Well, folks, this is the last book of the trilogy. Tomorrow, I'm headed home to Alabama for what I hope is my last round of plastic surgery. It's at least the last major round.

In case you're new to the forum, my history is that I lost 200 + lbs in 18 months of being banded. I had a TT with BL in March 2007. After that time, much to my amazement, I lost 60 more lbs. I then had a lateral thigh lift (outer thighs) and brachioplasty just 6 weeks ago, in Novmber 2007.

Tomorrow, I'm headed home for surgery on Thursday. We're doing the inner thighs (medial thigh lift), small breast implants (when I lost the extra 60, I really lost a lot of volume -- went from a mid-D to a small :confused:, and a mons lift with a port replacement to give me a low profile port.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted as I get home from the hospital. Unclear whether that will be Thursday late or sometime Friday -- depends on how I tolerate the anesthesia this time. In any even, I'll post more from the other side!

Julie, you're in my thoughts *hugs* Hope you're feeling better soon.

Julie I just read this whole thread and I wish the very best for you. You are very brave to go through so much surgery. I sure hope you are better soon. Donna

Just stopped in to give you a big (((((HUG))))).

Sorry to hear that you are having problems. You have been such an inspiration to me with your journey. Hang in there and I will put you in my prayers.

shelli:ohmy:

Julie - my baby - so happy to hear relief is right around the corner....I'm thinking positive for you! Keep us in the loop.

Love, Bandmommie

hey wrote to you before Xmas - Dr Fielding did me too (so to speak )

also went to family in Alabama - Hope Hull- remember ?? Well anyhow - is there such a thing as surgery to correct fat calves and ankles?

thanks aura114@aol.com

I'm pretty sure you can lipo nearly every are of the body, including the calves and the ankles, if it's really an issue of fat. If it's an issue of skin, they can extend the medial thigh lift down the entire length of the leg -- not just to mid thigh or to the knee (what I have). That's very uncommon, but I read it can be done in extreme cases.

If it's just genetics and you have thicker calves in muscle, I don't know what can be done for that, other than lengthening exercise like pilates and running. There may be something, but I have never researched it.

Good luck!

how long were you 'down' after your TT? I will be doing an extended TT with lipo and the doctor said I wouldn't be able to drive for about 10 days, does that sound about right? How long did you have someone with you around the clock following surgery?

I will probably have the surgery on a Friday, spend the night in the hospital and then be home on Saturday. I am looking at doing it in early May so that I will be fully-functional by the time school gets out. My son plays baseball year-round and will be starting the All-Star and select season toward the end of May. It is very important that I am back to myself by then, but I can't do it any sooner because of my daughter's club volleyball and track schedule

That all sounds about right. Driving in 10 days is about right. Don't expect it to be sooner though -- it really will take you 10 days because you're not supposed to stand up straight to put any strain on the tightened muscles during those early days. I felt pretty bad for about a week, then started feeling better and better. My drains from the TT came out in day 6 or 7, I believe. By that point I could hobble around my house and do MILD things (like microwave soup for myself, but I couldn't have cooked dinner for the family, etc.).

By 3 weeks out, I will NOT tell you I was 100%. I could certainly have driven kids around and gone to baseball games, etc. by that point (I was back at work, for example), but I tired more easily for a full 6 weeks. I just required more sleep, required more sitting, etc. than what I'd call "full speed." I'm sure you can make it work -- you want and deserve this for YOU!

Thank you Julie . . . I hope you are feeling much better today.

Julie: Glad your replying. Baby steps are still steps! Hope the seromas are getting better. You are in my thoughts and prayers! Best wishes!

Right leg seroma is GONE. WOOHOO! It's still got a little knot there, but it'll resolve over time and you can't see it -- you have to press on the leg to feel it. YAY.

Left leg is much improved. We're not going to drain it anymore and see if it keeps getting smaller on its own. By the end of the weekend I should know whether I'm truly on the mend.

Dad says I should be able to return to running in about 2 weeks. YAY YAY YAY.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Julie: That is fantastic! I'm so glad that it's resolving. When Spring comes your going to be ready with your new bod and running legs!

Julie, fabulous news!

how is the depression doing?

Great news, sounds like you may be aver the hump. Best of luck :frown:

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers Julie... depression is a struggle to deal with (((hugs))).

Yay Julie !!!