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!

Boo - Ok, thanks for the input! I'm really jealous, wish I had a PS dad! Although my Dad rocks when it comes to fixing things around the house. He saves me alot of money there!

And again, I'm really impressed with everyone. I'm in the 'consultation' phase. I'm hoping I can get this done this summer, hopefully mid-July. and I'm already planning how to pay for the PS!

Karen

Hi Guys,

I've been SWAMPED at work getting ready to be gone for at least 3 weeks and I haven't been getting in my LBT time as much as I'd like! That said, let me catch you up....

ChinaMom, I completely understand the question (about family members performing surgery on family members) and it was something I had to work through. Perhaps most importantly, my father has ZERO concerns about operating on me. In fact, one of the biggest reasons I went with him -- truly -- even moreso than the free factor -- was that it would hurt him if I went to someone else. He is the best in his field -- people fly from around the country for his work -- and being a surgeon is so a part of him that it would have been like rejecting him to use someone else. I asked him directly if this was too big of a surgery to perform on his daughter and his response was, no, it was too big of a surgery to let any OTHER doctor perform. He's quite self-confident, which, I suppose, is what you want in a surgeon. He did my Mom's face lift, my brother's otoplasty (ear tuck), by SIL's nose, HIS own MOM's face lift and knuckle replacement, the list goes on. So, he'd rather do it than have someone else do it -- even taking money out of the equasion.

So, that brings us to MY feelings about him doing my surgery. I've largely worked through my concerns and a big part of why I was able to work through it is that I really think he's the best man for the job. That said, I had three major concerns. First, I did NOT relish the idea of standing in a room all but naked having my Dad poke at me. Second, my Dad is a control freak and I was concerned that, since I'm his daughter, he wouldn't treat me enough as a patient -- who has her own goals for this surgery -- and would make all the decisions without me. Third, I worry that, God forbid, something goes wrong with the surgery, the emotional toll that will take on him.

So, for the first concern (the exam), I decided to "get over it." It's 10 minutes of my life, as compared to about $40,000 of free surgery. And you know, it wasn't so bad. He was so clearly a doctor and not a father when looking at my body. It was as if a switch flipped. And, I had my Stepmother there with me (she's a nurse), so she talked to me and tried to distract me throughout it all. For the second concern, I had to really take the reigns there. For example, I had to be really vocal about the fact that I didn't want him to decide what surgery was appropriate based on his thought that I MIGHT have pregnancies one day. I asked him to hear me as a patient and believe me when I said I didn't plan on having children, though I admit that life can take you in places you don't plan. So, he agreed to do a full tummy tuck and not just the mini-tuck (below the belly button). As for the third concern, I still worry about that one, but I figure it would be just as bad if something happened to me and he wasn't the surgeon -- he'd blame himself for not being the surgeon and "letting" something happen to me.

So, yes, there are issues with it being my Dad operating on me. But, they're much more my issues than his issues. As long as the one holding the scalpel is comfortable and the best one for the job, I'm OK with my own trepidations.

One quick personal question...are you willing to post pre-PS pics? I would be interested in seeing what life could offer, with your kind of weight loss success for me, if I'm unable to have PS. It may be a good comparison since our stats are similar. YOU ARE INSPIRING!!!

I have posted clothed pre-PS pics on the main pic thread. I will never be able to post full nude pics (akin to Spydr), be they pre-op or post-op, because I have family in politics and I just can't do that to them, should my identity on this board ever not be so anonymous.

That said -- and you cannot hold me to this because I don't know how I'm going to look and feel post-op until it actually happens -- I HOPE I'll have the courage to post some very "honest" pre-op and post-op shots (full incisions and everything, just with the most "important" body parts covered or photoshopped).

I think it's important to share this journey with the WLS community. I'm just too close to it right now to promise what I'll be comfortable doing. I need to hate my body a little less first. Of course, that's what the PS is about.

Mazie, I am 5'2 and I was 200 lbs overweight. Every body is different, but there's just no way to have NO excess skin with the loss of 200 lbs, even with the young. Dad said waiting a year for apron removal was pointless. We're waiting on the arms because there's a chance they might tighten up enough to where I can live with them as-is, but even if my stomach tightened a lot, it still wouldn't be enough. I think -- and this is a generalization -- people in their 20s and 30s MIGHT get away with losing 100 lbs and not requiring a tummy tuck, but 200 lbs is just asking too much of the body. That said, I COULD live the way I am without a tummy tuck. It's cosmetic for me. It's not hanging so much that it interferes with my body functions, I've never had a rash or irritation problems. So, I think if I'd have waited 10 years, I could have been a lot worse off with the skin problems, you know?

Julie I'm so excited for you. You will look great but feel phenominal, I just know it. I'm a shorty too and have lost 80 lbs. I'm also considering having ps soon, possibly in July. I got a consult and it would be 14,000 for a FTT with lipo on sides and abs, BL with lipo for side boobies. I feel very comfortable with this doctor and he did a BL on his nurse, she looked awesome.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Ana 242/160/150

Julie, it all sounds so exciting. Good luck to you!

Julie: I can't wait to read about your updates.

I really enjoy reading your thoughts! GO GETTEM!

JulieNYC----thank you for your honesty,that is what makes this so great (honest experiences).....and I think I could never do nudes, myself...

I am glad you added your dad's thoughts, and yours, about a 200# weight loss just being more than a body can recover from....

It gives me a realistic expectation....

I kept hearing people (who, I think were trying to say something supportive/positive) saying "at your age your skin should bounce back just fine"....

I am 34 almost 35--I don't think that is young!!for one....and two--200# is huge to recover from......I would have LOVED the idea, that this would be the case, but it did not sound realistic to me---I'm glad to have that cleared up!! (I actually need to lose 202# but, who's counting?)

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY BABY!!!!!!! KEEP IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I'm feeling too fat for plastic surgery -- feeling like I'm rushing things. I know this is just a first step and that there will be follow up procedures, but I just plain feel fat. My band doc says to go ahead, my Dad says to go ahead. I'm going ahead. But, I feel FAT and like I should wait 40 more lbs before tackling this beast.

It's going to be fine -- just sharing the thought process with you all....

Julie: How exciting! Congratulations! I'm a little over half way to my goal and am thinking about PS as soon as I get there. I'm looking forward to your thread. I wish you the best!

Julie...my heart goes out to you!

I too feel fat but, a "350# fat" --- not an "under 200# fat"! I DO think that the "feeling" is just as disheartening though. I hope that for you, this is a temporary, out of the ordinary, thought.

You say you feel "like you should wait, 40 more lbs.,before tackling this beast" .... how much is your goal weight? I thought you only wanted to lose about 20 more. If you waited another 40#, how long/short would you expect that to take?? And, could waiting that long/short keep you from having any additional/multiple surgery?

Maybe your thoughts, that are negative, come from nerves???? PLEASE continue to share your thoughts as you experience this journey. I can not tell you, how much I admire you, for sharing your experience and your success with all of us. You have already accomplished what I once believed, to be the impossible/miracle. I hope these changes have influenced your life in an extremely positive way overall.

I'm almost sure all roads have lots of bumps along the way, but few road blocks.

:star::star: :teeth: :hug::thumb:cheer up Julie, I think you get five stars in my book---just the way you are!!! smiles...hug.....and thumbs up....to you!

I was tired and nervous. Feeling much better this morning. I took a good look in the mirror (and at the pics from a friend's child's birthday party yesterday) and it's time for the first round. I still have extra weight in my hips and thighs, but there's really not much left in the torso. This is going to be fine.

Mazie, I don't know what my goal weight is. My band doc's goal was to get me under 200. I weighed about 175 a few years ago (Optifast) and I was comfortable at that weight. I know I don't want to try and maintain what the charts say I should weigh (115-130). My goal is probably in the 160s, but I just don't know.

Dad said it's not likely that I'd avoid a follow up procedure, even if I was at goal. He said with that much skin removal, it's kind of like fitting a dress -- you need two alterations before the final reveal. One gets rid of the major excess and, almost always, you need a little bit of extra fitting to make it perfect. There's a chance I'm asking for 3 surgeries by doing this early, but he thinks probably not.

I've got to trust the medical professionals here and go ahead. I am feeling better today though.

Julie: You express yourself so well. Great thoughts. I think that you have to go to your dad, too! You were probably nervous and excited when you got the LB, too. You're going to be glad you did this. Keep on posting!

Just wanting to let you know that you give me so much hope for the future. I am proud of you for what you have accomplished so far. I also want to wish you good luck on your up coming surgery and hope all goes well. I'm new to the band and having a hard time so reading your story really inspires me. Thank you.

Just wanting to let you know that you give me so much hope for the future. I am proud of you for what you have accomplished so far. I also want to wish you good luck on your up coming surgery and hope all goes well. I'm new to the band and having a hard time so reading your story really inspires me. Thank you.

You are a doll. Thank you for your sweet words. Listen up, too, "bsouthern" because you're going to do GREAT. You're just very early in the process. If it makes you feel better and more confident about your future band experience, I actually GAINED weight during the period you're in -- i.e. from about week 3-7 (was feeling better and moving from mushies to solids, but pre-first fill). I didn't lose a thing -- even at a high BMI -- until I got my third fill. Then BOOM -- the weight started flying off because I didn't care about eating anymore and was very satisfied on a small amount of food. It was glorious. You'll get there too. Be very diligent about getting your fills until you get the feeling everyone is talking about.

So, I'm feeling very jittery. Nervous, excited energy. I'm NEVER going to sleep tonight!

Hey Karey, I don't quilt and everyone says I should -- that I'd get addicted (I'm big into sewing, just have never quilted). What do you love about it?