ZigZag thoughts before surgery?

My pre-op appointment for my arm-lift and BL with implants is this Friday!

Surgery is scheduled for 21st of this month and my thoughts are all over the place. Normally in the past my pre-surgery thoughts have been mainly about surviving the anesthesia and ensuing migraines. I've had awful experiences with anesthesia and the migraines were curtesy of my Diet Coke addiction. I've been free from Diet Coke since 2010 and all carbonation is my RNY surgery 09/21/2011.

Anybody? The pain? The scarring? Open sores? Porn star boobs? The PS I've chosen has assured me I won't but....maybe it's because this is elective surgery? I don't know, just simply wired. I'll take photos tomorrow.

I signed up just to respond back to you :)

I haven't had BL but after losing right over 110lbs w/ WL drugs, I had a TT, panni removal and arm lift, and now at over 130lbs lost looking into a thigh lift, I thought I might be able to shed some light.

You'll be fine w/ anesthesia unless you've had concerns in the past, which they sould go over thoroughly with you in pre-op and again right before they put you under. I was born w/ two heart defects, the amount of times I've been put under is astonishing.. you'll be fine :) that's the easy part!

As far as migraines, mention it to your anesthesiologist because sometimes they can use a different kind of drug. not all the time but its worth a mention. They might also be able to give you something preventative before you wake up for that.

My scarring wasn't terrible but I had wound vacs on both my arms which made wearing any compression garment impossible and they were very painful. But after two weeks the scars were almost completely healed..still scars but healed. They scabbed, the scabs fell off and they were healing beautifully before the month was up! I had some open wounds right on my pelvic bone as that is where the panni was taken off. The doctor saw me every other day for two weeks or so just ensuring it didn't get worse and I was on antibiotics to cure it. I took a full 6 weeks from work, but I had a terrible boss, terrible working environment and I couldn't work from home. Otherwise, with all the surgeries I had, 4 weeks probably would have been enough. I had flanks done as well as arms and lower and upper abdominal.

For me, the pain was no joke and I have a HIGH pain tolerance. A few tricks I learned:

Have everything within reach b/c your arms will hurts, use straws so you don't have to lift cups so often and don't let ANYONE pull on you (like to help you up..).

Keep your strength up by making soups w/ bone broth (may need to add regular broth for salt..) but its full of protein and healing properties, as well as pineapple. Try to eat as balanced as the pain meds do not help in the bathroom department. Get a raised toilet seat (I didn't and wished I would have).. it will help so much!

There's so much more but this should really help for now.. make sure you have help for at least the first week if not two!

good luck!

I just spent the last several weeks zig-zagging on the decision to have plastic surgery, and after catching a few glimpses of myself in my home security camera, I went ahead and scheduled surgery. Now I'm just waiting for my surgery date to arrive (11/05/18), and time is moving very slow. :(

I'm having and extended tummy tuck, breast lift, and arm lift. I'm also very concerned about the pain following surgery, which is why I tried to get as much into the 1st surgery -- just in case I refuse to put myself through a 2nd surgery! LOL!

I wish you all the best, and am looking forward to your updates as you move through the process. We're here for you!

Sydcel

I am wondering how you feel about results and how was your experience? I am wanting the same procedures and curious.

Hi Kelly -

I'm not sure how many of the people commenting are still checking in on this site, but I can answer that. I had all of those procedures (lower body lift in one surgery, arm and breast lift in a second surgery). It's painful and the recovery can be tough, but I'm so glad I had it done. I look SO much better and am really glad I had the surgeries. My results were great!

Thank you for reply....I'm glad you are happy with results....I wish I had it behind me, always think about it, just on my mind more all the time so really researching. Thank you so much, I can just imagine how you feel...Congrats

Deleted one post put it twice

Hi Kelly,

Not only was I satisfied, I actually went back in November 2020 and had my thighs and back done, along with a torso-plasty! Now the only things still loose are my neck and my calfs. And honestly, I wasn't in much pain - even without narcotics! The worst of it (aside from the cost) was the tightness from the tummy tuck and being restricted to sleeping on my back after both surgeries, as I'ma side & stomach sleeper.

That is fantastic! Im so glad you are thrilled with your results. I had lower face neck lift and neck that bothered me the most, now Im thinking about and researching TT, BL, Arms. I have red pigment in my hair skin, I swell like a freak, I am concerned about the swelling of my arms if I were to carry on. Did you have any trouble with swelling? Were you able to keep arms down?