Plastic Surgery...should I or shouldn't I?

Hi fellow grads. I just had my third and final round of plastics after my 175 pound weight loss.  My plastic surgeon  just gave me copies of my before pics which I had never seen when I was at a post op appt. yesterday.   Heaven knows I never took any pre plastic shots of myself. I know you are probably not thrilled at looking at some 54 year old grandmom and mother of 5 in various stages of undress, but I think the difference for me was drastic.  It made me finally validate my weight loss success.  I never felt all that successful until I was able to remove the morbid obese shell I carried around for decades.  I would be foolish to think I could ever have the perfect body, especially with the remaining stretch marks of five pregnancies and a few PS scars, but I am very happy to be going through the rest of my life with my new body.  If any of my fellow grads have ever thought of having some reconstructive work after weight loss, I invite you to view the pics and see the difference it can make for you.  I know PS can be expensive and certainly painful, but at the end of my journey, I felt it was worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.   Joann

You look so wonderful.   Can you tell me who your plastic surgeon was?   

Hi,  I used Dr. George Thomas Grace at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore for all three rounds of plastic surgery.  I can't say enough about him and his office staff.  He is located on Frederick Road and the Baltimore Beltway (695).  His phone number is 410-744-0900.  Good luck to you if you are considering any plastic surgery.  Most people usually get a few consults with different surgeons before choosing one.  But when I met Dr. Grace for the first time he made me feel so comfortable and he was so sensitive to massive weight loss patients.  I didn't look any further.  He also came very highly recommended from several patients in my Bariatric Support Group at St. Agnes Hospital.   Joann

Dear Joann, I just had my first round (BR/Arms) a week ago.  I am still getting used to having a chest that is of normal size.  I have always been very busty (I was wearing an I cup even after the weight loss), so it was a relief to have the reduction, but it all looks a bit strange still. I also had the arms done and that is where I have to remember to be reasonable in my expectations.  Even with 1.5 removed, I still have large arms.  But they are greatly improved.   It seems like the key to success with both the wls and the plastics is to have solid, reasonable expectations.  If you think wls will solve all your woes, well, it isn't going to be successful for you.  If you think you'll look like a fashion model after plastics, well, you won't be happy there either.  I am looking into getting a tummy tuck later this year, so while I'll never have a gorgeous body, I can still look good for me. Sally

Thank you for posting your pictures.  I swear looking at your before photos is like looking in a mirror.  The only difference is I am not yet at my goal and your arms are way better than mine.  Your pictures give me hope.

JoAnn, Your pictures are wonderful.  You look great. Thanks for sharing.  I too am a 55 yr old grandma with 4 kids and your success is encouraging to how I might look after ps.. Paula

Wow Joann, You  look Amazing!!!! Can I ask what all you had done??? I just  can't get over how awesome everything turned out. I debate back and forth b/c I'm at a good weight and I look good in clothes, but  naked not so good~its livable, but not as good as you, LOL!!!!!! Hmmmm, now ya got me thinking!!!! Thanks for sharing the pics and Congratulations~you're a beautiful lady!

Tracy,  Thanks to you and my fellow grads for all your kinds words.  My first PS was in September 2005.  I had TT w/MR as well as a BL/BA.  I had a mini inner thigh lift (no vertical incision down the leg) in March, 2006.  I just recently had a butt lift as well as replacement of my saline implants with silicone ones on January 29, 2007.  I had them replaced because I had developed bad capsular contracture.  As I said before my body is far from perfect but when I look back at how I looked before PS, I was glad I went  to the expense and pain of having a lot of the extra skin removed.  My arms (bat wings) had actually looked a little better two months ago than they do right now.  I had worked with weights and had been able to get some  nice tone and muscle definition in them.  But I am afraid  from sitting around recuperating for the past five weeks, they are a little more jiggly than before.  But that's ok.  Once I get back to the gym in a week or so, I'll slowly get them back.  I know the pain of PS can be hard and it goes without saying that the cost can be a real hardship.   Many people take out low interest medical loans, borrow against their 401K's. or use home equity loans.  But when most of the people I have talked to on this site are finished, they feel it was worth every penny for the way it changes their perception of their body image.  Good luck with whatever decisions you may make down the road.  Joann

Hey!  I will be 58 in May and my thighs look a lot like yours did figured I would have to have the down the leg thing.  Seeing your before and afters give me hope.  I lost 205 and have gained  back 7or 10 depending on the day.  How much did you loss in weight from the thigh lift and butt lift and TT?  Did you go down in clothing size?   I wear a 6 now. How much did the butt, Thigh lift and TT cost.  Think I need the butt and thigh lift due to costant rectal itch( think it is due to to much skin not letting in air). And urinary tract infections.  AlThough I have had the weight off for 2-3 years i only started haveing these probelms of late several urinary infections last year and 1 in Nov and 1 in Dec and one I am just now getting over of late.  If you do not want to share that is fine.  I know I am asking real personal questions so thanks for anything you care to share.  We live far apart so I know I cannot use your surg. but like I said any thing you care to share.  Thanks.

Joann, Thank you so much for sharing these photos.  I was just informed Wednesday that my insurance has agreed to cover my tummy tuck that is scheduled for August.  I have been searching online websites to view before and after photo’s but you just never feel the same about them until you can put a face and a story with it!  Your success has given me a huge amount of excitement and I just wanted to thank you for sharing it with all of us.  You are absolutely beautiful!  Take care!

 

Jessica