TT done yesterday!

How was your experience with the arm lift? I may do that next summer, again with Dr. Michaels.

Pain wise it was much easier.

You did have to wear arm compression- so I would try to do it the beginning of summer. You have to wear them a month and they are hot.

And I really did need to keep my arms elevated as much as possible or I got terrible swelling. Sometimes I would be on laptop and only have one arm elevated and the one I was using got swollen.

Overall highly recommend!

I rarely look at the plastic surgery board, so just saw this today when it became a featured post.

What a great experience you had. I had a consultation with Dr. Michaels twenty years ago when I was working in Rockville, MD. He was about 30 years old then and just getting his practice started. I was so impressed with his enthusiasm to be the best plastic surgeon ever.

Then he was quietly doing wonderful work on celebrities and already in demand in the DC area.

I compare plastic surgery to buying a car. It is expensive but something that really changes your life. And a car wears out and has to be replaced, but your new body will be yours for life.

In one book that I read while preparing for surgery, there was a quote, "Weight loss surgery gave me back my health and plastic surgery gave me back my self esteem".

Thanks for sharing your story.

Oh man... that quote is PERFECT!

I really want to do my breasts and stomach done but so afraid of recovery process. Drainage tubes and pain...help

Here's the thing... you are numb for a long time. The idea of getting essentially cut in half terrified me, but you can't really feel the incision because all the nerves are cut. I was in a lot of pain for two-three days post op, but it was mostly my abs muscles because they repaired them. That was what really hurt, but it was less sharp and more burning/aching, and it becomes bearable quickly. Pain meds in the hospital and for about a week at home did the trick. Also, I can't remember most of the first day, so probably most of the really bad pain was lost in my post-anesthesia brain fog.

You can do it.

My advice is to spend some time thinking about results, and making sure you trust your surgeon.

This surgery won't change anything but physical stuff. It's expensive, and hard, and people will judge you for doing it. It won't get you more friends or make life easier. If you can get your mind to "go there," to the negative stuff, and still want this, you're ready!!

8 weeks post-op update. My TT scar is flat but very red and purple, surgeon says it's normal. I went in for an appt yesterday and he tried to determine if I am swollen or have some fluid in the upper abdomen... he used novocaine and then poked around with a needle, which was fairly awful and bloody. Not much came out, so I am just still swollen. It's not uncomfortable, luckily... and no one notices the swelling but me and the surgeon. Can't wait to see final results in a few months! Until then, it's a waiting game. Compression and taking it easy.

Breast lift is absolutely amazing and now free of pain.

I keep getting asked my friends if I'd recommend this surgery. This was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, far more difficult than the bypass. The surgery recovery was extremely painful (but short lived), and this week's procedure with the needle was terrible. This is not for the faint of heart. But the results are so so so worth it... if you're willing to be patient and follow surgeon instructions. So I can't say I recommend it, because every person is different as far as what they can handle. For me, it was worth it.

That is awesome to happy for you. Hope your healing process goes smoothly and you will out and about as soon as possible enjoying your new body.

So, did you go back to work and if so when? If you you don't work, when do you think you would have been okay to return to a desk job? A low stress desk job where you could get up to walk if you need to or put your feet up under your desk.

I'm a teacher and had this done at the end of July so I was back to work just after 4 weeks post op. I was swollen and stiff but able to do a lot of teacher tasks, which are quite physical... just couldn't lift much. I got tired easily but was able to keep a normal sleeping schedule after about week 3 (naps all day until week 3). At a desk job, in my opinion, you'd def be ok after 3 weeks at home, maybe even 2. But don't pu**** because it just makes swelling worse!