JulieNYC

Enterprise, For what it's worth (and it's only one guy's opinion), Dad says Mederma, Vitamin etc. is a waste of money. He says moisturizer in general will help, but that specific products that claim scar reduction won't. I don't know what I think about that, but I've been using Nivea cream, per his recommendation, and it's worked pretty well. No, I'm not in a compression garment. If I'm honest, I quit wearing it in week 4, though I was supposed to wear it through week 6. I would have worn it longer if I had one like yours. Mine kept rolling down (it wasn't joined behind the shoulders) and was too loose by the time the swelling went down to do any real good (that was my excuse anyway).

pumpkin, yes, I had my arms done in round 2 (6 weeks ago). That's the best thing I ever did and I almost didn't do it. I thought the scar wouldn't be worth it but it totally is. OH_Julie (and all who subsequently commented), thank you so much for your thoughful words. I'm at a loss for how to tell you how much they mean to me, so I'll just say thank you and continue to share my journey. Thank you for sharing yours as well. UPDATE: Well, I'm not doing as well as I'd like, quite honestly. I guess with the holidays being right here at the same time as surgery, I just may have overdone things with traveling from one family to another, shopping, shopping and shopping, cooking, etc. It's been very busy. The only problem there is that my drains are still draining a LOT and it's probably because of all the movement. So, I've been ordered to semi bed rest for about 3 days to see if they'll slow down. To put it in context, with my first 2 surgeries, by day 4 or so, I was only draining about 20 cc's a day in each drain. So the drains were removed on day 6. This time, I'm on day 7 and they're still draining like 150 cc's a day. I never drained that much with the others, much less a week out! Anyway, I've been moving around a lot, so I'm going to really follow orders and stay put for a few days and see if that'll help. I don't want to go back to New York with drains. I still have a week and a day before I go home, so there's still time to turn the tide, which is what I plan to do, even if sitting still KILLS me. Other than the drain issues, I feel fine. More tired than normal, but that's part of the process. I can't tell you about the results yet on the legs. Dressing change tomorrow, so I should get a peek then. I'm still very, very happy with the breasts. That's about it!

My port stuck out so much that you could see it through clothes. Now, it still sticks out because I elected to leave it on top of the muscle (my band doc said below the muscle would make it invisible but would make fills harder and much more painful), but not so much that you can see it through clothes (or even naked). It just looks like I have a well developed ab muscle there now. I'll show you a pic in the next round of pics. If you have the option of a low profle port from the beginning, go for it. If not, I'd say 95% of people never need it. I think it's my shape -- I'm pretty hourglassy and my middle is very small compared to the rest of me, so it's mostly that I think.

Fantastic!!!!!!

Dawn, It's ok that you ate. It was Christmas and it's behind you. You have a band and though I'm sure you won't need to, if you need a fill, you can get one. It was probably a one time thing and you've got it out of your system for a good long while. Don't give it another thought. With all your running, those calories won't be with you for long either. If you feel better, whenever I have a binge (not that I'm labeling you), I wind up losing to my lowest during the recovery. I don't know if that's because of repentance or because my body trusts it will eat again (aka starvation mode talk), but that is the way it works for me. Boo, I can't wait for your trip to NYC! We are going to run together and it will be great. Are you in town the 6th by chance? I'm running a 1/2 in Central Park that day -- it's one that encourages walkers too, if you want to think about running or run/walking it. It's a women's race (those are the best) sponsored by More Magazine. Think about it! I'm really tired and going to nap. My drains are still draining a lot and they'll be in another week at least. I didn't have drains this long with either prior surgery, much less twice this long. Urg...

These are not the best pictures. I want to give you good pics of how well the scars are doing but I'm dealing with limited software since I'm traveling. When I get home on the 6th, I'll do better. I'm at 6 weeks postop.

These are not terribly informative pictures. I took "befores" but on film (how last century) because I forgot to bring my camera to the hospital and I stopped by a drug store to get a disposable so I'd have realistic befores, but I haven't developed them yet. And, I'm working off my parents' computer tha doesn't have good photo software, so the cropping and sizing is rudimentary. I'll do better in a couple of weeks when I get home but didn't want to keep you waiting that long. I'm very happy with the breast size. I'm in a full C right now, but there's a lot of swelling. I'll settle into a mid-C or maybe even a smallish C in the end, I'm sure. Also, there are no weird shadows or scars other than the t from my lift. There are some shadows in the photo.

You do NOT waddle, Betty. Quit talking about my band mother that way!! Anyone else sick of holiday eating? Christmas is great, but I'm ready for the food to be over. I'm getting a fill tomorrow (Dad's going to do it.)

Here's an example of how you could see my port through clothes until I had the LP placed....

Karey, My out-of-trial went longer than I wanted and I never made it back to my office before I left for home for surgery. I called my secretary and she said the package did come, so I can't wait to open it when I get back to NYC. So exciting! Lynn, WOW. You made me tear up reading your message. I'm so glad my posts (along with others' of course) have made you more open to PS. The PS makes me feel normal and beautiful and FINISHED. And liberated. I'm so fortunate to be in a position to be able to have PS. It's painful (I'm having a particularly pain-filled day -- it's definitely not a mani-pedi, haha) but so worth it. Paulax, You crack me up! I wish I COULD tell you about my boobs, but I can't. I don't know a thing about them. It's Fort Knox up there with the bandages. In the bandages, they look like about a DDD, which of course they aren't. There's tons of gauze in there, then they're all taped up as well. Anyway, the exciting news is that Dad just said this morning that he's going to take all that off today and move me to a sports bra! So, we might have PICTURES as early as today! Woohoo! I can't wait to meet the twins!!!!

Come on PAULAX!!! TWO MORE POUNDS!!!

Dad says he hasn't seen massive weight loss patients very often who qualify for the smaller incision. I knew all along I'd need the full incision. If it's anything like the arms, it's not as bad as you'd think. I'm only 6 weeks out from the arms and I wore strapless evening gowns to several Christmas parties. The scar isn't bad and it's really well placed. I'm hopeful for the same with the legs, though I'll fill you in more when I've actually seen it! Probably 3 or 4 days until dressing change, when I get the first good peek.

Mine protruded substantially (right side north of belly button), so I had the low profile installed with my TT revision.

The band is definitely there. It's just different. I slept soooo well without any upset stomach. And a few more meals into it, I don't hate this fill level. It's gentler, but it's definitely there. It might actually be a good maintenance fill level. We'll see. I can always get a fill, right? That's what I keep telling myself. On the surgery front, I feel much better today! I did have to narc it up in the middle of the night, but I slept great and I feel quite good today. I'm even going to go out to lunch! I'm not going to drive though -- I think that can wait until tomorrow, since I took the pain meds in the middle of the night.... Anyway, feeling good. Better than I'd have thought. YAY!

Boo, that's great about your run!! Woohoo!! Dawn, that's wonderful about your weight. Yahoo! Betty, to be down 3 during a holiday week is incredible! I'm home from the hospital as of this morning. SO GLAD all my surgeries (!!) are behind me.

A typical daily diet for me when I was in th weight loss phase was about 900-1000 calories with about 45-50 grams of protein. I usually ate 2 meals and 2 snacks. I might have some cottage cheese with cereal and raspberries for breakfast. Then some frozen yogurt for a snack. Then a "Healthy Choice" fish and veggie entre for lunch. Then maybe some tomato soup or lentil soup and veggie stir fry for dinner, sometimes with tofu, sometimes not. Sometimes I'd eat a pack of candy. I considered that a failure, but it really wasn't I guess. It just meant it would be a 1100 cal day instead of a 900 cal day. I really credit my exercise routine with why I'm at goal. Even if I mess up the food from time to time, running 35 miles a week cuts you a lot of slack....I don't think everyone's exercise routine has to be that severe, but I do think it's part of the lifestyle change and that you simply have to make the time to move nearly every day. Best of luck to you!

LJM, I'm so excited for you!! Yeehaw! Now that I see your pics, I think you're going to do WONDERFULLY with a TT at this stage. It's going to give you so much mobility and it's going to dramatically change your body image. Way to go, girlfriend! If you can find the $600, really, go on and do the port. I didn't do it with my TT and I totally regret it. It's something I feel certain you'll want at goal -- it sticks out so much otherwise. $600 is a good price too. I'd been quoted $800 at NYU. Not sure what mine cost in AL -- haven't gotten the bill yet.

OK, so I'm a little worried about my port. It's way too early to know for sure, but I sure can eat a lot. I'd had 9 cc's in my VG band and, if I'm honest, that had been a little tight, particularly over the last 6 weeks since my first thigh surgry. I remembered that from my TT, I was at a perfect fill level (9.5 then) and got tighter with surgery and ultimately took 0.5 out. So, I'd been a little too tight -- not able to eat comfortably at night, so I'd been skipping dinner if I couldn't get it in before, say 6. Given that I'd been too tight and that I was going in for a second surgery, and having the port replaced, I asked to have only 8.5 put back in, rather than the 9. Well, 8.5 may not be enough (or, my worst fear -- there's a leak and I don't really have 8.5). I ate a piece of fruitcake and about 3 oz hard cheese and 8 crackers all in one sitting with NO problems. Not that I want problems, and I'm not HUNGRY, but I'd have expected the band to stop me about 1/2 way through the fruit cake, since it's a hard thing to eat. Anyway, I know I'm fine -- I can make good choices and I won't gain weight, but I'm just a little nervous. Of course, I should give it a couple of days before self-diagnosing a problem, I know!

Yikes, Enterprise, yes, the thigh lift is not in the same realm as the arm lift, in my experience. Of course, as we determined, my arm lift was easier than yours since I'd already had a breast lift, so I didn't have the back fat removal that you had. Anyway, yes, the thighs hurt. If it makes you feel any better, it's more of a sharp stinging hurt than a true PAIN. For me, on the pain scale, on day 2 (the day after surgery) the TT was about a 7/10 on the pain scale, the BL was a 2/10, the outer thighs was a 5, the arms were maybe a 2, and now the inner thighs are maybe a 4.5 to a 5. I worried that going to the bathroom would be hard, but it's not. I kind of sit back with my weight a little more than normal so that I don't have weight on my inner thighs, and just go like normal. The compression garment has a huge slit in the crotch, so there's no adjusting there. The compression garment is a girdle that zips on the outside of both legs, goes all the way up to my rib cage and al the way down just past my knees. It's the same style I had for the outer thigh lift. I bet by tomorrow I feel like a whole new person. It's not even been 24 hours yet and I'm doing pretty well! One more night's sleep will work wonders, I'm sure.

I'm home! No more surgeries! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA! OK, so this one wasn't SO bad. At least it hasn't been thusfar. They didn't start the surgery until about 3 p.m. yesterday and it took almost 6 hours, so it was 9 before I got to recovery! Since it was so late, they wanted me to spend the night, which was fine with me. Got to a room around 11. They'd taken the catheter our -- I don't even remember them doing that, but anyway, they kept pestering me to urinate, so I did, then settled down to sleep until about 5. I slept really well. So, we did quite a bit. We did the implants. I can't tell you much about them yet -- can't see the boobs at all because they're so wrapped up. They feel good, if that means anything at this point. By that I mean that they feel heavier but not too heavy -- kind of like a hug. I'm sure that makes no sense! Then we did a revision to my lower TT, combined with a mons lift. Can't see that either right now and have no impression of it. When he was marking me with a sharpie before surgery, it seemed like there was a lot of skin to take off there, so I'm hopeful. It's one of those things where even if there's just a modest improvement, it'll be a lot better. Oh, yes, and I got a low profile port while I was there. I think that's going to be GREAT. I'm sure there's swelling, but for the moment, I can't feel the port from pressing on my stomach, so I bet it makes a huge difference. TBD. Lastly, we did the inner thighs. OK, pals, this one is painful. The incision for me goes from the knee all the way up into the groin and at the top, it's quite painful. It's not HORRIBLE, but it's definitely the most tender spot this time.... So, pics to come in a few days once I'm feeling better. Take care all, and happy holidays. Julie

Annie, my father is a PS, so I don't tackle the insurance issues (believe me, I know how lucky I am). If I had to guess, no, I don't think any of it would have been covered. Possibly the TT, but not likely as I had no medical complications from the extra skin. Losing, yes, a PS can do the port replacement. Allergan will sell to them directly, as I just found out when we ordered mine last week (my backup plan was to have my uncle, who's a bariatric surgeon, order it, but we didn't have to go that route). Apparently our ports are nearly identical to ports used in other medical specialities (including breast reconstruction patents in cancer survivors who, apparently, have similar ports for something chemo related -- I'm not sure what the story is here, but Dad has no reservations about replacing the port, so I don't have any reservations in letting him, beyond my general fear of ANYONE touching my band, period.)

Well, folks, this is the last book of the trilogy. Tomorrow, I'm headed home to Alabama for what I hope is my last round of plastic surgery. It's at least the last major round. In case you're new to the forum, my history is that I lost 200 + lbs in 18 months of being banded. I had a TT with BL in March 2007. After that time, much to my amazement, I lost 60 more lbs. I then had a lateral thigh lift (outer thighs) and brachioplasty just 6 weeks ago, in Novmber 2007. Tomorrow, I'm headed home for surgery on Thursday. We're doing the inner thighs (medial thigh lift), small breast implants (when I lost the extra 60, I really lost a lot of volume -- went from a mid-D to a small :confused:, and a mons lift with a port replacement to give me a low profile port. Anyway, I'll keep you posted as I get home from the hospital. Unclear whether that will be Thursday late or sometime Friday -- depends on how I tolerate the anesthesia this time. In any even, I'll post more from the other side!

Mizboo, I have to say, I felt full throttle right at 6 weeks with the TT. I remember it quite clearly. Even in week 5, I remember thinking how tired I still was, even though I was feeling better during the day and wasn't in any pain, the fatigue was there. Then sometime in weeks 6-7, I really started feeling 100%. With the thigh surgery, it was much quicker. I feel 100% now and have for at least 2 weeks. I don't necessarily think it was an easier surgery -- more that I was in better shape going into it, plus knowing what I was getting into. I hope you feel 100% soon! Karey, I haven't gotten your package -- I haven't been to work this week though and I think that's the address I gave you. I'm in the office tomorrow, so I'll let you know. Thanks for sending it!

Ghost, those bananas are HYSTERICAL! Love it. Thanks to all....

Results in -- hematocrit 39 -- woohoo!!! The LAST surgery's a GO, boobs and all!! WOOHOO!!!