Hello everyone.

Just checking in to see how all my buddies are doing today? I am hanging right in there. Getting a bit better each day. I am getting ready to shower, dress and go hold my local support group meeting. This will be my first outting since returning home, and i imagine it is going to tuire me out, so I should sleep well tonight!

Whats new with everyone else? How are you all doing? I have missed you all!

It's nice to see you posting again Patrece.  I was wondering, if it isn't too personal, if you would mind sharing what kind of plastics you had done and why you chose to go outside of the US.  Plastics are something that I have already pretty much decided on but I'm still on my fact finding mission.

Colleen

Colleen, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. OK ready?? (I had a lot done.. even sone not initially inteneded, but glad I did it).

Procedures I had done were:
Neck lift: to get rid of my gobbler...hated that thing, cannot hide that with clothes! This included a small incision on the underside of my chin, then 2 incisions by each ear, one in front one in back. For the first week after surgery, this was the most painful, but now only hurts when cold wind hits the incision areas.
Lower body lift: This includes a lower tummy tuck, and a butt lift. Incision goes completely around my body at hip level, just above pubic area. Looks like someone cut me in half..lol.
Liposuction to the ole handlebar area: Not a large amount, just enough to be really bruised and sore, and get rid of the pouches that sat on the sides of my upper thighs.
Anchor cut tummy tuck:This incision goes from just above the pubic mound up to the bottom of the breast bone. With this part of the procedure it tightens the skin above the belly button AND tightens the muscle wall there too, helps flatten the tummy better. This is the procedure that was added on last minute. I actually decided on it to eliminate a very old nasty scar from a surgery when i was 6 weeks old. He decided it would look better to do it this way, and i wanted the excess skin off there anyhow, and the tighter tummy.
Breat Augmentation: So, since i lost all my boobs when i lost the weight, I wanted to be able to wear shirts and have em look right. Plus being a woman, one tends to want to have the stuff that goes with that. I did not get real large implants, just a moderate "c" cup. This was done by cutting arounbd the areola, then inserting the implants through there. Kinda scarey when you first look at it after. You think geesh...will they ever work again? lol.

I choose to go to mexico for a couple of reasons. First it is much much much more affordable. It cost me 12 K for what I had done there and it was all inclusive. Even refunded my airfare. Here all of this would have been at least 40 K...NOT my idea of something i could or would ever afford. The second reason is that I really researched long and hard on this, and the Dr I used is adored by all of his patients. They call him an artist of the human body. I saw many pictures of results, and talked with many who have used him and felt very comfortable with him. His patient complication rate is lower than most everyone here in the states.

As a side note here: IF anyone chooses to go to mexico for Plastics, do not go to just anyone. There are some really bad butchers out there. I used Dr Sauceda, and he is awesome. he even gives you his personal cell phone number so you can call him anytime at all. he also will fix anythin that you are not happy with at no cost other than airfare to return. He speaks great english, which not many in that area do.  If you or anyone would like more info on him let me know. There is also a Dr Sauceda forum here on OH where his patients and soon to be patients post. I learned a lot there.

Hope this helps answer your curiosities. In another week or 2 I am going to post some before and after pictures. Want to get the rest of the stitches out first/ Also keep in mind after plastics, you can experience swelling for as long as 6 months after. I am definately swollen, but still looking good compared to before.

Welcome back Patrece.  Getting in extra hours at work again, so what's new??? Yup I know, I am doing good things for myself too.  Got in a sweat filled workout on the treadmill today.  Burned 750 cal during a 68 minute walk.  Incline varied between zero and 15%.  The person next to me was doing inclines too.  Dennis joined me for the last part of my walk.  I do appreciate when he joins me for exercise.

Night shift tues and wed, continued ed class thurs afternoon and 6 month follow up appt at surgeon's office on friday.  That takes care of the rest of the week.  This weekend is our 2 year wedding anniversary, got hitched on feb 29th.  I am off the weekend and Dennis is working night shift.  Sounds like he will be able to change weekends off so we can have more time together.  Right now we work opposite weekends.  Hard to plan anything together when one of us is always working.

Take care and happy healing.

Kathy, sounds great about your workout and breaking out a good sweat. Im not there yet but
need to start getting to the gym and all. Just trying to get over the cold/.sinus crap.

Just wanted to wish you and hubby a Happy Wedding Anniversary and hope that you can stop being ships in passing and that the work schedules get better for you both.

Have a great rest of the week hump day is here whoo hoo.

Mary Kaye

Kathy kathy... you are a glutten for punishment! You already don't have time for work with everything else you'd like to do...hehehee... are ya workin toward early retirement?
Thanks for the welcome back. Hope you two get your weekends in sync! That would be nice wouldn't it!!!

Good for you getting out and about. Your right Im sure you will be tired, but a good tired.  Glad you are gtetting better day by day. hugs,

Thanks Mary kaye! I am coming along. I had my live support group last evening, then had to hit walmart for shopping after.. by the time I got home, I was sooo sore and tired! Walmart was just a bit too much.. but had to get some groceries and dog food.
Hugs back at ya!

WOW!  You had a lot done.  I didn't think they would do everything at once but it sure sounds like they did.  I'm glad this was successful for you.  I would have to drive there because I don't fly!

I hope you have a speedy recovery.  Thanks for sharing your adventure.

Colleen

No problem Colleen! I intend to journal about this eventually so others have the info as well.. I didn't have EVERYTHING done..hehehe no arm or leg work...lol. But darned near everything...then i wonder why i am so run down huh?? go figure! I must think i am invincable!