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.

Wow Salsa,

You look amazing! I can't believe the difference. I think you said the doc removed 4 1/2 pounds - it looks more like 20!!!

I wouldn't know from the pics that you are barely out of surgery. Congratulations!!!

I hope you can get some more rest and your recovery continues as well as it seems to have gone so far. I'm sure your level of physical fitness has to have been very helpful in the entire process.

Take care

Jacquie

Holy cow. You look GREAT! You don't even look swollen at all. Plus, you THIGHS look great. Did she yank them up with the tummy tuck? You must be thrilled with the results.

Holy cow. You look GREAT! You don't even look swollen at all. Plus, you THIGHS look great. Did she yank them up with the tummy tuck? You must be thrilled with the results.

Thank you...but the thighs are all mine! I had sculpted legs at 250 pounds. I literally carried all of my weight in my stomach and my chin! The chin went away quicly...but the tummy had to take a bit more convincing.

I will post more tomorrow. I am swelling up like a beached whale right now I am going to go to bed.

Congratulations! You look great! Glad to hear you are doing well. The worst is behind you now, good luck with your healing. Your pics look wonderful

Salsa!!

YOU LOOK SO GREAT! I am amazed! How did you get away with almost no bruising? You look so great! CONGRATULATIONS!

Salsa, I'm with the others, you look wonderful! Imagine that first run after you are healed!! Yeeeeeeeah!!

You look amazing!! Congratulations. Do you know how much skin they removed?

Salsa,

You look wonderful and your Dr. did a fabulous job!!!!

Congratulations girlfriend :thumbup:!!!!

I'm simply in awe of how these plastic surgeons can mold the body into something new -- aren't you?

Keep resting and healing, and enjoy your new hot bod :cool2::smile::tt2:!!!!

You look wonderful! Perfect outcome. Just think, you'll be trying on new jeans in no time!

You look amazing!! Congratulations. Do you know how much skin they removed?

The doctor removed 4.1 pounds of skin.

Thank you for all of the compliments. I am feeling pretty good. There is not a lot of pain, though last night I did have to take some pain meds. The worst part of the incision are the ones on my hips. We had to move the binder up a little because it seemed to be digging right into those incisions and it hurt. Otherwise...I feel pretty dang good. I did finally get some sleep last night so that really helped.

BBK as for the brusing..I don't know how I got away with that one. Even the doc commented on the lack of bruising!

Salsa: So very happy for you! Congratulations! Everything looks great. I hope you'll keep posting pictures. I'm very interested in your anchor incision. I think I will need some revision, maybe right below the breasts like you're going to get. I so remember how hard showers were. I couldn't believe how much they wore me out! Totally exhausting and nauseating. Do you get the shakes too? It will get better, sweetie! Just hang in there and take your meds if you need them, you're not going to get addicted! Glad you slept better. Thanks for posting the pictures. You're doing great!

Great results already Salsa!! Good for you!!

Your surgeon did a really good job. Congrats on the new abs.

Congratulations, your tummy is amazing Salsa.