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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jun 28, 2015 7:12:02 GMT -5
Good Morning, Everyone!
Kelly asked me to make sure this thread was kept up so I'm gladly starting it this morning. It's rainy here in NJ so I'm hoping it's going to clear. It was yesterday, too, though I did get in a tennis match which was wonderful (and I'm undefeated.) I would love to go kayaking but instead I'm heading out to church and hoping for it to clear so I can change out of these long pants later.
It's been a very interesting week weightwise. I had a big, unexpected drop mid-week. Here are my stats:
Last weigh in per board: About 145
Current weight: 141
I'm feeling good and not worried that I'm getting too low, yet. I'm 5' 8 1/2" and I feel good about myself. It's amazing how differently people treat someone who is heavy as compared to someone who is thin. It's not right and I'm really thinking about studying this further.
New things for me: My surgery is getting closer to repair the hernia and muscle problem. Sometimes the pain is so bad I am forced to take pain medication and just lay there sweating. My doctor has suggested he remove my excess skin on the abdomen at the same time. I'm torn on this as I know the rule is to wait a year but it seems it might be covered by insurance so I am considering it seriously. NYB, any insight there? I'm looking at mid-August for the surgery. It needs to get done soon because I'm starting to really have pain from the problem.
Everything else is going well. My oldest son got married last Saturday, it was absolutely beautiful, he's turned into such an amazing young man and I love his wife (I should, she's been around since she's 14!) My youngest son stood as his best man - the key word here is stood, remember he was in a wheelchair from that terrible accident for 3 1/2 months. He also won the dance off which made me cry, to think he's doing so well with his titanium rod in his leg is amazing. He still has pain but lives life to its fullest. He just turned 19 Friday.
Well, gotta run, church starts at 8:30 and I don't want to be late (again!) Monica, Cindy, Kelly, bboop, NYB, what's going on in your life, I miss hearing from you! Looking forward to hearing back on how life is treating you!
Have a great weekend to all,
Kelly
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jun 28, 2015 7:14:29 GMT -5
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Post by west4thavenue on Jun 28, 2015 14:09:52 GMT -5
Kelly, thank you for taking over this thread. I really enjoy it.
CW: 116
Like you, I am not worried about my weight. I've losing about a pound a month for the past 3 months or so, not a big deal. It's a healthy weight and I am grateful. You looked absolutely stunning at the wedding and your legs go on forever! Thank you for sharing the photos!
If your insurance will cover at least skin removal along with your abdominal repair, I think it would be okay to go ahead with it. I will defer to the opinion of the vets, of course.
I AM HUNGRY ALL THE TIME these days! Is this normal? Anybody?
Have a great week, everyone!
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Post by goodkel on Jun 28, 2015 21:05:29 GMT -5
Kell, you look so elegant in the photo with your husband. And your legs are gorgeous. (Mean girl just had a moment of seething jealousy.) No wonder your husband keeps taking photos of you, you look beautiful. The setting for the wedding was lovely, looks very romantic. Woo-hoo! for your younger son walking down the aisle and dancing. What a wonderful day that must of been for everyone.
I'd say go ahead and get the excess skin removed. While it is too soon for full plastics, removing a panni that gets in your way is not the same as a tummy tuck. Do you have a date yet? I hope you can get one soon to put an end to this pain.
Thank you for picking up the reins of this thread.
Monica, I fluctuate from days that I barely feel like eating anything to days when I resemble a wood chipper tearing through food. If you are hungry, eat. Just make it protein. That, in my mind, is one of the best gifts of the DS. No more deprivation or starving just to remain a normal weight.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jun 28, 2015 22:14:54 GMT -5
Good Morning, Everyone! Kelly asked me to make sure this thread was kept up so I'm gladly starting it this morning. It's rainy here in NJ so I'm hoping it's going to clear. It was yesterday, too, though I did get in a tennis match which was wonderful (and I'm undefeated.) I would love to go kayaking but instead I'm heading out to church and hoping for it to clear so I can change out of these long pants later. It's been a very interesting week weightwise. I had a big, unexpected drop mid-week. Here are my stats: Last weigh in per board: About 145 Current weight: 141 I'm feeling good and not worried that I'm getting too low, yet. I'm 5' 8 1/2" and I feel good about myself. It's amazing how differently people treat someone who is heavy as compared to someone who is thin. It's not right and I'm really thinking about studying this further. New things for me: My surgery is getting closer to repair the hernia and muscle problem. Sometimes the pain is so bad I am forced to take pain medication and just lay there sweating. My doctor has suggested he remove my excess skin on the abdomen at the same time. I'm torn on this as I know the rule is to wait a year but it seems it might be covered by insurance so I am considering it seriously. NYB, any insight there? I'm looking at mid-August for the surgery. It needs to get done soon because I'm starting to really have pain from the problem. Everything else is going well. My oldest son got married last Saturday, it was absolutely beautiful, he's turned into such an amazing young man and I love his wife (I should, she's been around since she's 14!) My youngest son stood as his best man - the key word here is stood, remember he was in a wheelchair from that terrible accident for 3 1/2 months. He also won the dance off which made me cry, to think he's doing so well with his titanium rod in his leg is amazing. He still has pain but lives life to its fullest. He just turned 19 Friday. Well, gotta run, church starts at 8:30 and I don't want to be late (again!) Monica, Cindy, Kelly, bboop, NYB, what's going on in your life, I miss hearing from you! Looking forward to hearing back on how life is treating you! Have a great weekend to all, Kelly If you have to have the hernia and muscle work, then by all means get the excess skin removed at the same time. Just know that in time you may want to get more skin removed (or maybe not) and things will continue to shift and change. I'd like to know what muscle work they plan to do - do they plan an abdominoplasty? You need to know that. |
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Post by jpcello on Jun 29, 2015 4:40:17 GMT -5
I AM HUNGRY ALL THE TIME these days! Is this normal? Anybody? Yes, this is fairly normal for DSers. Don't know why but I use that opportunity to snack on healthy DS-friendly food. After breakfast, late morning, I may have a yogurt. In the afternoon I may have nuts, a few pieces of deli meat, cheese, etc. If I get hungry before dinner, I may have a can of soup (there are a couple of brands of organic soup I like that have a little bit of protein and minimal carbs). I always have snackable foods available. It usually takes just a couple of bits for the hunger to go away. |
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jun 29, 2015 10:31:07 GMT -5
Thanks for all the great feedback, as usual!
Monica, you are doing amazing, such an inspiration... It's funny you say you are hungry a lot, I am, too. I still eat small portions, though, so I just satisfy the craving and it's usually pretty quick! Hope the gardens are doing well!
Kelly, I'm getting excited about the board and the changes you are making. Can't wait to see them! Thanks for your really kind words!
NYB, thanks for your advice, that means a lot. To be honest, I was kind of agonizing over the decision because I know the general rules but it seemed to make sense to get some removed. Yes, later on, there may be more, but I'll handle that when the time comes. Just not looking forward to another surgery, at all...
Have a great week, everyone,
Kelly
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jun 29, 2015 10:37:48 GMT -5
Thanks for all the great feedback, as usual! Monica, you are doing amazing, such an inspiration... It's funny you say you are hungry a lot, I am, too. I still eat small portions, though, so I just satisfy the craving and it's usually pretty quick! Hope the gardens are doing well! Kelly, I'm getting excited about the board and the changes you are making. Can't wait to see them! Thanks for your really kind words! NYB, thanks for your advice, that means a lot. To be honest, I was kind of agonizing over the decision because I know the general rules but it seemed to make sense to get some removed. Yes, later on, there may be more, but I'll handle that when the time comes. Just not looking forward to another surgery, at all... Have a great week, everyone, Kelly Please find out what muscle work they plan to do. |
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jun 29, 2015 10:47:58 GMT -5
It's for diastasis recti that has my muscles separated about 5-6 inches which I've been told is severe (and seems to keep getting wider.) My entire body looks thin except my abdomen, which looks about 6 months pregnant (if you look at my sideways picture above with my jeans in front of the barn, and you zone in on my abdominal area, you can see the bulging.) The hernia is coming up from under it and causing the severe pain I'm feeling about once per day.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jun 29, 2015 10:49:40 GMT -5
It's for diastasis recti that has my muscles separated about 5-6 inches which I've been told is severe (and seems to keep getting wider.) My entire body looks thin except my abdomen, which looks about 6 months pregnant (if you look at my sideways picture above with my jeans in front of the barn, and you zone in on my abdominal area, you can see the bulging.) The hernia is coming up from under it and causing the severe pain I'm feeling about once per day. I understand what the problem is...the question is how extensive do they plan the repair. Do they plan an abdominoplasty, and if so, how extensive? Mesh or no mesh? Talk to them about a mons lift. Talk about your belly button. Ask about the incision - will it be an anchor incision, or....? |
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jun 29, 2015 11:14:54 GMT -5
Thank you, NYB. These are very important questions and I will be seeing him within a week or two to ask them. I'm writing them down. I'm a little scared of mesh with all the controversy I'm seeing about it. I was planning on asking about the belly button but didn't realize the other questions should be asked. THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, for this advice.
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Post by bboop on Jun 29, 2015 16:46:45 GMT -5
You know I'm going to ask my doctor about a panniulectomy (whatever it's called). I'm also wondering if that led to my recent abdominal blockage and hernia repair. I hadn't planned on another surgery and I really don't want to go through one again, but if my swinging belly, which I keep covered by long blouses, is causing the blockages and hernias, then I might see about doing that.
Best of luck to you with the plastics or panni, which ever you decide to do. I know your pain...
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jun 29, 2015 19:45:14 GMT -5
You know I'm going to ask my doctor about a panniulectomy (whatever it's called). I'm also wondering if that led to my recent abdominal blockage and hernia repair. I hadn't planned on another surgery and I really don't want to go through one again, but if my swinging belly, which I keep covered by long blouses, is causing the blockages and hernias, then I might see about doing that. Best of luck to you with the plastics or panni, which ever you decide to do. I know your pain... A panniculectomy is simply the removal of the pannus, or the apron of skin that hangs. It is not causing blockages or hernias. "A panniculectomy is when a pannus is surgically removed. A pannus is excess skin and adipose tissue, sometimes referred to as an apron that hangs down over ones genitals and/or thighs. This excess tissue can make it difficult to maintain good hygiene in the genital area. It can also make it difficult to walk and perform other physical activities. The difference between a panniculectomy and abdominoplasty is a panniculectomy only removes the apron of the skin. There is no undermining of tissue or lightening of old muscles." As far as the surgeon who told you that you are going to get a hernia...this has nothing to do with your external incision (the one you can see). A hernia is when there is a tear or division in the abdominal muscle wall, through which your organs can push through. It is not uncommon to herniate through an internal abdominal incision, which is what he means. Keep the compression garment on as long as the surgeon recommends. Believe me it is not as uncomfortable as another hernia or another hernia surgery. Once you are completely recovered and by this I mean at least 6 months from now, assuming your weight is stable and your intestinal issues are resolved, then talk to your surgeon about panniculectomy and abdominoplasty. Did they put mesh in when they repaired your hernia recently? |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jun 29, 2015 19:50:41 GMT -5
You know I'm going to ask my doctor about a panniulectomy (whatever it's called). I'm also wondering if that led to my recent abdominal blockage and hernia repair. I hadn't planned on another surgery and I really don't want to go through one again, but if my swinging belly, which I keep covered by long blouses, is causing the blockages and hernias, then I might see about doing that. Best of luck to you with the plastics or panni, which ever you decide to do. I know your pain... Panni = panniculectomy = plastics |
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Post by historytracker on Jul 1, 2015 3:10:49 GMT -5
CW- 162
LW - 159
Kelly - thank you for taking over this post. I have had a rough month with so many things happening between work and home. Where do I start? First of all congratulations on your son's wedding. The pictures looked amazing. I love the country feel and it look liked everyone had a good time.
The last week of school was challenging and I finished up planning the freshmen orientation, professional development for my coworkers and finally meeting with my principal. I am going up 2 steps this year because I scored "highly effective". This will help me out financially.
My brother-in-law passed away suddenly at the age of 63 from a massive heart attack. I have been estranged from that part of the family and it is complicated. His wife is my sister. There are 11 years difference in our ages and we never really got along growing up. Her children found me through Facebook and I went to the funeral along with my husband. I also had some other family come out from PA and stay with us for the funeral.
We all make choices in our lives and those choices come with consequences. Financially she is a mess. Sometimes there is so much dysfunction that I need to step away. I have always said you cannot fix crazy. But now an opportunity has come to make amends and maybe move on with a relationship with her. There has been a lot that has happened since 2005. Her children are now in their 40's. Where has all the time gone?
I took a class this semester at college (leaving me 5 more to finish my masters). This was so challenging in the class only lasted 6 weeks. There was so much work and I would not do this again. I didn't think I would finish the final paper which was due on Monday.
I saw Dr. Greenbaum and Russo (cardiologist) last Friday. My labs are great and Russo didn't even recognize me. Dr. Greenbaum wants to see me in a year and we talked about plastic surgery and I have his prices. Kelly, good luck on getting that hernia fixed. The wedding is over with and it is time.
I went to Texas this past weekend to meet with Dr. Sauceda, a Mexican plastic surgeon. I was welcomed into the house of one of his patients. Everyone was very nice and have seen enough breast and naked bodies from his patient's as they showed me surgical scars,etc. I will say that his breast work is unbelievable. Both scars on the lifts and implants were hardly visible. The LBL, brachioplasty and thighplasty scars were good. The only one that I really didn't care for was the anchor incision scar on one of the girls. When it came time for my consultation, he said that he would do an anchor incision because of the way my skin lies to the front. I would need a LBL, thigh lift, UBL (breast implants and brachioplasty) and then to come back the following year for my back. The cost was %18,500 inclusive (except for food). His patients love him. He has a huge following on Obesity help and these girls are sort of like groupies - donning black t-shirts with rhinestones saying "Body by Sauceda.". I in no way want implants. It is just not me, but when I had the consultation, he said I did not have enough tissue to do a lift because I am really flat. I have a lot to think about, but now I know the number to raise is $20,000. So putting away money this year will be my focus.
I start my motorcycle class later this month to prepare me for getting my license. I got my motorcycle boots, helmet and I got a used pair of gloves off of Ebay. These were required for the course and I am starting to look over the course materials. This is something I wanted my whole life. I think after the plastics I would rather wear a pair of chaps than a bikini.
On a final note, my husband who is a union sheet metal worker was required to have 125 more hours in for retirement this December when he turns 55. It has been difficult since 2007 when he lost his job of 29 years. He had to work 3500 hours between ages 50-55. The last of those hours will be completed by Friday. This was calculated by the International Union in Washington, DC. The last 8 years have been difficult living on just my salary, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and he turns 55 on December 3rd. We both agreed to treat ourselves going out to one of our favorite restaurants we haven't been to in years. It will be nice when he starts receiving a pension check. Then I can really start planning things and getting some of the things that need fixing around this house - like finishing a bathroom project.
Take care - everyone enjoy the rest of your week.
Cindy
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 1, 2015 21:23:25 GMT -5
"I would need a LBL, thigh lift, UBL (breast implants and brachioplasty) and then to come back the following year for my back."
You're going to do an LBL, thigh lift, breasts, and brachioplasty at the same time? How long do you plan to stay in Mexico? What happens if something goes wrong after you're home?
Also - do not wait a year to do full labs.
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Post by historytracker on Jul 2, 2015 0:17:48 GMT -5
My primary is doing labs as well and I see her every 6 months. So my labs will be checked throughout the year. The stay for all of this surgery is 12 days. There is no way that I would do this unless my primary was on board with everything and would follow up with her for aftercare.
What I learned this past weekend with this surgery is that recovery time is 6 weeks and you do nothing during that time. This was not easy, but everyone there would not have changed a thing. I am so dead against implants unless my cup size would be extremely small or I hated the breasted lift. I am opting for a breast lift and then live with it for a while before I make any hasty decisions.
At least now I have an idea for cost and maybe this will span over the course of 2 summers for surgery.
Cindy
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 2, 2015 6:43:19 GMT -5
My primary is doing labs as well and I see her every 6 months. So my labs will be checked throughout the year. The stay for all of this surgery is 12 days. There is no way that I would do this unless my primary was on board with everything and would follow up with her for aftercare. What I learned this past weekend with this surgery is that recovery time is 6 weeks and you do nothing during that time. This was not easy, but everyone there would not have changed a thing. I am so dead against implants unless my cup size would be extremely small or I hated the breasted lift. I am opting for a breast lift and then live with it for a while before I make any hasty decisions. At least now I have an idea for cost and maybe this will span over the course of 2 summers for surgery. Cindy I ask again - what happens if something goes wrong after you get home? Like a wound opens, or gets infected....your internist cannot help you with surgical problems, and perhaps your insurance won't cover anything that goes wrong post surgically. Also...when you say LBL do you mean back and front...I assume so since you said thigh lift. This means an incision around your whole circumference. Some surgeons don't let you sit down for 3 weeks...only standing or lying down. Did you talk to any Sauceda patients who are NOT HAPPY ?? Anyone who traveled back to the US who had a problem ?? I think doing that much surgery all at once is crazy, and 12 days recovery and then get on a plane is also crazy. And your recovery is not 6 weeks...it's much longer. But as usual Cindy, you don't listen to anybody and you'll do what you do...and I hope it all works out of course, but this is a crazy plan. Oh and about the breasts - you will need implants because otherwise you will be flat as a pancake. I speak from personal experience and from loads of other people over the years. When you do the lift, what little tissue you have will be removed. Get the implants at the same time and avoid having multiple breast surgeries. |
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Post by goodkel on Jul 3, 2015 2:14:25 GMT -5
Too many surgeries at once. The down time, the pain, the risk of complications; it is just too much.
I never got an abdominoplasty because the pain was worse and the down time longer than the DS.
I know you've had good luck in pushing the limits, but you shouldn't risk it.
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Post by jpcello on Jul 3, 2015 5:28:15 GMT -5
Cindy, I had a abdominoplasty and breast lift done at the same time. I didn't have implants and overall I'm happy about that decision (I was a 48EE before and now I'm a 36C-D). My girls are not perfect but neither is the rest of my body. I'm thrilled that I had both surgeries but the recovery from my abdominoplasty was horrific. I did it locally (surgeon is about an hour away). Once the drains came out I was still having issues with fluid. I had to go back to the surgeon every other day for almost 3 weeks to have the fluid manually drained. I had originally talked to him about a LBL but he refuses to do them because he won't turn a patient over during surgery (he reasoning was he didn't want to ruin what he had done when he flipped me).
A friend of mine had her inner thighs done at the same time as her arms and had an awful time. Same surgeon I went too - actually he operated on about 6 of my other DS/VSG friends. This friend had a perfectly good recovery from her abdominoplasty, which had been the previous year. She convinced the doctor to do the thighs and arms at the same time and afterwards she was very sorry she did. Part of it was her own fault - she was told he couldn't drive for 4-6 weeks (can't remember exactly how long) but she did anyway and opened one of her thigh wounds. This surgeon is very, very cautious and conservative. So our experiences may be the extreme from what you're looking at.
I agree with NYB that you should talk to some of him other patients - patients who didn't have a perfect experience because I guarantee there are some. Obviously the decision is yours but in my opinion and based on my experience just from my abdominoplasty and lift, I would reconsider the amount of surgery you're planning. I honestly can't even imagine having that much plastic surgery done at one time, anywhere.
What is your expected outcome from all this surgery?
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 3, 2015 10:47:12 GMT -5
If I had not gotten implants, I would have ended up a 36A which was not acceptable. My breasts were like tube socks with baseballs on the end, at waist level. If I had only gotten a lift (which is a reduction by the way), I would have been way too flat for my frame.
You really need to speak to your surgeon about it. Everybody's breasts are different. Everybody's skin is different. Everybody's frame is different. Everybody's musculature is different.
Does Sauceda do under-muscle implants? Saline?
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Post by goodkel on Jul 3, 2015 12:36:33 GMT -5
I never considered any breast work. My breasts look fine supported in a minimizer bra or bathing suit top. As an added benefit, I can go bra-less in cool weather because they hang so low that no one can even see them in a loose sweatshirt.  As NYB said, everyone's breasts are different. Carefully evaluate what you truly need. |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 3, 2015 13:20:10 GMT -5
I also want to add that my plastic surgeon had to work hard to convince me to go with the size implants I have. I kept saying they were too big, that I didn't want that, etc etc. He insisted that I was making a bad decision, that the goal was to look proportionally appropriate. After a lot of back and forth, I decided to trust him. And I am very very glad I did. My breasts are completely normal for my frame size and my body, which is what I wanted.
It is critical to get on the same page as your surgeon, and to trust your surgeon.
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 3, 2015 15:43:28 GMT -5
When I had my LBL, my rear incision opened (or as my husband likes to say , "remember when your ass fell off?"). It was not because my surgeon wasn't skilled - it was because things happen. I ended up with a wound vac for weeks, needed revision, infection control, etc. Imagine if I had not been within driving distance of my surgeon...
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Post by goodkel on Jul 3, 2015 22:20:04 GMT -5
I want to clarify that I liked your post for your husband's comment, not your serious complications.  |
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Post by historytracker on Jul 5, 2015 6:36:08 GMT -5
My primary is doing labs as well and I see her every 6 months. So my labs will be checked throughout the year. The stay for all of this surgery is 12 days. There is no way that I would do this unless my primary was on board with everything and would follow up with her for aftercare. What I learned this past weekend with this surgery is that recovery time is 6 weeks and you do nothing during that time. This was not easy, but everyone there would not have changed a thing. I am so dead against implants unless my cup size would be extremely small or I hated the breasted lift. I am opting for a breast lift and then live with it for a while before I make any hasty decisions. At least now I have an idea for cost and maybe this will span over the course of 2 summers for surgery. Cindy I ask again - what happens if something goes wrong after you get home? Like a wound opens, or gets infected....your internist cannot help you with surgical problems, and perhaps your insurance won't cover anything that goes wrong post surgically. Also...when you say LBL do you mean back and front...I assume so since you said thigh lift. This means an incision around your whole circumference. Some surgeons don't let you sit down for 3 weeks...only standing or lying down. Did you talk to any Sauceda patients who are NOT HAPPY ?? Anyone who traveled back to the US who had a problem ?? I think doing that much surgery all at once is crazy, and 12 days recovery and then get on a plane is also crazy. And your recovery is not 6 weeks...it's much longer. But as usual Cindy, you don't listen to anybody and you'll do what you do...and I hope it all works out of course, but this is a crazy plan. Oh and about the breasts - you will need implants because otherwise you will be flat as a pancake. I speak from personal experience and from loads of other people over the years. When you do the lift, what little tissue you have will be removed. Get the implants at the same time and avoid having multiple breast surgeries. OK NYB - I never said I was using Dr. Sauceda. He has a huge support group on OH and his patients love him. No one had a bad experience that I spoke to at this event. Everyone was from the US so they did travel to Monterrey for the surgery. What you think might be crazy, people do because that is what they could afford. He would charge me $18,500 for everything that is inclusive (thighs, breast with implants, LBL (back and front), arms, hotel, transportation to and from airport and hospital, nurse to visit you every day and all appointments, with doctor, anesthesia, etc). The only thing not included is your food. The price isn't bad. But he is affordable and people will do what they need to do. I plan on doing the LBL (back and front) and just see how I heal. This would be the first thing I would do. Then maybe the rest of me at another time. Not everyone' experiences are terrible. The LBL is a huge surgery and I plan on taking this one easy. There would be no working for me that summer (like I did last year with the DS). I need my husband's pension so I do not have to work. Second, my primary could refer me to someone for wound care. If I were in trouble and went to the emergency room - would they turn me down for care? I am done my homework and if I can afford it - I would use Dr. Capella. In fact, at this point, I would rather just put more money away and just use him for everything. Cindy Cooney |
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Post by historytracker on Jul 5, 2015 16:20:53 GMT -5
Cindy, I had a abdominoplasty and breast lift done at the same time. I didn't have implants and overall I'm happy about that decision (I was a 48EE before and now I'm a 36C-D). My girls are not perfect but neither is the rest of my body. I'm thrilled that I had both surgeries but the recovery from my abdominoplasty was horrific. I did it locally (surgeon is about an hour away). Once the drains came out I was still having issues with fluid. I had to go back to the surgeon every other day for almost 3 weeks to have the fluid manually drained. I had originally talked to him about a LBL but he refuses to do them because he won't turn a patient over during surgery (he reasoning was he didn't want to ruin what he had done when he flipped me). A friend of mine had her inner thighs done at the same time as her arms and had an awful time. Same surgeon I went too - actually he operated on about 6 of my other DS/VSG friends. This friend had a perfectly good recovery from her abdominoplasty, which had been the previous year. She convinced the doctor to do the thighs and arms at the same time and afterwards she was very sorry she did. Part of it was her own fault - she was told he couldn't drive for 4-6 weeks (can't remember exactly how long) but she did anyway and opened one of her thigh wounds. This surgeon is very, very cautious and conservative. So our experiences may be the extreme from what you're looking at. I agree with NYB that you should talk to some of him other patients - patients who didn't have a perfect experience because I guarantee there are some. Obviously the decision is yours but in my opinion and based on my experience just from my abdominoplasty and lift, I would reconsider the amount of surgery you're planning. I honestly can't even imagine having that much plastic surgery done at one time, anywhere. What is your expected outcome from all this surgery? I always let the surgeon do a surgical plan. I do not tell them want I want them to do. The first is the LBL because that aligns everything else. I know with plastic surgery - you need to sit still and not do anything. I think I would arrange for a housekeeper to come to my house every other week for 8 weeks while I recover. Seromas (fluid pockets) are common with this surgery. I expect that I would experience them. At this point, my preference is Capella (US). He has done thousands of cases (since the 1990's) and LBL are like second nature to him. We can spread the surgeries over a few summers. What ever he feels he can do for me is fine. Right now I am at a 34 G and if I drop down to a C/D cup - I am ok with that. Dr. Capella likes to do the breast lift first and then if the patient was implants he will not charge for his services. |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 5, 2015 18:36:42 GMT -5
Cindy, I had a abdominoplasty and breast lift done at the same time. I didn't have implants and overall I'm happy about that decision (I was a 48EE before and now I'm a 36C-D). My girls are not perfect but neither is the rest of my body. I'm thrilled that I had both surgeries but the recovery from my abdominoplasty was horrific. I did it locally (surgeon is about an hour away). Once the drains came out I was still having issues with fluid. I had to go back to the surgeon every other day for almost 3 weeks to have the fluid manually drained. I had originally talked to him about a LBL but he refuses to do them because he won't turn a patient over during surgery (he reasoning was he didn't want to ruin what he had done when he flipped me). A friend of mine had her inner thighs done at the same time as her arms and had an awful time. Same surgeon I went too - actually he operated on about 6 of my other DS/VSG friends. This friend had a perfectly good recovery from her abdominoplasty, which had been the previous year. She convinced the doctor to do the thighs and arms at the same time and afterwards she was very sorry she did. Part of it was her own fault - she was told he couldn't drive for 4-6 weeks (can't remember exactly how long) but she did anyway and opened one of her thigh wounds. This surgeon is very, very cautious and conservative. So our experiences may be the extreme from what you're looking at. I agree with NYB that you should talk to some of him other patients - patients who didn't have a perfect experience because I guarantee there are some. Obviously the decision is yours but in my opinion and based on my experience just from my abdominoplasty and lift, I would reconsider the amount of surgery you're planning. I honestly can't even imagine having that much plastic surgery done at one time, anywhere. What is your expected outcome from all this surgery? I always let the surgeon do a surgical plan. I do not tell them want I want them to do. The first is the LBL because that aligns everything else. I know with plastic surgery - you need to sit still and not do anything. I think I would arrange for a housekeeper to come to my house every other week for 8 weeks while I recover. Seromas (fluid pockets) are common with this surgery. I expect that I would experience them. At this point, my preference is Capella (US). He has done thousands of cases (since the 1990's) and LBL are like second nature to him. We can spread the surgeries over a few summers. What ever he feels he can do for me is fine. Right now I am at a 34 G and if I drop down to a C/D cup - I am ok with that. Dr. Capella likes to do the breast lift first and then if the patient was implants he will not charge for his services. So 2 days ago you were ready to fly to Mexico, do a whole bunch of plastic surgery at once, you were at odds with Sauceda's recommendations for your breasts, and you had no viable plan for post-op care. Now you are going to go with the US surgeon, do whatever he says with no guidance from you, and do one procedure and then space out your surgeries over several summers. Cindy take a breath. Do more thinking and more research. It is still too soon for you to be making any plastic surgery decisions. In a year you should take a look at your body, think very hard about what you want to go through, what you want to risk, what your expectations are from surgeries. You need to talk to patients who had difficult recoveries, disappointing outcomes, complications, etc. Plastic surgery like this has risks, complications are not uncommon, and frequently expectations do not line up with the reality of what results are. Recovery from an LBL, when it includes a circumferential incision and abdominoplasty, is very very tough. You will need a lot of help in the beginning. Some surgeons do not even allow you to sit down for 2 weeks after an LBL - only standing or laying down. This is because the rear LBL incisions tend to have trouble. |
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Post by newyorkbitch on Jul 5, 2015 18:39:09 GMT -5
I ask again - what happens if something goes wrong after you get home? Like a wound opens, or gets infected....your internist cannot help you with surgical problems, and perhaps your insurance won't cover anything that goes wrong post surgically. Also...when you say LBL do you mean back and front...I assume so since you said thigh lift. This means an incision around your whole circumference. Some surgeons don't let you sit down for 3 weeks...only standing or lying down. Did you talk to any Sauceda patients who are NOT HAPPY ?? Anyone who traveled back to the US who had a problem ?? I think doing that much surgery all at once is crazy, and 12 days recovery and then get on a plane is also crazy. And your recovery is not 6 weeks...it's much longer. But as usual Cindy, you don't listen to anybody and you'll do what you do...and I hope it all works out of course, but this is a crazy plan. Oh and about the breasts - you will need implants because otherwise you will be flat as a pancake. I speak from personal experience and from loads of other people over the years. When you do the lift, what little tissue you have will be removed. Get the implants at the same time and avoid having multiple breast surgeries. OK NYB - I never said I was using Dr. Sauceda. He has a huge support group on OH and his patients love him. No one had a bad experience that I spoke to at this event. Everyone was from the US so they did travel to Monterrey for the surgery. What you think might be crazy, people do because that is what they could afford. He would charge me $18,500 for everything that is inclusive (thighs, breast with implants, LBL (back and front), arms, hotel, transportation to and from airport and hospital, nurse to visit you every day and all appointments, with doctor, anesthesia, etc). The only thing not included is your food. The price isn't bad. But he is affordable and people will do what they need to do. I plan on doing the LBL (back and front) and just see how I heal. This would be the first thing I would do. Then maybe the rest of me at another time. Not everyone' experiences are terrible. The LBL is a huge surgery and I plan on taking this one easy. There would be no working for me that summer (like I did last year with the DS). I need my husband's pension so I do not have to work. Second, my primary could refer me to someone for wound care. If I were in trouble and went to the emergency room - would they turn me down for care? I am done my homework and if I can afford it - I would use Dr. Capella. In fact, at this point, I would rather just put more money away and just use him for everything. Cindy Cooney If you were to go to the ER if your incision opened, I'm assuming they would take care of you....but I wonder if your insurance would cover complications from uncovered plastic surgery? So if you end up with an infection, or need further surgery after you return from Mexico....it might end up costing a whole lot of money. IMHO, it is not worth the risk. Your internist could refer you to someone for wound care but a) it might not be covered by insurance and b) it might not just be wound care. |
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Post by OnMyWay2Thin on Jul 6, 2015 11:47:13 GMT -5
Gees, all these tough decisions and choices. Honestly, I'm ready to say I like me how I am but then I catch a glance of something and that changes. Honestly, mentally, I just don't think I'm ready to make the big decisions and am being brave enough doing the abdominal skin removal when the hernia and diastasia is fixed. I'm nervous about what I've researched and have help lined up for six weeks after surgery. My husband would love to be the helper, he's a wonderful nurse, but he just had that three months off with our son.
Then, quite accidentally as I was getting changed, my husband says, there's something wrong with your backside. Upon closer inspection, he said oh never mind, no problems. When I looked, I was shocked,the extra skin there is atrocious, now I'm thinking I have to get that fixed. But like the husband says, it didn't bother me before until he showed me thinking I was bruised and that's not an area likely to be seen. Hmmm, I definitely understand how Cindy feels, it would be great to just get it all fixed and be done with it, alas, I'm not that brave and will really think about what risks and procedures I am willing to do. The abdomen is pretty much a done deal, however, because the surgeon is already needed to fix the area muscles and hernia.
Thanks for all the valuable feedback you all give!
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