Question:
WEIRD Q -- TT SCARS & LIPO. This worries me more than RNY

<font face="Kristen ITC">Hi, I was thinking about something last night after viewing some photos of TT's at "the plastic experience".<p>Okay, there were alot of scars that are not even on both sides. For example, some start on the right top hip bone, go down under the panty line and go around the other hip with out going back up. (I know that no scar will be perfectly straight)<p>I know you are going to think I'm PSYCHO but, I like my things to match. I mean if my finger nail breaks on my right pointer finger and I have to cut it, I then have to cut the left pointer finger nail. If one shoe comes un-tied and I re-tie it, I have to do the other one or it drives me nuts. I can't stand for my shirt to be twisted, or my socks uneven.<p>See, I told you that you would think I'm crazy. Has anyone else been disappointed in the appearance/location of their scar? Although, their tummy looks really good, the scar is really crooked. <p>Also, for some reason I am more terrified to have all the plastic surgery after RNY.<p>Any suggestions??? Besides seeing a shrink for an obsessive compulsive disorder LOL!!! Mary    — Merry I. (posted on January 8, 2003)

January 8, 2003
Research your plastic surgeon well and make sure to see lots of before & after pics. A GOOD surgeon is interested in your appearance afterwards. I've seen some butch jobs on tummy tucks, one of a diabetic woman still sticks in my head. It had me scared to death about having my tummy removed. I spoke with others who reassured me that the those weren't at all the norm and from there I did what I suggested to you with really taking a hard look at your surgeons results. Plus make sure you know EXACTLY what to expect in your own results of the surgery. And don't be afraid to talk with your doc about your concerns. If they don't share your focus on how you'll look post op, you need to find someone else.
   — Shelly S.

January 8, 2003
the previous responder is correct in that you should research the surgeon you choose to do your tt and lipo. I had three consultations before chosing the "one" who would do my tt and lipo, which I had done six weeks ago. One thing to remember in regard to things matching. Our bodies are not symmetrical on both sides, so you should expect, even with a really good surgeon, to have some asymmetry. An example is our breasts. If you were to look at the size of both breasts, you would probably notice that one is bigger than the other. Most of our bodies are that way. My surgeon did a wonderful job, but not even he could make every line match the same line on the opposite side. As a side note; my surgeon used my natural body lines to make the horizontal cut from hip to hip so that the healing skin would be smooth and look natural (eventually) almost as though I had never had the surgery.
   — twenc

January 8, 2003
First of all, yes they do have medication for obsessive compulsive disorders, LOL. Seriously, I know what you mean. My TT scar doesn't look like anyone elses that I have seen but I love the job he did (Dr. Manduano in Tulsa, OK). It looks like a curvy W. It starts on the hip bones dips down low on each side of my.... well you know and comes up in the middle over the top of my pubic bone. I could wear a clingy dress sans underthings and it looks like a woman's tummy normally looks. But, when I sit down one side does dip slightly lower than the other. I am badly scarred with stretch marks and I had some big lumps of fat necrosis removed from my rny scar at the same time, but I think he did an incredible job with what he had to work with. The muscles are tight and almost any panty would hide the scar. I agree with the other posters though, really research your plastic surgeon before you commit. It is definitly a bit of an art, and keep in mind that the surgeon needs to have some experience with previously obese patients.
   — cindy Q.