Lellow and the Torso Lift

[lellow 1,713]

As of today:

• I'm no longer leaking and my last drain site is healing over
  
• No Fluid is collecting under my skin
  
• I am completely upright
  
• My incisions are completely sealed
  
• And my swelling is down to a point that I can see my ribs again.
  

I am so grateful that my recovery has been so uneventful. I am incredibly happy with the results! I am so glad I did this and I am now a huge fan of my PS!

I wanted to thank everyone who has posted in this thread offering advice and support. Being from Australia, I knew no-one who'd been through a body lift here, and I felt quite alone apart from those of you who were contrbuting to this thread. It was all of you who helped ease my worries, allayed my fears and who were generally there for me.

So thank you! You are all wonderful, amazing people!

[Fanny Adams 7]

Lellow, I have been away from LBT for a while now and just came back to find this whole thread. Congratulations!! You have done wonderfully well! I'm just about to start the same journey as you and have my first appointment with a plastic surgeon in June to check out the possibilities. Shopping around for a doctor seems quite different here in Perth, compared to the way that the US people speak of it. Would you mind PMing me the name of your doctor? I would like to get at least 2 opinions before I go ahead with something. Of course, it may be that your surgeon recommended that same guy that my GP has recommended, so if that's the case then 2 recommendations would be a good thing too!

I look forward to reading much more about your journey and hope that mine is as successful as yours has been.

Cheers!

[lellow 1,713]

Fanny, I'll PM you. I'll also add you as a friend, so you can check out the before and after pics.

And as far as doing as well as me, you've already done better than me, matey! You have a lot to be proud of!

[oneflew 0]

Lellow I'm so happy for you. You seem to be healing really well. Enjoy your new body.

Sam

[Shalee04 7]

Lellow, You look amazing and each and every day it gets even better. So glad your healing great and that your no longer draining!!!

I still after 5 months check myself out in the mirrors/windows as I pass by, as I still can't believe it's me without a belly!!! WOHOOOOOO It was so worth every $$$ I spent!!!

[OH Juli 15]

I'm jealous that you are standing upright. I'm still hunched!

BTW, the pic of you and your boy is so cute.

What happened to your tummy tattoo?

[lellow 1,713]

Juli,

All I have of my tummy tatts are the remnants of two butterflies that are now coming out of my new belly button. I'll take a pic soon and you'll see what I mean! Lol!

I hope you'll be upright soon, Juli. I think that was the most difficult part - being hunched. I still get hunched if I push myself too much. My incisions feel tighter, I imagine from increased swelling and I have to hunch a bit.

But it doesn't mean I don't try to push myself a bit anyway. I'm walking 2 miles now and tonight I will start back on my bike. Just at a third of what I used to do, and will try to build up from there. But I miss my bike and I really want to get back on it.

I've also moved my next fill (to get me back to where I was pre-BL) to this Wed. My lapband Dr put 5.9cc back in the week after my BL, and while I'm holding steady with my weight at 65kgs (143lbs) I don't like how hungry I'm getting between meals. So I spoke to him and he's happy for me to get another fill now.

I can't wait!

[lellow 1,713]

Well, had my 2nd post op appt with my PS today and he's very happy with my results. He's removed all the dressings and I can wean myself off my compression garment over the next week or so.

There is no Fluid under my skin, all my incisions are closed and healed, most of my scabbing has fallen off, and my swelling is down 90%. He's happy for me to return to exercise slowly (which I've already started anyway) and has cleared me to return to work in a week.

He doesn't need to see me again for 3 weeks, and unless something drastic happens, that will be the last time I'll need to see him!

I've attached new pics to my private album of my torso minus the dressings, and you can now see the remnants of my butterfly tattoos around my new belly button!

ETA Forgot to mention that I got completely refilled on Wed, but still don't have the kind of restriction I had pre-surgery. I will give it a few weeks and if my hunger remains, may ask for a little more fill. Though my lapband dr believes that it may be a good idea for me to stay a little 'loose', I don't want to gain if I can help it.

Edited April 24, 2009 by lellow

[JosieK 120]

hi lellow

thanks for the update.....sounds like you are doing really well.

one thing i'm taking away from your experience is that attitude has something to do with how you come out of this. you've been very "up" about your approach to the surgery and the result has been good.

i am psyching myself. you and juli have both been a power of good example for me....

i think waiting is the hard part....

i'm curious what kind of exercise your doctor is allowing at this stage.

my boyfriend's daughter is getting married 10 weeks after my surgery and i want to be toned and tan. not sure how much exercise i can get in before hand. i know alot has to do with how i recover...just curious

i'm off to look at your pics.....

[mrgrta 0]

Lellow, congrats on your recovery and your progress. You look amazing!!! Thanks for sharing this with us.

[jack&kota 0]

As a fellow All Star, I'm so jealous that you are under goal and all slim and trim. Most of us are about half way on our journey. I am certain I will need a TT and a thigh lift when this is all said and done. Congrats on your weightloss and your recovery through surgery. Hope you get your restriction back soon.

[lellow 1,713]

Aw jack&kota, you and I have lost about the same amount in the same timeframe. I just had less to lose, so got to goal sooner, is all. You're doing great, and I'm sure you'll be there before our first bandiversary!

I too think I would look better with a thigh lift, but I think I'm stopping here with the PS. I'm pretty happy and can live with my thighs.

What I'm not terribly pleased about is my lack of restriction though. I am not gaining, but I am still hungry between meals, and when I eat, I can easily eat double of what I used to. I'm seriously considering booking in for another small fill.

josiebies, I'm only doing 15mins on my bike where I used to do 40mins before. The plan is to increase it by 5 minutes every week until I'm back to my pre-PS routine. I'm still fit enough to do 40mins I reckon, but I don't want to overdo it either. When I overdo it, I swell. And I hate swelling!

I reckon you're going to look amazing for your daughter's wedding! You'll be healed and toned and gorgeous, I'm sure of it!

[Sue Magoo 71]

Lellow:

Thanks so much for sharing all of the details. I am scheduled for a Tummy Tuck on 5/14/09. It's so helpful to be able to come to this site and find out what it's going to be like.

Congratulations on your flat tummy. I'm going to join the flat tummy club soon.

Take care.

Sue

[JosieK 120]

thanks lellow!!!

[lellow 1,713]

Wow, not long to go for you, Sue!

Josiebies, you've got to take pics of yourself for us at the wedding. :smile2: