Hi Folks! Starting my plastics Journey in just 47 short days!

I am down to 167 after a HW of 366 and now ready to get everything "fixed" -  I am traveling out of state to Dr. Peter Fisher in San Antonio.  I live in Atlanta GA, and am about to make a down payment on a house rental for three weeks in San Antonio.  I think it is of utmost importance to find a surgeon you trust and one that SPECIALIZES in post massive WL plastics.  IMHO, a lot of the "unhappy" responses come from folks that choose a surgeon that does not specialize in this area.  With me having lost 200+ lbs, this is not just a "tummy tuck" and "breast aug" Mommy makeover, but almost a complete body reconstruction.  I did not find anyone in my area whom I completely "trusted" to be a specialist in this area and the amazing thing is that i live in a major metro area!  Dr. Fisher's prices are very reasonable (even comparing locally).  I am too excited to get onto the next phase of my journey.  The thing that scares me the most is the thigh lift, as these seem to have the most spotty results and my thighs/knees/calves are not in the best of shape, even for a typical post massive, they are pretty bad (Dr. Fisher says they are not as bad as i think they are, but they are pretty hideous...).  I will keep the board posted as things progress! Here are my planned surgeries - all 3-4 months apart

Stage 1:

• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)

• Lower leg/ankle liposuction

• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:

• Thigh lift (long and groin incision), with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)

• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).

• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:

• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)Stage 1:
• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)
• Lower leg/ankle liposuction
• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:
• Thigh lift, with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)
• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).
• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:
• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)

Stage 1:
• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)
• Lower leg/ankle liposuction
• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:
• Thigh lift, with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)
• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).
• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:
• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)

Stage 1:
• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)
• Lower leg/ankle liposuction
• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:
• Thigh lift, with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)
• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).
• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:
• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)

Stage 1:
• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)
• Lower leg/ankle liposuction
• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:
• Thigh lift, with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)
• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).
• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:
• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)

Stage 1:
• LBL (Whi*****ludes; Abdominoplasty, lateral thigh lift, mons reduction and lift, butt lift and auto augmentation, auto augmentation of the hips, high volume suctioning of the thighs)
• Lower leg/ankle liposuction
• Extended arm lift. Which removes lateral breast tissue and the upper back rolls.

Stage 2:
• Thigh lift, with suctioning as appropriate ("L" incision to meet up with my LBL incision)
• Breast lift/augmentation (silicone gel implants).
• Lower & Upper lid Blepharoplasty

Stage 3:
• Skin excision from calves? (maybe....)

Oh, I am so very excited for you!!! Congrats on the weight loss and the amazing transformation you are about to embark on. It is a very important moment in your life so be sure to capture every moment of it that you can. I made it a point to look around the OR to observe all that was going on before they put me out. And during my markup Dr. Capella explained how he would cut my skin -- kind of explained it to me as if he was my teacher. And I asked him to take pix of my markup as well as one on the OR table after my surgery (love that one). I strongly recommend that you take all your measurements before surgery. I never would have appreciated my results fully if I had not done so. 

I think it is a very good decision that you stay in Antonio for 3 weeks. I should have trusted my gut on that one when I went to NJ. All of my complications began just about when I was going home.

I highly recommend that you reserve a wheel chair at both airports for your return flight. Also, try to travel as light as possible unless you have someone traveling with you who can handle all that for you. 

Good luck!!!

BTW I finally posted my thigh pix on realself. Here they are (sorry so blurry): One month post op...

Thighs are looking AWESOME girl!  want to see your incisions if you get so bold :)

I have to take pix for Dr. Capella next week so I will post some of those after I shoot them. 

Hubby is going with me and we are driving specifically so we dont have to rent a car for three weeks and also so i can pack a ton of cr@p!  It is a two day drive over xmas holiday and i will be on an ALL LIQUID diet for two days prior to surgery on the 27th.  FUN FUN......

Did Capella ask you do to all liquids prior?  How about one of the "bowel" cleanout thingys?  They had me do that prior to VSG......

I am trying to figure out about how to snag a lift chair while i am there.....!  medical rentals are so expensive!  Did you have one of these at all?

I have sooo much to ask actually!  I'll put together a list .....

so far on my "list" of things to bring:

- toilet seat riser

- comfy maxi dresses to wear on top of compression garmets

- female stand up urinal devise (shewee)

 - tissue tees to wear under compression garments

What else????

My hubby will be there to help wash so i skipped on the shower chair -

My compression garment will be really head to toe b/c of the lower leg lipo and the arms!  Complete with compression stockings (this should be quite the sight.....)

Nope, no all liquid diet and no colon cleanse. I guess he was not afraid of me potentially pooping on him. I did not do this before my RNY either. 

Nope, no lift recliner but in hindsight it would have been a good idea after my TT.

As for the toilet seat riser and anything else that you may have to purchase, why not get it on Amazon and have it shipped to the hotel/place you are renting before your arrival and have them hold it? You even can have fresh direct deliver groceries.

Here is a list of the things I got, and wished I had gotten, for my TT: http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/276918/160589/bariatr ic-life-tells-tummy?ap=831#

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!! It won't be long now!!!

TRUST ME....i am counting the days!  45 to be exact! :)  I am in PS obsessive mode right now :)

Good luck to you on your journey!  I hope you do have someone going with you that will be able to help you for the first couple of weeks.  This is a exciting life experience, one that I am very grateful that I got to do.