After debating, do I put a thread on here or not, apparently I’ve decided it’s a good idea, so here it is.

I’m scheduled for my plastic surgery April 6th.

I’m having a lower body lift, a 360 incision and a vertical incision, a mons lift too. I’m having my arms done, and a revision to a breast reduction surgery from years ago. I’m not getting implants.

I’m seeing Dr. Kurtis Martin. His staff has been amazing. He makes me feel very confident in his skills. This will take 7 hours of surgery and I’m maxing out the amount of time he will work on one person. It’s good, because I don’t think I’ll need other surgeries. I was kind of apple shaped and didn’t carry a lot of weight on my legs (relatively speaking) so I’m not having leg work done. However the way he places the incision on/around my hips there will be some improvement with my legs.

I’m guessing there’s 20-25 pounds of skin that’s coming off. I’m basing that on the estimates the two surgeons I saw gave me. One said 15 with a wink, the other said 30. I’m going with Doctor 15. Doctor 30 was super eager to cut me as much as possible and wanted to give me the works. Dr. 15 asked me what I wanted and even made me defend the vertical incision decision.

As much as I’d like to get my neck done, there’s no money for that now. Maybe later if I strike it rich.

I was shooting for dropping more weight before surgery and I hope I still will, by my weight loss has stalled. I exercise regularly and hard, so I know it’s about eating fewer calories. But the good news is I’m pretty buff under the skin! I’ll be able to show off my muscles this summer.

I will have my port revised too, btw. Being unfilled doesn’t sound appealing to me, but I know I’ll work through it.

And I don’t know that I’ll be posting pictures of my half naked body. As grateful as I am to those who have gone before me who have posted their pictures, it’s just not in the cards for me.

Oh, and let me answer this before it gets asked. I do feel like if I waited one more year I’d probably have all my weight off. However, right now I have a job that will pay for the panniculectomy, and generous benefits for time off. A year from now I probably will not be able to take off for 4-6 weeks. I base that on the fact I’m finishing my MBA the end of March and I’m going to be looking for something new this summer/fall.

Surgery now is the best fit for the schedule.

Yeah, you saw right, I’ve been in school since 2005. I got my undergrad then my graduate degree while losing a bunch of weight. It was absolutely deliberate. I'm absolutely that awesome.

Niki and Cori

Hi, and thanks so much for the encouraging words and sweet thoughts.

I am really feeling like myself more and more daily. It's so good not to feel so addled-brained. Also, I think my waist has reappeared, which makes a girl happy.

The seroma is still huge and being drained twice a week. He mentioned wanting to reinsert a drain today. I was really not too happy with the thought yesterday. I'm back to exercising and want to enjoy moving around. Having a drain stuck in me just seems like a backward step.

However, in the middle of the night last night a piece of my incision opened and I drained in the bed. I woke up to the same sensation as when my daughter crawled in bed with me then wet the bed. Cold and wet and scared to death I peed myself. (!) Apparently I'll share anything here.

So maybe I do need the drain. I don't want it...I see my surgeon in a few hours and we'll talk it out...and I will do what he recommends, but boo hoo.:thumbdown:

So there you go a little bi-polar post for you all. Seems about right as far as this surgery goes. I love and hate it at the same time.

hi julie,

i love your honest posts.....it helps me to be brutally honest as well.

sounds like the surgeon you chose was perfect...especially when it comes to scar healing...

keep us posted on your drain/seroma situation.

Juli - thanks for reinforcing the mindset that the connection you have to your surgeon is so important -- I know I am such a private person about how my body looks and choosing a WLS surgeon everyone told me to be absolutely sure you had a good connection to your surgeon and that definitely has paid off for me. Hearing that your choice of Dr. in Cincy was worth it for you and it wasn't a cost savings thing, really helps. I plan to get at least 2 or maybe 3 opinions on this plastics thing when I get to that stage because I want to feel sure of that decision too.

Wishing you all the best on the seroma thing and hope that if you have to get a drain to get that back under control that it will be short term.

Hi Juli:

Sorry to hear about your continuing seroma and drainage issues.

Do you recommend putting a waterproof mattress pad on the bed until the drainage is done?

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with all of us. It's so helpful to those walking down the ps path after you.

I love my band!

Sue

Sue

I think I'm unusual with my draining. They do call me the "Seroma Queen" at the surgeon's office.

I got some chuxs for the bed. They are plastic on one side and absorbant on the other. not fun to sleep on but they save the sheets and are disposable. I'd say don't worry about the mattress until you have an issue.

All

As for my issue, I didn't get a drain put in. I'm going to continue to drive 1.5 hours one way twice a week to see my surgeon to get drained. I'm off for 10 more days, so we'll see where we are at the end of next week. I hope to have slowed way down by then.

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts.

I'm shooting into work for a minute today to gather some information for the Race for the Cure. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and yeah, I admit a little, I'm looking forward to being seen too.:cool2:

Juli, I am glad you didn't get that hated drain, and let us know everyone at works reaction at your big "reveal"!!! When are we going to see the results? Soon!!!

Mimi

Juli: Enjoy the reactions to your new bod! Sorry about the seromas. I found out yesterday that my band slip has corrected itself. I feel like I have a new lease on life. I'll get my restriction back a little at a time. Can't wait! Sorry, I just had to tell a fellow bandster my good news!

Juli, best of luck with the seroma saga. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they take care of themselves before you have to be back at work FT. I've no doubt you'll knock their socks off at work and they'll be thrilled to see you.

Karey, so very happy for you my dear! You've been through plenty and then some. So glad your band is back where it belongs and working correctly.

Take care, both of you!

Hey kids,

So I'm getting some big swelling seromas which my doctor drains weekly. Yesterday he took out about 16 ounces which was a huge relief.

So while I"m feeling the pain let me say, this does hurt. It hurts a lot. It's not a walk in the park....and I'm healing beautifully and doing really well and I've got a decent pain tolerance.

But for those of you considering the surgery it's a knock you down kind of thing. Mind you I've got about 8 feet of incisions on my body; I did the maxium amount of plastic surgery an ethical doctor would perform.

So reality is that before I'm thinking I'm all hot and skinny and my memory fades about the pain, this is rough, rough, rough.

You've been warned.

I was too, but I didn't really hear it or listen...

I had a breast lift 8 yrs ago during which a lot of skin was removed. I still have not forgotten the pain and did not even go back for the free revision he was going to do that he assured me would be a piece of cake after what I'd already had done!!!!!! I would really like to have the TT and underarms done, but I'm not sure if I will get up the courage. Did you have lots more done? What do you think caused the most discomfort?? I hope you feel good soon and you will look great really soon!!

The tummy tuck hurts 10 times more than my breast reduction 7 years ago or the revision he just did.

My tummy is flat, though the sweater doesn't do much to show that.

This was taken yesterday.

The tummy tuck hurts 10 times more than my breast reduction 7 years ago or the revision he just did.

Thanks for the honesty! Did you have lots of cutting (skin) done with the reduction or was it more like lipo??

My tummy is flat, though the sweater doesn't do much to show that.

This was taken yesterday.

Looking good!!!!! It must feel good to be rid of the excess!! It will keep shaping up too over the coming months which you will notice most of course!!

Thanks for the honesty! Did you have lots of cutting (skin) done with the reduction or was it more like lipo??

There was an bunch of skin cutting with my surgery. A TT typically is hip bone to hip bone with maybe a vertical incision.

I had a 360 around me with a vertical incision. Plus my arms plus a revision to my breasts. 8 feet plus in incisions all together.

Ouch, ouch, ouch

you look fantastic. nobody would think that you had ever been heavy. what a great finish.