Post-PS update

Three weeks ago Monday I had an extended tummy tuck (no muscle repair) lipo and fat injections into my buttox. Everything has been going much better than I could have ever imagined. They removed almost 5lbs of skin... at 3 weeks post-op I still have swelling but the scale has gone down around 2-3lbs so far... but amazingly enough my inches are the same (Dr said it will take 2-3 months for most swelling to go down). I had to go buy bigger panties (lol) and I cannot wear my pre-op pants... stuck wearing yoga pants for now... am close to being able to fit so I am hoping by the holiday time I can wear 'normal' pants. I havent gotten back to any form of exercise but am hoping to start walking some this weekend, I have to keep it low key for at least 6 weeks.
Its strange to look down and see everything so flat... its also strange to have a butt... I am looking forward to going shopping and wearing some different styles I would *never* wear before. Im also already thinking about having some more procedures... now that my stomach looks good other areas that I thought wernt so bad before look wrose... am hoping to have another procedure next year, well see. I have to pay for everything out of pocket and as anybody knows who has looking into PS it isnt cheap!

Hi, Jennifer!

Your post couldn't have come at a better time for me ~ I'm having plastic surgery this Friday!  I am having 3 procedures:  torsoplasty, brachioplasty, and mastopexy.  I'm sure that I'll be pretty sore for a while, but am excited about the way I'll look post-op, and down the road.

What you wrote was really helpful, too, about the clothing.  I'm a nurse, and am hoping to return to work after New Year's, so it's great to hear about what type of clothes I may be able to wear at three weeks out.  Good thing I still have plenty of "granny panties", too!  hahaha

Hope you continue to heal well, and thanks again for your extremely timely post!!!

Betsy

Good luck to you! I want to go back for a thigh lift, maybe breasts and I am still on the fence about arms.
The yoga pants are definately a savior... I had to start sleeping in pairs of them.. basically because they dont have the elastic waste and are very comfy/stretchy. I had to go buy a large, also had to go buy large panties.. I was wearing a medium in both. I also wear a tank top under the binder which was helping... glad its a cooler time of year because its a lot of layers... gets hot sometimes!
I have a shower with a removeable handle as well, that was most helpful so I could sit in the tub and take a shower... I was very hunched over the first two weeks of surgery and standing to take a shower wasnt comfortable at all... cant take a bath until the incisions heal so it was a good compromise.

Wow.....this couldn't come at a better time for me ~ honest!  I hope to be able to do the thigh lift in the future, too.......you're absolutely right.....plastic surgery ain't cheap!  I figure that I'm going to be about the price of a new car, but I'm worth it!

Thanks so much for your advice, too.  I don't have a shower nozzle like you do.....should be interesting, to say the least!

I'll keep you posted......hope you can keep me posted, too!

Take care, and Happy Holidays!
Betsy

Hi Jennifer,

It's good to hear from you and I'm glad to hear that you are recovering so well after your plastics. 

Wishing you a continued good health as you recover. 

All the best,

Jennifer ~

I'm home!  I had my surgery last Friday, so I'm almost one week post-op, and doing really well.  I had a small set back earlier this week when some of the sutures under my right underarm opened up and the doctor had to re-suture them in the office.....NOT FUN AT ALL!!!  But....I got through it and am continuing to improve everyday.

I cannot believe the change in my body, and the doctor told me that he removed 16 pounds of excess skin from me!!  He says that I'll probably be about 2 sizes smaller now, which would make me a size.....wait for it!......TEN!!!  I have NEVER been a size ten as an adult ~ it truly is incredible, since I was a size 5XL before my RNY 3 years ago.

You helped me so much last week, and I wanted to thank you again for posting when you did.  I kind of believe in "signs", and last week you posted on what would have been my mother's birthday, who died on Christmas Day last year, and I was truly looking for "some kind of something" from her to let me know I was making the right decision.  And there it was!  Your post!  I hope that doesn't sound too weird, but it really gave me a lot of comfort, so thanks again.

Hope that week 4 for you is going great, and congrats on your new "you"!!!
Betsy
 

16lbs of skin? I cant even imagine... 6mo - 1 year from now you wont even believe your body is yours!
Glad to hear you are doing well so far... my swelling has gone down enough where I can button my pants... so happy about that... still have a ways to go... my incisions are a little red and irritated in spots but I have been covering w/ bandaids which helps... I also started sleeping in yoga pants instead of elasic wasted jammie pants.
So weird to look down and see flatness... I went and tried on a few things last night and when I look in the mirror it doesnt seem like me... I can wear skirts now and dresses and not worry about my legs (as much) or my stomach. I am still holding off from buying new things until another month or so passes so more of the swelling is gone.
Its weird to be more 'normal', when I had WLS I was scared I wouldnt lose weight, lost it, then was scared I wouldnt keep it off, kept it off then was sad Id never be able to have PS, got some PS now looking forward to more!! hah.