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

Recommended Posts

That's an incredible difference! Can you speak on how the plastics pain was in comparison to VSG post-op pain?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey there! Sorry I've been MIA! A lot has happened: we're under contract on our house, found a rental home in Virginia, are finishing up packing, and I returned to work! My recovery is still going really well. I'll be 6 weeks post op tomorrow. I had my last f/u with my surgeon on friday (since we'll be moving to Virginia in about a week) and she said everything looks great. She expects my scars will fade to thin white lines around the 12-18 month mark. She said I'm currently in the "ugly purple scar phase" but i really don't think they even look bad! I've been cleared for cardio, but have to hold of on crazy ab workouts or heavy lifting for 6 more weeks. Since returning to work, I notice I'm more swollen and the tiniest bit sore by the end of the day, but it's nothing bad! I apparently packed away my measuring tape, so I haven't been able to take my measurements. As soon as we get to the new house, and I find it, I'll see where I'm at. I'm comfortably wearing jeans again, so I know that means I've gone down a bit, lol. Weight wise I'm at 165. I feel amazing, and am so incredibly happy with how things look! Here are some pics of my progress: some at my highest weight before my sleeve, the day of my body lift, and today! In the pic of the side view, the thing on my back is an embrace silicone scar strip. Hope you are all doing well! IMG_7189.JPG.706dadbedf943fc6a9a4fa372865506f.JPG IMG_7188.JPG.c067253cf45263fad1f2d80118615a77.JPG IMG_7186.JPG.da83c654ab82166a8e0fec0391bf3a8a.JPG IMG_7187.JPG.a701f50348c5079cf5400b332ca0135d.JPG

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That's an incredible difference! Can you speak on how the plastics pain was in comparison to VSG post-op pain?


I would say immediately post op, I felt way worse after my sleeve!!! I felt nauseated and had quite a bit of pain and discomfort. I had a terrible time coming out of anesthesia, couldn't stay awake and felt miserable! Long term recovery wise, I felt amazing about 5 days after my sleeve. Other than adjusting to the new diet and way of eating/drinking, I felt amazing!

With my body lift, I actually felt really good right out of surgery. Even though I was under anesthesia for about 6.5 hours, I felt more awake and alert, even in PACU. I remember talking to my nurses (though who knows if what I was saying was actually intelligible, lol). It was definitely tough to get out of bed for a while. Some pain, and ZERO ab control! I by no means felt terrible, in fact I think I had a very lucky amazing recovery, but it took a lot longer to bounce back from this one! Pain wise, my incision never really bothered me, except for every once in a while if I moved funny, or was trying to get up after lying down (even then it was only about a one inch section, and not the whole incision that hurt). I was so worried about the incision on my back, but never once did that ever hurt or give me trouble! What was hardest was the muscle soreness from the muscle repair. Every morning I work up and felt like I'd spent 6 hours at the gym doing sit-ups and squats! Once I got moving around though, it would ease up. I took it easy the first week, but once I was able to stand up straight again, I was up and moving around pretty well. A bit slower than normal, and my stamina wasn't great, but I was doing well! I feel like I got lucky since I had zero complications, no wound openings, no nausea, no severe pain...BUT, I I also think that by following my surgeon's instructions, I gave myself the best chance of an "easy" recovery!

I hope that helps a bit! Both surgeries had their own set of challenges, but both were 100% worth it and I'd do them again in a heartbeat! [emoji1]


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You look amazing! I look very similar to your 'before' picture right now and habe my sleeve surgery next month. This thread is really inspiring and I want to thank you for taking the time to post.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for posting! You look incredible! The progress pics are so helpful to see. I'm not sure if I'll be having plastics but I think I have a couple areas that will need it even though I'm only midway to my goal. Seeing your example is a huge inspiration!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey there! Sorry I've been MIA! A lot has happened: we're under contract on our house, found a rental home in Virginia, are finishing up packing, and I returned to work! My recovery is still going really well. I'll be 6 weeks post op tomorrow. I had my last f/u with my surgeon on friday (since we'll be moving to Virginia in about a week) and she said everything looks great. She expects my scars will fade to thin white lines around the 12-18 month mark. She said I'm currently in the "ugly purple scar phase" but i really don't think they even look bad! I've been cleared for cardio, but have to hold of on crazy ab workouts or heavy lifting for 6 more weeks. Since returning to work, I notice I'm more swollen and the tiniest bit sore by the end of the day, but it's nothing bad! I apparently packed away my measuring tape, so I haven't been able to take my measurements. As soon as we get to the new house, and I find it, I'll see where I'm at. I'm comfortably wearing jeans again, so I know that means I've gone down a bit, lol. Weight wise I'm at 165. I feel amazing, and am so incredibly happy with how things look! Here are some pics of my progress: some at my highest weight before my sleeve, the day of my body lift, and today! In the pic of the side view, the thing on my back is an embrace silicone scar strip. Hope you are all doing well! [emoji173]️IMG_7189.JPG.706dadbedf943fc6a9a4fa372865506f.JPG IMG_7188.JPG.c067253cf45263fad1f2d80118615a77.JPG IMG_7186.JPG.da83c654ab82166a8e0fec0391bf3a8a.JPG IMG_7187.JPG.a701f50348c5079cf5400b332ca0135d.JPG

Omg! Who did your tummy??? You look flawless.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing your plastics journey. I'm about 3 weeks out from plastics myself. You and I started off at just about the same the same weight, both had the sleeve, both ended up in the 160s pre plastics. I carry most of my weight now in my thighs and worry that I won't be happy with my legs post surgery but after seeing your pics I feel so reassured and so much better!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi all! It’s been quite some time since I posted! I had a bit of a rough time after we moved to Virginia. I fell into a bit of a depression having moved all the way across the country from my family, leaving my friends, leaving my career as an RN to be a stay at home mom... lots of great changes were happening too, but I just had a hard time coping with it all.

Anyway, things are much better, and I’m enjoying this new life! I’m almost 9 months post op lower body lift and thigh Lipo and 3 yr 8mo post op gastric sleeve. I’m 5’ 6” and my current weight is 162, exactly 100 lbs down from my sleeve surgery, and a new low for me as an adult! I’ve been trying to work out more, and sticking to a clean healthy low carb diet.

I LOVE my post op results!!! Dr. Stacey Folk in Denver is my angel! I do eventually want to have my thighs done, but that will have to wait for now...

I currently wear a size 8/10 bottoms and S/M tops. I also plan on wearing a bikini in public when I go to Vegas in a couple weeks!!! [emoji50]

Anyway, I just wanted to check in And update you all. Hope everyone is well!IMG_0693.JPG.9cb0310085aad471837f1fe96489f0ea.JPG IMG_0687.JPG.b911c9bd04c938d0d190517f43af6618.JPG IMG_0656.JPG.abf1620ea4e7bb9875d423db1542a8dc.JPG

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dr Stacey[emoji40][emoji72]is an angel-she does heavenly work, what a beautiful work was done for you. I can see why you would want to travel 1/2way across the USA for her. Congratulations to you and her for a job well done![emoji106][emoji12]

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile 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

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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.
  • 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

    ×