MichiganChic

Sending you some healing vibes. Hope you can put this all behind you soon!

I am sorry to hear that this sort of behavior is still rampant in "mature" (those were air quotes) adult men. I guess online dating makes it easy to just vanish. It happens to my 24 year old daughter, too. Out of common sense and safety, they don't divulge much information and meet in neutral safe locations, but that makes it easy to avoid people after acting like you liked the person. BTW, the kids call this behavior Ghosting. My heart breaks every time I hear her say she was ghosted again. The internet opens up the possibility of meeting lots of people, but I'm not so sure it's any better than when we didn't have that resource. On a slightly different topic - does anyone know the ratio of available women to available men in the 50- 60 age range? Just curious, because it just seems so absurdly hard for great women I know to find someone.

I think you are right to agonize about it now. It will probably save you some unhappiness later. I've always had small, droopy breasts, and my PS said she would not just fill them up with bigger implants. She said it would just look silly, and the end result would likely be boobs on my chest with loose breast tissue hanging off the end. I was really surprised, but I had the lollipop lift, and it looks good. The scars are fading at a little over a year out, and they are pretty. There is a lot of controversy about having the mastopexy first and then going back for the augmentation later. I had it all in one surgery, which was good for me because I don't have time to keep having surgery. Some PS refuse to do that, though, saying you'll get better results. If you had large breasts to start, any chance you have enough breast tissue for just the lift? IDK, I wished then, and I wish now that I had been able to see them implanted and could make a decision at the time of augmentation. It's hard relying on someone else to make a decision based on what they think you want. I sure understand you agony - I went through it, too!

My arm pits were very hollow from weight loss. I had brachioplasty, which removed lots of the area with hair. I had a breast augmentation later, and both surgeries help to pull the skin their tighter. However, I still had the hollow pit, so I did laser hair removal, and it worked great.

@@Elode You'll be fine! The first couple of weeks are a little rough, but that passes quickly. That's a blip on the radar of your life. It's really worth it. You just can't predict how much pain you'll have, or how you'll feel about it. You might be one of those people who find that it's not that bad. The good news is that you can get relief from it. Even at the worst, most painful days, it was very tolerable when I was still.

@@CowgirlJane did you tell him he's way better than you thought he would be, and ask him why he's not taken? Seriously though, glad you got a couple to choose from. Sounds fun!

I might

@@Queen of Crop My seroma was in my inner knee. It took about 4 months, weeks of twice weekly visits to drain it, injections with medications to try to dry it, and 3 surgeries to heal it. Ultimately the last surgery included a 4 inch incision with about 12 inches of tunneling opened up inside, that had to be packed, and I had a wound vac. Once we did that, it was healed in about a month. I think mine was like a close to worst case scenario. Like I said, I'm prone to complications. I don't know why. I don't smoke and I eat well. In this case, I feel like I contributed to it in because I didn't stay off my feet, but I didn't even know I had a problem for at least 3 weeks and things seemed to be healed. Also, the drain that was in that leg never put as much out. Who knows. @@BethinPA also had an abdominal seroma, and ultimately healed fine, too. You can search for some threads about seromas - we were commiserating about them for a while. Take heart, even the worst of them will eventually heal when properly treated. While it is unfortunate, I viewed it as a bump in the road. Hope you are better soon.

@@cherri2082 I am 53. Had my sleeve at 50, and had 3 plastics procedures in the past 18 months. I do not feel too old at all. I feel like this is completing what I started. I've had some pretty good results, and I'm thrilled with them. Even my family, especially my parents, who didn't want me to take the risks associated with elective surgeries, agrees with me that is was the right decision for me. They can see how much of an impact it made on my life.

That is funny. I always think people give away their true thoughts when they least realize it. I am sure he really was wondering what's wrong with you that you are still on the market, though I doubt he meant to convey that or insult you. We know there's nothing wrong with you, but there's no way that guy could know it. I'm sure he was very happy with his findings. I'm enjoying living vicariously through you

I didn't need a walker. My gait was not unsteady at all, and I wasn't too weak to ambulate. As for the auto flap, it's when the surgeon removes just the skin on your backside but leaves all other attached tissue and fat, and pulls it down to give you less of a flat butt. Even after weight loss, I still had a bit of a shelf looking butt, and that procedure helped round it out a little. Regarding breast size, I really struggled with it. In the end I chose the bigger size of my range, because everyone says no one ever comes back and said they wish they'd gone smaller. I do love my results, but wish they were slightly smaller. I ended up in a VS DD bra, and wanted to be a D. I have 400 cc under muscles mentor round implants. All in all, they are quite pretty in and out of clothes, so I don't regret them, but probably would have gone 350 or 375 if I could have tried them on for real. They tend to cause some shirts to gape a little. I'm truly an hour glass now, where I used to be pear shaped, so I love that! I've always had a small waist and big hips, and thanks to a very skillful plastic surgeon, I look like I was born this way (in clothes ) One other thing, I also considered and ruled out Mexico because I didn't want to get home and have complications that needed intervention. As it turned out, that was one of the best decisions I could have made. I had a small incision evisceration on the back with my first surgery, and a very nasty seroma with my thigh lift on the second surgery. I just know my luck, and I was right! Even with that, the pain, misery (and it was miserable for me), and cost, I'd do it all again in a heart beat! I had pretty reasonable expectations, and I think that's really important, too. I am excited for you!!

My sleep needs have not really changed. I get up about 6 every day, whether I want to or not. I never nap. I probably get between 6-8 sleep most of the time. The big thing that is different is that I sleep better now than when I was obese, and I wake up rested. My sleep needs have not really changed. I get up about 6 every day, whether I want to or not. I never nap. I probably get between 6-8 sleep most of the time. The big thing that is different is that I sleep better now than when I was obese, and I wake up rested.

Congratulations on making a decision and moving forward! It's a very exciting time! I had more extensive work done (had a 360 with auto flap augmentation) and brachioplasty in one procedure, and the thing that I was really glad I had was a recliner. I don't think I was able to get into bed for about 2 weeks. I had my family around to help a lot at first, and I really did need them. I also used a shower chair just to make sure I didn't get weak and slip or fall. Also, try to be prepared for looking heavier than when you went in for a while. You can see a pretty immediate result or change, but it doesn't come close to what you'll look like in a few months! Takes lots of before pictures, so you'll have lots of comparison. I really didn't have many good befores, and I wish I had. I also recommend lots of narcotics

At six months, I had lost about 84 pounds. It took me until 14 months to lose a total 0f 145. My daughter who is 25 years younger and weighed about 40 pounds less lost 100 pounds in 6 months. I had lots of skin, she has none. That gives you an idea of what is possible, but it is as unique as we are.

Fried shrimp is not a sin. I know you are being facetious, but the drama decreases your ability to put things in perspective. Less than perfect choice? yes. Going to cause weight gain and undo your WLS? no. Put it in perspective, learn from it, and move on. Maybe you are not a horrible person because you ate fried shrimp. Maybe the truth is that you gave in to a craving and you are panicked that this is the beginning of the end for you? The thing about humans is that we are not perfect. The thing about successful WLS is that it's what we do 95% of the time, and that we do it for the long haul. One last word of advice - be honest with yourself. Was it 3, 4, or 5 shrimp? As you get closer to goal, it gets harder and harder to lose. If you don't learn in the early days what it takes for your body to lose, you'll find yourself befuddled as to why you are stuck. I do applaud you for taking it seriously. You'll be fine.

@@Pandora Williams, well said. Thanks for sharing your great story and perspective.

There are some days I feel obsessed about food. Probably when I'm stressed. I'm a stress eater, and not eating causes more stress. Those are the times it is the hardest. Most of the time I would say I am diligent. I am one who has to track and count, weigh and measure, or I will graze myself right up to 300 pounds. My sleeve doesn't offer the restriction some people report, either, so I could eat enough calories even without grazing if I make bad choices. I do feel like I'm on a permanent diet, but it doesn't bother me. So far it's working, and that makes it worth the effort.

I can't comment on how to make your butt bigger because I lost 150 pounds, had it cut off and sucked out and it's finally gotten more normal…but I wanted to say that's really cute. And you can't wear that to run errands where I live either! Even in some of the ritzier areas of Detroit (yes, there is such a thing, lol) you'd look out of place. Also, I never thought about wearing a jumpsuit because of my big behind, but maybe I should consider it!

Haha!! Loved that, and so true. The only thing missing is that someone needs counseling, the go-to fix for all that ails you on BP!

I am no stranger to plastics, and in the past 20 months had a full body lift, brachioplasty, vertical thigh lift, breast lift/augment. My results were excellent with everything except my thighs (which were a real mess before), and even those are greatly improved. I had some complications, including a couple of open incisions on my lower body lift that took a few months to heal, and a terrible seroma on my left knee area that required a couple more surgeries and a wound vac before it would heal. So....now I am having some liposuction on my outer thighs because I have very pronounced saddle bags that I just hate, and because my right thigh is bigger than my left and pants don't fit well. I am scheduled for this coming Friday, and I am just DREADING the pain, and I worry about complications, given my history. The other procedures were much longer (all that was done in two 6 hour procedures) and I didn't do great with anesthesia, either. However, I have worked so hard to be free of disfiguring fat and skin that I just am going through with it in spite of my reservations. Can anyone else tell me your experiences with liposuction?

@@CowgirlJane ugh. So sorry to hear that! Complications are never fun, even when they are temporary and just a bump in the road. Which surgery caused it? This most recent surgery is the only one I had without some sort of post op problem. I feel lucky because I was prepared for something. Hope it resolves quickly.

I am still a little swollen an have some bruising still, and its been over 5 weeks. For me, even though its far from perfect, it was really worth it not to have those freakish hips! How is your healing coming?

It was worth it for me. My experience is very much like @@AvaFern in that it is not the huge wow factor of the TT and breasts, and in my case, arms. However, I started with super saggy, flappy inner thighs that had huge areas of "dripping fat". I have the vertical lift (also had a 360 lift), and I look much more like a normal 53 year old with slightly heavy thighs. I have lots of cellulite and skin not that tight. I had a terrible seroma that took 4 months and 3 surgeries to heal and left me with little residual swelling just above my toes. After all of that surgery, I ended up with horrible saddle bags, and the right leg was bigger than the left. Just had lots of Lipo about 5 weeks ago, and the saddle bags are way better, and my legs are much more equal in size. I can't tell for sure how it will be, because I still have some swelling. I also noticed that after 12 months from the vertical thigh lift, I started getting that bulge in my upper inner thigh again! @@CowgirlJane is right - that nasty thigh fat IS different and it DOES come back, even after all that!! So, that was liposuctioned out, too. So even after all that, I would do it again. You have to consider your starting point when considering the impact in the end. I look very good in clothes, and many, many times better than before, so I don't regret the pain, misery, complications, time, and money I spent on it.

The reason your father has control of your finances is because he is supposed to ensure the money is managed properly, and you have what you need for your care. If he is unable to do that, maybe there is someone else who can help you? Contact your local social security office, or work through your therapist to set up a different arrangement.

I used to drink a lot of milk before surgery. I'll never forget the day the dietician said, in her sweet little voice, "we don't drink milk after surgery". I was aghast, lol. Just couldn't fathom that, and I was an expert dieter. It's allowed on weight watchers, counting calories, etc. So, being a good citizen, I gave it up. I eat plenty of cheese and yogurt, still. I never thought I could do it, but it was easier than I thought, and I don't miss it like I thought I would. And it does go with lots of stuff I don't eat anymore, and I can't eat or drink together, so it was pretty much engineered right out of my diet.