TRANSFORMATION - Surgery #1 - Modified Lower Body Lift – 150 Lb Loss – 63 young

Thanks ... Your journey has been enlightening to me. I am sure I won't heal as fast as you have. Nevertheless, I am so ready for this long road ahead.

When the doc does my breast lift - he will not put in implants until another surgery.
Time - Money - Pain ... Oh well
I could have gone with a different PA who will do a breast lift and implants at the same time and not do the LBL. BUT - I am very confident with the PA I chose.
It will be a L-O-N-G 2017-2018 ...
I will really miss my physical activities, being out for so long.
My daughter (29 yo) is all for my surgeries. My son (31) I haven't told him yet - I will in September when I see him. One brother I told him what I am doing, the other brother I haven't. I am kind of embarrassed to tell people. I would rather have people see me after and say that I look good.
I don't really look at the risks ... I really picked a GREAT surgeon ... I am very much at ease knowing that everything will be fine. But then, I never dwell on the negative. Plus, if one sits back and never take risks - life would not be fulfilling.
I really don't want to spend the rest of my life having to stuff my boobies in a bra ... And wearing spandx to suck in the torso just to have skin bulge out in another place.
I do feel a little guilty that I am doing this "for me". I have spent my life giving to everyone else (raising my children then taking care of my elderly parents for the past 10 years). My mother (90 yo) just crossed over 2 weeks ago and my pops (90 yo) 1 1/2 years ago. It is my time to do something for me now. And if I don't do it now, I do believe - I never do it.
You can do this, too !!!!
We all here will give each other strength ...
A Sisterhood of Kindred Spirits ...

You made the comment about feeling guilty and it rang true with me too. I did not tell my family about the surgery as my sister was found to be a match as a live kidney donor and her surgery was scheduled 5 days after mine. I felt so selfish spending so much on something superficial when she was having surgery to help a friend. My husband accidentally told her through a misdirected text. I had to figure it all out the day after my surgery. I was very uncomfortable telling her and she could not have been more encouraging. I told her how I felt guilty especially with her upcoming kidney donation. She told me I should not feel guilty but feel very proud that I had lost all the weight and now wanted the reminders of that life gone. You too have made it and now should celebrate your success and complete your transformation .

You are sooo right ... I will have to re-program my brain - that will take a little time.
I have absolutely no regrets moving forward with my transformation.
Thank You for sharing your experience. It is nice to know I am not alone.

Opps - PA should have been PS ... in the above post

The problem I am having with not getting the implants at the same time is now I keep going back and forth with getting them or not because they are so much better than they were and I feel so guilty about the money. That guilt thing is so frustrating! !!

This is a great time for you to be all about giving back to yourself! Wow you have had a tough go! Way to go for not gaining your weight back during all that! I am sure you will be fine. I have a bad heart and it has been hard even getting a surgeon to do it.

Oh, there is more to the story this year.
I have two brothers. In February, my older brother (64 yo) had a massive stroke and is paralyzed on the left side of his body. He is still learning to walk and his left arm and hand have no feelings yet.
My younger brother (60 yo) last May was hit by someone on his motorcycle. He was a commercial pilot. He lost his career because of the injuries and still unable to walk. The docs were able to save his leg. But who knows what kind of quality of life he will have and is still in horrible pain.
And then, my mother crossing over in July.
Yes, this year has been a hard one for the family. I have been taking care of everybody this year.
And now, I am electing to go through these surgeries when I don't have to.
There is a lot of guilt in my head when my brothers are in pain and I am doing this to myself and will be in pain. It has been hard for me to justify my decision to move forward with the first surgery. BUT ... if I don't do it now, I won't every do it. I don't have time to wait for a year or two or three at my age.
I have kept my weight under control this past year. I am so determined to not reach for comfort food and stay committed to my ketogenics lifestyle. Comfort food doesn't exist - it is only food that makes one feel like crap after consuming.
I have to be strong for my brothers. They need to feed off of my strength to heal physically and mentally. If I cave, I think they would be VERY disappointed in me. They are so proud of what I have accomplished for myself with the weight loss. They tell me all the time. I know they are happy for me to remove the skin - they only want the best for me. Each day I am learning to try to be a little less guilty.
I think they best therapy for me will be to talk with my brothers and share my feelings of guilt. I already know what they will say - they would only give me love and support - tell me move forward with all their hearts. They would tell me there should be no guilt in my mind what so ever.
So that is what I am going to do ... sit down with my brothers and talk ...

I am in the same situation as you. With my boobies hanging so low and being a high risk of the nipples/areola not surviving. I had 3 out of 4 PSs say they would not put the implants in at the time of reduction. I will wait until after breast lift to see what I will do.

Hi I am so excited for you. I just had a Circular TT which lifted my butt and before that had my arms and breasts done. I when back and forth about the BL only or having implants. I finally decided against the implants and am so glad I didn't get them. I had droopy larger boobs and when lifted Im still large was 38D now 38C and I wouldn't mind even being smaller. They just get in the way and at my age don't want to deal with implants and possible having to have them taking out. Im 70. Ill be following you, I hope you have an easy time. The best investment I made was the recliner I rented for 2 months.

Thanks for posting.
I looked at your journal - WOW - you look FABULOUS !!!
I have read of others going to MX with your PS - all with great results.
Do you feel that at 70 recovery was more difficult?

The 15.9k is for just the lower body lift - Surgery #1

Thank you for coming to my journal.
Yep, my new life will begin soon ...
The next 8 weeks will fly bye and I will stay busy as possible getting "stuff" done.
Then, I will sit back in my recliner and relax October away ... haha

Thx for your support.
I'll be your lab rat as you follow with Dr. Soto after me.

I will talk with my doc at my pre-op appointment next month about the supplements on web-site you recommended. Thank you very much for the info.

Here is a great web-site that really tells you all about ketogenic lifestyle:
https://ketodietapp.com/Blog/page/Start-Here
There is a lot of good meal plans on that web-site.

My food intake is very boring ...
I eat because I have to eat not because I am ever hungry. That is what I love about my body using my fat for fuel and not glucose.
I do practice intermittent fasting. I never eat breakfast and very rarely eat lunch. I have dinner at 5 (that usually takes 1 hour to eat - I eat very slowly and enjoy every bite), followed by my coconut oil chocolate desert with sliced almonds. I don't eat anything else until the next day.
I am eating around 1,200 calories with around 70% good fats. That is where most of my calories come from.

Now, once a month I will treat myself to party with beer++++. (I love beer when it is hot out and high humidity.) I know I shouldn't do the gluten ... BUT ... Girls just got to have fun. And yes, I will swell up with water retention; but, I just kick back into my ketogenic lifestyle the next day.

Thanks for the info on Bromelain and pineapple. I will address this with my PS at pre-op appt.
Glad you are living a low carb lifestyle, too. So many people I know are doing the same for weight loss, maintenance and over-all better health.

I started 2 days ago taking the bromelain and arnica ... it is sold in my doc's office. He encourages these herbs and to start 3 days prior to surgery - 7 days after surgery. I also got coconut water with pineapple for after surgery. And going out today to get fresh pineapple to suck on the core. I know I will be a bruiser and like y'all will swell.

Fantastic!!!