Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Two weeks from Plastics - progress so far



Recommended Posts

Wow, this is amazing. Well done! I have just started looking at plastics and will be looking at pretty much the same procedures as you, minus the implants and the arm lift. Very great to see your journey. Thank you for sharing, you are looking amazing.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Random question.

Jane, can I ask how many pounds they removed? I am trying to get a sense of what weight I am carrying in skin and your before photos look very similar to my own...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Only 5.5 pounds of skin which amazes me considering i am 180 some pounds lighter than my "lifetime" high weight.

Dr Sauceda info is on page 5 of this thread I think. IF not, you can google him and look for his patient page on obesity help (link is on page 5 of this thread).

At 3 months out I am finally feeling pretty normal again and it is hard for me to even imagine going back to life with embarrasing arms and a tummy that sat on my lap and inner thighs that were just horrible looking to me I am not perfect, but I have a body that I feel very comfortable and happy with and honestly.. even proud of.

The only real problem area remaining is the extra skin on my torso under my arms - the infamous side boobs. They aren't THAT bad and is easily disguised by clothing. That can be fixed with an upper body lift, but for me, that is just a step too much and my surgeon did NOT recommend it for me. Dr Sauceda would say our goal is significant improvement but when you seek perfection you will never be happy...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Only 5.5 pounds of skin which amazes me considering i am 180 some pounds lighter than my "lifetime" high weight. Dr Sauceda info is on page 5 of this thread I think. IF not, you can google him and look for his patient page on obesity help (link is on page 5 of this thread). At 3 months out I am finally feeling pretty normal again and it is hard for me to even imagine going back to life with embarrasing arms and a tummy that sat on my lap and inner thighs that were just horrible looking to me I am not perfect, but I have a body that I feel very comfortable and happy with and honestly.. even proud of. The only real problem area remaining is the extra skin on my torso under my arms - the infamous side boobs. They aren't THAT bad and is easily disguised by clothing. That can be fixed with an upper body lift, but for me, that is just a step too much and my surgeon did NOT recommend it for me. Dr Sauceda would say our goal is significant improvement but when you seek perfection you will never be happy...

I have the exact same problem area remaining as well! The darn side boob. And totally agree - it is going too far to have surgery for that. It bothers me a little, but looking for perfection is not going to happen. I had the thigh lift, Tummy Tuck, breast lift (no implants), and some work to tighten up my face - three separate surgeries though. With the breast lift they chased the scar farther back than normal, basically in a straight line from the bottom of the breast somewhat where the bottom of your bra sits, stopping about 4-6 inches below my armpit. It helped with the extra side boob skin but by no means solved the problem. The doc said she would have to do a zig zag incision up my armpit for that and that it would be quite difficult to heal properly and that the scar would be more disfiguring than the excess skin. Yep. I'm good. Leave me with the skin!

I'm glad to hear that your healing process has gone well and that ultimately you found a surgeon with whom you were so happy. That's awesome.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What was your grand total of cost?hotel, flight, surgery, extras?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×