Be Prepared

[waitingpatiently 250]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a minute to advise everyone that when it comes to elective surgeries,be prepared for complications. I'm the lucky 1 in 100,000 patients that the routine breast lift goes terribly wrong. I have an excellent surgeon (voted number 1 plastic surgeon in our area),( I work in the medical field and researched him extensively) I'm in excellent shape and have never smoked a cigarette in my life and it happened to me....so it could happen to you. We get so excited to reach our weight goals and look so forward to making our bodies match our new self confidence, that we put little REAL thought into the risks.

Let me clarify, even though I have spent the last 3 months watching pieces of my dead breast tissue be cut away, been hooked to a wound vac for 2 months, and now I'm preparing for a skin graft ..............I would probably still have done it, What I hoped to accomplish with the breast reduction was to eliminate my back pain.....that it did.---so I know when I have this behind me, I will be happy.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of having surgery, I just want everyone to make sure....that it means enough to you to accept the risks,,,,because they are definitely real and painful. I have traded huge saggy breasts for perky disfigured ones. I have traded 3 days a week at the gym for 3 days a week at the doctors office.

Then there is the financial risks.i honestly don't think anyone can prepare for this.We sign 10 disclaimers telling us the risks and how those complications will be meet with additional charges, but we just assume that is for someone else.....surely not us. I spend over $125 a month on medications and dressing. My wound vac alone was $6,000!!!.My doctor has covered all the big stuff (doctor visits and would vac) for me so far. I will need additional surgery and will have to have an implant or tissue transplant.( i would guess that would be at least another $8000) I know at some point I may have to pay a part, but when I ask him about it he just tells me that he doesn't want me worrying about the money....That it will all work out.

I have included a few pictures of what I'm dealing with....they are graphic. I wish I had the successful pictures that others have shown, Maybe in 6-8 months when this process is over, I can come back and have a different story to tell.

June 2007 Bandster Calender.doc

[Janiece 64]

I personally appreciate your reality check! I just had an arm and boob lift 2 days ago and I'm headed to a post op appointment in a few hours. Do they have any idea what happened to cause your complications or is it just a random, unlucky draw?

I wish you a speedy recovery and I hope in the end it all works out!

[KAATNS 1,473]

OMG, bless your heart. Wishing you a speedy, healthy recovery. <3

[HotButterFly 981]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I pray soon all this will just be like a bad dream. Speedy recovery!!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Holy cow, those pictures left me momentarily speechless. My heart truly goes out to you.

You offer very wise words of advice. You're totally right, even with the most routine surgeries when absolutely everything is done right, things can go wrong. I think too often we go into elective surgeries without realizing there is always a risk involved.

I never had to deal with what you are, but I too came out of an elective surgery that ended up in hell. To make a long story short, I ended up with life threatening blood clots and 8 days in the ICU after having a tummy tuck/hernia repair. Like you, I did everything "right". I didn't smoke, I was very active, I even had blood thinner shots after surgery. But, it wasn't enough and it almost took my life.

I will definitely be keeping you in my prayers.

[PrettyThick1 1,860]

You poor thing! Thanks for the reality check, I'm far from considering reconstructive surgery right now but you have certainly given me something to think about.

I hope everything goes well and that you are healed soon. Please stay in touch!

[Bama53 214]

OMGosh! I cannot even imagine what you are going through! Will keep you in my prayers for a safe and speedy recovery. Please keep us posted.

[waitingpatiently 250]

Thanks everyone for all the prayers. prayer is what has kept me from falling apart. So keep them coming.

Janiece- as for what caused it? Just the luck of the draw. For about the last 2 years I have had numbing in my right leg especially when I exercise ( I have back issues so it wasn't a stretch that it was nerve related) but my dad had a genetic flaw in his aorta right at the belly button and he had to have part of his aorta and femoral arteries replaced... So in prep for this surgery I went and was tested to see if I had the same condition and was cleared.... After this my GP thought there was a chance I had a under lying small vein disorder. But after extensive testing I have been cleared. So... The only thing the doctors can come up with is that either I swelled more than expected causing the bandages to become too tight and cut the blood supply to the breast or that maybe I fell asleep with my arm across my chest ( which my husband did see me do) and that cut the blood supply. Neither of these would normally cause this much damage, but if it happened at a crucial time in the healing process, It was possible.

[ADJL 685]

Ouch...(understatement of the year...) That looks so painful. I do hope you heal quickly and I'm glad you have a doctor taking care of you.

[DetChatt 188]

Oh my. I'm so sorry this happened to you and hope you heal quickly and can move on. I've been lightly thinking about a little work myself (leaning more towards against than for), but this pretty much has me definitely NOT going for it. Thanks for sharing, and again I"m so sorry.

[KirstenHope 40]

OMG - That look horrible. I am 5 weeks out and knock on wood I am healing great so far. But you are right I did sign all the forms thinking they are not meaning ME. I have 2 more surgeries coming up - I will take the chance but I will keep in mind it can ALWAYS be you! Thank you for sharing.

[dawalsh 919]

Wow, your pictures were a real eye opener! Thanks for sharing and pray for your speedy recovery.

[Ms. Purt 16]

Wow hope you get better soon...