Juney

Hi Jane, no I haven't found anything else abroad. I did go for a consultation for corrective surgery with another surgeon in Poland, but decided it wasn't for me. I'm so glad I did as I have come across some other bad stories of surgery in Poland by the same surgeon and 2 others. So much so I would now never go abroad for surgery ever again. Cosmetic surgery is fraught with dangers anyway, we all know there are risks attached, but if something happens, you need to be at home. If you have surgery and then find there is a problem when you get home, you find the surgeons in Poland don't want to know, and they know it is very difficult to sue a surgeon abroad, so they just move on to the next unsuspecting person. I went to the Nuffield in Chester and a surgeon called Douglas McGeorge. He has done the best job he could have possibly done to correct my breasts, and I am thrilled with the results. I will always have the terrible scarring, and possibly may need more surgery in the future, but for now they are looking so much better. The Nuffield hospital was something else! I could have stayed there for a couple of weeks, the food was amazing, and care second to none - so different to Poland! I also had an arm lift while I was there, and the result is fab. He has put the scars right on the underside of my arms, so if I lift up my arms, you can't see the scar from the front or the back". The only time you could see them would be if I had my arms by my sides, and you would see the scars from the back. The cost here wasn't that much more than abroad, and when I look back at what I and others have been through, it's really not worth trying to save that little bit extra cost. My friend is having a consultation for a facelift with Douglas McGeorge, so I'll let you know how she gets on :-) xx

Okay, I had ALOT of plastics done two months ago so I can give a little logistical advice. You can shower with drains - get a lanyard to wear around your neck and hook the drains to it. My surgeon considered a daily shower as very important and he had us doing it the very day after surgery. I was instructed to gently wash with antibiotic soap and I had no wound issues. Follow your surgeons instructions, but if you are permitted to shower, the lanyard deal works!
I HATED the drains and the last one had to come out while I still had alot of output, well, it basically fell out. anyway, drains are so helpful at keeping swelling down and preventing seronomas (spelling?) so look on the bright side. A lady who had plastics 2 weeks after me - her drains came out sooner and she had much worse swelling then I did.
I am 2 months post op and still have twinges, tingles, numbness near the LBL incision and the latest feature is a bit of numbness down my left forearm from the arm lift. Surgeon said nerve weirdness can take 8-12 months to resolve. sigh. It isn't bad, don't get me wrong, but now i really understand when people say recovery from plastics is a LONG journey.
Good thing I look so dang good or I would be unhappy...haha

QUICK UPDATE:
10 Days post op and doing well, I had one of the four drains removed today. Not really that big of a deal but it was clearly towards the rear because the tube was REALLY long. Did not hurt at all, just a very weird sensation. One of the many I have been feeling lately.
BigHappy, I hope you read this because I owe you an apology! I kinda snickered at your idea that your "junk" could swell after the procedure well on Saturday night it happened to me!!! I was VERY freaked out but by the time I woke up on Sunday morning it "all" was back to normal. During my procedure they did make a cut straight down toward my genitals to remove the excess skin in that area and the Dr. said that leaking into or swelling is absolutely normal……."normal" ??? Not when you were not expecting it. I jokingly said, might be a good idea to give people a heads up on that one!! LOL
Still have 4 drains so being 1 down does not feel like a victory at all. I can tell I feel very good! Everyday I get more range of motion and less pain. No longer taking pain meds just Motrin if I feel a little ache
TO BE CONTINUED!

Drumroll please......

Here are a few pics separated by about 13 months of my progress. Notice how much more of the door in the background you can see !!

Congrats on getting it done. You're doing fine.
Really stay on top of your stool softeners. I promise you "pushing" will be the worst pain imaginable. You want everything free flowing for a while.

Sorry to hear of your problems. Thanks for warning the group. Keep us updated if you get anywhere.

Hi Juney, inyteresting and thanks for sharing. Did you find a good alternative since? I am interested in a nip tuck in the face department but I'm really scared of being disfigured. If only the wonderful Dr Cierny did cosmetic surgery too.
All the best, Jane

Well hopefully you are now all done and dusted, and on the way to your happier and healthier life. It really was the best thing I have ever done for myself. I am at my target weight, and fel amazing! I have been maintaining for around 6 months, I can eat anything, no food is a problem. I eat like a normal person, just smaller amounts - I love my sleeve, and I hope you love your too! Good luck xxx

That sounds delicious! Can't wait to try it, but I'm still only one week post op, so still on liquids and slop! I crave meat, and cheese and onions together - so this recipe is just up my street. Thanks for sharing x