kareyquilts

Susan: So sorry about the flu stuff! That sucks especially when your tummy is so sore. Glad you got the seran wrap off. I've never heard of that set up before. 16 pounds! That is freakin fantastic! You're doing great. Give yourself and break and a pat on the back! The pain and tiredness gets better every day. Swell hell will pass. Hang in there!

Susan: Glad everything worked out and you're still with us! The first few days are rough. I'd ask for a different pain med if you can't tolerate what you gave them. You need something to take the edge off. Sounds like you're going to have a wonderful result. Don't try and do too much. Only 2 drains? You're lucky. I had 6 with both of my surgeries. Don't get too disappointed if the drains don't come out. My doc wouldn't take them out until the drained less than 16 cc for over 36 hours. How much are your drains collecting? Hope you have some good movies and can try and sleep and relax. Welcome to the flatlands!

Laurigee: Thanks for the advice. I'll elevate my knee for a while before I go to rehab. It's getting a little easier to get around. I'm getting use to it mentally and working on my attitude. Sam: Thanks for the well wishes! Need to do a little last minute shopping and I can't drive yet. I'm going to put my life in my hands and ask my 22 year old to drive me. Wish me luck!

Great hole picture! I can see why you've been worried. Looks like it's filling in well, though. If you have to have a little scar revision, I bet you'll be surprised how easy it is. When I had the revision to my tummy tuck, I thought it would be very painful just like the first time around, but it was virtually painless and that was with the anchor incision. So, my point is, to try and not worry and enjoy all the good stuff. Happy Healing and Merry Christmas!

I had knee surgery 10 days ago and my knee is really hurting. I'm missing exercise so much. I start physical therapy on Tuesday. I think it's going to be hard. I'm actually dreading it, because at the doc's office on Friday they had me bend my knee back as far as it would go and it wasn't very far! It hurt like crazy and since they've taken off the brace and I'm walking solo it's more swollen and painful. GRRR! So tired of pain. I think I've gained 4 pounds too. It seems that it always 5 steps forward and 2 steps back! I know I can do this, it just seems hard right now like all my zip has been zapped. Just needed to vent. Hope everyone's enjoying the holidays!

I agree with the others. Focus on the outcome. Plastic surgery comes with a price, literally the economic expense, the time out of your life and the emotional expense. It's one of the best things that you can do for yourself. I don't think anyone I know of, is sorry that they did it. It takes courage and it is painful. I had a tummy tuck and then with my thigh and butt lift, I had a revision to my tt with an anchor incision. I was worried about the extra scar, but it doesn't bother me and my stomach looks awesome. I have a thread with some before pictures and an older thread of my original surgery. I'm going to try and post some after pictures soon. Just had knee surgery, so I've procrastinated the after pictures. Wishing you the best!

Shalee: You look freaky fantastic! The boobs are nice and up there! YEAH! The stomach is great. I'm sure when you heal and forget some of the difficulties you've had to endure that you're going to be estatic about your results. I'm sure that exercise is going to help your mental status, if you can find time so close to Christmas! Anyway, thanks for sharing! Isn't is great to say goodbye to all that puckery skin!LOL!

Glad you updated us. Happy you can exercise. Life will get better. Take care. Would still love to see pics.

Think of you today! Hope all is going well. Sending healing energy your way!

Susan: Yeah, you're big day is finally here! Don't let the nerves get you down. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. May the flatlands be kind to you! Good luck!

Survived another surgery! Yeah! My knee hurts but it's nothing compared to plastic surgery! The doc gave me a lidocaine block on the knee so I can't feel it too much. I think it's similar to the pain pump for a tummy tuck, except that I can't control it, it will just wear off. Thanks for the well wishes everyone! 2009 will be better and healthier!

Susan: You're going to be fine. You need to concentrate on getting lots of good protien and quality food into your body. You're going to lose some weight with the surgery. Also, you can lose weight after your tummy tuck. I lost an additional 20 pounds and everything still looked good. Godd luck! I'll be thinking of you!

Well, I'm off for yet another surgery. I'm dreading it and very nervous. Oh well. I know it's for the best. Must remember my mantra to breath and think positive thoughts!

Kittylover- Hope everything works out for you! Is there any support we can offer?

Thanks for the info, you're awesome!

Shalee: I'm so happy for you. I hated having everyone wait on me as well. I know you're going to love the results, when you can forget all the pain of getting there. It's really just like childbirth isn't it? When did to forget what an ordeal it is for a little while before we're willing to do it again! Hang in there. Can't wait to see pics!

LauriGee: You're doing fantastic as well. I do need to update my pictures. I'm going to try and get my DH to take more tonight. As far as the band slipping. My band slipped this summer. I had symtoms, but I didn't know enought to get my butt into the doc. For a weeks, I was having a hard time eating almost everything. I was vomiting and getting that mucusing stuff about every other meal. I felt tight in my chest. Then I would have a good day with no problems. I thought I wasn't chewing well enough or picking the wrong kinds of foods, etc. Why do we always thiink it's our own fault? Then I thought, well maybe I'm just too tight, so I got a slight unfill, but the problem didn't go away. I finally called the doc and they did an upper GI with barium. Right after that test, I ate out with friends for my birthday and had to leave the get together because I couldn't stop vomiting. I called the doctor, had a complete unfill and then they called the radiology department and I was informed that my band had slipped. By that time, a part of my stomach had moved up into my esophagus and I could not stop vomiting. I had to have emergency surgery that evening. Luckily, the two docs that worked on me were able to remove my band and replace it with a new one. They did puncture my stomach during the surgery, but I healed well. I was told that it was a very diffiuclt surgery. Later I learned that there are 2 common reasons for band slippage. Eating too much at one time, or having too tight of a band for too long. I think that I was too tight, but also, I began having problems shortly after my first tummy tuck, when I had a low profile port placed at the same time. I got a pill stuck about 5 days after my surgery and had to have a complete unfill. My band just never seemed to work as well after that. The doc agreed that something could have happened during the surgery. Unfortunately, I did not get an upper GI or floruscopy after that first episode. I hope that wasn't too much information! If I can answer any more questions, just let me know. I wish you the best!

Dr. Schulman: What is your opinion on the length of time that someone should wear a compression garment? Does it make a difference if they have had lipo? My doctor recommended 1 month the with my tummy tuck and now, with the thigh, butt, revised tt and arm lift, he wants me to keep them on for 3 months. I've read different websites that recommend up to 6 months. Why so much variation? Do they really make that much difference so far out from surgery?

Shalee: Please check in, worried about you!

Lori: You go girl! I'm going to try and get some after pictures posted this weekend. I'm having knee surgery on Wednesday. I'm having my knee cap cut and realigned and a ligment loosened, so that my knee will track properly. Supposedly this will postpone a knee replacement for 10-15 years. It's a 3-4 month rehab and I am just dredding it! I have known that I needed the surgery for a whil , but I decided to do the plastics first and piggyback the 2 recoveries. But actually, I'm pretty much totally recovered from the plastics. I've got my Christmas almost totally done, so that my family won't suffer while I'm down. I just hope I can keep my spirits up and not spiral into a depression. I'm already depressed just thinking about it!

I'm thankful for the chat boards like this too. If your incision sticks out a little, you know that Saltz can just trim that off in the office, don't you? He won't do it, if you don't let him know that it bugs you. When I had my breast lift one of my breasts was lower than the other one. I pointed it out and Dr. Saltz fixed it for free. He wants you to be pleased, so I would just let him know.

Susan: Looking forward to sharing in your journey, please pm me if you need anything. A week before Christmas, now that's hard core!

Dr. Schulman: How do you know if your surgeon can execute a well done facelift? My sister-in-law (who is a doctor) had a neck and facelift. The surgery took 10 hours and when she was healed she really didn't look that different. Her neck was less saggy, but it still was quite creased. Her face didn't look symrtrical and her lips, which had fat injections, frankly, looked awful. I've looked at many websites of different doctors before and after pictures and some look great and others do not. I realize that alot of the results are dependent on what the surgeon had to work with. I also realize that no one is going to put their nightmare clients on their website, so really it's hard to know. I've also seen doctors that use fat to fill out the cheeks, chin, lips etc and others that use fillers and implants and others that do none of that. It seems some docs have a more creative take, etc. It's hard to sift through it all. I'm partial to the doc who has put my body back together, but I've been told that faces are a specialty in and of themselves. Well, anyway, I think I've created enough jealousy with my new body for the time being. LOL! Thanks again!

Okay, the new toys really gave me a good laugh! My only advice is to make sure you have some good help for at least 5 days. I would also have some one watching your active little ones. Eat a lot of protien as it aids in healing. I used arnica and found it really does help with bruising. You can get it at health food stores or online at www.makemeheal.com. Get some good movies and plan on resting a lot! Your doctor sounds great and I bet you'll have a good experience. Keep us informed!

Nana, It's nice to run into you on a thread. I always like what you have to say. I've never heard of sonar lipo. It's not smart lipo or laser lipo is it? Why is it superior to tumescent lipo, do you know? As far as getting implants, you might recall that I went back and forth on that issue and I'm really glad that I got them. I have silicone implants and I really like them. They feel natural and look great. I got the smallest size that would fit my width and they helped with volume and lift when I had my breast lift. Are you going back to the same surgeon? Maybe you should get several opinions?! Keep in touch and let us know what you decide.