Frankly, I'm a little shocked...

at the reaction of some of the people I've told of my decision to have ps. I go for my first consult next month. I've mentally and emotionally worked through this, the end result being that not only do I want to have a lbl and ba/bl, but that I am excited about it.

 My husband, after some initial reluctance, is on board with me. I've told a handful of people close to me, and other than two friends who've lost a lot of weight, the reaction has been muted at best. One said it was "selfish" of me to undergo the risks and expenses of surgery again for something purely cosmetic.  I am in great health and very fit. I've never had a problem in any of my other surgical procedures. 

Did any of you all run into this? I'm still going through with my plans, but I just thought reactions to it would be different.

Yes, I did. And it is unfortunate, because people see PS as COSMETIC...Unless they lived with the (sorry I am gonna sayit) Deformities caused to our bodies by weight gain and then loss...they cannot understand.  I whole heartedly feel that it is a necessary step to complete the weight loss journey and got over the selfish issues really quick.  I understand that people cant understand and that PS has that stereotype for being optional and selfish.  So I have opted to limit who I share this info with and do not tell people who might steal my joy.  My husband has been so supportive and without his advice and support I would never had the courage to move forward.  So dont let ANYONE take this from you.  You deserve to finish your journey with style and confidence and it is YOUR decision.  People here on this board are so supportive and valuable while you are going thru this.  Lean on them.  Ok...That is my soapbox.  :) Best wishes to you.

I showed my stomach to a friend who was concerned that it was cosmetic. Then she got it. She has NO clue what it's like to deal with the deformed skin, folding myself into spanx and other like garments everyday and dealing with the skin infections. It is elective but for me I feel it's just as important as my other surgery.

Agreed Leah. My therapist hardly ever says anything. When I got back from PS, I decided to show her some non-nude photos. I couldn't actually show her my tummy because I'm strapped in this comprssion garment.
Anyway, when she saw my before stomach, the normally reserved therapist said "Oh my God. I had no idea that was hiding underneath your clothes. You hid it well". I love honesty, but THAT's an honest reaction!
So yes, before I had my recent PS, I spent my time flashing the few people I told my disgusting stomach, explaining it wasn't fat, but skin. I was tired of teaching kickboxing with it flapping in my face. I'll call it an occupational hazard!

Exactly. I like to run and it makes running hard cause I won't ran as fast as I should because of the skin flapping against skin. I HATE that sound.

My therapist is rEALLY supportive. And most people can see my pants are baggy I show them how the waist band isn't so they get it.

I read your profile - you said the lipo hurt

I've been told that lipo hurts big time

I have a BR/BL and that was OK - I've had 2 c-section and OK

but I do dread the pain from the lipo and TT

how are you feeling now?

Hi Donna,

I am still sore, especially my back, and some residual muscle pain in my tummy. I'm at 3.5 weeks BTW. It's really not bad at all though...more than anything I'm just slow and tired! The lipo does hurt, but it's not unbearable at all. I really mean that. I would do it again in a heartbeat. In comparison though, the TT incisions are NOTHING. The muscles are a little rough, but again totally doable. The worse is the first 4 days. After that, its all an improvement.

how about swelling -- I read way to many posts last night and everyone was a ballon!

are you back at work or out and about yet?

I'm sure you probably read one of my posts then, and I was HUUUUUGGGEEE!!! I swelled so bad, I looked like I did before WLS...I'm not kidding. On one hand I do tend to swell, but I didn't expect that at all. The worst swelling, whi*****luded my face (I thought that was weird) lasted about 4 days. At about 6 days I got my hands and arms back, but that's when my ankles and feet blew up (gravity). At two weeks, I got my ankles back. Now at 3.5 weeks, the only swelling I have is in my lower back, abdomen, and mons. I'm still pretty squishy in those places though, and I'm still wearing elastic pants. But yes, I went back to work this week, and at a desk job, its fine.

Although I have time before I can have a tt, I've got mixed reactions.  As I was explaining it to my Mom through tears, obesity is a disease, and my body is now deformed as a result.  I know my Dad would shake his head and not understand, but I asked my Mom if she did...and she said she understood why I wanted PS.   For anyone who would say it's my fault for being obese and ruining my body, I'd ask the person who was driving wrecklessly and lost a leg in a motorcycle accident if he thought it was fair he couldn't get a prosthetic device because the accident was his fault?

I truly wish insurance would pay more.  I think that someone who loses their weight AND exercises and shows improvement in muscle and their body, they deserve it. 

For someone who doesnt like the bump in their nose and has PS or someone who has a face lift or someone who has a cup size added to their C cup chest is completely cosmetic.  For me and thousands of others, PS is reconstructive more than cosmetic.

I hate to say it, but at times I think people are jealous, but they would never admit it.  I also don't think they realize what our bodies look like.  People tell me everyday I look great, but they have no idea.  They assume I have a normal looking body but a little bigger, because of how I look in clothes, but they don't see all the skin that is hanging.

If anyone has any witty responses to the negative Nelly's, I'm interested!