KZol

I had a major rehaul breast reduction. They took a section about the size of a pound of butter out of each breast. The recovery is a BIG DEAL. I had mine done in Costa Rica and had to stay in-country for three weeks in a recovery house. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I believe it was an additional SIX weeks before I was supposed to lift my arms from my sides (practically impossible). I asked how long before I could do yoga, and he said at least three months. You are also not allowed to pick anything up--I lifted a basket of laundry at about five weeks out and popped a stitch (just one), ended up with a big hole that took about a month to close over, and left me with major scarring--it's in the place where the three points of skin come together at the bottom--you have to be extremely careful of damage there because there is NO undamaged tissue to build from and it all has to start from scratch. If the stitches are not intact, you'll get tissue death and that's what makes the hole. My surgeon did an excellent job. He stitches in an "internal underwire" to preserve lift as much as possible. Sadly, I have the stretchiest skin in the universe and have ended up with far more droop than I would have liked, but this is not his fault. The shape is flawless. They're nice, but not nineteen-year-old nice... Size, as mentioned, is difficult to predict. I went in with a 36FF asking just to have a good shape and proportional size. I also took a picture of the shape my husband wanted. The surgeon was thrilled to hear that, because people often come in asking for a specific size and that's not really how it works. Perkiness long-term will depend largely on how prone your skin is to stretching (do you have a lot of stretch marks? Really extensive loose skin from pregnancy or weight loss, or did it snap back fairly well?) and on surgical technique. It is also EXTREMELY important to wear the compression bra after surgery for at least as long as recommended. Don't think you can come home and throw on a sports bra. Then you need to be in a supportive (but no underwires until allowed) bra all the time, even sleeping, for at least a year. I did not follow this rule, much to my dismay now. It is VERY tempting not to. You've got these great perky new breasts, and you want to wear halter tops and things without bras....resist the temptation. There will be time for that later. I hope I answered all your questions. :confused1:

I look forward to my weight not ALWAYS being a topic of discussion with my dearest mother...wait...that might not work. She talks about my sister's tummy pooch all the time and she's a size 4! Okay then, I look forward to a mere discussion of my physical defects, NOT accompanied by the OH SO sad, ashamed look on her face. Oy...

Awwwww....that is the BEST story. What a nice husband. I think my hubbie would feel the same about baggy bottom trousers, not so sure he'd take my shopping...

With some of these kids, esp the very young ones, they're just curious (my daughter was about two when, in the grocery store, she pointed and said "Momma, why is that man so fat?" I just explained that people come in all different sizes and thank heaven I did, now that I am "that fat"!) With others, they're picking up a negative attitude from some adult in their lives, or even some other child. To YOUR child, whose mother is the most precious thing in the world to him, this must be (and obviously is) truly horrifying. I remember my kids hearing negative comments about the fact that I was a single mom, or identifying us as "trailer trash" because I was a very poor, very young single white mom with two small children close in age, and I always felt that the solution was similar--telling them that there are all kinds of people in the world, and sadly, some people had bad feelings about other kinds of people than themselves. We live in Arizona, where there is some nastiness toward the Spanish-speaking community, and I used that as an example--their eyes got big and my daughter said "But DORA speaks Spanish!" (Dora the Explorer) Something about the idea that someone could not like DORA seemed to really help them understand that people can be very unfair in their ideas and prejudices, and it's sad for them if they think that way, but we shouldn't feel bad because their wrong ideas are not our fault. It's really funny, all these years later, but it somehow feels so much more difficult explaining this to adults....

Letting people take photos of me again. Not being afraid to go anywhere because someone from my thinner days might see me. Having my neighbor call me "sexy mama" instead of "lil round mama" Not spending a fortune on clothes over the internet, then sending them back three times to get the right size. Looking in the mirror without cringing.

Hooray! I know it's scary to think of being out there on your own, but I have been where you are and it was the BEST feeling in the world to be out from under the burden of that man's control! I felt a thousand pounds lighter! You are going to feel amazing and LOOK amazing! How great is that?

I think that's what's called in generic terms a "thread lift". They attach threads with tiny barbs to the areas to be lifted and then secure them behind your ears. I understand it's pretty non-invasive and easy to heal from, but I don't have any personal experience to relate, sorry.

Hooray for you! You give us all hope!

You are AMAZING in every way!

I know the sleeve works great for volume eaters, but I am definitely a grazer--something I know is supposed to support a healthy weight but, in my case, does NOT. I don't have a large stomach capacity (I think probably 16-20oz.) and am very miserable if I eat that much. I know grazing is a no-no with the sleeve, and I will have to change my behavior patterns--has anybody out there done so successfully?

There are a few guys out there who are weirded out when a woman "doesn't eat". I'm not even sleeved yet, and I've run across a couple. "Why are you taking such small bites? Who eats like that? I DARE you to take a giant bite right NOW". I suspect that these guys are not good candidates for a relationship after VSG. They want that magical girl who eats like a guy but still stays super thin. I think the majority of guys are charmed by limited eating. My own husband was certainly pleased that when I met him I only ate two energy bars and one can of soda per day. Wildly unhealthy, but I was thin and he liked it. I would try the slightly more truthful "I had stomach surgery, and I have to eat like this right now." As far as guys talking....yes, they talk, but in my experience they don't really gossip like women do. They mostly talk about themselves. My best friend has been a guy for over a decade, and even talking to a woman, there's very little in the way of gossip. I think if you decide to tell him, your secret will be safe, especially if you tell him you're not interested in the news getting around. Just my two cents. Best of luck!

I loved your take on the "momentum" of the scale. I'll have to try that. Congrats on your wonderful weight loss!