Surgery yesterday - body lift, thigh lift, arm lift, flankplasty, breast lift
My 6-week post op update:
I've wanted body contouring plastic surgery since 2006 with Dr. Capella. This year I finally realized my dream. Despite the emotional rollercoaster ride from hell it has been for me, I am so glad that I did this. I never imagined that he could change my body this much.
Some people on this forum have asked me why I rave about him so much. Well, just take a look at my before and after photos. The left pic was me in April, just before my tummy tuck. I was a size 14/16. And if you check out my photo album here you will see my fully nude body, which was ugly and with a very deformed pubic area that had shamed me all of my life. I have tears running down my face right now just thinking back. The center pic is me about 4-months after my tummy tuck. I lost 21 inches and 21 pounds. The right pic is me about 6-weeks after my second-phase surgery (upper and lower body lift and inner thigh lift). The dress from Loft is size XS and the leggings are size S. My pubic mound is so beautiful now. I cannot tell you how much it means to me to no longer be deformed in a part of my body that I so much associated with my sexuality.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words but what the pictures don’t show is my relationship with Dr. Capella. I had a few minor complications with my arms after this surgery and Dr. Capella has been all over me -- just like he was all over me after my tummy tuck. It was my first surgery and I was scared. There was never anything wrong with me but Dr. Capella carried me through it until I was satisfied that I was OK (it was just normal swelling and nothing more).
As for this surgery, Dr. Capella saw me every morning in the Care Center and even on weekends. He made sure that both he and I were completely sure that I could take care of myself on my own at the hotel before I left the care center. As for aftercare, he insisted on knowing the hotel I was staying at alone in NJ. He wanted a way to get in touch with me super-fast and said he or his office would call me if they had not heard from me for a few days.
My first night in the hotel he asked that I call him at any hour of the night if I were to have a complication. He had me specifically promise to call him if I had shortness of breath and he would have me admitted to a nearby hospital. Well, I did awake from a dream with labored breathing at 4am and called him. I told him I did not know if it was anxiety induced or something serious. He told me to have the front desk send the paramedic and they would be able to tell. Later that day after surgery, Dr. Capella called me to make sure I was OK. I was fine. It was just anxiety.
Other times before I left NJ I had fevers, groin pain, depression, and my axilla opened. He saw me immediately each time and treated me. He called in prescriptions and had them delivered to my hotel. At one point his PA Scott possibly saved my life because I was taking diuretics w/o doctor's orders and depleting my body of water and potassium. I was pretty ill and he picked up on it.
Once I developed the minor arm wound back home, Dr. Capella sent me for a CBC to make sure I did not have an infection. He monitored my healing via photos and emails and phone calls. He has phoned me during his lunch time on a number of occasions, as well as answered my emails and calls across the weekend. And my arm wound is healed right on schedule, just as he said it would. How a surgeon manages a patient after surgery is a true testament to his/her character and dedication.
Dr. Capella has treatment protocols that some people have questioned on this forum. I can tell you that he has never, ever, not even once been wrong in anything he has told me. He keeps it simple and I like that. His complication rate is low and serious complications are virtually non-existent. I always felt safe going into surgery with him and under his care afterwards, and I still do. I could not have done this surgery with any other surgeon.
And leading up to surgery, Dr. Capella was always there when I needed him. He took my calls on the weekend. He saw me in his office before hours. He saw me late in the day when he typically does not see patients. He gave me all the time in the world and never made me feel rushed.
Dr. Capella’s surgical skills and aftercare are superb. As for my body, at 6-weeks post op I am truly enjoying not feeling “big” for the first time in my life. It will only get better from here. I am so very grateful to Dr. Capella. And for all of the reasons stated here, and more, is why I rave about Dr. Capella. I posted a review of him and his PA on this site http://www.obesityhelp.com/profiles/plastic-surgeon/dr-josep h-f-capella-md/reviews
One person on this forum asked me if Dr. Capella discounts my surgeries because I promote him so much. No. He has never discounted my surgery. Neither did he ever ask me to promote him. It was always my intention to help people. I wanted other people to be able to transform their health and their lives the way that I have been able to do.
At this point I am going to take a mental break from social media. I have been immersed in it for the last 7-months and have seen and experienced things that have taken their toll. While I have made many friends, I also have been “contacted” by a few dodgy people, one of whom got my personal email address somehow.
Worse, I have met people who were very harmed by their plastic surgeons and it simply breaks my heart and makes me sick to my stomach that a healer would do so much damage to a patient. I wanted to protect people from these bad surgeons, which is why I did the interview article with Dr. Capella, so that people would know the criteria to look for and what to watch out for when choosing a plastic surgeon. I am so thankful that there are surgeons like him in the world, although I think he is one of a kind. You are not buying a procedure; you are buying a plastic surgeon.
Worst of all, I was the victim of a plastic surgeon myself. After my tummy tuck I saw a local plastic surgeon for my 6-week follow-up. He sexually assaulted me under the pretense of an exam during both office visits that I had with him. Emotionally this man really pinned a job on me, and it was the cause of my panic attacks going into my second-phase surgery with Dr. Capella. For months I had anxiety, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and blood pressure spikes. I had to temporarily be put on BP medication. After my surgery was completed, I was able to put it all behind me. But the drama still continues in other areas, all related to plastic surgery and has impacted me and other innocent people involved. Sorry to be cryptic but I am not going to go into any further detail than that because to do so may cause further harm to those people. So I need to walk away for a while.
I know my postings and my article with Dr. Capella have helped many, many people because they have told me so both privately and publicly. I am very happy to have helped.
I will be back at some point. Here is my transformation to date. These were my stats pre op in April 2013:
Weight 198
Size 14 tight, barely fit, probably really a size 16
Bust 45" 38 DD
Waist 41"
Tummy 44"
Hips and FUPA 44"
6-mos post tummy tuck my stats were:
Weight 177
Size 8
Bust 43" 38 D
Waist 32.5"
Tummy 38"
Hips/FUPA 40"
I lost 21 pounds, 6 of which were removed during surgery and the rest I lost because the abdominal muscle plication made it so I could not eat that much owing to the tightening and constriction it placed on my stomach/pouch. I lost 20.5 inches: 2" from bust, 8.5" from waist, 6" from tummy, 4" from ships/FUPA
Today I weigh 165-170 and I am a size 4/6. Please stay tuned for 3-mos update and a 6-mos update from my second phase surgery. Until then you can find me on HealthCentral and Twitter as MyBariatricLife.
Wishing all of you love.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
The other a day I tried on some of my old fat clothes - a skirt before my WLS and a pair of a cargo pants before my body contouring plastic surgery. I was SHOCKED to see how small I have become. I know that I am not a big person anymore, but putting on those clothes was very eye opening!
I am super excited about my transformation this year. I never, ever expected such amazing results but Dr. Capella tells me I am a typical patient. I guess it is very different to see before and after photos of women in his gallery versus actually having experienced your own transformation. Sometimes I still cannot believe this is me! Dr. Capella is a brilliant surgeon.
Size 24W Evan Picone skirt before my WLS in 2003. I think that I can fit two of me inside this now.
Size 14 Gap cargo pants before my TT in 2013. These were tight on me!
Size XS LOFT sweater dress after Dr. Capella did my body contouring in 2013.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
3-mos Post-Operative Results - I am Very Happy!
Wearing LOFT size XS shirt and LOFT and Lucky Brand size 4 jeans - woo hoo!!!
Here are my stats at 3-mos post-operative
Bust w/o bra, standing: 41.5
Bust w/o bra and bent over: 44
Chest beneath breast: 36
Waist: 32
Lower abdo: 35
Hips: 38.5
Thighs: 21.75
Knee top: 16.5
Arms upper: 12
Arms above elbow: 11
Weight 162
Height 5'7"
Size 4 jeans, size XS and S shirts
The difference between my stage 1 and stage 2 body contouring:
I lost an additional
15 pounds (5lbs and 1 liter of fat were removed during surgery) and 21.5 inches
My ultimate results to date from body contouring (stages 1 and 2):
Weight lost: 36 pounds (11lbs and 1 liter of fat removed during surgeries)
Inches lost: 42.5 inches
Sizes lost: down 5 sizes, from size 14 to size 4
I AM SO GLAD THAT I DID THIS!
last year transforming my entire physical self has been such an unbelievable experience. And here is my very first announcement on ObesityHelp of the fact that I had my face done one month ago! So now I have been transformed head-to-toe (well, to knee, really, LOL). I have to say that I am as shocked by the changes in my face as I am in the changes in my body. All of it is so unbelievably good!!! I selected two of the very best surgeons in the world - one is super talented in bodies (Dr. Capella) and the other is super talented in faces (Dr. Catherine Winslow). I look so gosh darn young now. THRILLED.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
I've Lost 46 inches and 37 pounds and 5 sizes!
I am preparing for my 4-mos post op with Dr. Capella this coming week. We are doing a phone consult so I put together my stats and some photos for our discussion. I am so happy with my results to date and glad to say there was a pot of gold waiting for me at the end of this difficult journey!
Mu ultimate results to date from body contouring (stages 1 and 2):
I lost 46 inches and 37 pounds (11
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
Just wanted to update everyone that now that my swelling has gone down I am in size 2 Lucky Brand jeans at nearly 5-mos post op. I bought Charlie Skinny and Sienna Cigarette jeans today. They have 30% off store-wide. I seriously cannot believe that I am this small after plastic surgery. I am 5'7" and curvy with slim hips. I was an apple shape prior. If you are considering body contouring my advice is DO IT DO IT DO IT. Just make sure you have a brilliant plastic surgeon. I am so tickled pink with my results.
I am going for my consult on March 10th for my final surgery, which will be saline breast implants and tweaks to what has already been done. I am very excited! When I did my 4-mos virtual consult (via phone and emailed photos), Dr. Capella told me that my results were incredible, fantastic, and that there weren't enough adjectives to describe it.
I go directly to CA after that to spend two months with my daughter and granddaughter before they move to Argentina. From there I plan to go back to NJ for surgery. The next few months should be a whirlwind!!! I just pray that I have a safe surgery and excellent outcomes with no complications. I feel that I have been so lucky to date with all of these surgeries and that maybe I am pressing my luck. What's more, my new (crappy) insurance has a $10k deductible. So if anything goes wrong I will be paying OOP. Wish me luck, send up smoke, and say prayers (I know I am asking for something so frivolous when there are people with far greater needs... but please do, LOL).
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
