KUDOS to John P Connolly, MD - he’s my hero! I can’t say enough about the wonderful care I have received from Dr. John Connolly at the PAMF Los Altos Center for Cosmetic Surgery. After a significant weight loss, I regained my health, but faced the reality of unsightly loose skin. I met with Dr. Connolly who was sympathetic about my issues, attentive to my concerns, made sketches of various options, and we developed a treatment plan for phased surgeries (thigh lift, abdominoplasty and brachioplasty). Some of the procedures were medically covered by health insurance; others were elective and at my expense. As a “Baby Boomer” I did not undertake this journey lightly or for vanity reasons (well, maybe a little) but it has been an experience that has transformed me. I look and feel better and could not be more pleased. I owe all this with heartfelt thanks to Dr. Connolly for his compassion, talent, and exceptional skill as a plastic surgeon. I should also note that one of the procedures resolved an on-going problem with hidradenitis suppurativa for which I am most grateful. It is a joy to visit the Los Altos facility which is new, modern (state-of-art) and pristine. I have never waited more than a few minutes to be seen by Dr. Connolly, and the staff is always friendly, courteous, and totally professional. This entire process has been a life changing experience. I would definitely recommend Dr. John Connolly and the entire support team at the PAMF Cosmetic Surgery Center to anyone
Hi everyone! I thought I would start updating on my BA journey! I have always had a C cup, then had kids! While reastfeesing I was falling ou of a D bra, expecially while breastfeeding my twins. Since I finished reastfeeding a year ago, I have been left with completely pancaked A-B boobs. It is horrifying to me. I feel so unsexy. So I have decided to take the leap and have them done. Doctor will be performing a lollipop lift with round high profile 265-295cc implants. I am super active between kids and working out 6 days a week so I hope to fill a C bra but still be comfortable on long distance runs. I am 150 lbs. Can't wait and will update as we go! Updated on 8 Oct 2017: Only 2 months left until my BA and lift! I am so excited. Also very nervous as my children are still very little. I have been teaching my twins how to crawl into their car seats so that I don't have to lift them after surgery. I'll post a couple pictures of my while breastfeeding boobs and my now boobs. Really hoping to go for a C cup with 265cc HP implants. And a lollipop lift. Anyone else on here with 265s? Updated on 20 Nov 2017: Had my preop appointment today! Was super nervous about sizing because I don’t want to go too big. The 250cc looked like almost nothing, and 300cc looked like the biggest I would be comfortable with. So it looks like we are going with either 265-295 high profile. I would rather be small and perky than big and saggy! Hoping for the best! Updated on 13 Dec 2017: Surgery went great! Got sick from the anesthesia but after some nausea meds I was totally fine! Now it’s post op day 5 and I’m feeling great! Was nervous about the size being too big but I think I’m adapting really well! I had 295 high profile Natrelle and an anchor lift. I already wish they were lifted more, but will wait to see if I adapt and love them once they settle. If not the doctor mentioned we will do another procedure to lift more. My goal was to not have to wear a bra and to be perky as all perky. I’m super happy with everything so far and slowely getting used to my new bod! Updated on 20 Dec 2017: Tapes are off and dried blood washed off! A tad more swelling on my left side but I am so happy! The incisions are so neat and I’m beyond happy with how things are settling. Can’t wait for swimsuit season! Updated on 5 Jan 2018: My scars are fading, very little pain (only in some spots). Went bra shopping and turns out I’m a 34D. They are so much fun! Not that I do much with them, lol but I love how they feel and look. I posted a full body because it was hard for me to see people’s proportions on here. Again I had an anchor lift with 295cc high profile Natrelle implants. Updated on 9 Mar 2018: Had my 3 month post op appointment today and overall I am happy. The implants settled a little more than I would have liked, so I’m considering having a second procedure to boost them up a bit. Possibly an implant exchange as well to give me more upper pole. I don’t know if I’m being rediculous because I know most women do this with the goal to have natural, full breasts. But my goal was perky and no bra necessary. We will re-evaluate things in another 3 months!
In 2007, I had RNY Gastric Bypass surgery. Although I had not been an obese child, I slowly and steadily gained weight through my childbearing years. As I approached 50 and my weight exceeded 366 lbs (once I reached that number, I refused to get on the scale), I decided to take drastic measures and have weight loss surgery. In the 18 months following surgery, I lost 180 lbs. Around the 3 year mark, I had settled in at about a 160-pound loss. I've maintained my current weight, about 200-210, for the last 7 years. As the pounds melted away and I was successful at maintaining the weight loss, I became unhappy with all the excess skin but never allowed myself to consider having anything done about it due to the cost. After all, I had paid cash for my RNY, nearly $25k and I couldn't imagine spending that kind of money (or more) on my aesthetics. To my great shock and surprise, last summer my husband insisted that we spend the money to put my body back into some kind of better-proportioned shape. It took me several months after his suggestion to even let myself consider having some body contouring done. After consultations with several SF Bay area Plastic Surgeons, it became clear to me that Dr. John Connolly is the best choice for me. All of the surgeons I met with were well-qualified and would likely do a fine job. However, Dr. Connolly has so much experience dealing with my particular needs, specifically, a circumferential body lift with vertical, muscle tightening and medial thigh lifts of massive weight loss patients, a great bedside manner, an incredibly caring staff, and his candor in setting realistic expectations for what could and could not be achieved based on the condition of my body. So now, at 59 years old, I'm scheduled for a Circumferential Body Lift w/Vertical and Medial Thigh Lift on May 25, 2017. Addditionally, a General Surgeon will be joining Dr. Connolly to repair a hernia during this surgery. I hope to have an Arm Lift and Breast Lift/Augmentation in July after recovering from the May surgery. While waiting, I'm experiencing every emotion imaginable from fear to anxiety to elation to excitement. I have had 20+ surgeries in my life and tend to read everything I can about upcoming procedures, that being said, I'm grateful to all of those on RealSelf who have taken the time to share the nitty gritty details and photos of their procedures, recovery, joys and hardships. I feel that I will be as well prepared as possible when May 25th finally gets here! Life is grand! Updated on 25 May 2017: .... of course, I can't sleep. I just can't believe the day is finally upon me. My sister has come into town to nurse me back to health, so I know I'm in good hands! My husband will be doing his best to stay out of her way! Surgery is scheduled to begin at 8:50 and is expected to last 8+ hours. I'm going to be posting my pre op photos soon as I summon up the guts. I realized today that I never look at my body and now that I've taken the pictures, I understand why. Along with a good deal of excess skin and some fat, my body is covered with hundreds and hundreds of lipomas. They cause my skin to be lumpy. They sit between the skin and fat layer. Fortunately, they are not harmful, just a nuisance and embarrassing and are part of why I can't look at my naked self. I can proudly say, I quit smoking 9 weeks ago, so that's gotta be a plus! Dr. Connolly is going to do a circumferential body lift with a vertical incision and a medial thigh lift, also with a vertical incision. I was a bit leery when Dr. Connolly suggested performing these two surgeries simultaneously, but he assured me he has done hundreds and that I'm in good hands. Additionally, my general surgeon, Dr. Strichartz is coming in to repair a hernia. I had my pre-op appointment last week and feel like I have a pretty good grasp on the do's and don'ts of the post-op period. The basic instructions seem to be: Expect to have 2 - 4 drains for 1-2 weeks Change positions every 30 minutes Get up and walk every 2 - 3 hours Clean surgical wounds with soap and water after every bathroom trip and cover with Neosporin Walk, walk, walk.... no stairs Take Colace to help with constipation Shower after 48 hours Don't remove steri-strips, let them come off on their own. Don't be a hero, take pain meds Keep up protein and water consumption Wear compression garments, except to shower Keep knees propped up for better blood circulation Tonight my sister, made it perfectly clear that as of midnight tonight, she's in charge! I'm the oldest of 4, taking orders from one of my siblings isn't going to be easy, but I know she will keep me heading down the healing path. She's going to teach me to meditate and I'm really looking forward to learning to meditate. I'm staying overnight and returning home on Friday. I will have a video call with Dr. Connolly's nurse on Tuesday and my first post-op appointment is the following Friday. It's interesting how excited/nervous/apprehensive a person can be in advance of a long surgery like this. I don't expect to have the shape of my 20's. I know my body has been through a whole bunch in its 59 years. I just want the big belly gone that takes away my lap, my thighs to be tighter and my upper abdomin to have a bit less skin. Oh, man! I can hardly wait. If all goes well, we'll work on the upper body in August, after my 1st grand child gets here! I'll check back in in a day or two. Life is grand! Updated on 25 May 2017: Here are my pre-op pictures. 5/24/2017
