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1 year Update
So it has been a full year since my procedure and there have been many ups and downs. Here are a few quick highlights:
1. A month after my procedure my incision opened up in several areas and they were pretty deep. They finally healed (thanks to hospital grade Manuka Honey!!) but of course over time they left some pretty deep and bumpy scars and made what might have been mild scarring into a large scar. Overall though this was the price of the procedure. You never know how your body is going to react.
2. I am a stomach sleeper so about 95% of the time i have slept on my couch that has dual reclining mechanisms. My stomach is still swollen sometimes (not much though) but it us def still SUPER numb. That makes it hard to sleep in my bed. Let's just say there is a body print on the left side of my couch hahaha. I am not ready to spend thousands on a reclining bed. I will make it back to my bed eventually. But one year on a recliner? Crazy. The cost of this surgery extends beyond what you pay the PS!
3. Hard to wear anything with elastic on it and although i can fit in jeans without a massive muffin top it is still uncomfortable. I may need additional lipo on my lower back but maybe later. I feel good about how I look for now.
4. The scar takes some time to get used to. It's more psychological than anything. I definitely dont feel attractive sometimes with it but I like how I look in clothes so...another price to pay? Ill gladly pay it but Im not happy about it!!! (Btw i wish I knew more about drainless procedures because those areas where the drains were are the ugliest scars!! They fold up and are raised????)
You would think after all of that I would regret the procedure. I don't! If anything I wouldn't do it again because of that miserable first month of pain and walking all hunched over and slow, an coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. worst pain ever next to being kicked in the basket balls for us dudes!!
I am grateful for the surgery and I am glad I did it. I can't say I would recommend it to friends lol but it has boosted my external confidence (still trying to work through the scar confidence though.)
1. A month after my procedure my incision opened up in several areas and they were pretty deep. They finally healed (thanks to hospital grade Manuka Honey!!) but of course over time they left some pretty deep and bumpy scars and made what might have been mild scarring into a large scar. Overall though this was the price of the procedure. You never know how your body is going to react.
2. I am a stomach sleeper so about 95% of the time i have slept on my couch that has dual reclining mechanisms. My stomach is still swollen sometimes (not much though) but it us def still SUPER numb. That makes it hard to sleep in my bed. Let's just say there is a body print on the left side of my couch hahaha. I am not ready to spend thousands on a reclining bed. I will make it back to my bed eventually. But one year on a recliner? Crazy. The cost of this surgery extends beyond what you pay the PS!
3. Hard to wear anything with elastic on it and although i can fit in jeans without a massive muffin top it is still uncomfortable. I may need additional lipo on my lower back but maybe later. I feel good about how I look for now.
4. The scar takes some time to get used to. It's more psychological than anything. I definitely dont feel attractive sometimes with it but I like how I look in clothes so...another price to pay? Ill gladly pay it but Im not happy about it!!! (Btw i wish I knew more about drainless procedures because those areas where the drains were are the ugliest scars!! They fold up and are raised????)
You would think after all of that I would regret the procedure. I don't! If anything I wouldn't do it again because of that miserable first month of pain and walking all hunched over and slow, an coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc. worst pain ever next to being kicked in the basket balls for us dudes!!
I am grateful for the surgery and I am glad I did it. I can't say I would recommend it to friends lol but it has boosted my external confidence (still trying to work through the scar confidence though.)
3 Months Post Op
So just a quick update. Since I last posted I had my incision open a few times. The holes took forever to heal but I think I am done with that nightmare. I may have to do a scar revision later, not happy with the scar but still completely happy with the results so far. Still super swollen by the end of the day but I guess that will be the case for a while. I will update again in a month or so!
So, I figured I would finally post some pictures...
So, I figured I would finally post some pictures and a couple of words after being inspired by the awesome ladies and men on this site.
MOTIVATION: I lost about 65lbs of fat more than 10 years ago! Yep. I walked around with all of the loose skin and rolls you see for 10 years! The weight loss left me with a lot of loose skin, stretch marks, stomach lines (from where my bigger fat rolls used to live) and some stubborn fat that exercise just wouldn't combat. Since the initial weight loss I got into strength training, kick boxing, etc and really worked on my upper body. However, I continued to be frustrated that my efforts didn't match my entire body. There was no way I was getting rid of the jelly rolls (quite literally as I am still convinced there were still some donuts from 10 years ago stuck in there! ha) of skin and stubborn fat. So after thinking about it for 10 years I decided I had enough and took the steps to say goodbye to the jelly. Plus I like the tight shirts that show off my upper body and while I looked good up top, if I didn't chose the right shirt I looked like a wrapped up Christmas ham below my pecs! Merry Christmas world!
Spectrum Aesthetics Review: I am not from Miami but I liked the work of Dr. Mel Ortega. I agree with others' assessment of the disorganization of the office but I was always treated with respect and courtesy while I was there. Also, if you are someone who constantly needs to be reassured or have a ton of questions or are overly nervous Spectrum may not be for you because you will be waiting to talk to someone, to hear back, etc. It didn't bother me that much. My attitude was that after waiting 10 years to get this done I can spare some minutes and hours for an office that is conducting a lot of business. It's no excuse but I decided after reading other reviews I wasn't going to change their office procedures!! Overall, I was satisfied with my treatment by staff and management and Dr. Ortega was upfront, honest, and professional.
RECOVERY: I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and the recovery process has been up and down. I stayed in Miami for 2 1/2 weeks and then flew back to my home state after my drains were taken out. I stayed at a Recovery House for 4 days and then moved to a rented condo/timeshare type property for a week and a half. I have the same issues most everyone else has. This is not an easy procedure to have. One thing that helped is that I have great upper body strength. It helped me significantly. Anything that required using my core wasn't happening, lol.
Ok that is enough for now. I am still swollen, sore, and puffy like everyone else. I think the lipo is worse than the tummy tuck! I'm wearing binders and compression garments (annoying!) and of I am sleeping on my couch that reclines back like a recliner chair. I think that will be my home for a few more weeks. Nobody prepares you for the emotional aspects of this procedure. I thought, oh I'm a dude, maybe these ladies are just sensitive. Nope. Sorry ladies, forgive me for thinking like a jerkster. You all are inspiring and wonderful. I learned its a human thing, not a gender one and this procedure surely does mess with your head. My emotions are everywhere with it, but although it's a little early to say, I am very happy I did it and wished I would have done it 10 years ago! I feel like I wasted my 20s living with that darn jelly!! :) I will update with pics periodically. Started Scar treatment a week ago. Looking forward to the swelling and bruising to go down. Patience!
MOTIVATION: I lost about 65lbs of fat more than 10 years ago! Yep. I walked around with all of the loose skin and rolls you see for 10 years! The weight loss left me with a lot of loose skin, stretch marks, stomach lines (from where my bigger fat rolls used to live) and some stubborn fat that exercise just wouldn't combat. Since the initial weight loss I got into strength training, kick boxing, etc and really worked on my upper body. However, I continued to be frustrated that my efforts didn't match my entire body. There was no way I was getting rid of the jelly rolls (quite literally as I am still convinced there were still some donuts from 10 years ago stuck in there! ha) of skin and stubborn fat. So after thinking about it for 10 years I decided I had enough and took the steps to say goodbye to the jelly. Plus I like the tight shirts that show off my upper body and while I looked good up top, if I didn't chose the right shirt I looked like a wrapped up Christmas ham below my pecs! Merry Christmas world!
Spectrum Aesthetics Review: I am not from Miami but I liked the work of Dr. Mel Ortega. I agree with others' assessment of the disorganization of the office but I was always treated with respect and courtesy while I was there. Also, if you are someone who constantly needs to be reassured or have a ton of questions or are overly nervous Spectrum may not be for you because you will be waiting to talk to someone, to hear back, etc. It didn't bother me that much. My attitude was that after waiting 10 years to get this done I can spare some minutes and hours for an office that is conducting a lot of business. It's no excuse but I decided after reading other reviews I wasn't going to change their office procedures!! Overall, I was satisfied with my treatment by staff and management and Dr. Ortega was upfront, honest, and professional.
RECOVERY: I am 3 1/2 weeks post op and the recovery process has been up and down. I stayed in Miami for 2 1/2 weeks and then flew back to my home state after my drains were taken out. I stayed at a Recovery House for 4 days and then moved to a rented condo/timeshare type property for a week and a half. I have the same issues most everyone else has. This is not an easy procedure to have. One thing that helped is that I have great upper body strength. It helped me significantly. Anything that required using my core wasn't happening, lol.
Ok that is enough for now. I am still swollen, sore, and puffy like everyone else. I think the lipo is worse than the tummy tuck! I'm wearing binders and compression garments (annoying!) and of I am sleeping on my couch that reclines back like a recliner chair. I think that will be my home for a few more weeks. Nobody prepares you for the emotional aspects of this procedure. I thought, oh I'm a dude, maybe these ladies are just sensitive. Nope. Sorry ladies, forgive me for thinking like a jerkster. You all are inspiring and wonderful. I learned its a human thing, not a gender one and this procedure surely does mess with your head. My emotions are everywhere with it, but although it's a little early to say, I am very happy I did it and wished I would have done it 10 years ago! I feel like I wasted my 20s living with that darn jelly!! :) I will update with pics periodically. Started Scar treatment a week ago. Looking forward to the swelling and bruising to go down. Patience!
Provider Review
Dr. Ortega was honest and straight forward. He made sure I understood the ups and downs of the procedure and tempered my expectations while also assuring me of good results. He has a very busy practice but when he does get to you he spends the necessary time. I look forward to going back down to Miami at the 2-3 month mark.