Over 175lb Loss, It's Time to Get Rid of This Skin! 1st of 3 Surgeries Start Tomorrow!

After shedding over 175lbs in 16 months, my skin is screaming at me! I researched surgeons and procedures on Realself for quite sometime. I asked anyone that would talk to me that have had procedures locally. I had consultations with multiple PS and found Dr. Bohley. From the moment I walked in the door I felt at ease. The staff is super friendly, helpful & professional. Dr. Bohley's bedside manner is wonderful, he dealt with my blunt sense of humor very well and gave it to me straight, thank you!! He said my quality of skin was so bad from being stretched out, from 20+ years, that it would be a challenge but I was the perfect candidate for skin removal. I don't expect perfection, I have never been perfect. Dr said my belly would take a lot so not enough time to do breasts, arms & legs safely at the same time so he decided to start with a full circumferential abdominalplasty with lipo. Next will be breast reduction & arms then Third surgery will be my legs. I left the consultation appointment ready to schedule & pay that day! Sign me up!
I was scheduled for June 16th 2020 and then Covid-19 happened...BLASTED CORONA! I got rescheduled for July 17th 2020. I had lost another 14lbs or so since my last appointment, 2 months prior, I think it was all in my butt because I had to have injections in my tailbone for pain and now have to use a donut pillow everywhere I go. So I asked Dr. Bohley about fat grafting to cushion my booty but now he says I have no fat left so we won't even be doing lipo... and I thought I was doing so good! Haha!
I didn't want to start writing my review until I knew I wouldn't be rescheduled again. But tomorrow is the big day!! I am not super nervous, I am ready.
I am ready to live my life:
-without the hindrance of the excess skin & bulk around my middle.
-no more funky sweaty smells!
-be able to run without it slapping my thighs.
-be able to ride bikes and play with grandkids.
-wear the bikini without worrying if my skin is tucked in & covered.
-be ok with my husband touching my belly.
-all in all just feel comfortable in my skin again.
As soon as I come out of my drug induced coma and not so loopy, I will update my post.
Thanks for reading!

I would have done an update after surgery but I was still loopy. Finally coming out of the fog.
Surgery day was early, I am not an early bird, and NO COFFEE!!
My day started with another Hibicleanse shower, good stretchy open front PJ'S, slippers & a clean mask. My husband dropped me off at the front door of the surgery center, that was the hardest thing about this whole procedure, nobody is allowed to come in the building with me because of Covid. I met with the staff, Nurse Amy & anesthesiologist Dr. Ford. Shortly after that I got marked all over by Dr. Bohley, he is quite the artist! While marking me, we decided that the saddle bags were the only lipo he would do. He also said he didn't schedule any other surgeries but mine since my case was a big one.
I walked in to that cold O.R. & was greeted with the warming blanket & stylish circulation boots. Then Dr. Ford sent me to LaLaLand. The last thing I remember is insisting on pictures, lots of pictures!
When I came to, my husband was coming in. Nurse Amy was explaining meds & care & said they had removed 7 lbs of skin around my middle and approximately 1/2 lb from my saddle bags. Wow! I knew I had a lot to remove but 7lbs, wow! I am now at my goal weight!
I had a bit of a rough night but not as bad as I thought it would be. It was tough getting comfortable since I normally sleep on my side and the gauze in my butt crack is super uncomfortable. I not going to lie, the most painful part is getting up and down. I highly recommend the toilet seat lift, I am more comfortable with that than a regular chair. I am still a little groggy but much better. I stayed in a hotel the night before surgery and last night. I am supposed to be getting up and walking every few hours so I shuffled my way down to the breakfast room, got some fruit then shuffled my way back. My thighs are still numb and feel really weird. My bikini line and booty feel strange too. Also everything I cough it sends me through the roof. I am starting to feel the tightness in sides and tummy and my drains are filling pretty fast. Thank goodness for my husband and mom, not sure I would make it through this without them. I have a follow up with Dr. Bohley next Friday and will get the pictures and post them. Anyway, packing up and headed home soon. Kind of worried about the hour long drive. I will keep updating.

I couldn't wait to change these dressings, they are so itchy!! I got to change my dressings today. It wasn't painful, but I almost passed out when we took the binder off. Believe it or not, the pressure feels great. I am feeling a little better today and getting a routine worked out so I have less pain when getting up and down. I Can't wait to see PS Friday to hopefully get these drains out. Here are just a few pics from the dressing change, I am still pretty swollen and my thighs and booty are still slightly numb like novacain. But I can see progress already.