My original review can be found here: https://www.realself.com/review/wesley-chapel-fl-long-overdue-arm-lift# I've made a new review for the revision because it has been done by a different doctor, as my original surgeon closed his practice. 8/5/16 was the original surgery date. I've been overall happy except for some extra flesh around the elbows creating points and folds. Updated on 13 Dec 2017: Updated on 13 Dec 2017: . Updated on 13 Dec 2017: This is 24 hours later. I took some advil when I got home and my arms were still numb. I did wake up in the middle of the night in pain and removed the bandages and replaced them with very large band aids. That did help, I think the bandages were too much. I felt pain for about half of the next day and then suddenly realized I'd forgotten about it and it didn't hurt at all. Currently only hurts if those areas touch something. Pretty pleased about that, I've been through quite a few surgeries (non-cosmetic) and I really believe the pain level afterward has a lot to do with how well the surgeon works. Hard to tell what the result is until it has time to heal. I probably won't post any more pics until the steri-strips are off, I don't think things will change much until then. I do still see a fold in the right arm but I'm hoping it's due to swelling, and if not, it is better than it was. I looked at what was taken off after the procedure and it really wasn't much, but I do see a difference from it. Updated on 30 Jan 2018: I've neglected this review, Still healing but overall happy thus far. Updated on 30 Jan 2018:
I had gastric bypass sept2010. I went from being a size 20 to a size 4. I hate that I feel uglier now than when I was heavy. I look ok in clothes, but it all falls apart when I'm naked. I'm very lucky that my insurance is covering the surgery. Guess its cheaper than sending me to a therapist for depression. :-) this site has been wonderful. I know what to expect and more importantly I'll have sympathetic shoulders who'll understand what I'm going through. Best of luck to all you lovely ladies wether your pre or post op! Updated on 22 Jan 2013: Just scheduled everything yesterday and I'm already obsessing over every detail. Lol my poor hubby. Can anyone advise me on what to bring to the hospital? Besides my iPhone/iPad and charger. I don't go anywhere without those :-) thank you! Updated on 22 Jan 2013: Finally got the nerve to post a pic. It's so hard to look at myself. I thought I would be so happy when I got down to such a small size. Instead I think I look worse. Blah this tt can't come soon enough! Updated on 23 Jan 2013: I have over a month before my surgery and I can't sleep already lol funny thing is I'm not worried about the surgery. I'm stressing out over the IV. When I was a kid a nurse bruised my bottom cause she slammed the needle so hard. Then when she gave me the other shot in the other cheek she broke the needle in my bottom! Yeah had to get that dug out before they wheeled me back for surgery. Soo needless to say I have a fear of needles. Over the years I've become fine with regular shots and blood draws. But an IV they usually have me take a Percocet an hour before to calm me lol I think it's the association with the surgery or maybe it's that they have a tendency to blow my veins lol maybe I'll get lucky and they'll use lidocaine before they insert the needle. So I won't be as freaked. Well I'm done rambling about my irrational fear of IVs. :-) Updated on 25 Jan 2013: Ok just realized that I'll be starting my menstrual cycle the day of or after my surgery. Does anyone know if this is a problem? Should I reschedule? Guess I should call my ps but I'm afraid they'll have me postpone. Thanks for any info ladies! Updated on 26 Jan 2013: I was wondering what are we allowed to do for our pubic area as far as grooming? I wax but I'm not sure if that's allowed closer to the surgery date. When my hubby had his bypass he wasn't allowed to shave his belly, they did it in the hospital. Anyone know what's allowed/not allowed? The idea of having to let it grow bothers me but, you do what you have to. Its not like I'll be in a bathing suit any time soon right? lol thanks for any info ladies :-) Updated on 5 Feb 2013: 3 weeks to my surgery and I'm completely calm. Strange. I think being on here has helped. It's reminded me of my past surgeries and how well I did with them. Still not happy about the IV tho. Ugh, been successful at losing more weight. Down to 130 now! Woohoo! Updated on 15 Feb 2013: Well here it is about 10 days away from the big day. Still very calm. Wish it was sooner. I want to get it over with. Pretty much ready to go. I made sure to buy easy things for the hubby to make :-) and things just for me. Low sodium of course. Just bout a very cool backrest from Brookstone. It has a light so you can read, spots to put a drink and books. Best part is that it heats and massages! Perfect for sore backs from hunching over and laying in bed. Love it! Updated on 19 Feb 2013: Well had pre op appt yesterday. My surgery will be in the women's center part of the hospital. Going to have a comfy room with a spot for hubby to sleep. But the best will be all the babies! As soon as they let me I'm shuffling my butt to the nursery to ooh and aah over all the sweet babies. Also some awesome good news I was told cause of my anxiety(ha) of IVs I can request them to use lidocaine to numb the area first. That helps ease my mind. Not completely cause they're still doing it but hey I'll take it! It makes me wonder if they can do that, why don't they give that to every patient? Why have pain when something so minor can ease it? Oh well my ramble for the day lol Updated on 22 Feb 2013: Well I've gotten almost everything on my list completed. House is spotless laundry complete and made meals to freeze. Bag is packed, pillow in the car. Just need to fill my scripts and do a little grocery shopping. Come on Tuesday, I'm so ready! Updated on 22 Feb 2013: I just realized that I never put my specific info about myself in case anyone wants to compare body type size measurements. I'm 5'4" 130 lbs size 4 Updated on 25 Feb 2013: Wow, my surgery is tomorrow. So excited can't believe it's finally happening. Getting ready to start my clear liquid diet at noon. Blah sucks at the time but great in the long run. Too bad can't add a little vodka to those juices lol that'll make the day go by quick huh? Lol this time tomorrow I should be heading to recovery. Yes!!! Thanks for all the love my fellow tt beauties. Updated on 26 Feb 2013: Well here it's the middle of the night, and I'm bored and hungry!!! Been able to walk around this floor a bit as for food it's been more clear liquids! Anyone in Tampa wanna slip me some contraband? Lol nothing crazy just some Keebler peanut butter crackers mmmm or some strawberries and pineapple! Man I need some solid food. Updated on 27 Feb 2013: Finally did it! Feeling pretty good. Hardly any pain, just tired. Going to try to post a post op pic from the hospital. Thanks for all the love! Updated on 27 Feb 2013: Fell asleep and hubby forgot to wake me to give me my pain pills. So I wake up 2 hours past that time in so much pain. If I didn't need him to help me with so much right now I might've stabbed him lol walking down steps in pain hunched over is not fun. Had some pineapple Greek yogurt for dinner and pills have kicked in so everything is once again great. Lol hope everyone is doing well. Updated on 28 Feb 2013: POD2 and I'm feeling good. Getting around fine as long as I bend while I walk. Still need help getting up and have some swelling. Nothing too crazy. Very happy with how everything is going and looking. I'm hoping to get at least one drain out Monday. Fingers crossed! Hope everyone is healing and feeling well. Love my dr! Updated on 4 Mar 2013: Went to my first post op appt. Dr removed all the steritape (large clear tape) and the bandages. Felt like I was being waxed, but the strips were being pulled slowly. All I can say is ouch! Still have my drains, not surprised by that. They hadn't reached his minimum amount yet. Tho other than them preventing me from taking a normal shower they're not bothering me. Now that my pannus is gone I can really see how short waisted I am. So short my horizontal scar is pretty much straight across lol Very swollen today. Measured my waist just to get an idea of how swollen I am and my waist is 2" larger than before my surgery lol gotta love swelling. I think my belly button is looking good. Going to post some pics. Hard to get angles that actually show true after shots since I can't lay flat. My back is propped up and my knees are bent. Weird looking pics lol but hey, my tummy is flat even with all the swelling.mjust Ned to get my waist back lol tired after that excursion in my oh so sexy cotton jammies. :-) hope everyone is doing well. Love to all you lovely ladies! Updated on 4 Mar 2013: Well here it is Monday night. My daughter is sleeping my hubby has his double header softball games tonight and I'm stuck in my recliner. Literally. I can't get the damn thing to go down. Of course since I had all the tape and stuff removed I've been sore today. Well it's been 8 hours since I've had anything for pain and I'm hurting something fierce! I have no idea when my husband will be home. Only I would leave my pain meds upstairs. Had I had a pain pill I probably wouldn't feel like I'm ripping everything when I try to get out of this damn thing. This is the first time that I can say that I'm having true pain. It's been pretty easy up till this point. I said that out loud to someone and this is Karmas way of bringing me back to reality I guess. Tomorrow I will be fine. The extra pain from the travel and what not will be gone and I can get back to my comfy routine. Also I better stop laughing so hard! Krissypa you hear me girl? Lol ok so the text laughter was mostly my fault but at this moment in time I'm blaming you :-p lol ok I'm going to try to relax and get through this effn pain! Love to all you ladies. May this be a lesson, don't over do it and not have some sort of pain relief in arms reach. Grrr Updated on 4 Mar 2013: Ok, in bed Percocet taken. All is right with the world again. Tonight was a martini kind of night! If I could've I would definitely had a Cosmo or two.... Updated on 5 Mar 2013: Can't believe it's already been a week. Time flies! My first day home alone and I just can't comfortable. Man I miss having the pillows adjusted and someone there to bring me what I need. Hubby spoiled me for sure. Of course today is the day that my daughter runs in the house to use the bathroom and doesn't make it. Why do kids insist on waiting till the last minute? Smh so I've directed her on how to clean everything, but it's driving me crazy not to get in there and scrub! I know if I attempt to do it I will be tattled on. Aaarrgghh! Ok thanks for letting me vent lol happy healing all my tt sisters! To those that are pre op try not to stress and don't listen to the negativity of others. This is one of the best decisions I've ever made! I'll keep posting pics as I move along in recovery. Next step drain removal! Woohoo! Updated on 7 Mar 2013: Feeling tired but really good. I was able to bathe myself with the help of my shower chair. Felt so good to shave my legs! Hubby will still need to wash my hair for me but just being able to do the rest on my own is awesome! Drains come out tomorrow morning! Then a full shower!!!woohoo!!! Hope all you lovely ladies are healing/feeling well. Updated on 8 Mar 2013: Well had my drains removed this morning and all I can say is holy $&@! It hurt like hell. My drains weren't too long thank goodness. I also had him take them out at the same time. So glad, didn't want to feel that a second time. I've had a drain after my bypass. It was way longer and it didn't hurt being removed. It was just uncomfortable and I could feel the tube moving. So not sure why these hurt so much. Maybe it's the placement? My mons is so swollen right now I look like I have an impressive package, if ya know what I mean. Lol I took a perc when I got home cause it was burning and I couldn't sit comfortably. Also had to change my pants. The left hole bled through the gauze and was going down my inner thigh. Glad I was wearing black! Lol I'm very happy the drains are gone. Everything is so much easier. Using the restroom was awesome! Nothing to worry about moving or getting caught on your pants. It's the little things. Not allowed to take a full shower until tomorrow. Grrr it's cause of my bleeding from the drain hole. PO day 10 and I'm feeling good. I haven't needed any type of pain pills during the day (until today) I still have to take one at night. I've tried Tylenol and even Tylenol pm but no go. I'm just going to listen to my body and take it if I need it. If you can't sleep/rest how can you heal right? I'd rather not drag the healing process out. I've had no problems with constipation or diarrhea from the narcotics. I take two colace in the morning and MOM at night(2tbl) with a glass of water after. Takes a few days after your surgery to have a bm. don't stress and don't take so much anti constipation medicine that it causes you to spend an entire day using the restroom when you finally do get that long awaited bm. I imagine that wouldn't be fun :-/ yikes! Love this site and all the wonderful ladies who've had so many thoughtful and helpful comments. Happy healing fellow tummy tuckers! Updated on 8 Mar 2013: This whole experience has been even better with my bratz twin krissypa. Girl you have kept me laughing until I thought I was going to die and I still love you through all the pain oh and the lies! Hehe lol we're so much alike its so freaking cool! Thanks for listening to everything! No subject taboo and always hilarious! Bratz twins rock :-) we need some sort of tshirt lol Updated on 9 Mar 2013: Well, yesterday's experience with the drain removal made my day/night rough. I had to take pain meds the rest of the day and night. Ugh! Turned out to be the worst day. Had a lot of bleeding from the drain holes. Thankfully today has been fine, just extremely swollen. Took my first full shower. Stood under the hot water for several minutes and just relaxed. Hubby still helped, but honestly I like hubby's help :-) Went to Sams club today. Used the motorized cart, which made it much easier. Even with using cart I still got tired and all I did was drive it lol Hubby has been wonderful! Couldn't imagine doing this without him. Hope everyone is feeling good. Updated on 9 Mar 2013: Well I noticed today what might be a dog ear happening on my left hip. My cg hits in that spot so I'm hoping its just swelling being pushed there. Hubby seems to think so and it is swollen, but I'm starting to worry a bit. I'm going to give it a few weeks till I have a full blown panic attack about it. Lol Going to wear my cg lower on my hips to see what that does. Couldn't get a good pic since its late and I'm hunching. Will try again tomorrow and maybe you all can give me your opinions. Thx! Updated on 11 Mar 2013: PO 13 and I am pretty sure I have a dog ear. Sigh opinions? If it is how does it get fixed? I'm so not ready for another surgery. Blah at least my front is looking good. Bb is healing nicely. Thanks for all your input ladies! It's greatly appreciated. Updated on 26 Mar 2013: Today is my 1 month anniversary of my tt. Feeling really good. Starting to stand up almost straight. I'm able to take longer walks. I get tired still but nothing crazy. Feels good to be able to do most of my normal day to day activities. I still have a lot of swelling. Gets worse as the day goes on. Doesn't bother me. I've been able to wear all of my clothes for about a week and a half. Thank goodness! I was tired of wearing all the elastic band clothing lol My left hip which I thought was a dog ear has gone down. Still much more swollen than the right. Dr says it'll go away when the swelling is gone. Love that I can take baths again! I pour vitamin E oil in the bath and soak. It's really helped with the shedding skin. Felt like a lizard! Lol I've also been using the vitamin E oil to massage my scars every night. Seems to be doing a good job. My scars are flat. Still have some scabs, but nothing crazy. I think when the redness has faded that my scars are going to look great. I've been using the vitamin E oil from Trader Joes. Inexpensive, all natural and it will dry! I've used so many that never seem to dry on the skin. I'm so happy with how everything is looking. I can only imagine how happy I'll be with my tummy after its completely healed and the swelling is gone. Woohoo! Happy healing my tt sisters. Updated on 12 Apr 2013: Geez these 6 weeks and a couple days have flown by. Feeling good. Start the day pretty flat and standing straight. How much I do all day dictates how swollen or hunched over I am by the end of the day :-) Still get a bit tired after a lot of activity, but nothing too crazy. I can't believe even when I'm swollen I am now wearing a size 2! I've never enjoyed trying on jeans before. Always had to find ones that camouflaged the tummy. Every pair fit and my tummy looked amazing! I could've cried I was so excited. Of course I bought a pair. I'm looking forward to seeing how they look when I'm not swollen. Guess what I'm doing in the morning if I'm not swollen? Hehe :-) hope everyone is feeling/healing well. Hugs to all my tt sisters. Updated on 27 Feb 2014: Worth every bit of pain and stress over dog ears and continued swelling. My skins elasticity isn't the greatest so my scars always spread. I need a small revision between my breasts and the dr wants to do a scar revision too. He's a perfectionist lol personally I love my scars and show them with pride. Hope everyone is healing well and those that are pre op try not to stress too much. Easier said when your past that point I know :-) it's worth it all.
I first got implants in 1977 when I was 20. I was a AA/AAA and all nipple no breast or very little. It has been so long I do not remember what they looked like. Due to encapsulation I have had to have them redone in 82, 87 and 2006 twice! Now the right one has to be redone, again. It was the one that causes all the problems. They are now 350 and under the muscle. Since loosing 32 lbs they are becoming difficult to buy tops or dresses as well as the encapsulation. I saw the PS and he is good to go I just have to figure out the financing. I want them gone with no more implants. But I am terrified of what they are going to look like afterwards. Deflated prunes. Can't afford the max even if the PS would do it right away which he won't. So how do they fit into a bra? Do you have to wear something with padding to cover up the shriveled boobs? Do they take up more room than if they have had the max whatever? Just wondering as I am obsessed with all of this. Husband says he knew me before and will still find me attractive, but he may never see my naked boobs again! I know I will wear padded bras since I have to still get into my old wardrobe and not everyone knows I have implants. I think I am most concerned about my workouts. I will be missed at the gym in my Tai Chi class and how noticeable the change will be I have no idea. I hope to schedule this for early October if we can figure out the financial part of it and I will post pictures of before and after. I used to have a shirt when I was 20 that said "Small is Beautiful". I did the implants for myself and with the exception of the encap I have enjoyed filling out bathing suits and bras. I will miss them but not the many surgeries. Thanks for reading. Updated on 22 Sep 2013: Had my pap and mammo Friday so I could get it done before scheduling my explant. Well I now have to get a uterine biopsy due to my cervix bleeding. I had noticed a spot last month but NEVER ever thought anything about it. Would never have even mentioned it if NP hadn't seen it. Hubby and I had sex when I had the spotting last month, sorry tmi, and I chalked it up to vaginal dryness, one of those menopause things. Apparently any bleeding after menopause is not normal. Biopsy is 9/30 and depending on those results.......this has really thrown a wrench in my plans for explant, and also interviewing for a new job which would start 11/4 if I got it. And I am a nervous wreck. Wondering all sorts of things with no resolution until I get results. Will keep you posted. Updated on 30 Sep 2013: My GYN gave me the go ahead to set a date for explant regardless of what my biopsy results are. I did have a good pap smear but they won't know biopsy results until 10/10 and I am also scheduled for a sonogram to look for polyps in my uterus. I do think these implants gotta come out no matter what the outcome anyways. I am going to call the PS tomorrow and set the date! I just want to get this one thing over with so I can at least relax in one area of my life! I'll post pictures once I get close to the explant date. October is going to be a busy month. Updated on 10 Oct 2013: Good news all around. I have bought many sports bras in preparation and have a pre op tomorrow with my PS. I cannot wait to get this done. I will have to have a D & C for my uterine polyps but that was way better news than cancer and can wait until November after I am feeling up to it. Did anyone have any special creams they like for massaging? I had read a few different kinds and I do not like coconut smells so that is out! I had smooth saline so I can massage. I will add photos before I explant so you can see the before. I had taken some pics but they looked so funny I deleted them! Updated on 22 Oct 2013: I haven't slept well the past few nights and doubt I will tonight. I have taken lots of before pics and will post them later this week along with the afters. Will check back in later this week. Updated on 23 Oct 2013: Surgery went well and other than feeling sore I feel good. I do have a migraine and I hope the Percocet helps that since I didn't want to take my migraine meds on top of everything else. I tried to nap but I couldn't fall asleep even though I am tired. I have to keep bandage on until Saturday and I hope I can wait until then. They have me in a pretty floral ace bandage type thing. I want to see my new bosoms NOW. I can feel bosom but not much. I will post the pics Saturday so I can do them all at once. I took a lot of before pics and many for hubby. But he knew me before BA so it won't be a problem for him and I think it will be more of a problem for me getting used to the new me. Updated on 26 Oct 2013: I am now 3 days post op and today was the day to take off the [RS bleep] they put me in and take a shower. I was so happy with what I saw as I was expecting way worse. The pics are really making my new bosoms look larger than they are but I like them. I know they will probably shrink some more. I even let my hubby take a look. He asked if they were scary looking (I have been saying for the past two months all this doom and gloom stuff to prepare him for the flat as a pancake wife) and I said if they were he wouldn't be seeing them for quite a bit longer! He was happily surprised. I have worn a sports bra all day and it is driving me nuts as the other thing did. But I know I have to keep them bound. I will wear the original one at night. My pain level has been very good-today I am hardly sore at all unless I make an unexpected muscle move. I found out I was allergic to Percoset so they gave me something else which I don't think worked very well anyway. Hubby and I took a drive today and went in a few antique stores. I think I will sleep well tonight. I absolutely detest sleeping on my back and cannot make it through the night without back ache so I end up sleeping sitting up propped up with many pillows. As for pics-the new bosoms look just like the BA ones but smaller! My right side was the cc side and it still looks just like it did before. Not the same size but no big deal. No drains! I won't post the close ups of each side since I don't think those look very good and some of these are blurry. I am thinking I am going to get smaller and end up a very small A or even AA but time will tell. I have all the info on where to go to get small bras and will just make do with all the sport bras I have purchased.
Botox is not appropriate as a filler. It can help with a "gummy smile" where the upper lip exposes the upper teeth. I would recommend Juvederm or another type of filler to increase the size of your lips.
Nipple sensitivity after augment/mastopexy/reduction is a common occurrence and can last 6-8 weeks. It is uncommon for it to be persistent.
5 days is way too early to judge size. I advise my patients that swelling should subside in 6-8 weeks and not to judge the final shape for at least 3 months. Also the final result of the scar will take 6-12 months
It is very important that you follow the instructions and advice of your plastic surgeon and follow his/her protocols. Although I do not tape my breast augmentations, I do not see how it would cause any harm. You should be careful that irritation does not occur. If it does contact your surgeon right away. Good luck.
