Updated Pics

I have posted some pics for friends only.  I'm 3 weeks out and doing great.  So glad the worst is behind me.  I had an arm lift, thigh lift, anchor cut revision, lipo to the abs, knees and chin. Now I just have to wait for everything to heal nicely and the swelling to go away.  I'm swollen everywhere.  If there is one thing I love from the get go is the chin lipo!  I had this loose skin baby double chin going on that I hated and it's gone!  Nobody probably noticed it but me.  I didn't post those pics because I can't find a good before side profile pic to compare.  I'll just ask my dr for it.  Anyhow, I can't wait to see what everything will look like in a few weeks.  I've ordered some new garments for my lower body and arms so I can use those under my clothes when I go back to work.  I still get tired when I do too much which I guess is good because otherwise I'd be moving all day with no break.  I still have to watch my incisions in my groin crease since they are pretty extensive.  There is one stubborn area but we're watching it closely.  

I still am far from perfect and I am no size 2 which is fine by me.   Don't want to be....size 2 that is!  But maybe a 6 LOL!   I'm curious to see what size I'll be on top since they removed 4 pounds of skin from my arms. I can already tell my bras are bigger since I've already gone down 2 inches in the bra band area.  I am just amazed where this journey has taken me.  It (my weight) has consumed so much of my life..well, all my life in one fashion or another since I was a little girl.  I always hated being fat, faked that it didn't bother me, lost weight, gained it back, had 1 weight loss surgery, gained that back plus more, had the DS, succeeded finally, and began my plastics journey.  All this just to get to a place where I can say, I'm finally okay.  Not fat, not perfect, but okay.  As Vice President Biden said, "This is a big f***g deal!"  Yes it truly is.

I'm sure there will be tweaks down the road once things settle and the swelling goes away, but nothing major. The little bit of skin on my back bothers me but I wasn't ready to do that this last round even though my surgeon offered.  Not sure if I ever will.  I already have one scar going across my lower back and didn't want a second one.  Gotta get used to the miles of scars I got going on now!  Anything else and my family will think I'm obsessed.  I'm sure some do anyway.   But this is my body, not theirs.  They don't know what it's like walking in a shell of sagging skin.  That skin always made me feel fat no matter how much weight I lost.  Thanks to my wonderful docs at Baylor and Dr L, it's gone!  Gosh I love those guys!

I will probably post pictures at 6 or 8 weeks out as well.  I am starting my lymphatic massages on Monday.  She's going to have lots of areas to work on for sure.  Can't wait.  I feel so much better when I'm done.

Melissa

P.S.  I'll proababy be changing my avatar to something else besides me pretty soon.  I've been thinking about it for a while.  It's a privacy thing for me.

Hi Melissa,
So glad you are doing and feeling well.
I like the way sad you are not a size and don't want to be.....I think it's so important for all of us having plastic surgery that we be realistic in our expectations for the final results.


You pics look FANTASTIC!!!!
I'll take some post-op ones maybe tomorrow, if not within a few days.....My legs pretty swollen but then it's only day 2. 

Hope your recovery continues to be smooth...
Take care
Ruth

Thanks Ruth!  You know that first week I didn't think I was that swollen but now that I can see the progress, I really was.  With PS, I figured any change had to be an improvement from where I started.  Wish I could fast forward a couple of months to see more of the final results or at least more progress, KWIM??

How are you feeling? 

Hope you have a smooth recovery too!
Melissa

Melissa,
I sure do know what you mean....I wish when the cut the skin off we didn't swell so much so we can see the results right away....like when I'm sewing and taking in a dress...I cut off 5 mins and see the dress is small.....with plastics we really have to wait a few months.  We'll get there soon enough

I'm going pretty well, thanks!

Hi Melissa, Can I see your pics?  I recently had an arm lift and am 5 weeks out. So far doing well.  Thanks
                                 Gail

I've added you.  Let me know if it worked!

Hi Melissa, Looking awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                                                         Gail

Thanks Gail!

I think you look much better than just OK! I think you look great, Melissa! You are healing nicely and I hope you'll just wake up one day and your swelling issues will be a thing of the past. Your thigh incision isn't very long at all...YAY for you!

Don't sweat the naysayers that think you're obsessed. If they haven't walked a mile in your shoes then they really don't understand. I've had a couple of comments made along the same lines. I let it hurt my feelings for about a day and then decided to just let it go. We are worth it and there's no reason why we can't walk through this life feeling good about ourselves!

Thanks Renee!  You are so sweet.  You know it has taken a while for my head to catch up with how I look.  Some days I think I look fat and everyone tells me how skinny I am now and it's like I don't believe them.  People have told me that even with just this surgery how much smaller I look but I don't see it yet.  I have lost 6 pounds so that has been a nice surprise!  I think getting rid of the bulk under my arms make my arms stick closer to my body which makes me look smaller too. I can't wait to see how I look in my regular clothes.  I've just been wearing jogging suit sets since I've been off and haven't really "dressed up".  I have a birthday party tomorrow so I plan on pulling out my jeans!