POSTED UNDER Body Lift REVIEWS
Post Gastric Bypass Body Contouring - Atlanta, GA
ORIGINAL POST
Hi Everyone! I had gastric bypass 6 years ago and...
Cherry Juice GirlDecember 8, 2014
WORTH IT$33,000
Hi Everyone! I had gastric bypass 6 years ago and I've been putting off the PS bevause of the expense, but now I'm ready. I had my first consult back in June 2014 and got on the schedule for December 18th. I always take 2 weeks of vacation at Christmas and New Year, so hopefully they won't miss me much at work.
I am having a lower body lift with a tummy tuck (including 3 hernia repairs), medial thigh lift, extended arm lift, breast lift with implants and liposuction wherever dr feels like sculpting. She can only remove 5 litres, so I've been doing P90x3 this summer to shed some of that fat and tone up. Otherwise I would have to do all of this work in 2 separate surgeries. I see pros and cons for combining and separating them, but this way I'll only go through the painful recovery once and only miss 3 weeks of work, once.
As it nears I find myself with major anxiety! I still haven't purchased my recliner, and my house is in shambles because were redoing our floors.
I have a cousin flying in from New York and one driving up from Orlando and they will take me to the hospital and spend the night there with me. So, they'll be here Wednesday leaving Sunday (PS is on Thursday), then my parents and grandparents are driving in on Sunday and staying 2 weeks. Hopefully this will be the help I need to get through recovery. My husband and I have 2 children, so I want to make sure they're well taken care of too.
So last Monday I had my pre-op appointment and had to initial and sign about 60 pages of consent forms (a set for each procedure) and we discussed post-op care. I just shaved because they said shaving causes small skin tears which could intoduce bacteria or virus. So, that was my last shave before surgery. Thank goodness it's winter. :)
I'll have to take picks and uplpad them soon.
I am having a lower body lift with a tummy tuck (including 3 hernia repairs), medial thigh lift, extended arm lift, breast lift with implants and liposuction wherever dr feels like sculpting. She can only remove 5 litres, so I've been doing P90x3 this summer to shed some of that fat and tone up. Otherwise I would have to do all of this work in 2 separate surgeries. I see pros and cons for combining and separating them, but this way I'll only go through the painful recovery once and only miss 3 weeks of work, once.
As it nears I find myself with major anxiety! I still haven't purchased my recliner, and my house is in shambles because were redoing our floors.
I have a cousin flying in from New York and one driving up from Orlando and they will take me to the hospital and spend the night there with me. So, they'll be here Wednesday leaving Sunday (PS is on Thursday), then my parents and grandparents are driving in on Sunday and staying 2 weeks. Hopefully this will be the help I need to get through recovery. My husband and I have 2 children, so I want to make sure they're well taken care of too.
So last Monday I had my pre-op appointment and had to initial and sign about 60 pages of consent forms (a set for each procedure) and we discussed post-op care. I just shaved because they said shaving causes small skin tears which could intoduce bacteria or virus. So, that was my last shave before surgery. Thank goodness it's winter. :)
I'll have to take picks and uplpad them soon.
Cherry Juice Girl's provider
Replies (10)
February 1, 2015
Thank you for this post. It showed me the reality of what I may go for. It's a serious decision but I'm on the prowl for an amazing doc. Also can't wait to see current pictures!
February 23, 2022
If you still haven’t done it, I recommend it! Just not in one surgery! Lol I just posted a new picture and I’m still thrilled! Just make sure not to gain weight after because your scars will stretch, and make sure you put a compression garment on everything!
October 2, 2015
Can you comment on just how painful and difficult you recovery has been? How long were you off work?
February 23, 2022
I was off work for 3 weeks. Since I had everything done at once it was uber painful at first and by my first post op appointment she said I was walking around like I’d only had a tummy tuck and a post op tummy tuck person was also there who they said was walking like they’d expect me to walk. Lol Protein, protein, protein! I ate about 3 shakes a day. Protein is our building blocks and really promotes healing.
March 1, 2022
How did you sleep I’m get lower body lyft and Brest lyft muscle repair but no lipo all at one time I can’t do separate procedures
March 1, 2022
I understand! I slept pretty good because of the pain medication. Doing all of that at once I was given some really strong stuff for like the first 3 days and then the usual strong stuff after that. Lol I also got a recliner in the bedroom, that I spent days and nights in. With muscle repair and the lower lift, getting up and down will require some assistance even with the recliner. Make sure you always where your binders too so you don't accidentally pop a stitch getting up and down for the bathroom. And eat lots of protein! I swear by it! Good luck!! You won't regret it! :) Let me know if you have any other questions!
March 1, 2022
Thank you amazing results seems like I’m getting the same thing you got minus the implants my breast are or very large so I just need the lyft I hope I look as good I’m 52 and just lost this weight I work out all the time worrying about being able to get back to my exercise routine kickboxing workout 4 times per week and strength training
three time per week . How are you dealing with that .
three time per week
three time per week . How are you dealing with that .
three time per week
March 1, 2022
Thank you
UPDATED FROM Cherry Juice Girl
16 days post
Pics!
Cherry Juice GirlJanuary 3, 2015
Something happened and I lost all of my work before uodating the review, so this time I'm going to update after just a few pics at a time.
Replies (3)
January 13, 2015
Looking good so far ~ how are you feeling? I am 10 weeks post circumferential I had mine done without drains and by the looks of it I'm glad I was able to have it done that way ~looks uncomfortable! Hope all is well ~ keep us posted ~ Cherry Girl!
January 17, 2015
Thanks! I am feeling better every day! Those drains were uncomfortable. I felt so much more human and less like a StarTrek freak when I got them out! :) I'm 4 weeks now and dropped a size in my surgical bra! Yay! Less swelling. :) This was my first full week back at work too, and I had some leg swelling, but nothing that some compression, elevation, and drinking lots of water didn't help.
So, how is 10 weeks out? Also, how was recovery without drains? Did you have any swelling or fluid build up?
January 17, 2015
Glad you are doing well~! 10 weeks is pretty good ~ I did not have any issues from not having drains ~ I did not get any more swollen that someone with drains and no fluid buildup ~ It's all in how they do the sutures . I still get a bit of swelling from the muscle healing it goes up and down but it really takes a good 3 months or longer for the belly to flatten. If I get swollen I put on a low profile compression binder and relieves the swelling ~ It isn't major swelling but it bloats a little especially if I am really active working out and or at the end of the day. I know a couple of people who had full tummy tucks and one of them was good to go after 2 months the other one still had a bit of off and swelling like I have 6 months after. My doctor told me at 4 weeks to get rid of the binder ~ I'm glad I kept it ~ Along with that I do daily massage and a silicone gel scar treatment twice a day ~ Overall so far I'm really pleased ~ Can't wait to wear a crop top and shorts once again without looking like a wrinkled sheet LOL! Looking forward to an update ;->
UPDATED FROM Cherry Juice Girl
16 days post
After Surgery
Cherry Juice GirlJanuary 3, 2015
Okay, first upload successful, so here are more pictures and my hospital experience.
On December 18th we arrived at Northside Hospital at 6am. Dr. Kavali marked me up around 7:30am then the surgery lasted 9 hours, about 2 hours longer than expected. I had a tough time waking up from anesthesia, so I didn't get out of recovery and into my room until 11pm. During recovery they had to check my incisions, ALL of them, which hurt. Since I had a lower body lift they had to roll me onto each side to check my back. Ouch. I vaguely remember one sweet nurse that let me squeeze her hand. :)
On day 1 I was very stiff and in pain from head to toe. I kept finding myself tensing up all over, including my core and this was making my stomach muscles ache. I had to frequently do relaxation breathing which helped. (I salute my yogini for this!) The muscle relaxers didn't help.
On day one I popped a stitch in my back, part of the Lower Body Lift incision. The nurse pinched the skin together and put a piece of tape over it for the time being. Then my blood pressure plummeted. It was something like 84/53 for a few hours. So they decided with that and my pain not under control, they'd keep me another night and Dr K would check my back in the morning.
She saw my back and decided it was small enough (no larger than 1cm) to just have a piece of gauze taped over it and to let it heal from the inside out.
I was having trouble getting help during the day shift nurse, so my cousin and I got pretty good at getting me out of bed to use the restroom alone. Like seriously, I'd buzz them and an hour would pass before someone showed up, and I'm pretty sure that's when they were making rounds... not actually coming because I needed them. This was getting old and I knew I could do a better job at home managing my pain (like taking my meds on time). There was some rule that they can't give you pain meds (IV or orally) while there is a muscle relaxer medicine bag hooked up to the IV. This little bag could easily take 45 minutes and more to drain. So, I suggest you ask for the pill form so if you need something for the pain, you don't have to wait another hour. I forgot to mention that I had an OnQ Pain Pump, which was probably the best decision ever.
But I digress. Around noon on Day 2, I was ready to get home. So when the nurse came (an hour after being buzzed) I was sitting on the edge of the bed, already cleaned up and pottied, and I was ready to get dressed. So, she let my cousin help me dress while she did the discharge paperwork.
I'm going home!! :)
On December 18th we arrived at Northside Hospital at 6am. Dr. Kavali marked me up around 7:30am then the surgery lasted 9 hours, about 2 hours longer than expected. I had a tough time waking up from anesthesia, so I didn't get out of recovery and into my room until 11pm. During recovery they had to check my incisions, ALL of them, which hurt. Since I had a lower body lift they had to roll me onto each side to check my back. Ouch. I vaguely remember one sweet nurse that let me squeeze her hand. :)
On day 1 I was very stiff and in pain from head to toe. I kept finding myself tensing up all over, including my core and this was making my stomach muscles ache. I had to frequently do relaxation breathing which helped. (I salute my yogini for this!) The muscle relaxers didn't help.
On day one I popped a stitch in my back, part of the Lower Body Lift incision. The nurse pinched the skin together and put a piece of tape over it for the time being. Then my blood pressure plummeted. It was something like 84/53 for a few hours. So they decided with that and my pain not under control, they'd keep me another night and Dr K would check my back in the morning.
She saw my back and decided it was small enough (no larger than 1cm) to just have a piece of gauze taped over it and to let it heal from the inside out.
I was having trouble getting help during the day shift nurse, so my cousin and I got pretty good at getting me out of bed to use the restroom alone. Like seriously, I'd buzz them and an hour would pass before someone showed up, and I'm pretty sure that's when they were making rounds... not actually coming because I needed them. This was getting old and I knew I could do a better job at home managing my pain (like taking my meds on time). There was some rule that they can't give you pain meds (IV or orally) while there is a muscle relaxer medicine bag hooked up to the IV. This little bag could easily take 45 minutes and more to drain. So, I suggest you ask for the pill form so if you need something for the pain, you don't have to wait another hour. I forgot to mention that I had an OnQ Pain Pump, which was probably the best decision ever.
But I digress. Around noon on Day 2, I was ready to get home. So when the nurse came (an hour after being buzzed) I was sitting on the edge of the bed, already cleaned up and pottied, and I was ready to get dressed. So, she let my cousin help me dress while she did the discharge paperwork.
I'm going home!! :)
Welcome!
I hope your surgery went well yesterday and you have a smooth recovery. Please keep us updated and let us know how you're getting on!