Can't believe this day has finally arrived! In less than two weeks, I'm going to have a tummy tuck, breast lift with augmentation and lipo. I think I was 20 shades of red today when I had to get my before pictures. :wub:Then the nurse called to say that my front shot didn't turn out well and to please come back in the next few days and do a retake! :scared2:Oh, bother! I have such mixed feelings. I still expect the PS to call and tell me that maybe I should lose a few more pounds first. I can't believe how much shame I still have in my body. I wonder when you get over this?! I think I had to sign about 30 different places for consent and possible complications. Reading everything that could happen is enough to make you want to run right out of the office!:tongue: I remember that I felt the same way before my lapband surgery, so, I'm hoping that it's just pre-surgery jitters! Trying to picture what I'll look like afterwards is really hard. I keep grabbing my stomach and trying to picture it smooth and lumpless! Okay, that's hard to do! I couldn't decide if I should have the breast augmentation and at first the nurse tried to talk me out of it, saying that I would just be smaller and perky. I was ready to accept her opinion, but then she said, after closer inspection that she thought I should get the augmentation. It's hard to know when you don't get to talk to your surgeon about it. I've seen him twice, but the augmentation is more of a last minute thing. I just hope I made the right decision. It's all very nerve wracking. I'm trying to put a positive spin on all this, because I really have a bad case of the nerves! I want to share my journey with anyone who wants to come along. I will post before shots with my after shots. Love to have you join me on this adventure! Wahoo!:cursing:

Karey,

I have to say that is amazing, but I also agree with it being "gross" LOL.

Glad to see you are doing better since I checked in last and you had gone to the ER.

Again, thanks for being so willing to share. I can't wait to see more pictures.

Ty

Karey, when I had my first "mini" tummy tuck, I remember seeing the pic of my tummy after it was cut out and it looked like a piece of cherry pie, LOL, talk about weird.

I have the after pictures tomorrow, I hope to see my before pictures. I think I mentioned my doctor did show me pictures of before and after, comparing one breast to the other which hadn't been done yet.

I do intend to tell him tomorrow that I'm disappointed in the breast, still too big :biggrin:.

StephC: I'm sure the fill will help. Do you exercise? That is the only way I lost the last 10 pounds.

Foofy: You sound philosophical, as am I! I guess they use to donate skin like that to a skin bank, but now they have artifical skin, etc.

TexasT: Thanks for checking on me!

Nana: Is there any way there is still swelling in your breasts? I'm sorry they're still too big. I thought you're pictures looked great, for what it's worth!

Today, I go for another lymphatic massage. They sure seem to help, besides feeling wonderful. Yesterday I had no energy at all, so I hoping that today will be a high energy day. It seems to work like that. Hardly feel any pain anymore, just stiffness from the lipo and yes I'm itching a lot. Will try and get DH to take some pictures tonight.

Karey - I'm walking about 45 minutes a day - not a whole lot but I'm finally moving again. I was a lump this winter.

Question for you who are tucked. What happened to your band scars? I didnt' see any on Amy. My band dr said they'll just be lower, he joked that we won't be able to use the scar to find the port anymore and it got me thinking about where they might end up.

Question for you who are tucked. What happened to your band scars? I didnt' see any on Amy. My band dr said they'll just be lower, he joked that we won't be able to use the scar to find the port anymore and it got me thinking about where they might end up.

my scars are lower and more to the left.

How much lower, can you see them in the pics? Guess I'm running to your pics to see if I can see them. Thanks for the reply.

i dont see one, i'll try to take a pic tonight ...

Question for you who are tucked. What happened to your band scars? I didnt' see any on Amy. My band dr said they'll just be lower, he joked that we won't be able to use the scar to find the port anymore and it got me thinking about where they might end up.

Hey StepC,Sorry about the big picture and the goofy face but you can see my scar a couple of inches above my belly button.He had orginally told me it would be inside my bellybutton but I new there was no way that would be possible:rolleyes2:

NurseAmy you look wonderful. It's hard to hope I can look even half that good, but here goes. I am scheduled for my band tomorrow at 11:30. Maybe in a year I can be here giving someone else hope.

I just can't thank you all enough for being so open.

T

Holy schmoly!

After reading through everything I feel as if I truly know all of you. Your pain, your concerns, your discouragements, your fears and your triumphs.

Bless you and thank you for sharing your remarkable journeys.

Your willingness to let others live through your experiences makes the whole adventure and process seem so much more real.

I'd never truly considered lipo/tt/breast lift until reading about all of you.

I'm 5'8, about 250 and 43. I know all that skin has to go somehwere!

Now I'm not only encouraged and less fearful, but excited about the future.

So, thank you all and very best wishes for continued healing, success and joy.

StephC: I will have to look more closely for my LB scars. I think they might have been cut out! I will look tomorrow when I shower and change my compression/tortue garment!

Well, I think I should have taken the picture right after my surgery (except I had the drains), because I am pretty swollen now, especially in the upper part of my stomach and around my belly button. As you can see, my breasts are still taped. Well this is embarassing, but here goes:

Before:

Karey, you look great! My stomach is about like yours. I am so motivated now! I talked to my plastic surgeon today and she said that I could have my tummy tuck right now since I only have 8 more lbs to lose to get to 20 lbs from goal. I am thinking of surgery in late April.

Julie: That is so exciting! Keep in touch and let me know how everything is going!

Good grief Karey. You look great. How exciting!!! You don't even look swollen. Wow!!!!