I'm starting my plastics journey this week! Creating this thread as a place to gather my thoughts, and gather opinions as well.

My priorities

1&2 - Tummy & Boobs

3 - Thighs

4&5 - Butt & Arms

Specifics for each area

Tummy - low & thin scar, natural looking belly button, and lipo/conturing to narrow my waist as much as possible

Boobs - augmentation & lift, VERY important that my boobs look natural, thinking D cup with tear drop gummy bear implants

Thighs - do not want a full thigh lift with long scars, so only a crescent lift, or as part of a lower body lift

Butt - either a fat transfer (BBL) or buttock lift with a dermal fat flap as part of a lower body lift

Arms - do not want a full arm lift with long scars, so only a crescent lift

I reached out for consultations with 5 surgeons who specialize, or do a fair amount of surgeries on massive weight loss patients. I have #1 & #2 choices, and have consultations scheduled with both on Friday ? Interestingly neither of my top choices charge a consultation fee, but the three others do. I am seriously considering canceling my other consultations to see #1 & 2 first, before I invest up to $750 on consultation fees.

Anyone have opinions if I should just see #1 & #2 first, or is it worth the investment in consultation fees to have more surgeons quotes?

My #1 surgeon does lots of lower body lifts. I hadn't originally considered this because I'd rather not have the circumferential scar. But his results are amazing, and at least in the posted photos the scars are very thin. It may also be the only way I can get most of my wish list accomplished in one surgery. I have seen where he has done a lower body lift & a breast lift & augmentation in one surgery. That would only leave arms to tackle at some point later, if I still wanted them fixed.

Here's an example of the work of my #1 surgeon

Edited August 19, 20197 yr by sillykitty

1 hour ago, ms.sss said:

Did you surgeon tell you how long not to touch?

Cuz my surgeon instructed me to start massaging any at my 3 week post op appointment....?

I was told the same - I think he had me start doing it when I was about 3-4 weeks out and things were healing over pretty well. Could be that massage therapists do it more vigorously than someone would do during a self-massage? Not sure.

1 hour ago, ms.sss said:

Did you surgeon tell you how long not to touch?

Cuz my surgeon instructed me to start massaging any at my 3 week post op appointment....?

11 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

I was told the same - I think he had me start doing it when I was about 3-4 weeks out and things were healing over pretty well. Could be that massage therapists do it more vigorously than someone would do during a self-massage? Not sure.

I wasn't told any time frame, but I didn't ask. The instructions just put the fear in me because except for this one topic my surgeon was pretty much 'your surgery is done, there isn't much you can do to affect the outcome either positively or negatively'. So this is one of the few thing I was told specifically to not do.

I don't believe scar massage though falls under these instructions for me at this point. I can feel the solid scar tissue underneath. So breaking that up would only be a positive.

45 minutes ago, sillykitty said:

I wasn't told any time frame, but I didn't ask. The instructions just put the fear in me because except for this one topic my surgeon was pretty much 'your surgery is done, there isn't much you can do to affect the outcome either positively or negatively'. So this is one of the few thing I was told specifically to not do.

I don't believe scar massage though falls under these instructions for me at this point. I can feel the solid scar tissue underneath. So breaking that up would only be a positive.

if he specifically told you not to massage it, then I wouldn't. He has a different kind of suturing technique than a lot of other plastic surgeons, so maybe there's something unique about that self-massage might affect (??). Not sure.

3 hours ago, ms.sss said:

Did you surgeon tell you how long not to touch?

Cuz my surgeon instructed me to start massaging any at my 3 week post op appointment....?

No and I didn't even ask ? But my situation maybe a little different. I have progressive tension sutures and he definitely didn't want those to shift or rip

2 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

I don't really get the "big butt look" that's so popular today. I mean, no one wants a flat rear-end, either, but this bubble butt stuff just looks odd to me. But then, I'm old, so...

Some of us *ahem* once had it naturally and aspire to return to utopia

On 1/22/2020 at 11:28 PM, Darktowerdream said:

I was curious with all this talk of Faja and saw a YouTube video recommending these two.

Salome 0216 Fajas

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QAV7CZ4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00QAV7CZ4&linkCode=as2&tag=pinupdollashl-20&linkId=779869331ae696bd1bb603e5a932bdfa

Fajas DPrada 11105

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0173IS8VY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0173IS8VY&linkCode=as2&tag=pinupdollashl-20&linkId=251cb2c82e105f4ee5e2a401f2803337

the video ...

I can't live like that YouTuber ?

5 minutes ago, GreenTealael said:

Some of us *ahem* once had it naturally and aspire to return to utopia

they look better when it's natural. But sometimes it's so obvious it's been "enhanced" - it just looks a bit...weird.

2 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

they look better when it's natural. But sometimes it's so obvious it's been "enhanced" - it just looks a bit...weird.

Sometimes... But then again I just want everyone to have the midsection and @$$ they want ?

1 minute ago, GreenTealael said:

Sometimes... But then again I just want everyone to have the midsection and @$$ they want ?

true. I wish my midsection was a lot smaller. I hate having a 35" waist - but then, none of the plastic surgeons I talked to said there was much they could do about it, so I'm stuck with the thing ?

5 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

true. I wish my midsection was a lot smaller. I hate having a 35" waist - but then, none of the plastic surgeons I talked to said there was much they could do about it, so I'm stuck with the thing ?

Why couldn't the surgeons help?

2 hours ago, GreenTealael said:

Why couldn't the surgeons help?

nothing to take off there - it's all muscle and skin. It's just the way I'm built

P.S. they did remove whatever excess skin was there (which didn't affect the measurement all that much), but there wasn't any fat to take off, so....couldn't really reduce the size of it very much.

Edited January 24, 20206 yr by catwoman7

8 hours ago, ms.sss said:

LOLOLOLzzzz the butt enhancer on this one is a crazy

I think someone got a little too overzealous with the photoshop ?

Eight weeks post op, checking in!

First off, I am feeling really really good, like almost normal. A lot of the time I could even forget I had ps. Last week was my first not work from home week. It was a long week where I was "on" from breakfast to closing down the bar. I was concerned about my stamina. But I was 100% fine.

My swelling seems to be decreasing. I wore compression gear for work last week, and it seems they keep the swelling down even after I take them off. I have been experimenting this week with wearing them. Since I'm less swollen, either the compression gear is helping, or I'm at the place in my recovery that there is less swelling.

My breast aug is coming along nicely! My left breast is like 80-90% there. It is looking nearly normal and natural. My right is coming along more slowly, but making progress, coming down little by little.

In not so positive news ... the healing issue w my crack continues. I've had some conversatios w my surgeon about it, plus a lot of Googling. The issue is a healing tissue called slough has covered part of the wound, and it now impeding it from closing. The tissue needs to be debrided, but it's just an issue of how. My surgeon has directed me to soak in a bathtub/hot tub and use open weave gauze, to soften the slough and then pull it off when it sticks to the gauze. That's a pretty conservative approach, plus there is also the issue of getting the gauze in a tight area in order to stay and stick. I'm really interested in a more aggressive approach. I want to talk to my surgeon about coming in to see him, and if he will do some form of debridement in his office. There is the issue of if he will agree to, and finding the time to get there. The other option is going to wound management locally. But there don't appear to be any wound care centers "in network" close by. I'm also afraid of playing insurance roulette in case it's not covered because it stems from cosmetic surgery. To be continued ...

Positive side benefit of my prescribed hydro therapy, I'm using the time in the hot tub to massage my scar tissue and my non compliant right breast when the tissues are warm and soft.

Because of getting in the hot tub regularly I'm not using scar tape yet. Still using Bio Oil, if nothing else it's soothing when my skin gets itchy.

In other vanity news ...

Eyelash Extensions - Have a love/hate with these. I LOVE the way they look. Like ???! But they are already coming out, especially on one eye. I'm not sure if I'm too rough on them, or they weren't applied correctly, or if this is normal. I also have naturally really oily eyelids (weird, huh?), so maybe that plays a part. So if I want to keep them up keep is going to be a b*tch. I already get my nails one every two weeks. Do I want to add the time and expense of eyelashes too?

Filler - OMG, this has been a huge success. Results are drastic but subtle at the same time. I just look a little younger, but not "done". It was a bit of a roller coaster, first I was swollen and really bruised, then just swollen so I looked unnatural, then everything settled down and it looks perfect. I'll have to see how long it lasts. I got Radiesse, that is supposed to be the longest lasting.

Botox - I like it, but isn't a huge difference. I went a little light with 20 units. Next time I'll go with 40 and do my 11's as well. It is cheap enough I'll experiment a little.

PCA Chemical Peel - This was the biggest surprise for me. I didn't think much of it becuse it was a really cheap Groupon. I mean what can $37 get me? Well it really worked! I burned going on, and then I started o peel, I peeled for days! But at the end my skin is brighter and looks refreshed. Again, subtle, but positive.

With all of the above it makes me feel a lot more confident to go about my day, anything but work, wearing little to no make up.

Couple of pics ...

First my tummy, I am soo happy!

And then this is the filler, before and after

11 hours ago, sillykitty said:

Eight weeks post op, checking in!

First off, I am feeling really really good, like almost normal. A lot of the time I could even forget I had ps. Last week was my first not work from home week. It was a long week where I was "on" from Breakfast to closing down the bar. I was concerned about my stamina. But I was 100% fine.

My swelling seems to be decreasing. I wore compression gear for work last week, and it seems they keep the swelling down even after I take them off. I have been experimenting this week with wearing them. Since I'm less swollen, either the compression gear is helping, or I'm at the place in my recovery that there is less swelling.

My breast aug is coming along nicely! My left breast is like 80-90% there. It is looking nearly normal and natural. My right is coming along more slowly, but making progress, coming down little by little.

In not so positive news ... the healing issue w my crack continues. I've had some conversatios w my surgeon about it, plus a lot of Googling. The issue is a healing tissue called slough has covered part of the wound, and it now impeding it from closing. The tissue needs to be debrided, but it's just an issue of how. My surgeon has directed me to soak in a bathtub/hot tub and use open weave gauze, to soften the slough and then pull it off when it sticks to the gauze. That's a pretty conservative approach, plus there is also the issue of getting the gauze in a tight area in order to stay and stick. I'm really interested in a more aggressive approach. I want to talk to my surgeon about coming in to see him, and if he will do some form of debridement in his office. There is the issue of if he will agree to, and finding the time to get there. The other option is going to wound management locally. But there don't appear to be any wound care centers "in network" close by. I'm also afraid of playing insurance roulette in case it's not covered because it stems from cosmetic surgery. To be continued ...

Positive side benefit of my prescribed hydro therapy, I'm using the time in the hot tub to massage my scar tissue and my non compliant right breast when the tissues are warm and soft.

Because of getting in the hot tub regularly I'm not using scar tape yet. Still using Bio Oil, if nothing else it's soothing when my skin gets itchy.

In other vanity news ...

Eyelash Extensions - Have a love/hate with these. I LOVE the way they look. Like ???! But they are already coming out, especially on one eye. I'm not sure if I'm too rough on them, or they weren't applied correctly, or if this is normal. I also have naturally really oily eyelids (weird, huh?), so maybe that plays a part. So if I want to keep them up keep is going to be a b*tch. I already get my nails one every two weeks. Do I want to add the time and expense of eyelashes too?

Filler - OMG, this has been a huge success. Results are drastic but subtle at the same time. I just look a little younger, but not "done". It was a bit of a roller coaster, first I was swollen and really bruised, then just swollen so I looked unnatural, then everything settled down and it looks perfect. I'll have to see how long it lasts. I got Radiesse, that is supposed to be the longest lasting.

Botox - I like it, but isn't a huge difference. I went a little light with 20 units. Next time I'll go with 40 and do my 11's as well. It is cheap enough I'll experiment a little.

PCA Chemical Peel - This was the biggest surprise for me. I didn't think much of it becuse it was a really cheap Groupon. I mean what can $37 get me? Well it really worked! I burned going on, and then I started o peel, I peeled for days! But at the end my skin is brighter and looks refreshed. Again, subtle, but positive.

With all of the above it makes me feel a lot more confident to go about my day, anything but work, wearing little to no make up.

Couple of pics ...

First my tummy, I am soo happy!

And then this is the filler, before and after

? Looking Great ?

13 hours ago, sillykitty said:

Eight weeks post op, checking in!

First off, I am feeling really really good, like almost normal. A lot of the time I could even forget I had ps. Last week was my first not work from home week. It was a long week where I was "on" from Breakfast to closing down the bar. I was concerned about my stamina. But I was 100% fine.

My swelling seems to be decreasing. I wore compression gear for work last week, and it seems they keep the swelling down even after I take them off. I have been experimenting this week with wearing them. Since I'm less swollen, either the compression gear is helping, or I'm at the place in my recovery that there is less swelling.

My breast aug is coming along nicely! My left breast is like 80-90% there. It is looking nearly normal and natural. My right is coming along more slowly, but making progress, coming down little by little.

In not so positive news ... the healing issue w my crack continues. I've had some conversatios w my surgeon about it, plus a lot of Googling. The issue is a healing tissue called slough has covered part of the wound, and it now impeding it from closing. The tissue needs to be debrided, but it's just an issue of how. My surgeon has directed me to soak in a bathtub/hot tub and use open weave gauze, to soften the slough and then pull it off when it sticks to the gauze. That's a pretty conservative approach, plus there is also the issue of getting the gauze in a tight area in order to stay and stick. I'm really interested in a more aggressive approach. I want to talk to my surgeon about coming in to see him, and if he will do some form of debridement in his office. There is the issue of if he will agree to, and finding the time to get there. The other option is going to wound management locally. But there don't appear to be any wound care centers "in network" close by. I'm also afraid of playing insurance roulette in case it's not covered because it stems from cosmetic surgery. To be continued ...

Positive side benefit of my prescribed hydro therapy, I'm using the time in the hot tub to massage my scar tissue and my non compliant right breast when the tissues are warm and soft.

Because of getting in the hot tub regularly I'm not using scar tape yet. Still using Bio Oil, if nothing else it's soothing when my skin gets itchy.

In other vanity news ...

Eyelash Extensions - Have a love/hate with these. I LOVE the way they look. Like ???! But they are already coming out, especially on one eye. I'm not sure if I'm too rough on them, or they weren't applied correctly, or if this is normal. I also have naturally really oily eyelids (weird, huh?), so maybe that plays a part. So if I want to keep them up keep is going to be a b*tch. I already get my nails one every two weeks. Do I want to add the time and expense of eyelashes too?

Filler - OMG, this has been a huge success. Results are drastic but subtle at the same time. I just look a little younger, but not "done". It was a bit of a roller coaster, first I was swollen and really bruised, then just swollen so I looked unnatural, then everything settled down and it looks perfect. I'll have to see how long it lasts. I got Radiesse, that is supposed to be the longest lasting.

Botox - I like it, but isn't a huge difference. I went a little light with 20 units. Next time I'll go with 40 and do my 11's as well. It is cheap enough I'll experiment a little.

PCA Chemical Peel - This was the biggest surprise for me. I didn't think much of it becuse it was a really cheap Groupon. I mean what can $37 get me? Well it really worked! I burned going on, and then I started o peel, I peeled for days! But at the end my skin is brighter and looks refreshed. Again, subtle, but positive.

With all of the above it makes me feel a lot more confident to go about my day, anything but work, wearing little to no make up.

Couple of pics ...

First my tummy, I am soo happy!

And then this is the filler, before and after

??❤️