Got my Plastic Surgery Date!! Woo Hoo

Today is a wonderful day!! Greetings Fabulous People!! I am so Excited! Everything seems to be falling into place for me now......I originally thought I would go for my surgery the end of August....Now I am having it the 17th of July! Woo Hoo! I found out at work (I havethe best job inthe world and the benefits are out of this planet!) this surgery is linked to my weight loss surgery so...I will go imediatly on my sick bank leave and get full pay the entire time I am off (6 weeks is planned) So...I calledt he Dr. office and they moved my date up! I then applied for my care credit to pay for my portion of the surgery. I was approved so that is done. The Dr. office estimates my portion will be about $3800.00 but I think it will be closer to $3000.00 from what my insurance will pay. Doc says they will refund me any overpayment. :o) I am having a full tummy tuck, that includes tightening my muscle base, removing the skin from my mid upper roll down to the mons area, creating a new belly button. She is planning to lipo my flank and mons to give my incision a smooth line and a better conture to my figure. Shw will remove the excess skin on my breast and augment them with a full lift and use saline implants to make my breasts a full C. I have my FMLA papers to get filled out, a mamogram on the 3rd of july and then I am all ready  for the new me! :o) I still can;t believ it is going to happen! I always just assumed that these physical differences I just might have to live with the rest of my life and now to know they are going away and a whole new me awaits is really mind blowing! I am totally preparing myself for a rough time pain wise so anything less will be fine.  On a down side.......Graceful me...went and tripped in the parking lot to the mall last night and fell hard on the pavement. I  really skinned my knee and fell so hard it shattered the crystal on my watch! I injured my foot and have been icing it all night and this morning as well. This is the same foot I have a torn tendon in from 2 years ago. I don't think this injury is as bad and hope to be up hobbling around and back to work tomorrow. Being home today gave me some time so I was able to get on here and say hello to you all. I really miss not being on here more often but time just gets away from me. I will try hard when I am up after my surgery to get caught up with all the new faces on here. I hope you all are enjoying a Fabulous day and may happiness find it's way to your doorstep!  Hugs! Marianne

Dear Marianne, I have been "watching" you here on Obestityhelp.com since your surgery.  I am so happy for you - for your weight loss and for your upcoming plastic surgery.  You are such a beautiful woman - and I thought you were before you lost the weight.  None the less, you have been an inspiration to so many (me included). I just can't imagine being where you are right now, but hopefully in a year - God willing - I, too, will have to be thinking about plastic surgery even though right now I'm not sure I want to go through it. All the best, Donna

Oh, I am SO jealous! Actually, I'm thrilled for you! I wish I hadn't had to have those darn bunion surgeries last year!!! Oh well, my consult is July 23rd with a September target for the surgery. This way, I get to see how well you do first! Sherri

Marianne  Congrats on your surgery approval.  I am so happy for you since I know this is something you have been so looking forward to. Will keep you in my prayers. Dan

Marianne, So glad things are going so well for you.  I had my tummy tuck a couple months ago and can't get used to not having that excess  hanging down.  It is a great feeling!!!  Since I had a breast reduction twenty years ago I couldn't bring myself to have anything added but since I am now 60 years old, I don't really care if I have itsy bitsy ones anymore. May God continue to bless you.  Will keep you in my prayers beautiful lady. Connie S. St. V--Dr. Inman RNY 10-5-05 357/142

Hey there Connie! Who did you have for your tummy tuck? how was your recovery? How long did you have a drain, etc :o) I think you have done an outstanding job! I am so proud of you. when I am able to make the clothing exchanges I look for you but always seem to miss you! I would love to see and chat with you again!  Hugs! Marianne

Marianne, I met with Dr. Turkle and absolutely loved her and her staff.   I had decided to go with her to have the surgery but when I tried to call her office back the next morning I could only get voice mail.  So I left a message but no one called me back for a couple days.  In the meantime I decided to try Dr. Weber in Bloomington who did my breast reduction back in 1983.  Even though he is out of network for my insurance, I visited him and was very pleased with him.  And the fact that he is just twenty minutes from home as opposed to Dr. Turkle who is two hours away.  My insurance approved him at in service rates due to the distance of the closest in service provider.  The doctor and hospital staff couldn't believe it but I had no pain what so ever.  They had me hooked up to a pain pump but took it away since I wasn't using it.  I never did take a pain pill.  Dr. Weber told me not to sit up but about 15 minutes a day for eating and the rest of the time to recline.  This kept my muscles and back straight and I never did  have the hunched over look that some patients have who have  had a tummy tuck.  I stayed off work for two weeks and then went back to my office job. I had the drain in for about a week and I have to tell you that was the worst part of the whole surgery.  It aggrevated the daylights out of me.  I was so thankful when he took it out.  My binder was rubbing my incision raw so he told me to get another restraint so I went to Target and got some Assets garments.  They are made by the same people who make the Spanx but it is cheaper.  I wore these for six weeks and now don't wear them anymore.  I go back to see Dr. Weber the end of September for final follow up but he and I are both very pleased with the results. If  you have any more questions, fire away. Isn't this a remarkable journey we are on?  Adding another bloom to  your plant lovely lady with your surgery will make you feel absolutely out of this world. Blessings, Connie 357/142

Thank you connie for the insight! I am so excited! :o) Dr. Bergman says some can have the drain in for up to 3 weeks! UGh! I plan on taking it easy and doing just as they tell me to do. I have been wearinga body supporter like the spanx for over a year now to support my skin so it would not get more broken down while losing the weight.  I am used to wearing that :o) Dr. Bergman has a special supporter that is put on after surgery that zips down each side and has a flap for bathroom usage. We will see how it goes. I am planning on taking a full 6 weeks off to make sure I am in good shape and at full speed energy when I return to work. how is your scar looking? I will have one from hip to hip for the tummy tuck and for the breast augmentation/lift/implant they will cut under and up and arounf to position the new breasts. I am tickled to see what I end up with...lol I have always been more small busted and like I told the Dr. My expectiations are low..hee .hee  as long as I dont resemble a pair of tube socks I wil be happy! LOL Doc about rolled with laughter when I told her that. I am just so happy to really be looking at a new" figure. Did they do any lipo on you? I know that may cause some soreness. She said since the moraphine drip gives me the dry heaves that she would do another pain killer . I do great with loratab so I am sure with my mind set to accepting whatever may come I will do great! I want to buy a pair of jeans that I can wear a top tucked in with a belt and not have to rearrange my pooch! LOL I can totally understand you not being used to the skin being gone. I think about it alot and I can't imagine myself any other way. I hold the skin this way and that and try to see what it will be like :o) I am so looking forward to the final results from this surgery!  Thanks for your sharing! Marianne

Marianne, My scar is hip to hip and just kind of pink now.  It is looking good.  I have the incision lines under my breasts and up and around my nipples from my breast reduction.  I said I know how frankenstein looked and felt now. :) I didn't have lipo. Dr. Weber said I didn't have any fat left on my body, only excess skin so he didn't do any lipo. You will do fine.  Mental attitude is a big part of it.   Will keep you in my prayers.  Be sure and let us know how you are doing after your makeover. Blessings, Connie St. V-Dr. Inman RNY 10-05 357/142