plastic surgery

I see the plastic surgeon next month to start the process. The nurse said the 1st step is the belt. If anyone here has had it will you please tell me about it? How long before you could function normally without pain?

A couple have told me that recovering from plastics is more painful than recovering from the DS.  They also say it was worth it, too.

If you have not done so be sure and post this on our Plastic Surgery Forum.  Good luck and keep us posted on your progress  

the LBL is the most painful surgery I have had, and I have had 11.  for me the DS was a 1 on a 1-10 and the lbl was a 10 on a 1-10.  it really depends on your surgeon, how much undermining, etc.....you will be out at least 6 weeks...at least

How did you manage with sitting down & getting up? Did you need an extender for the toilet? What about housework? What could you do & not do? How long before you could stand up straight?

 

I am 8 months out from a circumferential body lift, breast lift/augmentation, butt lift/augmentation. All this was completed in one 7 hr surgery, in the hospital. I interviewed 4 surgeons, chose Dr. Renucci in Grand Rapids. We matched on what I wanted, and what he could do for me. His 4 years of patient choice awards helped me decide too. I've been through 4 major surgeries in the past 2 years. I needed some TLC.

Yes it hurts, but I had 2 weeks of major meds. The breast surgery didn't hurt at all, I was surprised. The front of my abdomen didn't hurt as much as the backside. The nerves were cut, the suture line was numb for months. The binder worn 24/7 prevented swelling, insuring less pain all around. Sitting at first was painful because of the butt surgery. Bending over a month out hurt because of stretching the back incision. I should not have emptied the dishwasher so soon. 

Comfort Supplies:    a toilet lift,  lift recliner- couldn't lay in bed flat for 2 weeks, bunches of fluffy quilts to sit and lay on. My daughter to take care of the cats, dog and her father. 2 binders- one your Dr supplies, another to wear while the first is washing. 1-2 hrs without the binder feels very uncomfortable as the abdomen begins to swell. Pre clean your house, load up on supplies, food, and bottled water to keep by your recliner/bed/couch. Some people prop up on the couch with lots of pillows. Place everything at waist height, no bending over, or reaching. I popped a stitch pulling the curtains closed. Pre cook some meals, freeze in single servings for the family. You will not feel like eating for a week. Walking to the bathroom, the kitchen to make protein shakes, and back to the recliner was my life for the first week. The second week I could do the stairs, moved to bed, walked for shakes and bathroom. Slept between med schedule. I was so out of it, I forgot I had vitamins and prescriptions to take. 

6 weeks is the turning point, when internal healing is complete enough to be able to grocery shop, and carry the bags in. At 8 months, I can still feel a bit of swelling at the end of the day. I don't work outside of the house, so can't say how it would be to go back to work. I could stand up straight at my first Dr's visit post surgery. they were surprised I could carry a heavy purse, and walk almost normally. I stretched carefully in the warm shower, when the muscles were warm. 

My suture lines are almost invisible, not raised at all, thin light suture line. My surgeon has microsurgery training. 7 hrs is a long surgery, with endless sutures. 8 lbs of skin was removed. 

The whole affaire and pain were well worth it. I don't look anything like my old self. My body looks like a 20 year old, better than I looked at 20. I was surprised to have my outer thighs thinned down. I wished I had done it years ago. I'm having my neckand face done in 3 weeks. Next  arms,and inner thighs last. There are Youtube entries about tummy tucks,look for Becky's, she can invite you to the private group on line- Tummytucktalk. All the pointers for tummy tucks apply to circumferential body lifts. Make sure your plastic surgeon has experience with post WLS patients- advice from my D.S. surgeon

 

 

 

I'm curious. I've lost 110lbs since nov 2012. I have 15 to go. I am 68 yrs old and my skin doesn't look any worse than friends the same age who were never obese. In other words I'm about as wrinkled as the average old lady. I look my age. I can't figure out why. If there's something I'm doing I want to keep doing it. I have my moms skin, fair and fragile. She has always been thin but at my age she was very wrinkled (we're both non smokers). I expected my skin to collapse in great folds when the weight came off. I do stay out of the sun and I faithfully take 200mg day pycgenol in addition to regular vites. But that's all. No exercise. No special creams. Anyone else had this experience? I'd like to continue to manage without needing plastic surgery. Can't quite figure out why I don't need it.

If you can figure this out and bottle it, you will be very rich!!!  

Minimal sun exposure over your lifetime is clearly a factor. I was always working while my friends were tanning, but at 60+ most people guess my age at 10-15 years younger and some of those friends look like old luggage. 

I'm curious about the pycgenol which I have not heard of before.

Twenty plus years ago I started to get a liver spot on the left side of my face. My mother (now 88-20yrs older than me) had quite a few of these even then. I asked someone at the vitamin store what I could do to get rid of this and she recommended pycgenol (maritime pine bark). I started taking it then and the spot went away. I've been taking it ever since-still no new liver spots. Now, I should be clear that I don't look younger than my age. I have a close friend the same age as I am who looks closer to 40 than she does to 70. Her older sister looks young & her mom just died at 93 with nearly flawless skin. That's clearly genetics. I look my age, just not so much so as my mom always has. Also my belly, arms and legs are wrinkled, but not more so than what one would expect for this age. I just don't get it, though I'm glad I won't have to fork over for plastic surgery unless I want to look younger, which is not a big deal for me-at least not now.