I'm sitting here at 4:45 am on post op day 2. I had a circumferential body lift, and liposuction to my thighs. Everything went really well. I came out of surgery feeling great. Minimal pain. The surgery took about 6.5 hours. I've stayed in the hospital 2 nights, and the nurses and staff here have been amazing! I'm at Rose hospital in Denver Colorado. I've been taking Valium every 6 hours for muscle pain, and 2 Percocet every 4-6 hours for pain, they help a lot. When resting, I feel pretty darn good. Getting up and moving is a bit awkward and painful, but is doesn't last long. It is MUCH easier to get up from a chair than a bed. I slept like a baby last night, didn't need any meds, but when I work up this morning I was really stiff, and had a hard time rolling out of the bed. I took a walk down the hall for some coffee, took some pain meds, and am now sitting in the chair and feel good.

Most of the pain or discomfort I have is in my upper abs. Feels like I did 800,000,00 sit ups, lol. There is one little spot on my incision that burns if I move just right, but goes away quickly when I correct. My back incision hasn't given me any trouble, and that was the one I was Moat worried about!

I got a very brief look at my tummy as they checked my incision yesterday, and almost started crying. My stomach is flat. No longer flabby with the fold in the middle leadin to my perpetual muffin top. My belly button is currently covered, but everything looks beautiful. I have three drains in that exit at my pubis area. They are quite the site, and make it a little awkward when using the restroom, but very manageable!

So far the lipo to my thighs has been fine. Mostly when I sit on the toilet I feel like I've been kicked in the behind by a horse, lol!

Well, I think that's it for now. My dream is finally coming true, and I couldn't be more happy! I'll keep you all posted on my recovery and progress!

Oh yeah...Dr. Folk removed about 7 lbs of skin and fat, and 3 liters of fat from my thighs during lipo! [emoji1]. Amazing!!

Stats:

Highest Wright ever 285lb

Weight at sleeve (July 28 2014) 262

Preop plastics weight: 169

Hope you all have a GREAT day! [emoji8]

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]️

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]

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.

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!

You look FABULOUS!!!
Can you please tell me the name of the serum you used to fade scars?




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You look great!! I hope my stomach looks that good (again) someday! I'm also curious what you used on your scars, if you're willing to share.

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]️

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

you look amazing!!!

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You look amazing!!!

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Amazing!!

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!

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

You look Great

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!

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]

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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]

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She’s the best . I was lucky enough to be living in Aurora Colorado when I had my surgery, and moved at about 8 weeks post op. If/when I can get my thighs done I will definitely travel back to her. I can’t thank her enough, and would recommend her to everyone!! [emoji173]️