UPDATE ON RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY

Hi all. I visited my pastic surgeon yesterday, a week post LBL and brachioplasty. He removed the remaining 4 drains (I initially had 6 but he removed 2 before I left the hospital) and now recovery really begins in earnset -- I hate those things! I really don't have a sense of how things will look as I am very, very swollen and bloated. My arms have me a bit concerned because the upper arms look like they will be lovely, but the lower forearms are terribly swollen -- think Popeye and you get the picture. I also had an adverse reaction to the steri-strips, which left me severely blistered all the way up and down the length of the scars on both arms so it's hard to tell how this will end up. With regard to the LBL, my surgeon tells me it's the best butt job he's ever done! He cracked me up (no pun intended -- or was it???) ... I will return to work on Monday. The down side of everything is that he was only able to do my outer thighs so I'm not done yet! He said I was on the table so long in the OR that he just couldn't risk me staying under any longer. We are planning to do the inner thighs in about 2 months when all of this work settles down. I hope I don't have another fight on my hands with the insurance company but I have every faith in my surgeon. He has been so wonderfully kind to me. So, those of you considering this work (or already scheduled, like Ken) -- my experience thus far suggests: if you take it easy, you will recover easily enough; listen to your body and follow your instincts in terms of what you can do. The pain is tolerable. Mostly I am exhausted and tire very easily but that is to be expected as we all know. Feel free to email me with questions and remember this: we deserve this work. It is NOT cosmetic. It is necessary to live a full, healthy vibrant life. My love to you all. Maureen

Wow, Thanks for the update, I knew you would recover quickly. Sounds like you will be as good as new very soon. (Even Better) Sorry about the reaction to the strips, but, there is a lot of that out there & these hospitals don't seem to check before using the stuff. OH well, if that is the worst of it, you are on the road of good health & a much smaller you, at that.!! Marilyn, the Bearlady

WOW! REENIE ARE YOU WONDERWOMAN? JUST GOT OUT RECENTLY FROM YOUR PLASTIC AND WENT BACK TO WORK SO SOON? IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU HAD DONE SO WELL. I WASN'T WELL SO SOON AND IN GOOD THAT CONDITION WHEN I HAD MINE. I HOPE WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO MEET EACH OF US. I'M FROM SPRINGFIELD,MA . THINKING IF WE CAN SPARE SOME TIME IN SOME PLACE NEAR . SO LET ME NOW. GOD BLESS YOU AND TAKE CARE.

I am very happy to hear all went well, take care of yourself ok. your going to be a million dollar woman when all is said n done "You Go Girl" I am so happy for you, and ya know what YOU DESERVE IT! God Bless you! I am hoping to have these 2 enormous hernias repaired this year, not from wls by the way, from c- sections , my twins were 6-12oz and 6- 14oz, this started it all off in 1992 and then my lil one was 11 pounds 10oz...23 inches long in 2000 they couldnt get her out so i have a road map of long Island on my belly anyway...lol First I gotta find a good doc to do the job! Hugz Mary

Hi Maureen, I am so glad to hear you are feeling better and on the mend! That is wonderful! Keep up the good work! I had my lower body lift in September 2005. I had four drains and the last one was in for 35 days! That sucker just kept putting out fluid. My doctor told me he only takes them out when they are putting out less than 50cc in a 24 hour period. Otherwise, swelling would occur and I would be in pain and maybe need to have the fluid taken off via needle. No thank you!!! My drains never bothered me; just a nuscience. I returned to work after three weeks off. I, too, tired quite a bit. I would say that I didn't FULLY recover (feel 100% like my old self) for about eight weeks. Everything healed well and my results are good. It was painful for the first week and then got better. Thanks for keeping us posted! Karen

Thanks for the update Maureen, I am looking at having surgery in April and to follow your recovery is helpful. Good Luck with going back to work. Rhen

It's great to hear from you and I'm SO glad you're doing so well...but I had NO doubts you would! I'm so glad you're feeling better and it's great to have a surgeon you trust. Keep us posted and Godspeed! Love ya! Joanie

Holy Cow Maureen! Did you go back to work today? Who are you? Wonderwoman? Take it easy and thanks for keeping us up to date. Love ya, Connie

WOW!!! You go girl!!! I can't believe that you went back to work so early. I am glad to hear that you are feel better and that the drains are out and some of the swelling is down. Your going to have to take new pictures of the new bod so we can all see how fabulous you look!! Keep healing. Leslie