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:

Mommi-aka-Lynn, I have that same swelling, just below the scar, but now I've got swelling around where I use to have a waist, LOL. When I went to PS on Thursday, he said I had a type of dissolving stitches that takes up to six months to completely dissolve.

After seeing Karey's BBs, I'm considering implants when I have to go back and get that "area" taken care of. He suggested I not be hasty, because I was still dealing with swelling and that I should be taking Tylenol for the swelling, anyone else been told that?

I also forgot to ask him about a prescription for bleaching cream for my scar(s). Anyone used that?

Happy Easter everyone!

StephC: Are you asking about the tape around my breasts? My doctor said that it would help prevent the skin from wrinkeling on the upper portion of the breast after a lift. He wants me to keep it on for 3-4 weeks. It's beginning to itch, I guess from the glue, so it's not going to stay on much longer. Plus, I getting tired on not getting a peak at the final product! I think a few more showers and it's coming off!

MyKidsDad: Thanks! Are you thinking of plastics for yourself?

Karey,

I feel like I am so late looking at your posts on your surgery. Congrats on having such a succesful outcome. I must say that you look AMAZING!!! Your body looks so young and healthy. Best wishes. I will be having my TT in June and I can't wait to join you in the "flatlands".

Take Care and Happy Easter!

Eugenia

Mommi-aka-Lynn, I have that same swelling, just below the scar, but now I've got swelling around where I use to have a waist, LOL. When I went to PS on Thursday, he said I had a type of dissolving stitches that takes up to six months to completely dissolve.

After seeing Karey's BBs, I'm considering implants when I have to go back and get that "area" taken care of. He suggested I not be hasty, because I was still dealing with swelling and that I should be taking Tylenol for the swelling, anyone else been told that?

I also forgot to ask him about a prescription for bleaching cream for my scar(s). Anyone used that?

Happy Easter everyone!

Hi HarleyNana ~ Ha . . . I don't have a waist anymore either. I wonder if that is just swelling in that area or if I'm gonna be straight as a board from now on - ??? I don't want to even think about more surgery at this point - the lipo on my thighs was painful enough to make me think I don't want to do that anywhere else, anytime soon.

I am interested in the bleaching cream - please let us know what you find out about that. I am planning to start using the silicone sheets tomorrow, but would love to hear what my other options are too; especially around my belly button where I don't think the sheets will work.

Happy Easter everyone ~

Well, I hadn't heard of the silicone sheets, so I guess I'll follow up with my PS tomorrow and find out what he suggests.

Edited March 23, 200818 yr by HarleyNana

Karey

You look just amazing! Congrats!! :crying::wub::thumbup::wub:

BooBooKitty & Eugenia: Thanks! Can't wait to hear all about your plastics journey. It truly is a miracle that we can regain or discover for the first time, our healthy, bodies. It's very freeing. You're going to love the flatlands!

Hi Karey ~

I wanted to tell you that I just put a couple of the silicone strips on the outer ends of my incision. I have been putting it off (don't know why) and decided to just go for it already after I got out of the shower.

I think I am going to order some gel or cream off of MMH.com for my belly button area, because it is still really red.

I am looking at either the Kelo-cote or the Scar-Esthetique . . . Anyone familiar with either of them? I have used Mederma in the past, but don't know that it helped that much.

Thanks,

Karey - you look AWESOME! I am so impressed with your results. I've got the same roll above my belly button that you had before your surgery, and I CANNOT wait until I'm ready for surgery. 35 lbs until I start meeting with surgeons.

~Lori

Thanks Karey,

I appreciate the support. I am so excited to think some day I have a chance of looking like some of you. It is so hard to comprehend that it is a possibility. But I can see from all of you that it is and it is what helped me make the decision to go ahead.

I go back to work tomorrow. I'm hoping I'm not rushing it to much but I know if I don't feel good enough I will be able to leave.

Thank you again for sharing. I can't tell you all what it means, but then maybe you know because of those that have maybe gone through it before you.

T

Thanks everyone!

Lynn: Let me know how you like the silicone sheets.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has experienced this: My left breast is swollen a lot more than the right. Is this normal? I'm getting worried that I might be lopsided!

Well I haven't had a breast surgery but Mine are lopsided. LOL

I think though you just have to remember that your body just went through some major trauma and give it time to heal. I'm just going by previous surgeries I've had in the past but not everything heals at the same rate and time. I think you also have to think about which side is it. Are you left or right handed. Could it be you're working one side more than the other?

I'm sure it will be fine.

T

TexasT: Are you on mushies yet? How's it going? I talked to the nurse yesterday and she said that the left usually gets more swollen because the lymphatic system is larger on that side of the body and has more to drain. Glad I asked because it was reassuring.

Karey,

Oh my gosh, you look SO GREAT!! WOW! I bet you can't wait for summer!

Woohoo! Way to go! (The pain's worth it, huh!)

Take care, Julie

Julie: So good to hear from you! Yes, the pain is worth it, especially since I'm not experiencing too much anymore! LOL! Hope you're doing well!