Trying to decide between upper and lower body for August 7th
I had my gastric bypass 7 years ago. I was 330 lbs. Five years ago (2 years later) at about 200 lbs. (after losing 130 lbs) I had a lower body lift and an upper/inner thigh lift. Since then I lost another 50 lbs. and I am seriously sagging in my butt and my thighs now. When I sit I am in a puddle of skin. My surgeon says he can do a lift and fix it pretty well. So that is one procedure I am "planning" to have.
Another procedure I am "planning" is an upper back lift (I have significant hanging skin at the bra line)and breast implants. Right now my breasts are pretty much just hanging skin with next to nothing inside. In the mid 80's I was a G cup hanging to my waist. I had a reduction to a large B (at that time I was around 200 lbs -- and 30 years old. I am now 57).
I AM SCHEDULED FOR THE UPPER BACK LIFT AND BREAST IMPLANTS ON AUGUST 7TH. I can change it to the lower body surgery instead. I am more bothered by the lower body stuff, but it is more drastic surgery, and I went through some difficulty with the lower body lift, i.e., MRSA, back waist opened up. So I'm conflicted because I am more nervous about doing the lower body one.
I must sound a bit nuts here, but issue is my nervousness about the surgery: I hate sitting in the puddle of skin. I am not happy with my hanging nothing breasts, but it does not make me as unhappy as the lower body. I'm almost ready to cancel the surgery altogether because the one I'm scheduled for perhaps does not bother me enough to even do it...
Add to this that I am getting married 3 days before the surgery, so please understand the added anxiety in this post and my sounding "abi-normal"! Please don't give knee-jerk responses of "just don't do it -- how can you do this near your wedding!" I only have summers to deal with this, as I am in education... and we are an older couple that have lived together for a while, so we are not going on a honeymoon. Timing is timing. Helpful thoughts, please?
Marla a/k/a Feistyemm
Surgery Date: 4/21/2005; HW: 333/ SW: 271/ CW:133/ GOAL: 150 or UNDER
Highest BMI: 54.7; BMI Now: 22.6 -- Jeans before surgery: 32. Now: 6
PS: 2006/7 LBL, Bracheoplasty & Upper Thigh Lift. 8/2012: UBackLift & Breast Implants
(redone 3 times). 7/17/18: vertical thigh lift (needs to be redone - left too much skin) &
replacement of 1 breast implant due to rupture (still needs to be fixed due to placement).
2. I'm more unhappy with the lower stuff.
3. I've wondered if there's a chance I could get insurance to cover the lower part due to hygiene problems, but I'm very very doubtful and think it would be ridiculous to wait for what I'm 95% sure would be a no.
4. His answer is always the same: "Whatever makes you happy." (Notice a pattern here?)
Thanks about the weight loss. Never thought I'd have people worrying about me not eating enough. I look up to heaven and call to my mom, "YOU were never a size SIX -- HA!!!" (My weight was ALL that mattered to her my whole life)
Mikimi, thank you so much for your helpful questions. I notice you are having surgery this summer as well? Best of luck with it. You've had quite a journey yourself.
Best,
Marla in New York
Marla a/k/a Feistyemm
Surgery Date: 4/21/2005; HW: 333/ SW: 271/ CW:133/ GOAL: 150 or UNDER
Highest BMI: 54.7; BMI Now: 22.6 -- Jeans before surgery: 32. Now: 6
PS: 2006/7 LBL, Bracheoplasty & Upper Thigh Lift. 8/2012: UBackLift & Breast Implants
(redone 3 times). 7/17/18: vertical thigh lift (needs to be redone - left too much skin) &
replacement of 1 breast implant due to rupture (still needs to be fixed due to placement).
Just do what feels right to you. When I read your post, it seems as though you're more interested in the LBL.
Make a decision and then breathe.
Don't forget to breathe.
If I was at the beginning again, would I do the original LBL? IN A HEARTBEAT. With all the problems. Now its not as serious. Just hard to look at every day. I will take your advice and breathe, continue to ruminate, because that is what I do, and I'll see what the doctor says... aaaarrrrggggh!
Thank you for your kind input.
Marla a/k/a Feistyemm
Surgery Date: 4/21/2005; HW: 333/ SW: 271/ CW:133/ GOAL: 150 or UNDER
Highest BMI: 54.7; BMI Now: 22.6 -- Jeans before surgery: 32. Now: 6
PS: 2006/7 LBL, Bracheoplasty & Upper Thigh Lift. 8/2012: UBackLift & Breast Implants
(redone 3 times). 7/17/18: vertical thigh lift (needs to be redone - left too much skin) &
replacement of 1 breast implant due to rupture (still needs to be fixed due to placement).
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."
Marla
Marla a/k/a Feistyemm
Surgery Date: 4/21/2005; HW: 333/ SW: 271/ CW:133/ GOAL: 150 or UNDER
Highest BMI: 54.7; BMI Now: 22.6 -- Jeans before surgery: 32. Now: 6
PS: 2006/7 LBL, Bracheoplasty & Upper Thigh Lift. 8/2012: UBackLift & Breast Implants
(redone 3 times). 7/17/18: vertical thigh lift (needs to be redone - left too much skin) &
replacement of 1 breast implant due to rupture (still needs to be fixed due to placement).
Marla
Marla a/k/a Feistyemm
Surgery Date: 4/21/2005; HW: 333/ SW: 271/ CW:133/ GOAL: 150 or UNDER
Highest BMI: 54.7; BMI Now: 22.6 -- Jeans before surgery: 32. Now: 6
PS: 2006/7 LBL, Bracheoplasty & Upper Thigh Lift. 8/2012: UBackLift & Breast Implants
(redone 3 times). 7/17/18: vertical thigh lift (needs to be redone - left too much skin) &
replacement of 1 breast implant due to rupture (still needs to be fixed due to placement).
Nance