So as if the whole world did not already know, my surgery is set for July 3 at 7:30AM. I will have to be to the surgery center at 6:30. To the dismay of many around here, this will be an outpatient surgery and is scheduled to last 6 hours. Here is what the doc said yesterday.

1. I will have 2, (possibly 3) incisions. One that runs hip to hip (about 3/4 of the way back on the hip), 1 that runs vertically from groin to breast bone, and then possibly one that is horizontal just underneath the bra line. She won't know until she sees how much puckering there will be at the top. I really don't give a CRAP about scarring. I just want to see my belly button!:sneaky:

2. She has no idea how much muscle repair I will need. She said she wouldn't know until she gets in there.

3. She may or may not move my port. It depends on how much of a fat pad there is between my port and the muscle. If there is not a lot, she will leave it. If there is a fair amount, then she will unstitch the port, remove the fat, and resecure the port to my muscle. Lovely...port pain again! :thumbup: She will not be changing the location of the port and has the complete support of my lap-band surgeon.

4. She will lipo the mons area and lift as well. This is being thrown in as a bonus. She said she is not going to charge me for the lipoing of the mons area because she didn't originally think I would need it, but now she thinks it would be better. She said it is not enough to justify recalculating the fees.

5. I will be receiving a pain pump that will last for 48 hours. She gave me the option of showing me how to remove it myself (WTH!):rolleyes2: or to move up my post-op and come in on Monday and have her remove it. I opted for the second! I am not a biologist/doctor...that is what I pay them the big bucks for!

6. She is so excited that I am running the half-marathon before surgery because it will cause great circulation and put me in the best shape of my life. She was not concerned about the weightloss because of my muscle tone. She didn't want to see me losing a lot of weight just due to low calories and poor nutrition which can be a problem for healing. But after seeing the muscle tone in my arms and legs she is EXTREMELY confident in my ability to heal quickly.

They took a bunch of pictures and I got my prescriptions for surgery. They are all liquid as this was the only thing that my lap-band surgeon suggested. I did not want to get a pill stuck and be throwing up! So I will just gag from the flavor instead.:tongue2: Liquid pain meds and liquid antibiotics. Sounds like a party. I can sit in my recliner like chair with a straw and party umbrella in my medical cocktail and feel like I am sitting on the beach...with my new "bikini body"!:rolleyes2:

And now...what everyone has been waiting for... the pictures...as hideous as they may be! I know a lot of people like to see before and after pictures and I will be posting a lot. There are not a lot of people that have the vertical incision and it has been very difficult for me to find before and afters so I am going to do the best I can to provide this information for other's searching.

Salsa,

Congratulations!!!! WOW!!!! It sounds like you had an epic day today. AWESOME job lady :thumbup:.

Next step is to have a very Happy Birthday -- right?!!!! I hope it's a good one :smile:!!!!

Then get ready to get excited about your surgery -- with every passing day I am more and more happy that I had this done, and I just know you will feel the very same way -- I'm excited for you!!!

Salsa - you show such determination and grit in everything you do. You are an awesome inspiration for us all.

Congrats on all your achievements and best of luck (can you say break a leg for ps?) on July 3. Take care of your leg and yourself and keep us posted!

Go Karri! You have every right to be proud of yourself... you are INCREDIBLE!!!!!! Here's a high five, a happy dance wiggle and an atta girl all in one. Tipping my icy cold sangria glass to you and your outstanding accomplishment. After all you've been through the surgery will be a piece of cake!!!!

Thank you to everyone for the encouragement, support, and well wishes. The run was so invigorating. It was such a milestone in my journey and one that I won't forget.

The leg is doing better, but I am pretty certain that I have a stress fracture in my opposite foot. I thought it was just the tendonitis that I struggled with early on in the training, but this is much more localized. Then swelling around the achilles tendon has gone WAAAY down thanks to lots of icing and some VERY chilly ice baths! Fortunately with surgery just days away I have no choice but to rest. I only have one last activity planned before then and that is to go to a fun center (bowling, arcades, go carts, mini golf, batting cages) for my birthday on Tuesday.

Salsa: Congratulations on your half marathon! Maybe you should have your leg looked at before your surgery? Don't want to rain on your parade, but it might be a good idea. You are truly mentally and physically tough! Way to go!

:Banane01:Woo Hoo Salsa! This calls for dancing bananas.:thumbup:

:crying::Banane01::Banane01::Banane01::Banane01::laugh::Banane01::w00t::Banane01:

Congratulations on all your great success. You're another wonderful example of what can be done when we take control of our lives! Countless others will be inspired by you. Becky

Thank you to everyone for the encouragement, support, and well wishes. The run was so invigorating. It was such a milestone in my journey and one that I won't forget.

The leg is doing better, but I am pretty certain that I have a stress fracture in my opposite foot. I thought it was just the tendonitis that I struggled with early on in the training, but this is much more localized. Then swelling around the achilles tendon has gone WAAAY down thanks to lots of icing and some VERY chilly ice baths! Fortunately with surgery just days away I have no choice but to rest. I only have one last activity planned before then and that is to go to a fun center (bowling, arcades, go carts, mini golf, batting cages) for my birthday on Tuesday.

glad you are doing better and your surgery will be a GREAT birthday present to yourself!

Salsa,

I was looking through Make Me Heal.com and there are several people who have had the type of tummy tuck you are getting (vertical scar). They look great. It seems like they already had the gastric bypass scar, so they went with the vertical incision because it gave a more contoured result. I don't think the vertical scar is that noticable, and they sure do seem to get more of an hourglass result that way. I think you are going to look great. Best of luck. Adios to Jabba. Congrats on the half marathon.

Happy Birthday Salsa. Have fun today! Becky

Salsa,

I have been lurking here for a bit. Just wanted to pipe in and say "Happy Birthday". You are such an inspiration to all of us. Just wanted to tell you GOOD LUCK with the PS. Look forward to seeing the pic. I will be having my own PS jurnery, just want to get rid of these last few pounds. Thanks to all of you who have shared your experience, it helps us coming behind you.

Laura

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

:smile2:

Happy Birthday to both Salsa and Canada :smile2:

Salsa: Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Salsa!

Enjoy your day!!:smile2:

Salsa:

I've been lurking on this thread for a while and just wanted to say congratulations on your half marathon. Happy Birthday, and best wishes for your upcoming plastic surgery.

You've accomplished so much. I cannot wait to see your pictures.

Thanks for posting all that you do. It really helps us plastic surgery wannabe's to know what to expect when it is our turn.

Take care and we'll all be thinking of you.

Sue