Edited to say: 1 month photos on page 5 of replies

Well, i went to Mexico to Dr Sauceda and had fairly extensive work done. I started with 7 drains and am now down to 1. I still have stitches in. So far, my results look great and I am very pleased, but it takes 2 months to see your final due to swelling etc. I still have a bit of a poochy tummy but I think it will be flat once the swelling goes down.

I was very pleased with the surgeon and his care team. I loved the 3 nights and 4 days of clinic supervised recovery - excellent pain management and nursing care. Then, I was released to a hotel were I was bandaged and checked daily by a nurse and the doctor visited each day as well. For me, this was the only way to do it as the level of care I needed post op was fairly high in the early days.

His way of doing anesthesia and working with a partner means he could do alot in one surgery safely... however, no joke - this was alot of surgery at once. I had the lower body lift, breast lift and augmentation, arms and "small" thigh lift. That means no incision down the inner thigh, just along the groin. My recovery has so far been textbook. I saw my PCP and she was overwhelmed with happiness at how good things look, the incisions look good, all signs so far are of excellent healing.
I am far from out of the woods though; complications can still happen so I am diligent about taking it easy (this is killing me as I am normally so active), getting in even extra Protein and wearing the compression garments from hades.

The surgery was NOT painful and the incisions have never really been worse then kind of sore. The very worst part is dealing with the tight garments, the forced inactivity and of course the drains. There are certainly discomforts.... of the 6 drains pulled so far, two of them hurt.

Taken today, two weeks out, I am sorta hiding the two drains still in the mons area:


These photos were recent, pre surgery. As you can see, I had worked out and had some "toning" under all that skin.


I will get better pics when that last drain comes out... it is quite literally a drag on my style!

To round this out, i decided to add a pre VSG photo so you get the gist of how much I have transformed!

Edited November 21, 201312 yr by CowgirlJane

So glad I had the dissolvable stitches...not so glad about that tape I had though. Removing that was torture....especially since hair had grown underneath it by the time it was ready to come off. So about 34" of tape pulling hair on an extremely sensitive area......I cried a few tears.

So glad I had the dissolvable stitches...not so glad about that tape I had though. Removing that was torture....especially since hair had grown underneath it by the time it was ready to come off. So about 34" of tape pulling hair on an extremely sensitive area......I cried a few tears.

So now you know what a bikini wax feels like?

omg BTB, that sounds awful. All surgeons have their approach not sure one is better then another but remember I had to make a long flight home just 11 days post op, so maybe that is why the different technique? Not sure, but I have an approach with surgeons, pick one with good results and trust their judgement.

My internal stitches are dissolvable, but there are lots of external stitches and they are easy to remove, just a slow process. Go slow and carefully and have the right tools for the job. I also have a friend that is an EMT that could help, but some of these stitches are located in rather personal spots, so I would rather not call on him if I don't have to. The external stitches are basically a running stitch, so you snip the knot, pull to remove, snip when it gets too long, pull to remove etc. I also had steri strips that continue to shed with each shower.

So now you know what a bikini wax feels like?

Yeah but I guarantee I'm the hairiest person on this thread.

Wow! No I mean WOW! Good for you! You look amazing.

Wow. Just wow. Looks absolutely amazing. Very happy for you and your progress. Looks like very minimal swelling and looks fabulous even at this stage.

Keep us posted! You look hot!!

So glad I had the dissolvable stitches...not so glad about that tape I had though. Removing that was torture....especially since hair had grown underneath it by the time it was ready to come off. So about 34" of tape pulling hair on an extremely sensitive area......I cried a few tears.

Tape: I cried too. Loud! My skin came off! I have very very thin skin too. I thought the husband was going to rush me to the hospital.

My PCP worked a hour on my sutures. There were some he and the nurse could not get out, so they sent me to a surgeon. It took the surgeon less than 5 seconds to remove the rest of my sutures. Good thing my body was still numb. I did not feel a thing :-)

Tape: I cried too. Loud! My skin came off! I have very very thin skin too. I thought the husband was going to rush me to the hospital.

My PCP worked a hour on my sutures. There were some he and the nurse could not get out, so they sent me to a surgeon. It took the surgeon less than 5 seconds to remove the rest of my sutures. Good thing my body was still numb. I did not feel a thing :-)

My skin is thin too and thAt sort of thing draws blood on me so I guess it's good I didn't have the tape.

Wow. You look amazing! So inspirational. Please update with more pics as time goes by and you heal up! Wow

Thanks Jane! It actually looks comfortable, no seriously! You look very ... snug. How long do you have to wear the whole shebang for? Will you switch to a longline bra or corset and spanx?

Thanks Jane! It actually looks comfortable' date=' no seriously! You look very ... snug. How long do you have to wear the whole shebang for? Will you switch to a longline bra or corset and spanx?[/quote']

Tomorrow I will be 3 weeks post op so halfway there. Garments musy be worn for 6 weeks. However, much like stockholm syndrome many people continue wearing them longer. That feeling of being swaddled realky gets deep into your brain. I dozed off after a shower without garments and I actually dreamed of being a baby and somebody wrapping me.tight and how good it felt...wierd!!!

Jane if you don't mind me asking about the cost. I am looking for similar if not the same thing. I live in Canada so am also curious about the flight home. If you could private message me that would be great. Thanks in advance for any info you can give me. You look absolutely wonderful.

Hi Jane, WOW what a transformation! Thanks for posting your pre VGS photo, it makes me sad to look at it. Reminds me of myself pre op. I am planning on plastics when I reach goal and looking at your pics and reading your posts are very inspiring! I had breast cancer 3 yrs ago and had a lumpectomy and radiation, so am hoping the breast lift can be done at Stanford with medical insurance. I had the VSG in TJ as a self pay because I was off work for knee surg and impulsively decided to go for it while off. Best decision ever! I am definitely going to Mexico for any other plastics I need/want. I love reading about your weight loss journey and fitness regimen also.

CONGRATULATIONS you l

Tomorrow I will be 3 weeks post op so halfway there. Garments musy be worn for 6 weeks. However' date=' much like stockholm syndrome many people continue wearing them longer. That feeling of being swaddled realky gets deep into your brain. I dozed off after a shower without garments and I actually dreamed of being a baby and somebody wrapping me.tight and how good it felt...wierd!!![/quote']

Is that why I am still in my compression garments? Hmmmm

Maybe we can both go to CGA (Compression Garment Anonymous) meeting.

"Hi, my name is Sweetpee and I'm addicted to my compression garment" :-)

BTW - has it been said how impressive your shoulders are? that pre-plastics photo from behind, I don't know if you are flexing or what but the whole bridge of muscles across yourback and shoulders, wow!! Is that all from crossfit?