Lower Body Lift w/vertical and Medial Thigh Lift (2007 RNY, 160 lb. weight loss, 59 yo woman)

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!

.... 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!

Here are my pre-op pictures. 5/24/2017