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Hi there :) I'm in Australia...I know most of you...
Hi there :) I'm in Australia...I know most of you are from the U.S...but I wanted to post here as there are a lot of Aussies out there who may be in a similar situation as mine...and who may need a reference point to base their decision.
I've just posted some before pics for right now...but I had the arm lift 23 days ago. I'll be posting the 'after pics' really soon.
Just a quick background...after weighing 152 kilos (around...335lbs) at the age of 30...I was sick & tired of feeling sick & tired...and with 2 small kids under the age of 3, I had to do something. To cut a long story short I was lap banded in 2003 and within 2 years, lost 75 kilos (about...half my body weight). What was left behind was some fairly good quality thick skin, but wayyyyyy too much of it.
My plastic surgery history up until this stage, included a breast reduction at aged 18yrs (a dress size AU16/US 12 and a bra cup size E)- down to a C. Happy days. That surgery was performed by Dr. Allistair Turner- perfect. In the years that followed, my weight creeped up and up and at my fullest weight, the same surgeon performed a tummy tuck. This was purely a practical measure since the skin on my belly was so compromised by 2 pregnancies in quick succession, both Caesarian...and baby size was 10lbs 5oz. That's one huge belly! Sadly, and so uncomfortably...it was riddled with heinously wide stretch marks. So wide in fact that the sheerness of them would tear and bleed, even if I scraped them slightly whilst showering! Yowwwch! So....Dr Turner have me a tummy tuck, purely as a practical measure and certainly not about contouring me into a vision of perfection. I was still big...my tummy had a weird shape- bulging out above the umbilicus and then scooping inwards right under it. It looked as if I was sucking my belly in permanently. BUT-! I was happy :))) I could throw away those Meyers of cotton gauze bandages that were folded back and forth over and over again, and tucked under my pannus to absorb moisture and avoid infection. Smelly and YUCKY! So peeps...in my eyes...that surgery was a success and I was so thankful for Dr. Turner's help (he's now virtually retired btw).
Anyway...fast forward To post weight loss....
The same surgeon performed a breast lift revision, tummy tuck revision and inner and outer thigh lift by 'ring barking' both legs. A huge surgery, but I healed well and all in all- a drastic improvement. Now set Dr. Turner aside and enter Dr. Kailis....
My brachioplasty. Something I'd wanted for so long since my arms were sooooo flabby! I would see a surgeon, then bail out....wait a few years...see a surgeon...then bail out. 9 years later I find that ageing skin only made matters worse (I'm 41...) so I saw a few surgeons and then chose (drum roll here please folks........!!!!) Dr C Kailas :) I write about him below in the 'review' section. Anyway....to be blunt...I was not so keen on this surgery. All the years before this I'd only heard scary stories of botched arm lifts...ugly scars, limited range of motion...disappointing results...and in general...I was of the opinion that it was a waste of time, as the scars would outweigh the more (slightly more...) benefits...of slender arms, hands down.
Now that I'm 41 ...the condition of the skin due to general aging...plus the effects of some fairly serious weight loss...meant that the skin on my arms was fairly compromised, and it was time. I was over the scratching, itching, and tugging at all that loose skin! Anyway....it's 2:10am now...and I'll go to sleep now...and in the morning, I'll add to the story and the process involved. Hopefully my review will encourage others to make the right decision for themselves. Stay tuned :) [RS bleep]
I've just posted some before pics for right now...but I had the arm lift 23 days ago. I'll be posting the 'after pics' really soon.
Just a quick background...after weighing 152 kilos (around...335lbs) at the age of 30...I was sick & tired of feeling sick & tired...and with 2 small kids under the age of 3, I had to do something. To cut a long story short I was lap banded in 2003 and within 2 years, lost 75 kilos (about...half my body weight). What was left behind was some fairly good quality thick skin, but wayyyyyy too much of it.
My plastic surgery history up until this stage, included a breast reduction at aged 18yrs (a dress size AU16/US 12 and a bra cup size E)- down to a C. Happy days. That surgery was performed by Dr. Allistair Turner- perfect. In the years that followed, my weight creeped up and up and at my fullest weight, the same surgeon performed a tummy tuck. This was purely a practical measure since the skin on my belly was so compromised by 2 pregnancies in quick succession, both Caesarian...and baby size was 10lbs 5oz. That's one huge belly! Sadly, and so uncomfortably...it was riddled with heinously wide stretch marks. So wide in fact that the sheerness of them would tear and bleed, even if I scraped them slightly whilst showering! Yowwwch! So....Dr Turner have me a tummy tuck, purely as a practical measure and certainly not about contouring me into a vision of perfection. I was still big...my tummy had a weird shape- bulging out above the umbilicus and then scooping inwards right under it. It looked as if I was sucking my belly in permanently. BUT-! I was happy :))) I could throw away those Meyers of cotton gauze bandages that were folded back and forth over and over again, and tucked under my pannus to absorb moisture and avoid infection. Smelly and YUCKY! So peeps...in my eyes...that surgery was a success and I was so thankful for Dr. Turner's help (he's now virtually retired btw).
Anyway...fast forward To post weight loss....
The same surgeon performed a breast lift revision, tummy tuck revision and inner and outer thigh lift by 'ring barking' both legs. A huge surgery, but I healed well and all in all- a drastic improvement. Now set Dr. Turner aside and enter Dr. Kailis....
My brachioplasty. Something I'd wanted for so long since my arms were sooooo flabby! I would see a surgeon, then bail out....wait a few years...see a surgeon...then bail out. 9 years later I find that ageing skin only made matters worse (I'm 41...) so I saw a few surgeons and then chose (drum roll here please folks........!!!!) Dr C Kailas :) I write about him below in the 'review' section. Anyway....to be blunt...I was not so keen on this surgery. All the years before this I'd only heard scary stories of botched arm lifts...ugly scars, limited range of motion...disappointing results...and in general...I was of the opinion that it was a waste of time, as the scars would outweigh the more (slightly more...) benefits...of slender arms, hands down.
Now that I'm 41 ...the condition of the skin due to general aging...plus the effects of some fairly serious weight loss...meant that the skin on my arms was fairly compromised, and it was time. I was over the scratching, itching, and tugging at all that loose skin! Anyway....it's 2:10am now...and I'll go to sleep now...and in the morning, I'll add to the story and the process involved. Hopefully my review will encourage others to make the right decision for themselves. Stay tuned :) [RS bleep]
Post Op Photos...Day 1 in Hospital
Ok...so the surgery was performed at Hollywood a Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. The hospital was awesome, efficient, and the food quite amazing (for a hospital :) The nursing staff were half perfect, half...well...in a rush, and a bit dismissive...but anyway, those of you interested can always ask me questions about Hollywood by private msg'g me :)
The Op: Dr. Swan was the anaesthetist. I chose him as I heard he was brilliant. My best friend is a theatre nurse and couldn't have recommended him more. He's a serious man with a mission, and not the guy you target for a quick laugh in a nervous situation. Just as well, as your life does tend to balance in his hands and I was quite thankful he was direct, to the point and in the mood for business. He managed my anaestheology without having to remove my lap band fill beforehand (NO ONE MESSES WITH MY FILL ;) and he handled a few tricky situations with that brilliantly. I woke up alive (always a bonus) and in NO PAIN WHATSOEVER. Ok, morphine had a little to do with that...but those of you who've had surgery, know it could be a hell of a lot worse. I had no scratchy throat...no deep tissue pain, no nausea...it was a completely smooth ride (THANK YOU DR. SWAN :)))
So...I woke up bandaged as pictured...the tubing you see is just extra post-op oxygen and it was a drain-free operation. That surprised me, and immediately I panicked...thinking...."Oh nooooo! I'm going to get huge bulging puss balls at my elbow!!!") [ok, so I'm a bit dramatic...] ....but I did seriously panic. That wasn't necessary as you can see...it all drained out...on my pillow :) YAY! And as Dr. Kailis says..."it's better out, than in!" :)
So...I woke up feeling great. I was expecting to feel mega sliced up, but I just felt tight discomfort, and a paper-cut like pain up my arms. Very fine and quite manageable. Of course don't try to move in this situation unless you want to squint, but it's all manageable. My suture line was an extended one, so it returned into the arm pit and down the side of my rib cage/torso and curved to meet my breast lift scar. I'd asked for this to address the skin laxity on my rib cage which in my pre-op life...I'd pull and use as a part of my boob which would then fill up a 'D-cup' bra...leaving a big 'pleat' under the bra wire. (I didn't hurt, and it was necessary to avoid mega bra-spill...a potentially scary sight). So...Dr. Kailis obliged and removed some of that skin, thank the LORD!! At this stage, it's hard to see just how tight that area is, as the swelling is pretty intense there. There's deep bruising from liposuction and contouring, so it's still early days yet. At first it felt my arms were resting on bags of jelly...but as time has passed, the swelling has been resolving itself. I've probably got 40% swelling remaining at day 24 post op.
So....these are the photos from hospital the day after I woke up from surgery. I could already tell I was going to be pleased with the reduction in size...but only time would give more detail :)
The Op: Dr. Swan was the anaesthetist. I chose him as I heard he was brilliant. My best friend is a theatre nurse and couldn't have recommended him more. He's a serious man with a mission, and not the guy you target for a quick laugh in a nervous situation. Just as well, as your life does tend to balance in his hands and I was quite thankful he was direct, to the point and in the mood for business. He managed my anaestheology without having to remove my lap band fill beforehand (NO ONE MESSES WITH MY FILL ;) and he handled a few tricky situations with that brilliantly. I woke up alive (always a bonus) and in NO PAIN WHATSOEVER. Ok, morphine had a little to do with that...but those of you who've had surgery, know it could be a hell of a lot worse. I had no scratchy throat...no deep tissue pain, no nausea...it was a completely smooth ride (THANK YOU DR. SWAN :)))
So...I woke up bandaged as pictured...the tubing you see is just extra post-op oxygen and it was a drain-free operation. That surprised me, and immediately I panicked...thinking...."Oh nooooo! I'm going to get huge bulging puss balls at my elbow!!!") [ok, so I'm a bit dramatic...] ....but I did seriously panic. That wasn't necessary as you can see...it all drained out...on my pillow :) YAY! And as Dr. Kailis says..."it's better out, than in!" :)
So...I woke up feeling great. I was expecting to feel mega sliced up, but I just felt tight discomfort, and a paper-cut like pain up my arms. Very fine and quite manageable. Of course don't try to move in this situation unless you want to squint, but it's all manageable. My suture line was an extended one, so it returned into the arm pit and down the side of my rib cage/torso and curved to meet my breast lift scar. I'd asked for this to address the skin laxity on my rib cage which in my pre-op life...I'd pull and use as a part of my boob which would then fill up a 'D-cup' bra...leaving a big 'pleat' under the bra wire. (I didn't hurt, and it was necessary to avoid mega bra-spill...a potentially scary sight). So...Dr. Kailis obliged and removed some of that skin, thank the LORD!! At this stage, it's hard to see just how tight that area is, as the swelling is pretty intense there. There's deep bruising from liposuction and contouring, so it's still early days yet. At first it felt my arms were resting on bags of jelly...but as time has passed, the swelling has been resolving itself. I've probably got 40% swelling remaining at day 24 post op.
So....these are the photos from hospital the day after I woke up from surgery. I could already tell I was going to be pleased with the reduction in size...but only time would give more detail :)
Home from Hospital....
Ok...so I asked to stay an extra night in hospital- it's a me thing. A tradition. I am generally a bit if a baby and get a bit previous when I'm feeling vulnerable. Luckily my health insurance covers 100% if my hospital stay so the extra day helped. It felt like the right day for me to leave. I was up and about and feeling a lot more like 'me'. I could brush my own hair on day 3 (hey, no stylin' here ladies...just a brush through!) and I dressed myself and felt like I was t going to split open :) Still no lifting obviously...but I was feeling good. I was on Endone (to sleep at night) and 50mg Tramadol during the day. It seemed to be enough. Saving my Endone for nights made a big difference...sleep is important. I'm not doing any cooking at this stage...no housework...just sleeping, resting and walking around as much as possible to get the circulation going for healing. Trying to drink lots if water and eating all my veggies :) There's tenderness- yes. The swelling on the rib cage feels like hardness underneath and a watery jelly bag on top. I'd had enough surgery in the past though to know this is completely normal and it subsides.
Looking at the wounds, I'm a bit terrified of the initial inspection...you know it does tend to look like Frankenstein a bit...stitches can look 'chewed up'...gathered and strange. BUT...again...In my past experience...it always levels out and should it not? A quick Dr's visit for a trusty polish up always does the trick- so no genuine anxiety about getting that tape ripped of in a few days (day 7).
Looking at the wounds, I'm a bit terrified of the initial inspection...you know it does tend to look like Frankenstein a bit...stitches can look 'chewed up'...gathered and strange. BUT...again...In my past experience...it always levels out and should it not? A quick Dr's visit for a trusty polish up always does the trick- so no genuine anxiety about getting that tape ripped of in a few days (day 7).
Provider Review
Dr. Carey Kailis
Let's see. In a nutshell, to be honest...I'm more pleased with my results thus far than I had ever imagined. It's still early days...(23 days post op) ...but for an op I was almost certain I'd regret (but felt no other option than to try and do SOMETHING to make my arms more comfortable...) I must truthfully say... I am SO thankful I chose Dr. Kailis to do this op. Very confident surgeon...very straight forward, very transparent with anticipated expectations...very willing to address any questions and (in my case, fairly confronting) questions ;) annnnnd....just a very reasonable and easy to follow plastic surgeon. Like a bit of humour thank God...but still serious enough to make me feel this was a step not to be taken frivolously. A bit resolution focused at the beginning (my sentences were often prematurely cut off with a quick, strong and confident "YEP" !!!)...but you soon got to knowing this was just his style and he was in fact, really paying attention. (Ok, I've just realized that I must have been experiencing a bit of transference there....since my hubby always says "Yep....yep.....yep...." !! And then I KNOW he's not listening ;) Lol! Overall...a down to earth, yet seriously professional surgeon who so far has not only not let me down, but has impressed me beyond belief. I'm one happy cookie thus far :)