If you could only have one...
I did the TT and upper arm lift, because those areas bothered me the most( with a good bra my boobs are good with clothes on). Now that it is done I want my boobs and thighs done.
I am hoping I can get a breast reduction courtesy of the Army before the end of the year. My neck and back are killing me these days from carrying around these 38D's!
I am hoping I can get a breast reduction courtesy of the Army before the end of the year. My neck and back are killing me these days from carrying around these 38D's!
I 
MY RNY 5-5-09 
Life is Good
Aloha-
I know you are excited at the prospect of doing all your plastics at once. We have all worked very hard to get to the point where we NEED plastics! And the tought of not having a hanging drooping pannus, and a flat tummy, AND pretty breasts, made me want to wet myself in astonishment and glee.
BUT....
Be grateful that your husband brought up his concerns NOW before surgery and not after. Many men do not want to cross their spouses over this, we are all so emotional about our weight anyway, and the fact that he did bring it up means it is a vital and important worry for him. Better to split it up than not be able to pay for it ( sounds like you'll be paying for nursing school to boot, and likely won't be pulling in an income for some time, so it's all on him. Plastics are mostly a luxury, not a necessity like mortgage, food, taxes, college fund, retirement, etc.). Your post shows you already know that.
Also, don't discount the fact that most plastic surgeons ( including the 3 I consulted with) want you to be at goal weight or stable weight for 6-9 months before plastics due to skin shrinkage and better, faster healing. If you still have weight to lose, especially around your middle, the extra gravitational tug of even a few pounds on your abdominal incision from your tummy tuck can delay healing. And you might not need something you though you did- for example, my arms were SO much flabbier when I was 100 lbs heavier. Doesn't make much sense that I would have more flesh to snap from my upper arms weighing 235 than 135, does it? I mean there should be more skin hanging there after that fat is gone. But weight lifting and natural skin shrinkage/snap back has given me the choice to NOT to a brachioplasty- I get compliments on my arms daily, something that still flabbergasts me. Plus I'm almost 50, a younger woman would have even better results. And when I did my CBL, the PS said I had no fat at all to tug down on the incision, I healed incredibly fast and got to go back to the gym at 12 days out. So you can use the extra time in a positive manner- do tons of squats to get your lower body in shape ( easier to stand and get up off the toilet, bed, couch, car if your tummy is worked on) and if you aren't lifting, start resistance training to build muscle ( it's a reservoir for protein so you can heal better/faster) and up your dietary protein pre and post op ( minimum 125 g/day ) --shortens your healing time and boosts your immune system.
Believe me, I KNOW how urgent this seems to you. But taking the time to do it right, and be able to pay for it without added stress, is a GOOD thing. You might be able to save the oney ahead of timew dso you don;t even have to finance it. If I had tio split them up, I would do the tummy first- a good padded bra can do wonders for our emaciated floppy mammae- but I had to wear a bigger size bottom with the extra skin of my pannus, nothing changed that til the skin came off..
One other thing- have you submitted for insurance to cover your panniculectomy? One of the surgeons I consulted with (she was in netowrk) submitted my PE and photos when the other 2 surgeons said don't bother- and my insurance ended up covering $8K of my procedure. The insurance website specifically states when they will automatically cover panniculectomy- things like the pannus hanging down below the pubis, loss of over 150 lbs, recurrent rashes, etc. They approved mine almost immediately and I was able to transfer the approval code to an out of network surgeon whom I preferred ( because he did the CBL and would do both CBL and BL/A at the same time) and he started the clock for anesthetic, assistant, surgery time, etc as to when he worked on the front of my belly vs when he started on my backside and breasts. So don't discount it if you haven't tried- loss of over 100 lbs might qualify you with your particular insurance. Then you might be able to do both procedures at once, or at least get the first one completely covered so the breasts are not an issue later.
Good luck in your nursing studies, don't let this derail you, and thank your husband for having the honesty and courage to bring it up. Your marriage will be stronger for it and you might just do better this way! XOXOLori
I know you are excited at the prospect of doing all your plastics at once. We have all worked very hard to get to the point where we NEED plastics! And the tought of not having a hanging drooping pannus, and a flat tummy, AND pretty breasts, made me want to wet myself in astonishment and glee.
BUT....
Be grateful that your husband brought up his concerns NOW before surgery and not after. Many men do not want to cross their spouses over this, we are all so emotional about our weight anyway, and the fact that he did bring it up means it is a vital and important worry for him. Better to split it up than not be able to pay for it ( sounds like you'll be paying for nursing school to boot, and likely won't be pulling in an income for some time, so it's all on him. Plastics are mostly a luxury, not a necessity like mortgage, food, taxes, college fund, retirement, etc.). Your post shows you already know that.
Also, don't discount the fact that most plastic surgeons ( including the 3 I consulted with) want you to be at goal weight or stable weight for 6-9 months before plastics due to skin shrinkage and better, faster healing. If you still have weight to lose, especially around your middle, the extra gravitational tug of even a few pounds on your abdominal incision from your tummy tuck can delay healing. And you might not need something you though you did- for example, my arms were SO much flabbier when I was 100 lbs heavier. Doesn't make much sense that I would have more flesh to snap from my upper arms weighing 235 than 135, does it? I mean there should be more skin hanging there after that fat is gone. But weight lifting and natural skin shrinkage/snap back has given me the choice to NOT to a brachioplasty- I get compliments on my arms daily, something that still flabbergasts me. Plus I'm almost 50, a younger woman would have even better results. And when I did my CBL, the PS said I had no fat at all to tug down on the incision, I healed incredibly fast and got to go back to the gym at 12 days out. So you can use the extra time in a positive manner- do tons of squats to get your lower body in shape ( easier to stand and get up off the toilet, bed, couch, car if your tummy is worked on) and if you aren't lifting, start resistance training to build muscle ( it's a reservoir for protein so you can heal better/faster) and up your dietary protein pre and post op ( minimum 125 g/day ) --shortens your healing time and boosts your immune system.
Believe me, I KNOW how urgent this seems to you. But taking the time to do it right, and be able to pay for it without added stress, is a GOOD thing. You might be able to save the oney ahead of timew dso you don;t even have to finance it. If I had tio split them up, I would do the tummy first- a good padded bra can do wonders for our emaciated floppy mammae- but I had to wear a bigger size bottom with the extra skin of my pannus, nothing changed that til the skin came off..
One other thing- have you submitted for insurance to cover your panniculectomy? One of the surgeons I consulted with (she was in netowrk) submitted my PE and photos when the other 2 surgeons said don't bother- and my insurance ended up covering $8K of my procedure. The insurance website specifically states when they will automatically cover panniculectomy- things like the pannus hanging down below the pubis, loss of over 150 lbs, recurrent rashes, etc. They approved mine almost immediately and I was able to transfer the approval code to an out of network surgeon whom I preferred ( because he did the CBL and would do both CBL and BL/A at the same time) and he started the clock for anesthetic, assistant, surgery time, etc as to when he worked on the front of my belly vs when he started on my backside and breasts. So don't discount it if you haven't tried- loss of over 100 lbs might qualify you with your particular insurance. Then you might be able to do both procedures at once, or at least get the first one completely covered so the breasts are not an issue later.
Good luck in your nursing studies, don't let this derail you, and thank your husband for having the honesty and courage to bring it up. Your marriage will be stronger for it and you might just do better this way! XOXOLori
Thanks for all that info!!
My arm's bother me, but i am not sure if they bother me enough to ever have them done!!
I definitely do not qualify for any type of ins for my stomach... It does not even hang below the top of my pubic hair - it sits just at that line and I have no rashes. But I was at my heaviest weight while pregnant with my son - I am only 5 ft and weighed 236 at my highest - he was also a large baby so my stomach is hanging plus the top portion above my bb is loose. It looks like a road map to boot!! My issue with my sytomach is clothes and the fact that when I am naked I still look fat even though I am really not too bad!! I can hisde my flaws well in clothing but sometimes I just want to be able to look a certain way. I do not expect to ever look like a barbie I know I will never have a LBL and my butt will be a little saggy but it is not that bad. The only other surgery I might think about would be a short mini thigh lift - only about 5 inches from my groin is bad... but even then it really is not that bad.
Just my stomach and my breasts!
I actually spoke to my husband about it last night and told him I was thinking of having one procedure now and if I am willing to go under the knife again then I would have the other after i have my nursing career started. He was glad and felt we could pay off one in time for my cut in pay.
I told him I wanted my stomach done because it is my most depressing area and the recovery is worse for the stomach - I am on a time fram I need to have it done in the end of December, beginning of January so I do not miss any class time. I would also like to have a few months to heal before I start my clinicals. I want to be fully recovered!
I told him I may or may not want to get PS again so my breasts may stay the way they are... he said "oh I am sure you will want to do it again" LOL I think he is being wishfull!!
I am also not positive if I want a lift or an implant so having time to decide will be good!!
I am 13 pounds from my personal goal weight but where my surgeon wants me. I want a BMI 25 or under though - right now I am at 26!! i have been here for awhile though - he thinks I have 10 pound of fat and skin in my stomach that I will not be able to get rid of on my own... it is probably 3 though!! I have wighed this for a while now. i want surgery at the end of december/beginning of january so i still have 5 months!
My arm's bother me, but i am not sure if they bother me enough to ever have them done!!
I definitely do not qualify for any type of ins for my stomach... It does not even hang below the top of my pubic hair - it sits just at that line and I have no rashes. But I was at my heaviest weight while pregnant with my son - I am only 5 ft and weighed 236 at my highest - he was also a large baby so my stomach is hanging plus the top portion above my bb is loose. It looks like a road map to boot!! My issue with my sytomach is clothes and the fact that when I am naked I still look fat even though I am really not too bad!! I can hisde my flaws well in clothing but sometimes I just want to be able to look a certain way. I do not expect to ever look like a barbie I know I will never have a LBL and my butt will be a little saggy but it is not that bad. The only other surgery I might think about would be a short mini thigh lift - only about 5 inches from my groin is bad... but even then it really is not that bad.
Just my stomach and my breasts!
I actually spoke to my husband about it last night and told him I was thinking of having one procedure now and if I am willing to go under the knife again then I would have the other after i have my nursing career started. He was glad and felt we could pay off one in time for my cut in pay.
I told him I wanted my stomach done because it is my most depressing area and the recovery is worse for the stomach - I am on a time fram I need to have it done in the end of December, beginning of January so I do not miss any class time. I would also like to have a few months to heal before I start my clinicals. I want to be fully recovered!
I told him I may or may not want to get PS again so my breasts may stay the way they are... he said "oh I am sure you will want to do it again" LOL I think he is being wishfull!!
I am also not positive if I want a lift or an implant so having time to decide will be good!!
I am 13 pounds from my personal goal weight but where my surgeon wants me. I want a BMI 25 or under though - right now I am at 26!! i have been here for awhile though - he thinks I have 10 pound of fat and skin in my stomach that I will not be able to get rid of on my own... it is probably 3 though!! I have wighed this for a while now. i want surgery at the end of december/beginning of january so i still have 5 months!
Tummy tuck. Boobs can be fixed/hidden with a good bra (thank you VS) and if your hubby doesn't mind, well he's the only other person who will see them, right?. Also, if you have boobs done, there is a great likelihood that you will need maintenance in 10 years (one of the biggest reasons I chose not to have them done). If you wait until later, once gravity takes over, you can have lift and augmentation when it will make YOU feel better.
L.
L.
Make sure you get a quote for the two surgeries together vs. seperately - it might make sense to wait while saving...and do them at the same time.
I just had a tummy tuck and breast lift and augmentation. I love my new boobs (same size really, just fuller and perkier), but if I had to choose, it would be the tummy tuck, definitely.
The recovery for the tummy tuck was worse for me than the breasts.
If you can wait it out and do them together, you'll save money over the long run and recovery time!!!
So, that would be my recommendation (although I know how hard it is when you made up your mind for something!)
Hugs,
Kristen
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