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 really are taking the fear out of surgery for me. I know that I will need some PS but have been terrified. You really are an inspiration. The inner thigh lift is what I am going to need for sure. Do they always cut down your leg? I thought the incision was along the top of the leg?

Julie- congrats on finishing your surgeries! I've seen inner thigh lifts where the scar has been only along the panty line at the juncture of the thigh/groin - did you have too much skin near your knees for that to work for you or does your dad feel the longer incision gets you a better long term outcome?

This is the surgery I need the most, well right up there with the lower body lift/tummy tuck and it frightens me the most

Dad says he hasn't seen massive weight loss patients very often who qualify for the smaller incision. I knew all along I'd need the full incision. If it's anything like the arms, it's not as bad as you'd think. I'm only 6 weeks out from the arms and I wore strapless evening gowns to several Christmas parties. The scar isn't bad and it's really well placed. I'm hopeful for the same with the legs, though I'll fill you in more when I've actually seen it! Probably 3 or 4 days until dressing change, when I get the first good peek.

Tell me about your boobs.

How do they feel? What hurts the worst right now?

Hope with every minute you are feeling better and better.

gentle hugs

Julie: So glad you are doing so well. You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Congratulations! Did you get your package before you left? I sent it to your office.

Julie ~

I am sitting here reading your recent posts and found myself smiling . . . It occured to me that you describe your PS experiences the same way I would, say . . . . a mani / pedi appointment . . . ha :eek: You are a real TROOPER honey !!!

You're courage is amazing and your willingness to share your journey speaks volumes about the kind of person I just bet you are. I wish we lived closer, I'd like to hang out with you. I bet we'd be friends . . .

Thank you for answering so many questions for so many people and, in a large way, taking some of the fear out of it (PS) for alot of us. I am going to schedule some consult appointments after the first of the year, but I am not sure I would have, had I not been able to read all of your experiences.

Thanks again for sharing, I will continue to follow your and enterprise01's journeys.

Good night ~

Karey,

My out-of-trial went longer than I wanted and I never made it back to my office before I left for home for surgery. I called my secretary and she said the package did come, so I can't wait to open it when I get back to NYC. So exciting!

Lynn,

WOW. You made me tear up reading your message. I'm so glad my posts (along with others' of course) have made you more open to PS. The PS makes me feel normal and beautiful and FINISHED. And liberated. I'm so fortunate to be in a position to be able to have PS. It's painful (I'm having a particularly pain-filled day -- it's definitely not a mani-pedi, haha) but so worth it.

Paulax,

You crack me up! I wish I COULD tell you about my boobs, but I can't. I don't know a thing about them. It's Fort Knox up there with the bandages. In the bandages, they look like about a DDD, which of course they aren't. There's tons of gauze in there, then they're all taped up as well. Anyway, the exciting news is that Dad just said this morning that he's going to take all that off today and move me to a sports bra! So, we might have PICTURES as early as today! Woohoo! I can't wait to meet the twins!!!!

LMAO Julie ... The twins .. hope you have a happy meeting ... :eek:

i am so proud of you. you know what an inspiration you are to me (and others) and you have gone through so much! i applaud you for all your effort and hard work and the pain you are going through right now seems to be a small (ha) sacrifice to pay for how incredibly hot(ter - you are already there!) you are going to be!

Awwwwwwww, Julie, you are a real trooper.

Don't know if I know of any braver and tougher than you my dear.

gentle hugs

PS, my last couple of pounds came straight off my breasts. Had to go buy new bras.

Continued healing, hope you have a comfortable sports bra.

I am freshly banded and have just read all your posts! Wow.... you have really come a long way. Congratulations!

Julie, I'm so happy for you. I almost teared up when I read "The PS makes me feel normal and beautiful and FINISHED. And liberated." You have had an amazing journey and inspired so many people. You just don't know the impact you've had. I hope you're considering writing a book. Yours is a fabulous, triumphant story.

Good luck with the meeting today. Is there a website that will educate me more about this thigh lift surgery? Thank you again for being so open!

Say hi to the twins for me! I have to add my thanks for your openess, mentoring, sharing of information and generally being so upbeat! I hope the pain is better tomorrow!

Julie - can't wait to see pics of my beautiful, normal, finished, brave, amazing band child! Heal fast so you can get back to your healthy life style.

These are not terribly informative pictures. I took "befores" but on film (how last century) because I forgot to bring my camera to the hospital and I stopped by a drug store to get a disposable so I'd have realistic befores, but I haven't developed them yet. And, I'm working off my parents' computer tha doesn't have good photo software, so the cropping and sizing is rudimentary. I'll do better in a couple of weeks when I get home but didn't want to keep you waiting that long.

I'm very happy with the breast size. I'm in a full C right now, but there's a lot of swelling. I'll settle into a mid-C or maybe even a smallish C in the end, I'm sure.

Also, there are no weird shadows or scars other than the t from my lift. There are some shadows in the photo.