Are your results better than expected

I have a question about expectations.

I had my consultation yesterday, and I was very impressed with the surgeon and his staff.  I was actually surprised he spent as much time as he did answering my questions, and I never felt rushed.  I appreciated that.  Health care professionals are busy and schedule driven...and that is completely understandable.  This is my questions: once you healed, were your results better than anticipated?

For most of us who have been overweight/obese most of our lives we have never really felt good about our bodies. My battle began at age 12.   My butt has always been my biggest issue, and I grew up in an environment where my Dad did not hesitate telling his children what our physical failures were.  Fast forward into adulthood, and it continued through others. 

My butt is entirely deflated, and I have lost the roundness that defines what a butt is.  I can't have what I don't have to begin with.  Dr. LoMonaco is among the best, and I have no doubt if it can be done, he would/could do it.  The skin hangs, and I am very lean.  Of course I stand in the mirror and pull, really pull, the skin trying to capture a glimpse of what "it" might look like.  I learned yesterday the correct way to do this in order to see what I can expect. 

What it boils down to is my expectations have been unrealistic.  With my lack of knowledge I have spent too many hours comparing my body to after photos of younger women whose results are nothing short of amazing.  My butt will still have folds in the lower part, and there is not much that can be done to the lower portion of our legs down by our knees.

I simply had unrealistic expectations.  I was so quiet at dinner last night my family started talking to me.  I told them maybe I should have my facial work done first and just forget about the other PS.  I will be 57 this summer.  My daughter asked if I was willing to accept things as they are, or wouldn't it be worthwhile to have the lower body work, improve that to a certain degree and possibly have better results than anticipated.

Those of you who are older, are your results better than you expected for your age, and do you think your surgeon was on the conservative side when describing the outcome.  I don't know why the heck I am sort of down about this...probably because the expense is great, and I tend to hold onto my pennies pretty tightly..like most everyone else.

Thanks for the input.

Loaded questions and valid concerns my dear and after all we've been thru we are entitled to feel good especially after dishing out money!
I live in Israel where I went to a public hospital and was very fortunate with my hospital care and treatment. As I write before on Denise's post, because of this Board and others struggles I did not freak/depress or whatever as I might have. I feel the same for expectations - we didn't get fat at one tine and we didn't lose the weight all at once although at tines our WLS made it feel like magic and so too does the PS feel like a magical dream cone true.
I had a small gangrene et the T incision of my TT and debridement and WoundVac while in hospital for almost seven weeks and I love my flat tummy (just wish more people would notice it!) I scar ugly keloid and hypertropic especially on the vertical scar on my abdomen. GD Willing I'll have a scar revision but I asked also for a Breast lift including tail of the breast (boob blubber) but am waiting for medical review from my HMO although I already have a date for surgery in May.
Expectations hope and reality.
Hopefully Lee will chime in as I think she is your age or older and had extensive PS in Mexico.
Keep reading posting -that is what I do!
Mikimi in Israel

Shalom...my family & me are very pro Israel.  We have some friends who actually hold meetings in their home hosting various Israeli officials who come and give updates about what is really happening in the country.

You have a great attitude about this  in spite of your healing issues.  I hope you hear back from your HMO soon and receive the approvals you desire.

I was very pleased Dr. L can perform all the surgery in 1 stage, including the thigh lift.  I was not expecting that additional procedure at the same time.

I thought you might be Jewish but whatever.
I live in Tzfat/Safed up North.
I credit my positive attitude to this board.
Hang tough and your PS and you seem comfortable together.
Mikimi

Good post. But there are no easy answers.

I am 48. I have been obese since age 8.
I ruined my body and my skin. I'm an RN and I know the effects of obesity over time on healing and skin's ability to repair itself once it has been stretched out and damaged. I was a wrinkly and lumpy mess.

But I had very realistic expectations and an awesomely honest and talented surgeon.

I can truthfully say that while my results are a dramatic improvement...they are not better than expected.

Things are soft in places. Things are hanging in others. There is a pucker and a dog ear. 
I was warned this might happen.
A revision here and there is probably in my future if I choose.

All that said...I look dynamite in my clothes today...sweater, leggings and boots!
That was my goal. It has been met.
Under my clothes? Meh.
But 100% better than it was Aug 21, the day before my first procedure.

I am so happy I did it. I am happy with the results. I have no regrets...in or out of clothes.

Embarking on this journey is tough stuff. Highly personal. We all have different needs and wants.
Only you know the answers. What can you live with?

Thanks for the input.  It really is highly personal, and it sounds like you are in a good place.  I have great confidence in Dr. L, so that makes the decision easy from that point.  I just have to figure out all the other stuff.  At least I finally received the input I needed regarding what I can honestly expect from having these procedures. 

That is a great post...a very honest one!  and so different for everyone!

I am 49 years old and I feel pretty lucky....I did not have horrible skin prior to surgery.  My PS said I had really good skin and that is why....I think it is because I was not a fast loser like alot..(I had to fight for alot of my lbs...took me over a year to lose 90 lbs) and I exercised alot.  So having said that, I knew exactly what I wanted when I went to him...a flat stomach and my back fat gone!!  No amt of exercise would get rid of that. 
   I got exactly what I wanted...I am very happy BUT it was not easy!  The first 10 days I had major buyers remorse...what the hell did I do?  I could have just lived with it instead of spending this money on me and now I am miserable!! After I turned the corner at about 10 days...I am happy, very happy with the results.  yeh we got scars but in clothes no one sees them...and I am still not wearing real clothes yet  (wear yoga pants mostly...thanks to many of the girls suggestions here!) and haven't gotten into jeans or anything real yet!
  SOunds like you had a great appt.  For me, PS was a personal thing...it was to make me feel good after working so hard to get to my goal...and to feel completed!  It wasn't to be a model body  (thank goodness!)...so I am happy.  I always said it was the whip cream on my hot chocolate!!  (I love diet hot choc and have it alot!)

Good luck on your decision.

Patty

Thank you for the input.  This really is a lot to process.  I have a consult next week with for the facial work, and I need to hear what he says. 

I feel good about how I look in my clothes but was hoping I would eventually feel the same way out of my clothes.  I need to take a step back and keep reading these boards. 

One thing that you can do to improve your outcome is to do some weight training. This will help to build up your upper butt, the folds may still be present, but some of the flatness will decrease. At month 4, my butt was completely gone. I decided to get a trainer and work on building some muscle. I looked like a melted candle. Yes, I still have some hanging skin, but the muscle has helped to give the top of my arms, upper butt, legs, and core some definition. I had a plastic surgery consult last June and the PS said that because I had been doing some weight training, he could feel the muscle and said that I would probably end up a rounded butt, but he couldn't promise that. It remains to be seen, if and when that will happen. The weight training can only help. I am 58 years young.

gail

Thanks Gail...Dr. L said I need to start doing squats & lunges.  I used to do them all the time in years past.  The guys monopolize the squat machine at my gym, so I tend to walk away and never get around to those exercises. I need the machine to help stabilize my lower back.  My daughter does them w/o the machine sometimes.  I don't have the balance for that.   After giving his suggestion yesterday, I am now going to make it a priority exercise.  Hopefully the muscle will respond fairly quickly.

I love your "I am 58 years young."