than I would like..... But - I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much happier than I have been in so long. I am very grateful to my surgeon (I am in UK) and he gave me a gift that is worth more than money - It is an amazing gift - The surgeon even said to me that I had changed from the person whom he met at that first consultation. I am different - I can wear clothes that do not have to have extra space to hide in. I guess it is all about whether you can accept the scars - Which are a trade off for getting rid of the skin. Before - After 1 - After 2 - After 3 - I can't remember where I put the latest one on my computer - LOL Found this one - My scars are not so good as I could not massage as well as you might be able to as I have Dystonia in one hand so I cannot use the fingers etc - And if I did it again now I would wear the compression garments for longer - 12 weeks in all! Sounds a long tme but it supports the skin during the healing and the scars I have whre I wore micropore tape and compression garments for 3mths are much finer and better than the first Ops scars.... This was a few years from the Op and now I am at 9.5yrs from the Op. But you would have to be looking to see them now and the doctors try to hide them behind the arm. I hope that helps a little.

I had Brachioplasty and Breast Reduction in April 2010 - So happy, almost a decade later and am so happy 1) Did you have a drain? ========= Yes for about 2 days (I know in US you seem to have them a lot longer) I had the op on the Thursday morning and came home on Saturday morning. 2) How long did you need off work? ========= I do not work but the next Monday I was taken out to Lunch - I had the Brachioplasty and a breast reduction at same time - No pain! Just a bit of swelling - But no pain...... 3) Subjective pain scale ========= 1 4) How long did you wait after reaching your goal to have this procedure? I don't remember to be honest as I saw two doctors so I guess in between it was about 8 months 5) How much did it cost total out of pocket? I forget (I am in UK though so it would be meaningless to you LOL) 6) Anything else you'd like to share! I am very excited for this and consider it my ultimate goal. ========= Get compression garment from Design Veronique - They are great! 7) Will insurance pay if I am getting rashes? ========= No idea Before I had this done I saw a picture of my arms, it broke my heart..... I felt so bad about myself because after all the weight loss I still felt a freak.... Now I feel Great! I have attached a couple of pictures - I hope they show.... Before.... 17.02.10 - I had my Op at end of April 2010... *EDIT* I just found this pic - This is dated 19.05.10 - This was what the scar looked like in the beginning - It freaaaaaaaked me out when I saw it! The reason I am showing this to you now - Is so if yours looks like blanket stitch - Do not worry! In a week or two - It starts to change, and gradually starts to look just like a line..... And....... After... 26.06.11. My scars are not perfect in these pictures - I think they are a bit better now, but I have no up to date pictures of them.... I do not notice them, I do not feel self conscious or anything. I love my new arms :-)

I did not need anything special after these two surgeries (Tho I did not do them together, and also they did not tighten my stomach muscles as I have hernia mesh in there) The thing I would always tell people to get is the right compression garments. Once i was in the garment - It was far less painful (If painful at all) I remember when I had my inner thigh lift when I first stood up it was Badddddddddddddddd - I remember saying to them 'You can't send me home like this' - They kept me in an extra day - BUT - About 20 minutes later I was in my compression garment and was bored and wished I were able to go home already - LOL I think you would need something like one of these two to cover both areas. (I bought them in black, lol) https://www.designveronique.com/post-surgical/recovery-kits/high-back-full-body-recovery-kit Or the below one I had then I had my tummy tuck and I had a long legged or knee length one without upper body for the thigh lifts if I remember correctly. They are not cheap but they are worth their weight in gold - For unknown reasons I still have them somewhere in this house - No reason why - I would never use them again - LOL https://www.designveronique.com/post-surgical/recovery-kits/body-rcovery-kit Good luck - Remember when it feels bad - Keep your eyes on the prize - These words were said to me and I held on to them and told my kids to repeat these words to me if I ever had a wobble pre or post surgery and they were right - The prize is fantastic - I had these ops about 8 to 9 years ago now and I am as happy today with the results as I was on day one 😊 I am in the UK so the prices shown seem very different to me to be honest - But this PDF shows sizing and stuff https://www.eurosurgical.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Body-Contouring-Garments-Brochure-Final-08.03.1.pdf Good luck - You will be so happy to meet the new you 😊 Ooh - Thought of something else.... Do this - No matter what the Dr says - Do it! Your scars will be much finer and I tested this on myself and I put the pinky Micropore tape on one inner thigh and a cheaper tape on the other - The micropore tape leg scar is far far better than the other one! Buy this..... (Not the cheap lookalike stuff) You will find it a lot cheaper than $50 though if you look around on Amazon etc https://www.amazon.co.uk/3M-Micropore-Paper-Tape-Rolls/dp/B002P70T52 And keep it on 24/7 for 3 months! Yes it seems a lot but I tested this over 5 ops and the scars were better when I kept tape on for all this time - Obviously changing it to wash etc lol (So you need a lot of it) - When you are about to shower - Always remove the tape BEFORE - Cos if it gets all wet - It's sooo hard to get it off! I did not use ot on my Fleur de lis and I wish wish wish I knew this trick then! - When I had butt lift later and it re-opened part of the tummy scar at that point put in a tightish ring round my waist and kept it there - This bit is a far far better scar than the rest of it! You will thank me for it when you see your scar is so fine you have to really look to find it! Whereas the scar I have on my belly that I did not use this on - It stretched and I wish I knew this trick then! This tape supports the scar through it's healing stage and makes the stretching far far less or not at all. It was hard to put the tape on - I was lucky I had a 9yr old to do it for me - Hopefully you will find a way....

I am very happy with the results, and as there was not much fat under the skin - So the amount they removed having my TT was only 2.42lb (1.1 kilos)

The way I knew I had to do plastics is because - I thought when I lost the weight I would be 'normal' and no longer be an alien in this body hiding it as much as possible in clothes.... But -When I lost the weight I found that I was having to hide all over again - Hiding the skin. - I had become a whole different sort of alien - And I was more unhappy than before... My Mum was worried about me having plastics - But the day she helped me to try on my compression garment - And she and I were tucking the skin in to this garment - She fully understood how much skin I had been hiding and how hard it was to deal with. I think that you just know inside if you can get by without plastics emotionally not just physically... Now I am on the other side of plastics - I know it (For me - And I am a right wuss with pain) I know I would do it all again ten times over - Even the worst bits which were ouchy - The worst part for me was the first time I was upright and moving after the inner thigh lift - That was harshhhhhhhhhh!!! - But the moment I was in the compression garment from Design Veronique that was provided for me - It was like the armour was on and I was protected from everything and the pain left..... I know that I would not hesitate for a second if I had to do it all again - As long as I had the same Doctor though - His work is amazing! I am so happy with my results. They are not 100% perfect - But we could all get really picky if we wanted to - But I know that if he was there again and I was starting all over again - I would happily do it - As thanks to this one doctor - For the first time in my life - I do not hate everything about me. - There are bits I still dislike..... But - I don't hate me - I am comfortable in my skin I guess..... :-) I hope you find a way to be comfortable in your skin - Whatever road you choose :-)

You are very welcome. When I first came here many years ago. It was he only site I found where I could see and get help for my worries. And the people on this site were a great support. Back then people posting here gave me such great help - That I still come back to 'pay-it-forward' by offering any help I can to others. One person - She gave me one sentence that held fast through all my surgeries....... I trained my family to say this to me at every 'wobble' I had through fear of the surgeries, fear of pain etc etc She said ''Keep your eyes on the prize'' And I will never forget those words and I will always be grateful to her for being there for me :-) Keep us updated on your progress. I am not here every day these days - But every now and then I pop back to see what's happening - lol Good Luck.

I have had an Abdominoplasty with no tightening due to previous hernia repairs :-) I had my hernia repaired normally - Without mesh - Then it came back in 2007 - So the second time it was repaired with mesh. Then a few years after the hernia was fixed I had my Inverted T tummy tuck...... The surgeon said he tried to see what he could do - But had he repaired the muscle I would have been left with a lump down the middle. So he did not repair that - I am very happy! - There was virtually no pain after the op - Just tightness for a few days... And that happened in 2010 and I am as happy today as I was after the op! I attach a pic taken not long after the op... And one of more recently... (2017 I think this one was) I have noticed that a lot of belly buttons after surgery look like cats bums... lol Here are two pre-surgery pics... I really hope that this helps. Take these pictures with you to show the Dr if you need to - My mesh is quite large - 15cm x 20cm it said on a piece of paperwork I have - Unless they cut it smaller of course but I can feel it in me and it feels large! Feel free to send me a PM and ask all the questions you need to. I am happy to help. Suffice to say that it can be done - There is nothing to worry about - And I am so very happy with my results - This surgery was done in 2010 - My belly is as flat today as it was back then I think - Heck I'll go take a picture - Be right back... OK - I am back........ (Few minutes later) Here you go - Taken just now - The op was in April 2010 if I remember correctly..... This is today... Please excuse the marks from Jeans/Belt etc - LOL - Daughter said you won't be able to see my scar because of the Jeans having left marks.. Sorry about that...... I really hope that is of some help.... *Edit again* I want to say here - That after you have this surgery (Or any surgery like this) - No matter what the Dr says - You get some 3M paper tape and you put it on and keep it on - Replacing it as needed etc - Every day - All day - All night - For THREE MONTHS - No matter what - Support the scar whilst it heals - Then your scar will be a lot less visible than mine is. I tested this through my surgeries after this one - And the other scars are much finer and better through being supported as they healed, and if I ever did this one again I would definitely support the scar (Or any scar) as it heals so it heals to a fine line without stretching a little like mine has :-) The tape looks like this - It's cheap and worth ten times the price for a good scar :-) https://www.medisave.co.uk/3m-micropore-skin-tone-surgical-tape-1-25cm-x-9-14m-x-24.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2rCVuODv3AIVDuWaCh01bQx2EAkYASABEgIkW_D_BwE

To be honest I do not believe you should do something like this because of what someone else makes you feel... Say you did this and then he says 'I like women with butt implants' This could take you on a whole journey that you would never have gone on without the way he makes you feel not good enough. You ARE good enough. I know you are scared you may lose him to a big boobed woman - But if he does not love you as you are and you have to change yourself to be 'good enough for him' then in my eyes he really does not love the true you! If he loves you he should love every part of you and not wanna mould you into someone else. There is always a chance that he just said something thoughtless and silly and he did not mean that he wanted you to change. I am sorry to be so harsh (I really am) But my having my ops did NOT save my relationship. I have been on my own a while now and I am much more settled n myself - In fact I feel happier and more content. I value myself more and looking back I can see how I was settling for him because i thought that nobody else would ever love me as i was - I guess I felt deformed in a way. In fact after we split he even told me how vain I am - When at the time he had said he understood, which I guess was a lie as now I am vain. - I guess when you look back you can see things a lot differently than when you are inside of it at that moment. Anyways.... I really hope that you can sort out your feelings and I hope whatever you do - That you are happy. Oh and..... I am not saying this would happen but what if something happened in your surgery that made you feel more disfigured? Things do go wrong sometimes - If you did something and anything untoward happened and you had only done this for him - This could wreak havoc and cause many arguments. You truly can only do surgeries like this for yourself - Never for someone else's benefit. Which leads me to this question..... (Please answer honestly - lol) Question:...... If he had said nothing at all about other women's boobs - Would you have thought about or wanted a boob job? Or were you happy with your boobs up until he started mentioning other people's boobs leaving you feeling insecure? <3

I had a reduction and uplift - I am more happy than I ever was as I was a G cup in beginning then went down to deflated E cup and looked dreadful - I wanted the smallest I could get - He said he could do a C - But I think now I am a B 1/2 or small C - I am very happy that I did it - Even though it has been 8 years now and they are slightly deflated (age/ and a lil bit weight loss after the op) I would do it again 1000 times over - As I love having small boobs :-) And I - Like you - Did not want implants..... I attach two pics for you - Before.... And a week after the op..... Good luck - I hope whatever you choose to do that you are as happy as I am with your results :-)

Yes they are but they are very well made - Do not lose shape or anything. And very comfortable if you need to wear them 24/7 After getting the first one - It was so good I got one from them for every surgery - It made me feel so protected, I would never use another brand to be honest - Yes they may cost more - But I believe the people who designed them really thought about getting in and out of them after a surgery etc. I have had quite a few of these and never had a problem with them. One of my surgeries my Veronique garment had not turned up at the hospital, I was given some binder thing. Was so uncomfortable - And I swelled more than with these on -I could not wait until this was found and I could get back into the Veronique item that was just fantastic. I had no swelling problems at all in these. Would always rate them 10/10

Design Veronique - Worth it's weight in gold. Was like my protective armour to the world..... https://www.designveronique.com/post-surgical

LOL SGC - It is a joyous thing to see people embarking on to a new life Buying clothes is something that a lot of us find is something we could not enjoy for so long - It is wonderful to be able to go in to any store and buy anything we like!! I remember going in to a store and asking about something in the window (The last one of that jumper) They said ''It won't fit you!'' I made the lady get it out from the window - It DID fit me fine - I was wearing multiple coats as I am always cold now that the weight is gone.... I bought said jumper. Wore it one time - Hated it!! - LOL - It was itchy as sin and I ended up chucking it out - But at least it fit me and I proved that to that stroppy woman! LOL Enjoy your shopping - But take it easy as you are still healing.

Glad you are doing well SGC - Few more weeks and all the swelling should be gone (Always took me 6-8 weeks to get rid of all of it)

I am totally different - My first choice was arms - Because I figured if it went wrong I could cover it and hide it best. lol - The arms were something that totally broke my heart in a photo a year before hand so that is what prompted me to really want to get them done. At the last minute I added in boobs - As I thought having better arms would mean the boobs would be out of place - And he could do both in same op. After that I just put them in order of how much I could cope if I did not do them - I think my choices were all the way they were due to how much I felt emotionally battered by not having these things sorted out. After the first op - I saw that the surgeon I chose as a supersurgeon - Which prompted me to have more faith in a good result and I am very very happy now - 5 years+ later and I am still amazed that this IS really ME!

To be honest I don't remember what the levels were - I did not look. I just remember - Had op on Thursday - Came out on Saturday or Sunday - Drains removed on that day and go immediately in to compression garments as soon as the drains are out. In this country we do not go home with drains in. I guess they are different there... Only once do I remember having a very small something he said was a 'possible seroma' but it was so small it sorted itself out and was not a problem. I cannot imagine having drains in for so long.

It's weird to me when people in USA etc have drains in for so long - I never had any of my drains in for more than 3 days when I was going through my operations. And I had no problems from that - I guess different countries do things in vastly different ways. Glad you are doing so well :-)

So glad things have gone so well for you :-) When the swelling is all gone - You will look great!!

I would say NO. 100% No - Not after just 2 weeks. For more than one reason. 1. Your Dr must 'sign you off' to drive... 2. If you are not signed off - Your insurance is void... 3. I remember driving after my TT and also after the Butt Lift, and the one to the rear of the body was hardddd - Couldn't pull the choke out of the car to start it (It's cold here) I would only do it if your Doctor says you can. And.. 4. Swelling in lower extremities from sitting too long - Your feet and lower legs could well swell up. You might think that is just a short term annoyance - But if any damage happens to the Lymph system - Lymphedema can become your new life long 'friend' I would really talk to the surgeon about it to make sure you will be OK. It was a good few months before I went anywhere that was not just a short drive away to be honest Good luck :-)

Glad you are OK and doing well :-)

We will be thinking of you tomorrow - Take is easy afterwards and look after yourself <3 You are about to embark on a journey that you will - In time - Look back on and think - WOW - Were those before photos really me? It is amazing to look back and to see how far you have traveled on this journey Can't wait to see your after pictures.

OMG - You need to immediately contact them. This really does not sound right - I had very little swelling with mine and nothing like what you have described - Please - Go see someone before something dreadful happens. It sounds like you have Lymphedema or something in the arms..... You need to be seen. I really do believe this is an emergency that you need to see someone immediately. <3

I had no physical before surgery. On the day they did a few tests - That is all I think. What sort of physical do you mean? If you have questions - Can you contact the office and ask them?