Plastics Recovery Update -- one pic -- LONG

Hi all -- here is a quick (or not so quick) update on my plastics I had last month 11/7.  I had a lower body lift, breast lift & augmentation, small thigh lift and lip on my outer thighs.  

I have had some complications, but at this point would definitely still do it again.  I would highly recommend Dr. Sauceda, but I would caution anyone who is going to do Medical Tourism to ensure you understand the whole process.  Things happen and dealing with them when your doctor is out of the country and be hard and very stressful.  

I can already tell this is going to be a long post -- so fair warning.

Travel, Mark Up & Surgery

So my mom and I flew down to Monterrey Mexico.  We had no issues getting through customs etc.  When I got through the driver was waiting for us with a note from the Doctor.  I wanted to get some Pesos, but the driver recommended stopping somewhere in the city to get a better exchange.  He stopped somewhere for us on the way to the hotel.  

At the hotel we checked in -- we got there ~2pm, but there was a room ready.  Unfortunately they had a room with one bed for us.  It had a pull out, so it was fine for the first night.  We grabbed some lunch at a local sports bar and did a little grocery shopping.  

Then I met the doctor in the lobby around 7pm.  He took me to his office for mark up.  He was super honest about what I could expect from the results.  Based on the results I decided not to do the small arm lift.  My arms aren't that bad and the benefit seemed relatively small to me (plus having my arms uncut for recovery was nice!).  The mark up took about 2 hours then the doctor brought me back to the hotel.  

The next morning he picked me and my mother up from the hotel and took us to the clinic.  My surgery was to start at 9am, and I think he picked me up around 7:30.  I was a bit nervous, but one of the nurses gave me something for the anxiety.  I was washed down from head to toe and then the anesthesiologist came in and started the process of making me unaware.  One of the reasons I chose Dr S. was because he uses twilight sedation.  I was not put fully to sleep -- I actually woke up ~3 times during the surgery.  I felt nothing. I remember just looking up and saying hi to everyone.  Then the doctor coming over and putting me back to sleep.  

I woke up after the surgery.  I was already cleaned up and in my compression gear.  I was taken into post op and my mom joined me.  We hung out there for a couple of hours.  The surgery took from ~9 - ~6 long day!  By 8 I was taken to my room which was nice.  The nurses did not speak English very well, but were super nice and available.  In the US it seems like there were never enough nurses.  Here I had a lot of support.  I was not in pain.  I was just tired and I slept really well the first night. 

Recovery in MTY

My recovery in monterey went very well.  I was able to walk around on the first day and get in a shower.  The food in the clinic was great (made to order!).  I was actually bored and walking the halls on day 2.  The doctor cleared me to go back to the hotel that day.  Everyday Patty, a wonderful nurse, came to the hotel to help me change my dressings and shower.  

I was up and around a lot considering.  We went out to breakfast (Starbucks), lunch (italian) everyday.  Dinner varied from picnics from the grocery store to ordering out or going out.  We also did a movie one day, a pedicure one day and a visit to the larger mall one day.  I did tired relatively easiely and took a nap most days.  I did walk with a hunch almost all the time.  The pain was not bad at all.  

By the last day (day 9) my stitches on my belly button and breasts were ready to come out.  Patty took them out for me.  Then we grabbed a cab to the airport.  A man with a wheel chair picked me up and took up through security easily.  Despite sitting in a wheelchair or seat all day, I was completely exhausted by the time I got home.  

Recovery at Home

My mom left the day after we got back.  Being at home by myself was really much harder than I thought it would be.  I definitely didn't realize how hard it was to take care of myself -- going to the grocery store, cooking food.  In hindsight, I should have asked for more help.  I was at home for a week before I went to my sisters for thanksgiving.  

The day after I got to my sisters, I had developed a seroma on my lower abdomen (thanksgiving day!). Dr S said it was not urgent but if I could get it aspirated that would be good.  The urgent care said they did not do aspirations.  I had an appointment w/ my VSG surgeon on Monday morning, so I decided to wait for that.  My VSG surgeon said the seroma was small enough and to just let it be.  

I went back to work that Monday.  This was too soon to go back to work.  I was so worn out!  After Tuesday, I told my boss that I needed to work from home.  On Wednesday night, I noticed that my back was all wet.  When I checked it out, the wound on my back was open.  It was 10:15pm.  I freaked out and went to the emergency room.  They gave me probably a $1000 bandaid and told me to go to a specialist on thursday or friday.  

I called the specialist they recommended who told me to call wound care.  I begged wound care to take me that day and they took me immediately.  The specialist said the wound should heal on its own.  Closing it again was not a good options (Dr S. confirmed this later).  So now I have a 4 inch opening on my back that I need to treat daily.  It is frustrating.  It is not painful, but is likely to keep me benched from the gym for extra time. My scar there will be worse, but it is on my back.  I'm not super worried about that.  I was terrified when it opened, but in reality it is not a big deal. 

When the wound opened so much fluid came out.  I believe it was the seroma draining.  The seroma is significantly reduced now.  I am hoping (pray for me if you pray) that it does not grow anymore.  

I am back at work today.  I feel pretty good.  I'm hoping it is uphill from here. 

This was tough.  It's not over.  But I would do it again.  I'm so happy with my body.  Here is a pic I snapped the other night :)

Beautiful picture! But looks like a lot going on under that red dress! You are the second person who has had the 'seams' on the back come undone who has gone to Dr Sauceda. I hope that it heals up well and you can always get a scar revision later on to minimize it. If necessary. Did you not get muscle tightening done? Because it sounds like you did not have much pain at all - I can't say that I was debilitated by my pain but coughing, sneezing or laughing was like the fires of hell burning in my belly...

I did have the tightening done.  Laughing did hurt, but other than that the pain was not bad.  I was lucky to not have to cough / sneeze much, but that was painful too.

if Dr Sauceda has only had two patients who have had incisions open,then he is doing very well! I have seen many patients post of the forums with incisions from plastic surgeons all over the world that have opened. It is not necessarily poor surgeon technique.

now, I am speaking from experience seeing as Dr Sauceda did a huge amount do plastics on me. I have not had one incision open and indeed no problems what so ever. A lot of the problem is going to get pedicures and going shopping and getting way too busy way too soon. Dr. Sauceda cautions us about this but some think they feel so good it is not a problem,until one day it is a problem. That is hardly the surgeons fault. 

Now now...I was not blaming anyone and certainly not getting into comparative statistics on total numbers of opening incisions. But I don't think its fair to say that he has only had two patients total, ever, who had this happen. That is only two that I personally have heard about who are on these forums. It is not the absolute total if all his patients which I have no way of knowing about. I am sure it happens to all surgeons and depends a lot on all sorts of variables.

Wow -- did you just blame me for my complications?  Thanks for that.  I followed Drs Orders -- he told us how to get to the mall.  I also did not blame Dr. S.

I hope if you ever have a health problem no one blames you for it.  

no I didn't blame you for anything. Simply stated a point. No one knows what will or won't be a problem. 

I also know that emotions are on high alert in this point of recovery. 

Thank you for your post! I am considering plastics later down the road and might have to go back to mexico to get it done. 

Sorry to hear about some of your complications, Stacy -- but you look AWESOME!   

I'm glad that things are going mostly well!  I'm really happy for you!  

If you don't mind my asking, why did you prefer twilight sedation?