Now that it's less than a month away, I wanted to start a thread where I post all of my experiences regarding my upcoming plastic surgery. I loved watching Telly and Puddin's journeys and I thought I'd enjoy sharing mine with others as well.

The background is that I'm 5'2, 34 years old, no pregnancies. I've lost 150 lbs in 10 months and would like to lose 40 more. I carried 100 lbs of my excess weight for a long time, given my age -- at least 15 years. The other 100, I gained in the last 6 years upon entering the workforce. I've lost weight successfully twice before being banded -- once on NutriSystem (about 60 lbs) and once on Optifast (about 90 lbs), but was unsuccessful at keeping it off.

Though under ideal circumstances I would wait until I actually hit goal to consider my major plastics, three factors have encouraged me to go ahead with surgery on March 28th. First, I'm changing jobs and have the unique ability to take the month of April off. I won't have this kind of flexibility again for several years and it's a "now or never" kind of thing. Second, both my band doctor and my plastic surgeon are on board and don't think I need to wait. I have substantial excess skin in the stomach and breasts and the whole team thinks the majority of my remaining excess weight is in the lower body (hips & thighs). Finally, my father is my plastic surgeon, so cost issues should I need a revision later for losing additional weight are less of a concern that they would be were I paying surgical fees. Thus, March 28th it is!

I had my "consult" with my dad last week and we decided on what will likely be the procedures (he's still thinking it over before deciding for sure). At Christmas, we had tentatively decided on a breast lift and a mini-abdominoplasty (where just the excess from below the belly button is removed). Now, we've decided on a larger operation because I've managed to lose quite a bit more weight between Christmas and now and he thinks I'm close enough to goal to go for a more aggressive result.

So, I'm having a breast lift for sure. As for the stomach and thighs, he's going to do what he calls an extended tummy tuck. This is a complete tummy tuck (i.e. both above and below the belly button), but the incision will extend around the thighs, akin to a LBL, to take out some skin and fat from the outer thighs. It won't go around 360 degrees like a true LBL because I don't have much excess in the back -- it's a bit of a hybrid. Plus, since I haven't had children and I've been working out consistently for several years, I don't require the muscle repair that often goes along with a tummy tuck -- just the skin and fat ressection. This should make the recovery a bit easier.

As far as preparations go, I've bought my plane ticket (I live in NYC and my parents are down south). I'm staying home for at least 3 weeks before returning to NYC -- longer if necessary. I rented a hospital bed to help with getting up and down and keeping the legs raised. My step-mother is a nurse and she'll be staying with me for about 10 days post-op, and, of course my Dad will be home in the evenings/on the weekends. I have bought all of the seasons of the TV show "24" to keep me company in the early days. I got a wireless card for my laptop so I can use it from any room. I have a shower chair but no raised toilet seat. Dad said without the muscle repair, I'll be moving around fairly well pretty quickly. I'm spending one night in the hospital.

That's it for now. As things develop, I will post again. For those ahead of me in the journey, if I've neglected any preparations, please let me know!

CUTE outfits. And you look amazing! He is an idiot. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time for romance. Just keep healing.

Thanks guys. I know there are other fish in the sea.

It's my original belly button, just moved several inches up!

Julie: You look simply marvelous! Way to go. I can't believe that you're looking forward to another surgery. That's reassuring to me, that means it wasn't too bad! You're doing great. When can you start exercising again?

Julie - You are beautiful - of course all mother's think that, but in this case so true (Julie is my bandchild).................it's about time I saw what my offspring looks like! With that face and those boobies the men will come a running - you won't have to wait long!!!!!

You look AWESOME!!! By the way... you did go with the GREEN one, right?

Julie you look AMAZING!!!!

Julie, you really look wonderful! And I liked the pink, too.

SillyWilly, I went with the pink one. I have on the green one today though, if that makes you feel better.

Kareyquilts, Yeah, I guess in hindsight the surgery wasn't so bad. If I was at goal, I'd be having my thighs done TODAY. The results are so worth the pain. And I want to wear pants! Also, you asked about exercise. I can start working back up to running when 6 weeks are behind me. So, 2 more weeks to go (today is exactly 4 weeks from my surgery). I'm looking forward to it because I'm not sleeping well and I think it's from not exercising -- at least in part.

Julie

At what weight did you begin running?

I do quited a bit of cardio and so want to run. I tried at 270ish and got past the first week of 30 seconds of running and walking 90 seconds, for twenty minutes. In the second week I moved to 60/60 for a total of twenty and my knee started killing me. My lungs and butt can handle it but not my frame.

I so want to run, but think it's just too much weight right now. With that in mind can you tell me where were on the scale you when you started?

Thanks,

Juli,

I remember exactly -- I told myself I wouldn't run until I was under 250, then only in small amounts. So when I hit 249, I started running light intervals, like 30-60 seconds, then walking 3-4 minutes. If anything ever hurt, I backed off, because I knew I was still way too heavy to really run. When I got to about 220 I could really run with almost no issues. I ran my first race (4 miles) at 215 or so. My second race is what took me to Onederland. I can't wait to get healed and see what running with no pannus is like. It's going to be incredbile, I just know it!!

Hi Julie,

I'm late reading posts this week but I HAD to post and congratulate you on your astounding weight loss success and tell you how wonderful you look. I'm glad the surgery went well. You'll have your choice of men so don't worry about the less than eventful date.

Thanks Elisabethsew!

Well, today was a big SV day for me. I met my original goal, which was to lose half my body weight. Today I weigh 179 and I've lost 179 lbs. So, I set my final goal, which, for lack of a better reason, I set at 136, which is the highest weight at which I'll have a NORMAL bmi.

My plan for getting there (if I can, and if I can't, that's SO FINE too -- whatever my body wants at this point, you know?) is to just live life, keep up my running program, and get to the high 140s. Then around Christmas, I'm going in for the second half of the PS. That'll be a thighplasty and a butt lift. Dad says he'll take 15 lbs off with that because I have so much extra skin on my thighs. I wish I could have it done before then, but with the change in jobs coming up, the first time I can get that much time off is going to be the holidays (where I can use the built in days off to get me from having 2 weeks off to almost 3 weeks off, which is what I need for that surgery).

So that's the update!

Julie: Congratulations! Wow! Wow! Wow! What an exciting time for you. It's so fun to see what you have accomplished! Way to go!

Julie,

Congratulations...you have really come a long way....I wish you all the luck in the world on your future surgery....

Di/Texas

Julie- I have no doubt that you can meet your new goal, by holiday season! I can't wait to hear how running goes....... without the "extra baggage". I am sure it will be another freeing moment, to be cherished and remembered!

I am looking forward to my first fill in mid May! I am aiming for -100# this coming year!! My band date is one week before my birthday.... so at my next birthday(36) I will be down 100# give or take!! (170# plus just seems high for myself)

You inspire so many of us newly banded ones!!!! Keep up the good work.... we need role models like you... so we can become role models to next years! And I'mmmm.....Looking forward to next pics you post!