So for those of you who followed 1 and 2, it’s time to work on my boobs! The pannelictomy has healed well and scar lines are light. I plan to post an update on that one in the next couple weeks since the color changes. The thigh review will get an update again later because my scars are still extremely purple. I am still healing you can say on that procedure. Now this review is going to go on longer then the others because it requires two procedures. My skin will not support implants so the first procedure will be a mastopexy (lift) to remove all the extra skin and be completely natural. I do NOT want small boobs but my doctor insist it will be exactly what I want with out the second procedure so we shall see! If it is as I plan, few months later I will get a small implant inserted called a gummy bear to make them the 44DD I had before. Updated on 3 Dec 2017: I wanted to add a few photos of the scars I talked about from the other surgeries for those who are catching up on my journey. It’s been tough but look up Miracle About to Happen 1 & 2 to get the whole stories. Updated on 29 Jan 2018: I went in kinda nervous today bc my doctor has told me I must reduce before getting implants bc of the mass of my boobs and the skin stretching. I need to heal from this procedure to do the second procedure. I had the reduction and lift today. I can’t tell if I’m going to like it because I’ve been so sick from the anesthesia that I’m laying down only. When I stand I throw up. I’m on no pain meds at the moment and doing fine with that. I will try to post more tomorrow standing once my body gets rid of the toxins. Updated on 30 Jan 2018: I was told I could bath today but honestly I’m kinda scared to do that. I’m going to wait another day to make sure I don’t rip a stitch or risk any type of infection. The weather has been bad in Louisiana recently. We had some winter storms that have busted pipes in the Parish (county) and caused a lot of boil orders. A few weeks ago the hospital had to cancel procedures because they had such low water pressure and couldn’t clean the tools properly. We are having a freeze again today/tonight so I’m going to wait to see it any more boil orders come out before I bath. I get infection so easy it’s definitely on my mind. If you followed my previous blogs on here then you know why. Anyway I am posting pics from today, the day after the procedure. I can’t stand up again today because I throw up or pass out due to low blood pressure. Maybe I can give you better photos tomorrow however I’m kinda worried that my boobs heal side ways. I imagined round boobs and feel like these are going to be droopy instead of perky. Hopefully it’s just because I’m laying down and healing. Updated on 31 Jan 2018: So I was able to stand up without getting sick today. Pics attached Updated on 1 Feb 2018: So far so good but these drum tubes are aggravating the hell out of me. They aren’t collecting anything anymore so I took them out myself at home. In case you run into issue with your drains hurting you and you aren’t putting out fluids know they are not painful to come out. They are longer then you think inside of you so just take a deep breath in an pull them out quickly. You will have some fluid or blood that empties out too so just put on a bandaid and it will be fine. I’m still swollen and bruised of course but it feels so much better already with these tubes out. Now my bf can hold me without pulling them out while we sleep too! ;) Updated on 2 Feb 2018: I can’t wait for it to stop turning yellow! Updated on 4 Feb 2018: Last night I started hurting a lot. I have a high tolerance for pain so that should mean something. I took an ibuprofen and tried to sleep but I was having stabbing pains in the sides of my breast. The tape started to come off last night in some area which look like its healing well. I did some research on applying ice or heat so I knew which to do and everywhere I looked says neither one BUT I was in too much pain not to do it. I put a thick towel over my chest and then a heating pad on top of that. It really helped a lot with causing inflammation and pain to stop. Oddly I noticed that the area the tape came off felt great while the area that is still taped was the pain areas. I was tempted to remove the tape but I was told to let it come off on it’s own as I shower. I’m starting to itch with the healing around my nipples so I may end up applying so mederma or something to help. Updated on 17 Feb 2018: The doctor said I should see him in a month from now to follow up. Updated on 5 Mar 2018: I see my surgeon tomorrow to hopefully take out the remaining stitches. They itch like crazy!! Updated on 27 May 2018: So I did not get implants as planned. The doctor says my boobs are too heavy and won’t support them. I am posing these pics as an update. I had some scar tissue form around the nerve in my left boob. It is somewhat painful so before it grows I am having it removed. I have surgery scheduled tomorrow morning. I am also having the skin tighten around them because I don’t like the pear shape. I would like them more round. Maybe I’m crazy for doing this again but I have to get the tissue removed so may as well try for the look I desire naturally. :) If you followed my other reviews you will know why I posted the other pics to update on those surgical areas as well. Updated on 29 May 2018: I had the lump removed and the revision. This is pics day of which I’m swollen and feel beat up. Not enough to take pain meds though so I can handle it. Updated on 13 Jun 2018: So my revision and removal of the lump is healing well. I am very happy with the results. Updated on 21 Jul 2018: Updated on 10 Aug 2018: I am posting these pics to show you the dark purple lines / scars that remain. I have one more follow up with my surgeon then I’m going to start laser therapy to lighten, reduce or remove them. The therapy uses a Candela laser that shoots out electrical pulses with a blue light and cold puffs of air. It does sting a little and it will take 6 months going every two weeks to get the final result. I’m fine with that if it makes my scars look better. I will try to post the scars once a month so it will be after two sessions.
Excellent experience with this MD and his nurse! Nurse is always available when I had questions even if clinic was in progress. Office is very professional. Stayed in hospital for 23 hour observation. Made sure measurements were accurate. Surgery lasted about 4-5 hours; Resident assisted with markings and procedure (I think this made him extra careful and produced great results). I love my results. Updated on 18 Oct 2016:
After a 90lb weight loss after gastric bypass 2 years ago I decided it was time to get rid of the excess skin I had in my lower abdomen. After my surgery I experienced some pain, I did have a pain pump and kept on top of the pain meds so as to not let the pain become unbearable. I am almost 3 weeks out and for the 1st time I am experiencing some extreme pain on the left side where the incision was closed with staples. I think it may be the start of an infection. I did call the PS office and was told to clean the area with Hibiclens and use Bacitacin ointment on the area until I can see the PS on Monday morning. I have posted pics do know that once the swelling goes down I will be very happy with the final result. Updated on 18 Feb 2011: Updated on 19 Feb 2011: Ok so I don't think I have an infection. The spot that was bothering me started to drain fluid last night. What a relief, pain is still there, but has subsided considerably. Will be seeing PS on Monday morning. Just hoping nothing serious is going on! Updated on 21 Feb 2011: Saw the PS today. He thinks that I am spitting a stich. Still have a great amount of swelling which may be some fluid build up. So I am continuing to up my intake of water. Going back in 1 week so we'll see. Overall I am feeling good, but by the end of the day the swelling is worse & I feel like I've eaten a HUGE meal. Something I haven't done in a long time b/c of the gastric bypass. But this too shall pass.....just not quick enough for me LOL!!! Patience is not one of my better qualities!!!! Updated on 22 Feb 2011: 1st day back at work today. Definitely more swollen than this morning. Side is still hurting. PS office said to to try warm compress to try to bring stich to surface. Hope it will come to the surface soon so the incision can heal. Really glad it was a warm day here, was able to wear a really comfortable dress. Can't even think of putting on pants...unless they are PJ's or sweats LOL!!! Updated on 1 Mar 2011: Went back to PS yesterday & I have a stitch abscess. The stitch did not want to dissolve & did not want to come out either. Thought my recovery was seeming to go to easy LOL!!! Anyway, the PS numbed the area, cut into the incision & was able to get the stitch. Now on a round of antibiotics for 10 days & I have an open incision that is packed with gauze. Went this morning to have the gauze removed & replaced. Go again in the morning. Will post update after that appointment. Updated on 3 Mar 2011: Got the results back from the culture that the PS took from the stitch abscess and it was positive for strep. Already on the antibiotics, and am cleaning the incision & changing the packing daily. Hope this clears up soon..... Also sick of the swelling at the end of the day, but I keep looking towards the final results so I will try to continue to be patient. Going to post more current pics either this evening or tomorrow.
Hello, everybody! This seems like a great community and I'm really happy to be able to finally make a post about my upcoming surgery. I got saline implants when I was 18 years old. I'd been struggling with my asymmetrical breasts since I developed. My asymmetry was caused by my concave chest (pectus excavatum) and was unlikely to correct itself over time, and because I had amazing insurance and a birth defect, my implants ended up being covered and I just paid a $25 copay. I was very happy with my implants for a few years. One thing that never changed was that from the start I was massively insecure about the fact that I had "fake" breasts. I remember once my best friend bragged about them to some guy I didn't know, because she honestly thinks they're beautiful and didn't realized I'd be uncomfortable, but it felt like a blow to the stomach to hear they'd been discussing my procedure. Also, I always found them to be a little physically uncomfortable. I've slept with a bra on for the last 8 years because it felt like they were moving around under my skin if I didn't and it grossed me out so much I couldn't sleep (turns out I have a contracture on the left side, which did cause some of that discomfort.) I always hated touching them because they didn't feel like breasts and, especially on the sides, I could feel the implants inside me. It still repulses me. I made the decision to get my implants removed last year. I realized I no longer liked the way they looked. Not that my doctor hadn't done a great job, but they look like "fake" breasts to me. I wanted my natural look back, even if that meant they would be uneven. Add in the mental and physical discomfort I'd had since the beginning, it was an easy decision to make. My pre-op appointment is Tuesday and my surgery is Thursday. While I'm mainly really excited, I'm a little nervous about ending up hating the asymmetry again. But the way I'm thinking about it is that I may never be totally happy with the way my breasts look. I hated them asymmetrical when I was 18, and now I hate them for not looking natural. But without them, I'll be able to sleep on my stomach again, touch my breasts without cringing, and maybe even learn to love my natural shapes. It's definitely what I want. Wish me luck guys! I'll update Tuesday or Thursday. Friday at the latest! :) Updated on 5 Apr 2016: I went in for my pre-op appointment today! My appointment was scheduled for 2 PM, so of course I got called into the office two hours late at 4. I had never seen the waiting room so swamped, they were doing like 8 pre-ops that afternoon and were massively backed up. I have to go back tomorrow morning to do my blood work, because the lab was closing by the time the doctor could see me. Once we got to the meeting though, it went so well. I'm PMS-ing a little right now, so I was feeling a tad overwhelmed. My doctor apparently considers the work he did on me to be some of his best so he is totally heartbroken I want them out haha. I will say he was very clear that he wouldn't try to talk me out of removing them, if it's really what I wanted. It was kind of sweet how proud he was of his work, but he seemed worried I didn't know what I was getting myself into. They pulled up pictures of me from before my surgery in 2009, telling me kind of gravely that this is what I would look like again. I braced myself for horrible, insanely disproportionate asymmetry and when the picture popped up on the screen I almost laughed out loud. I couldn't believe how normal I looked when I was 18. Sure, one was slightly smaller, but seriously, how could I have thought I was so deformed? I wish I'd taken a snapshot of the screen to show you guys. I was beautiful! Also, insanely small, so that will take some getting used to haha. I couldn't keep my smile off my face. I was half laughing, half crying walking to my car (did I mention I'm PMS-ing?) I couldn't contain my happiness. I know I won't look exactly the same as I did 7 years ago, but if it's close I'll be a very lucky woman. I called my (long-distance) boyfriend on my drive home and he noticed right away how relieved I sounded and was insanely supportive. It was a great day, and while I'm still nervous for surgery, I'm getting less nervous about the results. I AM hyper focused on the implants now. I can't believe I lived with them this long. The feel of them under my skin disgusts me, and I can't wait to be rid of them!!! Updated on 6 Apr 2016: The admin woman who was signing me in looked up from my paperwork with a big smile and said, "Oh! I'm thinking of getting the same surgery as you!" She was also 25, but had gotten her implants at 21. Hers were actually pretty painful and she missed being natural too. We had a big talk about our reasons for doing it and wanting them out. Then every other nurse I talked to had a great talk with me about getting older and realizing how fleeting some insecurities can be. Everyone was so nice and I left the office beaming. My surgery is scheduled for 7 AM tomorrow, so I'm getting up at 4! Headed to sleep in the next hour, hopefully. I'm worried I won't sleep a wink! :) Bye bye, ridiculously uncomfortable plastic sacs in my chest, hello being 32AA again haha. Updated on 7 Apr 2016: It's finished! I had an amazing experience at the hospital. All the staff at Oschner were amazing. The first thing I said when I woke up was, "I can breathe so much easier!" And started almost crying and the nurse was like, "Yes dear that's nice." Haha. Clearly she's never experienced what we have. I feel so so good. I'm not in much pain at all. I have drains unfortunately until Monday, but such is life. I'm so happy I don't even care! At one point in the recovery room I kind of poked the top of my breast, and it was so soft I burst into tears and my mom had to go grab me some tissues. I forgot how natural and beautiful my breasts were. I'm so happy this is a little all over the place. I'm going to have a little to eat and pass out in the recliner in my living room. I'm so happy!!!!!! Updated on 7 Apr 2016: I can't stop smiling! Updated on 7 Apr 2016: Hey guys, quick question. I haven't had more than a single drop of fluid come out of ONE my drains all day. I have to call the hospital tomorrow to set up an appointment Monday to get them out. But nothing is really coming out and I hate them. Do you guys think it would be reasonable to ask if they can take them out tomorrow? Anyone else have an experience like this with their surgery? Updated on 8 Apr 2016: I spent this morning reading some random posts around here from some women who have had drains and apparently if there's less than 20 ccs fluid collected in the first 24 hours then it's pretty standard to get the drains removed right away. Now I just have to be demanding enough on the phone for them to take time for me to get them out today, because I am not going to be like this all weekend. Give me all of your assertive power ladies! As with breasts tissue, it doesn't come very naturally to me haha. Updated on 8 Apr 2016: I got my drains removed! The doctor who did it was so surprised I'd just been in surgery yesterday morning because I was feeling so good and awake. I feel so light and free! I'll post some picture updates later this week. For now I'm just going to rest up with a big smile on my face. Updated on 13 Apr 2016: I love my new old body, I love breathing freely, I love tiny bras, I love having soft boobs. I also just started a new job last night! Basically it feels like my whole world is just getting better and better. I'll never regret this surgery in my life. Only you guys understand how amazing it feels not to have these things in my body anymore. It's almost making me tear up again! Updated on 19 Apr 2016: Feeling good, looking good :) Updated on 17 May 2016: About a month and a half since my surgery! Everything has been smooth sailing. I'm going on a beach vacation starting Thursday (where I'll also be meeting up with my LD boyfriend) so I'm finally getting a shot to show off my new old body haha. Thanks again to everyone here. I love this community! I'll probably update again in a few months :) Updated on 20 Oct 2016: Hi everyone! I promised an update and here it is! A lot has been going on in my life, so it took me a while to get to it haha. I'm still in love with my new-old breasts. I love the feel of them, both to the touch and just the fact that I don't feel anything inside my chest walking around every day. As you can see on right breast, the way Dr. Dupin stitched me back up, the skin got kind of pulled up, so not an absolutely perfect result, but I'm so happy with my natural breasts that I don't really care. My scars are fading really well, without any help from me, I'm not using anything to expedite that process. I hope all you lovely ladies are doing great, and anyone reading this who is unhappy with their implants, go for the explant if you can. I can't explain how much happier and healthier I feel. At least once a week I still remember how much they obstructed my breathing and I take one big breath because now I can.
Previously I had a pannilectomy to remove skin along my abdomen. I had quite a bite of complications but if you want more info on that look up the review titled, a miracle about to happen. That is why this is part 2. I am hoping to have the excess skin removed between my legs on the inner things so this isn't necessarily a lift. In fact my doctor is oly removing the saddle bag area and leaving the remaining portions. I am posting this early so you can follow me with the hopeful weight loss too. I am currently at 182lbs now (some gain back) and want to get to 150lbs then maintain that. I am not looking to be skin and bones so not aiming for the 120-130 target my BMI calls for typically. I like boobs and ass lol Anyway here are the pics of where I am starting at for the inner thighs. I plan to work out doing 3 miles a day walking and some weights while waiting for the surgery to get closer to my goal while waiting for the procedure. Updated on 11 Jul 2017: So as badly as I wanted to lose more weight, it's coming off slow. I'm posing some pics but it's my own fault it's coming off slow. I have not been in the gym everyday like I should because of my schedule with medical stuff for my son mostly. He first broke his ankle, then may have torn his rotor cuff and has some kinda muscle thing going on in his hip. He loves the gym and wrestling but this month it did not love him. MRI's, Cat Scans, X-rays and physical therapy three times a week. I went to the gym when I could (let's be honest when I wasn't exhausted but I should have forced myself more). Pics are the sad results that so far I've only went down 5lbs! I'm kicking it up a notch now that his ankle has healed and I get his MRI results this week. I am aiming lower for 15lbs loss before my surgery Aug 10 BUT trying for more. I'm gonna need a vagina skin surgery the way it looks right now. I hate that skin too Updated on 24 Jul 2017: I lost some but not enough, still working on it. Have a few more weeks. Getting excited. I'm leaving in two days for a week in Cali with my bf and mother to see family. Hoping to get a ton of swimming in while there!! Updated on 11 Aug 2017: So the first pic is just a reminder of what I looked like before. My doctor decide to cut all the way down to the knee and remove more then originally thought BUT I gave her permission to do whatever he thinks will give me best results. I am in a TON of pain but I think it's because of bruises not the stitches or incision so that may go away soon. I was kept overnight so the pics are from 24 hours free the surgery and very swollen. So far so good, I am up walking and off pain meds although I'm in pain bc I don't want to fall or be drugged while trying to go home. Family are on there way now because I'm discharged after a 24 hour hold. Updated on 11 Aug 2017: More pics from day of surgery Updated on 11 Aug 2017: So I woke up in pain but not as bad as the day I had the surgery. As long as I don't move it's tolerable but if you move, it's bad. I got up and walked around anyway so they discharged me for home. I'm home mostly sleeping today but being in my own bed helps. Dr. Dupin does an amazing job on my body. I'm excited to see the end results because it already looks great swollen. Updated on 15 Aug 2017: Just updating pics. I think most of the damage I feel is bruising which confuses me because my cut isn't as bad as the bruises. Updated on 22 Aug 2017: These are being shared a little late. I went to a fundraiser in Ohio for Semper Fi sponsored by Powerstation Gym. They were able to raise a little over $51k at the event by pro bodybuilders and etc inviting their fans to go meet them. My son and bf wanted to go so I sat in the back seat with my short legs stretched out while they drove. I slept most of the time and we stopped every 3 hours for 10 mins or so for me to walk to ensue no blood lots form. It was an amazing time and although it was uncomfortable wearing work out clothing to match the atmosphere so worth it. I didn't work out any but have pics of my son and bf killing it. Lol (I think that's how they say it) My legs are healing nicely but they are starting to feel more sore. A few tips to help others: 1. I can not get all the tape gooey crap off in the shower because I am afraid to scrub and rip my stitches. I have been applying cocoa butter lotion and that seems to moisten it up enough to scrap off with my finger nails and wipe gently in the shower. I still have some on my despite my best efforts to get it all off and a shower just isn't cutting it bc it doesn't get to soak like in a bath tub. 2. Underwear are my enemy! They cling to the groin on top of the stitches and every move feels like a rip in the stitches. Just avoid them if possible. Wear the compression garment if given one or get some work out tights. They are most comfortable with out scratching all the Baja jay area if you need to shop or whatever. I know people often skip underwear with dresses but you will want something to stop your thighs from rubbing against each other because it burns. 3. Use a pillow between your legs at night. The less moisture you allow like sweat the better the healing process will work. I use the pillow s high to the groin area as possible and it helps me to lay in different positions without as much pain. 4. Here is the most disgusting advice a person can ever give and I hesitated to tell anyone but if my nasty but smart thought helps someone else from tipping their stitches so be it...... when you first have the surgery the compression garment they gave me had a hole in the center so you don't take it off but pee through the hole. It was some sort of body suit so even if I did take it off, I had an entire procedure just to get it back on. Women naturally can't pee in a perfect Ike with out getting some on their garment so I had to think out the box as I am OCD and can't stand being dirty. Get your self a large red solo cup and put the garment around the top of the cup. Then pee like you would in a cup for a doctor. It does two things here, first no pee all over you and two you don't have to bend your legs as much s to sit which hurts like hell. You can technically keep standing or squat smaller which is less likely to pop a stitch in the groin. Okay please don't hate me for the last suggestion. I just couldn't keep taking that damn suit off every 20 mins when I first came home and had to pee often from all the IV drips I was unloading. I will update again soon. Updated on 23 Aug 2017: Day 13 and I develop Cellulitis! Spent the evening at the ER getting an IV drip of Clindamycin. Very discouraging!! Updated on 31 Aug 2017: The good news is the pain isn't bad and the infection is gone. I am healing pretty well, bf news is it is taking this long but that's all part of what I wanted so oh well. The colors on my scaring look dark purple and red as I heal but it will lighten up because the same happen on my abdomen and it healed light pink after it finished. I'm very fair so once I finish healing I will tan and it will be good enough. It's not like I plan to sit with my legs open flashing everyone anyway. The scars are to the inside and when standing with my legs together you can't see them at all. Oh and I may have forgot to mention this a few weeks ago. I had sex 4 days after my surgery. It wasn't the best sex of course because I prefer being on top and that my dears will be almost impossible for a few weeks at least. The best way is you lying in missionary so you can move your legs in and out as needed for pain. Doggie is a bit painful in the first week because you tend to bend your leg and that's the part that hurts due to the amount of bruising and stitches want to pull. At week three I am tempted to get on top because I think I can but the stitches are still healing in some areas a little slower and scared they rip. Just do missionary for the first couple weeks. I did mentioned in one of my previous post that me and my bf are like rabbits so not being able to have him would be like a withdrawal of crack for me. Not a pretty sight and extremely grumpy. Lol I guess when you lust and love at the same time it's a good thing. Anyway, I am posting the 3 week pics and you will see the improvement. Updated on 10 Sep 2017: I have not updated in a while because nothing looks different except the scabs along the incision line. Every time I move they crack open which aggravates me. Sometimes it itches and sometimes it's a little painful when I'm trying to sleep. Nothing that requires pain meds painful but annoying. I have not waxed or shaven since the surgery scared to snag a stitch and maybe because I've been a little lazy but I will be doing that tomorrow for sure. I will take more pics after standing Updated on 23 Oct 2017: So it’s quite a few weeks out and I keep getting Cellulitis. My scaring is still purple and not much change since my last post. Today I’m showing you pics of the Cellulitis in my legs. I’m being admitted to get IV antibiotics. I can’t wait to post this part is over Updated on 3 Dec 2017: So my scars are still VERY dark but healing well. I am adding some updated photos and will do so every now and then until they lighten up. I am also planning to lose more weight after New Years as I plan to gain during the holiday feast. Lol I have a new procedure coming up so follow Miracle About to Happen 3 if you want to see the Mastopexy Updated on 27 May 2018: It’s been a long time since my last review but I wanted to give time for the scars to heal. I’m not sure if I would say this surgery made that big of an impact. My legs still look big to me and now I just have ugly scars. I don’t regret it because I don’t have to wonder anymore what it would do for me. Updated on 13 Jun 2018: Just so you can see how my results look this many months later. Still dark Updated on 21 Jul 2018: Updated on 10 Aug 2018: I am posting these pics to show you the dark purple lines / scars that remain. I’m going to start laser therapy to lighten, reduce or remove them. The therapy uses a Candela laser that shoots out electrical pulses with a blue light and cold puffs of air. It does sting a little and it will take 6 months going every two weeks to get the final result. I’m fine with that if it makes my scars look better. I will try to post the scars once a month so it will be after two sessions.
I wish I could use more characters!! I am having a panniculectomy of the bottom flap of skin/fat, a abdominalplasty for the upper layer of fat/skin with reconstruction, liposuction around my waistline and the reposition of my navel. I am hoping to have no excess skin and contour. (Insurance covers panini but not a tummy tuck so saved some money there) Once this procedure is complete, I will have a waiting period due to blood loss before we can tackle other areas. I plan to pursue a boob reduction and lift because my frame is small but currently you can't tell because of all this excess skin. I lost over 135lbs in a year. Cardio cardio cardio is the key and don't eat carbs as much as possible. I gave up soft drinks completely which was my weakness so just get motivated and you can do it too. If all goes well with this procedures, I would like excess skin removal on my thighs, lipo possibly on my back and a butt lift IF squats while in my waiting period doesn't take care of those areas. Lots to look forward too but I deserve it! :) Updated on 13 Feb 2017: I'm at the hospital and they weighed me this morning at 81.2kg which I don't know what that converts to in pounds BUT I still feel huge anyway. I'm excited to have the procedure and nervous at the same time. Even though the pounds fell off on the scale, it's hard for me to see any results under the skin hanging all over the place. I figure I will do the panni and be able to see where I need to target more after this and decided on a tummy tuck later IF needed. My doctor seems to think I will be happy when this is done and so far he has been correct in everything else I wouldn't be happy with so I'm eager to see the results!! Pics below show me with clothes and without so I can reference later the effects. My first post has the upper half uncovered but since that's not my goal with this procedure, I'm concentrating on my lower and mid section. Updated on 14 Feb 2017: I am writing this the morning after my surgery took place but the pics are from the day of surgery. Everything went smoothly and the doctor is amazing! I highly recommend Dr. Dupin because he cares about your health not just the way you look. He wants to ensure your procedure(s) are effective but safe. ???? I was unable to take my camera or cell with me in the OR so I don't have many pics to share and none of the skin removed. But I a resident doctor was able to send me pics of the drawing on me and a nurse sent me pics of the finished process before they bandaged me all up. My mother was in the waiting area and was told that about 12lbs of skin and fat was removed. The cut is long across me and kinda looks like a fat roll in the pics but it's not. It's just swollen on that area. I am extremely pleased with the way it looks already so I can only imagine when the swelling goes down and fluids finish draining. As for pain, I am very comfortable today. They won't allow me to get out of bed to even use the bathroom so I have a Cather in me which I hate but can live with. I also have a pain pump installed so it's been administering what I need, as needed. I was able to eat and drink immediately after surgery bc I was starving after not eating all day. They wanted clear liquids at first in case I threw up from all the drugs used to knock me out. But by the end of the night I ate chicken. My blood pressure is always low because I have POTS syndrome and it's been acting up some severely since the procedure. If I sit up straight or stand up, my blood pressure drops to 53/32 or close to that area immediately. I am thinking it's because of the blood loss for now but will see the doctor in the am to ask questions. As long as I lay down flat, I'm fine. They have been giving me some meds to help me sleep but I'm not in pain. I am sore but I don't consider that pain. Nothing you can't deal with. I've seen post where people say they feel like knives are stabbing them but for me at least it's nothing at all like that and makes me wonder if they just need attention or want people to cater to them after surgery. Truth is you will feel it of course but just do what they advise and you won't have all that pain. Tomorrow (today technically) I am having the caterer removed and learning to enough my fluid bags along with injecting myself with some form of meds in the stomach I think. Not very clear on that so will have to update later. If they can get the fainting and blood pressure stable when I sit and stand then I will be discharged today. Updated on 14 Feb 2017: The nurse taking care of me this morning was able to get some pics closer up. I hope that mid section goes down like they said but if not I'm gonna kill my abs at the gym anyway I'm able to go back. I can literally hear the fluids inside me. At first I thought it was my stomach growling but I ate! So then I thought maybe it was air or gas but I haven't been passing any upper or lower passages. I asked the nurse what she thought it was and she said the body repairing itself and the fluids moving. Not 100% sure she is correct but it makes more sense then my theories for the moment. Lol Anyway adding the pics. I will try to keep this updated for the next 6-8 weeks so people can follow progress, pain levels and etc. This app helped me in making my choices but I wished people truly followed up later and not just the beginning so you can get a real idea of what happens. Updated on 15 Feb 2017: Good Morning Readers, Yesterday was okay. I discharged to home and everything was fine. I learned to give my self a shot in the stomach to stop blood clots with something called Lovanex. It doesn't hurt at all. I took some photos this morning and you can see I'm very swollen. I got on the scale and it says 180lbs!! That's more then when I went in so I'm a little sad but I know it will go down. My right side seems to be clearing fluid faster then my left side. The left side has that small leak around the incision but it's okay because it's still draining. Still deep red blood and hoping it turns to pink today at some point. I was constipated and very scared to strain that I would break my stitches so I drank some milk of magnesium yesterday. I highly recommend this to everyone. Not just because it makes it easy to go but all the gas bubbles in my abdomen are gone. The sounds and pressure is done. It also was a green discharge so I feel like my body kicked out toxins left in my from the surgery and immediately my sluggishness was relieved. I took some again this morning just to make sure I don't strain and I'm keeping myself extremely hydrated. I drink bottled water constantly. I have been keeping a log every 4 hours of what I drain, my blood pressure and any medication I take at that time. The blood pressure is still coming up slow but if I walk around too long drops. I sleep a lot! The pain level is decreased and it's more soreness with the swelling and a bloated feel. Nothing you can't handle. It only allows me 10 pics per day so I will make more post today to give you more views of the incisions. As of now in scared to take my bandages off while standing up alone. Later today maybe my s/o will come over so I can take those but it creeps him out until I heal. Updated on 15 Feb 2017: Just giving you pics of the drainage areas and navel. Yucky stuff but it's part of the procedure. Updated on 15 Feb 2017: Here are the photos of the incisions after standing. I took the compression bandages off so I could take the Lovanex shot in the stomach. It burned a little today but again not too bad. It's hard for me to tell how this surgery will heal because of the swelling. Of course I will not be the perfect body because I still have fat to work off afterwards BUT I think it is now manageable. I'm very excited. This is a hard surgery but I do not regret it at all. Updated on 16 Feb 2017: So I had an incident last night with my blood pressure falling too low and passing out on the floor. By the time EMS got there I was in bed and stable. I have POTS syndrome which I may have explained earlier but just in case you missed it. I suffer from a high heart rate and low blood pressure. It causes me to pass out. Losing so much blood for this surgery has been making it hard to stay stable when I sit or stand. My pressure only stabilizes when lying flat on my back. Anyway today I am taking pics laying down and look and feel fat again. Maybe I'm building up more bloat or something but I don't like the way I'm looking today. Updated on 16 Feb 2017: So I finally got brave enough to bath. I was concerned with passing out, stitches coming out, how to hold the drains and pain pump while washing my hair, how to not rip bandages off and if it was going burn!! Well in case this is you later, I will tell ya what I done. I took some grandma panties and put them on so I could put the drains and pump inside them. This worked fine and I was able to lower them slowly to wash off that area too. It did not burn but I went in the water back first anticipating it. The stitches held firm and I just allowed the water to clean them without scrubbing or adding soap. Lots of yucky stuff came off me and I feel more refreshed. I sat on the edge of my bed on a towel and changed out the gauze located around my drains and the pads over my abs under the compression garment. Not sure how much good that thing does but I'm wearing it. I let the stitches and etc air dry with the heater on so I didn't have to touch them but didn't want to cover them so they didn't remain moist. I still feel fat when I look at me in the mirror today. I see a difference don't get me wrong but I feel wider now then before the surgery. Before it was skin and rolls but I had a great waistline. Now I'm shaped like a box. Maybe it will go away later... I hope! :( So pics will be included of me standing after the shower. Updated on 16 Feb 2017: I am more than sure this pain pump has helped in some capacity but man has it been a pain in the ass to move around with! It is stapled into my leg so I feel it more then anything else on my body stitched up so I'm excited to have it removed tomorrow. I am not in much pain so I rather take a pill or sleep if necessary rather then carry it around. Very hard to sleep with because I'm scared to pull it out my vein more then I am scared to pull out my drains which one is already leaking. I am use to having sex with my s/o two or three times a DAY, not a week for years now so this has been a rough 4 days. Lol How long does it typically take to have sex again? I know this is probably the least of most people's concerns but damn if he doesn't turn me on today like he did the first time. He was laying next to me trying to hold me but not rip me open. I love that he is worried about hurting me and told me he can wait no matter how long BUT I'm not as strong as him! lol I want sex today but know that would be impossible. Updated on 16 Feb 2017: Updated on 17 Feb 2017: I am scheduled for 2pm to have my pain pump removed but I woke hoping to get in the office sooner then that because I believe my drainage pumps have stopped working last night. The left is slowly collecting THICK red blood but my side is so swollen and feels like a rock. I really believe I am retaining fluid there. The right side has barley anything in it to empty and is changing to a watery blood color. That side feels great like it would be draining properly but worries me that maybe everything went to my left side to drain and it can't keep up. My doctor opens in a few hours from now so I will call his office ask to go in asap. Until then I am walking around and sitting up as much as possible so gravity can try to pull the fluid out the left side. So far that hasn't helped because it looks like the fluid decided to just stop at one point in the tube from moving down. I really don't know how else to deal with it at home and maybe I'm freaking out for nothing. Pics of today are with this post. I also have my chart of blood pressures, medicine intake ( m = Midodrine to keep pressure up, L= Lovanex, P= Pain meds and the blood pressure was lying down unless otherwise noted). I don't know if this will help anyone else but my doctor told me to keep a log. This morning (a min ago) my BP sitting up is 88/67 and it's time for my medication to bring the pressure up. Updated on 17 Feb 2017: My doctor still have no opened by I figured out why it stopped draining. The blood dried up around the tubing at the incision site and was making it hard to get in the pipe. I massaged it until it broke up and massaged the thickness down the tube. All is good now. Updated on 17 Feb 2017: So I went get the pain pump removed and omg do I feel better already. No more wires hanging out my leg. The staples used to secure it did not hurt to remove and hardly felt it at all. The wires inside you feel like fluttering in your tummy when they are pulled out. I had no idea they went from my leg to my stomach. The compression garment was put on me wrong by the discharge nurse at the hospital so I've been using it too high, which in turn allows more fluid to build up. The doctor's office showed me the correct way and suggested I wear a spandex fitting underwear to hold the compression garment in place. This has made me much more comfortable. Now I can actually wear clothing! The swelling is already showing signs of going down since I put it on correctly over a hour ago. So happy I went in today although I felt kinda stupid. As for my blood pressure, that just takes time to get back on track since my blood is flowing to fill tissues that lost it and trying to keep up my heart. I can come and go out of bed as I choose now since I can sense when I'm having a POTS episode. Updated on 18 Feb 2017: Feeling like a bigger fat ass then I was before the surgery. Optimistic this goes down soon because I think I look so nasty. I wish there was an easier way for drains to drain because I'm exhausted and can't lay down enough because they won't drain. I have to stand up for them to drain and walk for it come down the tubes. I need to leave them hang to the floor because if I put them in my pockets they stop working. So lustrating! Updated on 18 Feb 2017: So I went today run a few errands and drove myself. After a couple hours I was exhausted but still no pain. I have a burning sensation along my stitches when they rub on my clothes which is really aggravating. Tonight I sent the man I love to party with his dance class (salsa), my son to the gym and I am going to sleep early watching Firestick movies all alone. PEACEFUL! ???? Just because the pics of me are so horrible looking I am adding one of the Spinach, Pepper and Chicken Sesame Braid I made for dinner. It's amazingly good!! Updated on 19 Feb 2017: I made a mistake and labeled yesterday day 6. Gets confusing when you blog a lot. I had surgery on the 13th. Anyway still having trouble with the drains and the compression garment. I am now showing you me with spandex on to keep the compression garment on. And the drains are a definite issue that will be brought up on Tuesday when I see my doctor Updated on 19 Feb 2017: Updated on 20 Feb 2017: So this week has been full of ups and downs. My blood pressure kept dropping but my heart doctor got it under control today by doubling up on my meds for the next few weeks while I have the drainage tubes. The appearance on the first and second day from the surgery seemed exciting but as I swell and fill with fluids, I look pregnant! Lol Which is something I never want to be again. I hated being pregnant. I had a tubal to make sure I was never that uncomfortable again and will adopt if I decide to have more. Yes it was that bad of swelling. You could have just turned me side ways and rolled me down the street I was so fluid filled. Giant jelly doughnut. Anyway the swelling is slowly coming down In the ab area and it seems to have all deposited into the stomach area and waistline. The compression garment may be helping that since before I couldn't get it to stand on and the nurse recommended I wet spandex or Spanx over the garment once in place. I have done so and notice a difference. The right drain is going great today and now the left side has stopped completely. Which was the total opposite in the beginning. I still feel like I have a giant rock stuck in my left side where the drainage tube comes out so maybe that will go away once they are out. I hope do because it's sore when I first wake up and the only real pain I feel at all. Like I said this was not a painful procedure like I've seen others post. Yes it's uncomfortable but so is flapping skin when your running, having sex or dancing so you choose which is worse. A lifetime of flapping or a few weeks of pregnancy feeling. Lol I see my surgeon tomorrow and hope he tells me something reassuring about the drainage. So far I am still very pleased although it's hard to tell how my results will pan out, no matter what I lost a bunch of skin pulling on my back, so it's a win. Pics posted show my pregnancy look. Haha I will post more out of clothing updates tomorrow once all the stitches and drain sites are checked by the doctor. Plus I also bandaged everything up earlier with cocoa butter oil on the gauze hoping it will loosen up some of the glue, stuck on gauze and etc stuck along the stitches and sites you can't really scrub. I hear cocoa butter is great for scars too so why not start being pro-active now. :) Updated on 20 Feb 2017: I ran into a friend tonight who is an ER nurse. I showed him my drainage tubes and picked his brain some. DO NOT Flush your tubes with water like I did. It can cause infection and/or cause the drainage site to expand, explode or etc. Also he showed me a new way to fix the suction bulbs. The nurse at the hospital told me crunch them up in my hand and just take the air out of them so I've been doing that. You can go to my older pics to see how that looked. As for his way, much easier... make your bulb into a bell shape. Stuff the bottom into the top. I am including pics to help you understand, in case anyone else is having drainage problems. You can try this too. Btw I'm sorry if I am blogging my story too much!! I am trying to be helpful but know it can get overwhelming. Updated on 21 Feb 2017: So here are today's pics. Some of the tape came off the stitches last night and oddly the left side drainage pump started working afterwards. I feel almost as huge as when I started expect now I have cuts across me to go with my fat and skin rolls. Maybe I should have lost more before I started this process or maybe I just need to give more time but this is very depressing pics thus far. I look like a pregnant raggedy Ann doll with all those stitches. There was a bunch of yuck under the tape so I'm glad some came off so I can clean it. Updated on 23 Feb 2017: I still feel like a pregnant person and my drains have started leaking even more from my sides so I have gauze on them in the pics because it dries up and kinda stops it from flowing. If I remove the gauze it just drops down my leg and fresh gauze just has to get full and dry before it stops so bare with me. I know it looks kinda nasty but I'm trying not to bleed everywhere. I find the abdomen area has tapered down some and the swelling has dropped below the belly button mostly. I'm still draining about 50-75cc a day so seems like I have a good bit of fluid still to empty. I am just hoping it flattens out at some point because that's gonna be a lot of sit-ups and crunches to build those muscles and cover the pregnancy look. Lol Optimistic none the less and happy I did this regardless. Updated on 27 Feb 2017: I'm a little late posting pics but it's from 13 days after surgery. My tubes leak bad on my left side Updated on 27 Feb 2017: I took the pics laying down so I didn't have to wake up my bf getting out his bed. It's the first night I slept at his house instead of mine and it was a little uncomfortable. He likes to sleep on the edge of the bed not against the wall so I was smashed between the wall, his golden retriever and him. Lol Every time I had to pee I woke one of them up. It's very hard not to be sexually active and I'm wondering if we abstain from sex because of the muscles recovery, the stitches not to pop or because these stupid tubes are coming out me. Nonetheless I withheld but think if he was on top instead of me, I can have sex. My stitches are healing well, he can be gentle when he wants too. Lol Anyway, just saying I think I could have sex and going ask my doctor more about why this week because it's killing me! Updated on 3 Mar 2017: Yesterday was quite an adventure. I went to my primary care physician on day 16 and he advised me that the reason my left drain was inflating is because I have a leak in my tube somewhere and that it needed to be fixed to drain properly. So yesterday I went in to see my surgeon's nurse for 9:30am! She removed the right drain telling me it was not producing enough fluid to keep it in anymore. She told me to take a deep breath in and hold it. I did so and the tube was out with NO pain at all. In fact I was shocked because I didn't even feel it come out at all. I was expecting some kinda of sensation at the least. Anyway all she did was hold some gauze to it and let a little fluid leak out which was orange instead of red blood. It wasn't much so she cleaned that off and put a bandage over that area. She told me that it would close on its own and I could even bath that night if I wanted too. (I said I would wait till the next day to be safe) None the less the left drain with the leak she undressed and looked at. She told me it was draining well over 100cc a day so she recommended just leaving it alone because it may stop draining that well if we did anything to it. She put my bandage back on and said she would order me some antibiotics since I would be keep the tube another 5 days. It was a precautionary thing but I do not have an infection. I went home and was cleaning the house and cooking lemon custard pies for the two men I cherish most. (Aside from Christ) I looked down and noticed that the tube on my left stitches came out and it was sliding out of me. It was at the end and the tube was right out side my bandaging so I washed my hands and shoved that sucker back in myself. It would not hold so I taped it down and called my physicians office. The dr on call which is NOT my doctor advised that I should not have put it back in myself and I should take it out now. So to be honest I thought that was some horse [RS bleep] advice bc I seen my nurse that morning who clearly said I need to drain more otherwise she would have removed it herself. I decided to visit the ER and let them take it out of me OR fix it. The ER Doctor I seen was Dr. Føst?r. He is a younger very handsome doctor who agreed I needed to drain more so he looked at the tubing and told me I put it in good and he would have his nurse bandage me in away for it to hold until next Tuesday. They did a marvelous job bandaging it up and making the tube drain again with no air. I use to seep out my side from day 1 and they remedied that too. The nurse showed me how to bandage myself if I need to do it again and have me the stuff to do it. He advised that Walgreens had some waterproofing layer called tagderm or something like that. I went and purchased the generic brand and secured it over the bandages the hospital put on me. Now I can shower and not worry about the tube slipping out till Tuesday. He did offer some advice though in case I did want to change the bandages. Use a maxi pad instead of gauze to bandage around the tube area bc it will soak up any seepage. Also to Saran Wrap the area if I want to waterproof it during the shower and not purchase the sheets at Walgreens. I am posting pics now of the drain tube while at the hospital and pics of my on day 18 (today) the morning after the hospital. I do feel flatter and less bloated now but I still have a ways to go. Oh and the hard masses I feel are scar tissue which will soften according to the nurse at my surgeon's office. I'm sorry if this seems like a lot of info and redundant. I tried looking up info for air in my drain, air in JP Tube and could find nothing online so I'm hoping that information I offer here at least helps one person if they run into the same issue. Plus the tips I got were more cost effective then to keep buying gauze pads, tape and etc everyday to shower. And yes my lemon custard pie homemade was worth the trouble! Lol :) Updated on 5 Mar 2017: Man it's been a crazy 3 weeks. So last time I told you the ER patched me up with tape to fix the tube. Well by Saturday it was coming out again so I just finished taking it out. Tonight I feel bloated even though I walked a ton and attended church. The hole where the tube was inserted didn't bleed until tonight which is odd because it's just seeping out of me slowly. Maybe it's the back up in me coming out but I don't know so it's a little scary. I have applied more pressure to it and bandages up again. I see my heart doctor tomorrow so I will show him and get an opinion. I see the surgeon on Tuesday so should be okay. Today's pic of me is a simple one but I feel so overwhelmingly pregnant instead of going down in size. I gain 3 lbs since the tube was taken out. Sucks! The other two I uploaded are references on the day of surgery. Before and after so I hope I look like after soon because right now I'm a fat box pregnant woman with no waits line :( Updated on 7 Mar 2017: Today I went for my 3 week check up and they had to aspirate the fluid from my side. It formed a hard area above the drain hole (which still free drains a lot). The doctor injected a needle in my side which for the first time I can say was painful. Not something you can't handle but stings upon entry. The extraction doesn't hurt so it's okay. Almost as soon as I got home, I'm swollen and full of fluid again. So I decided to be pro-active and schedule a lymphatic massage. I am waiting for the physical therapy clinic that deals with lynphodema to call me back. The massage will help me drain manually the fluid buildup and is just about the only thing that works aside from being aspirated again. This will be covered under my insurance because my dr is willing to send a script for the therapy. If you have trouble draining or have a lot of scar tissue ask your doctor about lymphatic massage. The doctor also used a brown tape over my incision which must be changed every three days. It helps to minimizing scaring. Updated on 12 Mar 2017: This won't be a good update. Two days ago I developed suture abscesses under the skin right above my vagina which were sore and a bit painful. I went to see the nurse at my surgeon's office and she opened the up and stuffed gauze in them so they could drain easier. She gave me some long cutips to take home and more gauze to do it again myself in the morning but by the time I woke up I was swollen up twice as big and super hot. The skin was extremely red and I had doubled my antibiotics but fever had started. I took more and tried to do what she had done but nothing was helping. I could no longer fit the binder around me and I was in pain. I decided not to take a change and went to the ER. The ER triage nurse looked at me and immediately said we are going to admit you, this is bad infection. I waited for the dr and yep I'm admitted. They took an ultrasounds and about 100 different blood cultures. I'm on IV drips for what I googled and is given to patience with staff bacteria and MRSA but they still have not told me what I have. They completed the ultrasounds and told me I don't have huge fluid pockets so they doubt I need another drainage tube but that my skin is inflamed with infection so I will Most likely be here several days on IV drips. I'm waiting now for my doctor to arrive this morning. Out of humor i am posting my breakfast pic. I'm allergic to eggs which can kill me. Of course they give me eggs! Lol Updated on 17 Mar 2017: So since my last update the doctor did emergency surgery while I was admitted. The surgery took place on Monday and today is Friday. They found small pockets of fluid when they opened me that if I would have waited any longer could have been deadly. The fluid went to the mons area which I still refer to as my vagina. The swelling and infection that was dripping out my incision was fat and tissue necrosis which means the fat and tissue layers inside of me did not heal because they were not receiving the proper blood supply. Instead they all died and created seromas and dead tissue that had to be CUT out of me. The CDC was called in to the hospital because there was no culture coming back showing the bacteria causing the infection so they needed to start growing gram stain organisms from my tissue samples. We still don't know what the hell caused it. After 7 days total of being on some super strong antibiotics - vancomycin and piper-something in IV bags (pics on here) they have not sent me home on an oral concoction of Cipro and Clyndomicin. Along with multiple other pills but those are the important ones. I have to get home health to change my wound every three days because they are not going to stitch me closed (would pic on here) so it can heal inside out with extreme monitoring in case the organism decides to come back. The wound is stuffed with some black foam then taped down with special stuff that has a vacuum tube attached to it. The tube is sucking what drain tubes would pull out I guess because it looks the same BUT it's pumped out by a wound care vac. It pulls all the air out of the wound and keeps it sealed together too. Very disgusting and painful. The changing of foam inside the wound isn't half as painful as removing the tape layer off the mons area. First off go wax or shave your pubic hairs in case they have to do any taping there. It's a [RS bleep] when they PULL them out no matter how groomed you may or may not have been after the original surgery. The swelling and weakness of the skin in that area makes it burn and extremely sore to touch so it's torture removing the tape. I can handle everything else without a problem but this part. I wasn't in pain with the original surgery and the pain level is minimal with this one even though it looks super bad. Just the changing is bad. I cried and begged to be stitched but the healing might not go right again and I would be in a lot more trouble. Not sure if they can cut more out without killing me. Lol sometimes I'm so swollen you can't even see the tape when I stand up and others it flattens out. Updated on 20 Mar 2017: I know it's gonna be a challenge with all the problems I've had concerning the new surgery but I'm still hopeful. Updated on 22 Mar 2017: Although the healing process has been a tough one, you can't help what your body decides to do and these things can happen. I don't regret the surgery so please don't take that away from my post. My doctor is an amazing man who cares about his patience and still looks for my best interest knowing this could have been really bad. I am putting some updated pics of my wound care from last night. The wound is looking good and no sign of more bacteria. Oh and the best part is I can have sex again!! I think I would have sex with my bf even if I was dying because I'm so lustful not just love him everyday. Every time is like the first time. Anyway TMI Right but that's a huge deal when you going through such an emotional thing. Updated on 25 Mar 2017: I had to complete my wound care change myself while in Cali because the nurse at my doctor's office did not complete the paperwork necessary for home heath to come help me. I was able to remove it with no problem but taping it down was a challenge afterwards. I'm pretty sure I have an air leak but no choice to deal with it until I get home Monday. I have extra surgical tape where the air comes in times to time. Updated on 29 Mar 2017: I had to change my bandage once more myself before coming home from California. The plastic covering became really wet and sticky underneath (overnight) and started leaking yellow stuff. I freaked out because my stomach looked super red, I was hot and now yellow!! Everything pointed to infection so I had one problem. I ran out of plastic film bc each time you change the kit on the vac you are given a certain amount of wound covering. I found a nursing home and asked for the wound care nurse who was able to provide me with ONE piece of plastic and no assistance fixing it on me. I was grateful for the one piece and end up at Walgreens finding some water proof stuff that starts with a T and it was nice 4" patches. I bought 8 patches and went back to my room to remove the gauze I had shoved inside the old bandage to collect some of the liquids and then change it out. When I pulled out the sponge, there was something called slough hooked to it. It looks like a bunch of yellow chicken fat and again I freaked out thinking OMG WTH is this infection coming from now. (Pic below). It ended up being a collection of tissue jelly that forms as the tissue heals. The wound vac can't suck it through the sponge so it collects in one spot near the suction and is removed with the sponge. It's a good sign for healing. I also doubled my Cipro dose twice so that may have helped because the redness isn't so bad (some is irritation along the wound from all the changing) and the odor is gone. I board my plane and came home so the nurse at home could see me. She said everything looked good to my surprise with the exception of my left side closing on top before the inside BUT if that becomes an issue then they can re-open it. It's a small area so I should be okay. I still was able to attend the magic castle event which had me so excited. I know I don't look amazing because of the pain I was in but I didn't look horrible. I cut my bf out the picture only because he is kinda private on social media and just in case that pic ever went anywhere off here, it didn't offend him any. He may end up not caring but I respect his views. One day I may post him on here since he is a personal trainer and helps me so much that he maybe able to help others. Updated on 1 Apr 2017: Still healing slowly. Worse part is I itch from the plastic. Drives me nuts. It is hard for me to see how the original surgery will take any form now that I am like a pregnant woman carrying a basketball with this sponge stuck in me and the swelling that never goes away. Updated on 2 Apr 2017: Here are pics of my wound today getting debridement. Fancy word for cleaning out the yuck. I hate being swollen and itchy but it's taking forever to heal it seems. I know people say I will feel the numbness for months in my hip so I anticipate that but I wasn't prepared for this last surgery to happen. All in all I hope the shape from my original surgery comes back because it looked good the first day. Updated on 8 Apr 2017: Looks like the middle is healing faster then the sides of my wound. The doctor says that I can call on Tuesday to start the process for the secondary surgery to close the wound and do scar revision. I hope they take some extra fat out where it now looks like I'm pregnant from carrying around a sponge and whatever else is inside me. Anyway this is the first pics I took standing with the cut open. Updated on 11 Apr 2017: The wound care vac had to be removed a little early because the adhesives for the dressing were ripping apart my skin and I was borderline to getting an infection again. The nurse practitioner decided to use some super absorbent pads to tape across the wound with some special brown strip that is to help it from getting infected. I am also back on antibiotics - Bactrim. They decide to do surgery this Monday coming to clean the wound out once more, do wound closure so stitches again and scar revision. Hopefully this doesn't require a lot of down time but after 3 months going through this I would still do it again to look better. Updated on 17 Apr 2017: Today the surgeon did a same day surgery to close the wound and scar revision. With the last two surgeries I had little to no pain but this one is very different. I don't want to move!!! I am super sore, burning and have streaks of pain if I move. I am sure it's because they had to pull the skin tighter and move my umbilical area again. Attached is a before pic with all the drawing and two after pics with the bandages. I can see a small difference in the appearance but I am covered in bandages. Hoping this is the last surgery for this area I ever need again. Updated on 18 Apr 2017: I was discharged to come home last night and I took a few pics this morning. I am not seeing a difference between my before this round pics and the after which maybe okay since this was technically to close the wound. I kinda hoped I would lose the pregnancy look but if that doesn't go down in swelling, I will just have to rock it harder at the gym later. Updated on 21 Apr 2017: It's been 4 days since my third surgery. I am so aggravated with the drain tube in my right side. It's causing me extreme pain and soreness. It's only taking about 15cc -25cc out a day so I'm pulling it out tonight. The one in my left is draining well and has no pain. I'm leaving it and it will make up for the one I'm taking out. Updated on 28 Apr 2017: I have lost count of the days. My original surgery was on Feb 13. Since then I've had two more for infection and wound closure. I feel like my skin wants to rip open because after being busy all day I swell. The stitches drive me nuts because they stab me and itch. They are made of a blue plastic. I'm so happy they come out on Tuesday. These pics show the results are finally coming together but I still have like this pot pregnancy belly thing. I hate that but better then I was with all the skin sagging. Updated on 2 May 2017: I'm sure most of you have lost interest by now because this has been such a long process for me with three surgeries due to complications. None the less here is my stitches removed Photo's Updated on 5 May 2017: So I finally feel less swollen and bloated today. I can see the results shaping up but now I have no more waistline. Guess being grateful no more infection is key right now. I can work out the waistline later. It's been roughly two weeks since the last surgery so I'm gonna go back to the gym and start cardio this weekend. I will give it one more week of healing before I start lifting with the arms and legs. And one more week before I do any abdominal strengthening. Updated on 8 May 2017: So I know it's kinda hard to tell in the pics but a couple days ago I woke up and most of the swelling went down. I started walking again to get my cardio in because I was afraid to gain weight not doing much while healing. I walked 2 miles at the park one day and I seen no difference except a little swelling after I walked. I went to the zoo the next day and my Fitbit says I walked 4 miles with my niece and nephew. I picked my nephew up who has autism and is 7 years old because his was trying to climb over the fencing at the animals cage and my sister was chasing after her other child that's 2. Now I know why she needs help at the zoo. My son knew better then to do any of that stuff because we would have gone home immediately with his getting a spanking. I know her son has autism but he knows what the word no means, when she isn't there and he is with only me... he listens. Anyway point of that little rant was to say that I don't think that part of picking him up was so wise for the surgery. (Got to save the kid though) I've felt a little pain since then BUT I'm so flat after that day of walking. Yesterday I went walk again but only 2 miles and I bbq for my son and his friends so that was a lot of walking back and forth. I think the walking helps with getting rid of the fluids BUT you will swell by the end of the night. When you wake up, it looks amazing!!! I can't wait for the scar to heal and lighten. The pics don't do justice for how flat I am right now. I've decided since I'm pleased with these procedures to do two more which I will get into in a minute but first I want to comment on something I've seen with others and they did not know would happen. When you get a panni it only covers from the belly button to your vagina. If you have fatty tissue above or under that area, it won't change and will make you look more disfigured. Before having the procedure make sure you ask your doctor about that. I'm so glad mine warned me that the pouch above would stay and the vagina would appear swollen and fat. I had in addition to the panni, abdominalplasty to remove the flap above the belly button and have that skin stretches down to the vagina. I also had a small amount of lipo to the vagina to make sure the fatty pouch on my mons area would not be super thick and look swollen. That is the biggest issue most of the people who have contacted me have. Another is ask your dr to refer you to lymphodema therapy. Currently I have a ton of scar tissue because of the repeated surgeries in that area and I keep getting the fluid build up. Lymphodema therapy will massage the scar tissue to break it down and not leave you feeling hard or lumpy. The fluid is manually drained with the massage therapy to help your body recover faster and the look to be smoother. I start on the 10th and was suppose to do it after the first procedure but you have to give it at least two weeks after the procedure (in my case now 3 procedures lol). I really think it will help anyone who has that numb and swollen feeling. Now for what I want to do next! (I wish it let me submit paragraphs) I hate that my boobs hang and that my inner thighs are so flabby. It kinda wrecks the work I've done when my clothes is off. Clothes on I can make miracles happen but swim suits and stuff look horrible. I'm applying now for my insurance and if it doesn't cover the inner thighs that's fine, I will pay for it. I am going to do a thigh lift and skin removal. It's only of what I call the saddle bags inside the legs. Other then that, it will be me killing it at the gym to rebuild muscles and tone. Once that procedure is done (or vice Versa depending on if the insurance approves any) I want to get the skin around my boobs removed, a lift and possibly fat tissue injected. My doctor said that my skin is too flaccid for implants because of me loosing so much weight. He wants to do what is called a mastopexy on me but he knows the insurance will not cover it. He plans to submit for skin removal and reduction. This will allow some of the procedure to be covered and me pay for the lift and fat injection (hope they take it from my ass) to rehaspe and plump up my boobs naturally. If I'm not happy with the size afterwards, I can wait 4-6 months and have implants. The skin has to tighten and heal first so there would also be some therapy involved to rejuvenate the skin cells. Anyway I'm excited to see the results finally paying off. I will contribute to this post until I know about the next surgery and this one heals. I want people to see the full effect. :) Updated on 8 May 2017: I forgot to add the pics on my last summary. Sorry Updated on 26 May 2017: Lymphodema therapy has been helping with the Fluid removal a lot and the healing process has been successful. I'm still losing some swelling but most of it is gone so I think this is just about the completed goal. I am very very happy with my results. I am applying to have my inner thighs done next. I won't know for a couple weeks what the cost out of pocket or insurance coverage if any will be but I will keep y'all posted. Updated on 8 Jun 2017: Here is the latest update and the last for this section. I have reached the maximum results for the panni and I'm posting rose pics. I will get flatter with working out and as the lymphodema therapy works but I don't want to make the next steps seem like it's a result of the surgery giving false hope to some. I found out today that my request to do my inner thigh skin removal was approved. I am scheduled to do that surgery on August 10th so I will start a new section for those who want to follow and post pics in there. I will be doing the post as of tonight because I plan to lose 15-20lbs by my surgery date and will Post pics as I approach my date. I hope my journey has at least motivated someone or made people think about the real obstacles with having these types of surgeries. They may look amazing when done but they don't always work out perfectly. I am still hoping the scar fades a lot more but if not I can live with it versus the saggy skin. Next Review will be called - Miracle #2 THIGHS Updated on 3 Dec 2017: Well I gained some weight since my last post here but that’s what holidays are about so come New Year I will kick into high gear and lose it. The scars on my abdomen are lightening up and I am very happy with the procedure. I highly recommend Dr. Dupin. If you want to follow my other procedures look up Miracle About to Happen 2 & 3. Updated on 30 Jan 2018: Just a quick update. I had some scar revision done and improvement to the Mons are to control the fatty tissue. The incision hurts me swollen but I can see how much better this will look already. Updated on 27 May 2018: The scar is ugly but worth it. I gained some weight because I was hospitalized a few more times since my last update and my thyroid started giving me problems. I am taking shots to get my levels back on track and should start losing weight again. Updated on 13 Jun 2018: So after gaining and losing and gaining abs losing weight from all the surgeries I went through to get rid of infections I’m still happy with my results Updated on 21 Jul 2018: The scars are not fading as much as I’d like but I found out about scar removal lasers that may help. I’m going to do that toward Christmas. I want to give them a little more time so when I do the laser it gets as much as possible to lighten up. Updated on 10 Aug 2018: I am posting these pics to show you the dark purple lines / scars that remain. I’m going to start laser therapy to lighten, reduce or remove them. The therapy uses a Candela laser that shoots out electrical pulses with a blue light and cold puffs of air. It does sting a little and it will take 6 months going every two weeks to get the final result. I’m fine with that if it makes my scars look better. I will try to post the scars once a month so it will be after two sessions.
