HAMPTON5555

I decided to journal the progress of my plastic surgery. I know how helpful it has been for me to read when someone has journaled on th Forum so now that I have a date for the surgery, I will begin today.

First off, I detected a hernia about 4 months post op. I did not know that was what it was until I went to my primary in October 10 months out.

She sent me to general surgeon who proceded to tell me I would need to have the entire insicion reopened to repair the hernia. Upon seeing my tears he promptly reccommended I see a plastic surgeon because he thought I could get a tummy tuck with the hernia repair if I went that route.

So my Plastic Surgery journal begins here.

On November 10, I went to see Dr. Bolitho. A personable and helpful man. He asked me if I did not have the hernia would I be there today and I replied, no. I think he wanted to know how vain I really am I suppose, however I did tell him, if I chose this route that I would want to go all the way with having what I need to get the results I want.

With that he proceeded to show me all the options of what I could do and made suggestions as to what he thought I would be pleased with the end results.

By the way, he did not make me wear a paper thong, which I had feared. Instead I was given a thick robe and was allowed to leave my panties on, which he moved around as he needed. (o.k. that sounds weird, but it was all professional, etc.)

We ended with these decisions: A breast lift would be all I needed as I still have lots of tissue for full breasts, also a tummy tuck and partial lower body lift with contouring, which would mean my thighs would not have saddle bags and I would have a flat stomach for the first time in my entire life!!

I go in Feb 2 for a second consult and my surgery date is March 13. He prefers to break up the work into 2 surgeries as I also have to have the hernia repaired which he will do from the horizontal insicion of the tummy tuck, rather than recut my wls insicon, which makes me very happy. He said dr. C did a fab job and would not cut into such a beautiful scar.

We will decide which surgery will be first and when to do the second surgery.

Insurance covers the T.T. and hernia repair the rest cost $17,500. Although I want the tummy tuck, he did say that I really do not have that much skin and that I was lucky my insurance did not require a photo. Lucky me, so that is how I got the T.T. covered. The rest is up to me. I figure I'll drive my old car for a little while longer.

So that's it for now. Keep March 13 open for praying, wishing and sending good energy my way!

Nervous as heck but what else can I do?

New body, here I come!

Rain

veroniquetalk

WOW~ You are getting a full makeover~ I am sure you will be happy with the results!

__________________
Veronica
Lap 7/6/05
215/155/123
start/goal/current At NORMAL weight!
BMI 39.32/21.8

newbetterme

Oh Rain that is awesome. I will have seam envy.

__________________
Debbie
11/15/04 Lap
Dr. Callery
321/158/140 BMI 23.5
171lbs gone for?? working on FOREVER!!

HAMPTON5555

Thanks girls, anyone have advice on what I can do to lose a little more weight? I can not excersize with this hernia. Doc's orders. My eating is pretty much the same, but I have hit a plateau for the first time since surgery. Been hanging around 175 for about a month or more.
I want to lose 15 before the surgey.
What should I do?
R

coptergirl

Oh Rain - I am so happy for you and wish I was were you are now!! In regardsto losing the weight, what if you went back to basics like broths and such? I don't know your eating style, so its kinda hard to say. You will do great either way!

__________________
Blessings,

Whitney
272/243/123.5/135
Highest/Pre-op/Current/Goal

GBS 3/7/06
Dr. Stanley Klein -Torrance, CA

Hernia Repair/Tummy Tuck 3/9/07!!!!

148.5 pounds and 64.5 inches gone forever!!

GOAL REACHED 2/6/07!!!

Ducksack Member#3! And TTBear Blondbear!!
www.myspace.com/horsegalwhit

SaturdazeChyld

twodogsmom

Can you swim-even with the hernia, or walk?

HAMPTON5555

The thing is we are trying to keep the hernia from getting worse because if it keeps pooking out then it runs the risk of complications and then emergency surgery. If that were to happen than I kiss the Tummy tuck good bye cause they aren't going to waste any time with the risk of losing intenstines and such. If I am careful then it should be o.k. untill my plastics can be done.

So, I am excused from work from any lifting bending and even prolonged standing.

Sure is hard to get my job done, but gotta do it!
Rain

HAMPTON5555

Had an appointment with Dr. Bolitho today.

He is unhappy with the iron levels and wants to wait to have the surgery until I can see a hematologist.

He feels that I will need to up my levels as much as I can and then give blood for them to give to me during surgery in the form of a transfusion. This will result in a delay in my surgery. He is less concerned with the hernia than he is about the iron.

So within a month I will see the hematologist, give the blood to be used for the transfusion, then wait another month for the iron levels to go back up and then have the surgery. How we get the iron up is questionable. Maybe iron injections.

We also discussed the inner thigh lift along with the lower body lift, etc, that added another chunk of change. My husand is supportive, I just want to run and hide.

Standing in front of these two men touching my shrively skin. Oh Lord!! My hubby and the Doc., discussing while I was disgusting!

One positive moment when he pulled back the robe to see me, he said, "oh, theres not much of you." After weighing almost 300 pounds and then hearing someone say that! Oh Lord!!! once again! On the other hand he did ask me if any one warned me before WLS, about the excess skin. Well, yeah, but....I did not know to what extreme my case would be and it seems I am in the lucky group according to him!

So, I am now waiting the hematologist appointment and then move forward. My new surgery date is May 1, all good things happen to me in May, I will pray this is a good sign!
RAin

HAMPTON5555

Another curve in the saga of my plastic surgery.

Had a call from my primary and she thinks the new iron I am taking will work just fine and that I should go with the date 3-13 after we see my levels go up as she is sure it is going to with this new iron I am taking.
Dr. Bolitho is willing to keep the date of 3-13 for me untill I take the teat on 2-27 to see if I have improved. Geeeeze!!!

As far as the Hemotologist my pcp says to wait to see him untill the new blood test comes back. O.k. so now I have no idea when my surgery is going to be!!!

One more thing I wanted to add, was that the hernia repair will be done with out mesh. He feels confidant that to make 2 sutures under the muscle and then reinforce the muscle over that will be sufficiant as this is how he performs his hernia repairs and has had no repeats.

I feel good about that!!

Off for now
Rain