About Plastic Surgery

Weight 168

A few people have written me recently and asked me some questions about plastic surgery in general and mine specifically.  It made me realize I wrote quite a bit about my recovery in the early stages, but a lot less lately.  I've also had a few emails that have made me question my somewhat negative attitude about my plastics, both pre and post-op. 

So, here are some thoughts.   Please feel free to share your own, whatever they are.  Honestly, you won't offend me!

• I chose my surgeon after interviewing only one.  I had plans to speak to a few others, but I really really connected with this surgeon, Dr. Soo, plus the fact she was at USC Hospital where I had 90% insurance coverage, added to Dr. Kaufman being able to do my hernia repair at the same time, made me decide she was the one after our first meeting.

• In some ways I don't think I was emotionally ready for this surgery.  It all happened pretty quickly and relatively soon after my weight loss.  Though my weight had been stable for six months, I don't think I'd really gotten used to the changes in my body.  Had I not needed a hernia repair, I don't think I would have had plastic surgery when I did.  This probably has contributed to my somewhat negative attitude toward the surgery, despite the fact I've had no complications, have healed better than anyone expected and have very nice looking results.  I still resent a lot about the surgery itself, about the time needed to recover, the pain and the limitations having a healing incision 2/3 around my lower abs and from pubis to breast bone is bound to cause.  I can't help it, I hate and resent them.  That this was just the first of what will likely be 3 - 5 rounds of surgery leaves me filled with a sense of despair at the loss of control and the stealing of time each surgery means.

• Yes, I know that I'm fortunate in my insurance coverage and that there are many many post-ops who've wanted plastics for years and have no coverage for them and / or cannot afford them.  Knowing that does temper how often I complain(ed) about how much having to have surgery over the winter holidays sucked.  But there is another side to this.  One reason that my insurance was so quick to cover skin removal for me is that I have profound skin problems pre-dating my weight loss.  Rather than being made better by losing weight (as I was repeatedly told would happen pre-op) the excess skin has contributed to worsening eczema and skin breakdown.  In addition to being unsightly, these rashes and open sores are very very painful (think burning insects under the skin) and have been pretty much on-goingly hellish for eight years.  It's hard to feel grateful for them, however much they may contribute to having coverage for plastics.  After all, they're also responsible for these having to be done as individual surgeries rather than combining them.  My skin most likely can't handle the stress of healing multiple wound sites.

•   The results.  Losing Fred (my pannus) has made a real difference in how I look.  A month ago I thought the swelling had gone, but even from last month to this I can see a real difference.  I've been told that the swelling will probably be there for another 2-4 months and that only in June or so will I have a real idea of the result.  But to my eye it already looks great.  Losing Fred does highlight a bit how much my thighs and bum sag, but I don't really care about that -- I'm still glad that Dr. Soo didn't do the lower body lift.  That side will get taken care of eventually.

• Was the recovery hard?  In a word, yes.    Much moreso than my DS surgery, especially for the first month post-op.  Examples?  Post-DS I was able to sleep in my own bed with my husband from day one after being released from the hospital.  After the tummy tuck, hernia repair, it was more than a month before I could sleep in our bed or even lie down on my side for more than 10 - 15 minutes.  I had to sleep in a recliner.  Sexual contact was also out during that entire time, despite our anniversary being during my recovery.

• Depression.  Yes, this happened.  The combination of the pain meds, different sleeping position, loss of working-out and my asthma also contributed to panic attacks.  I had bouts of the blues where it was really hard to do anything.  This was made worse by the fact I can't read when I'm on vicodine and reading is my major escape when I need comfort.

People write a lot about the costs of plastic surgery, talking about the financial side and / or the pain.  And those are really real, of course.  But for me, the biggest cost is time.  I feel like my weight made me live on the sidelines of life for way too long already.  I hate feeling put back there for any reason.

So there you have it.  My post-op thoughts almost two months away from the surgeries.  I did take pictures pre and post-op and will get around to putting them up, probably behind a password, sometime in the next month.

Comments

[Deluzy]

Thanks for this post, Ezpy, as I'd had plans to email you myself about plastics, and this answered some of my questions. I'm planning on the hernia repair and tummy tummy tuck "only" (rpoviding they turn out to be financially feasible) -- and it's taking me a while to adjust to this mindset, as I desperately wanted not to have more surgery.

I'm dreading the physical and psychological aftermath: I had a laproscopic DS that went very well but for whatever reason I still wasn't able to sleep in a bed for 6 weeks (Recliner City), and those feelings of vulnerability were very real and completely unexpected for me (I know your experience with the DS itself was different).

My only hope is that, having experienced that after the DS, I'll know going into more surgery that it's a tough road.

(Btw, I for one don't consider you "lucky" just because of insurance coverage issues -- who wants these procedures in the first place?! They become issues of medical/pscychological necessity, usually, for those who choose them.)

[JEM]

Good info. I have often wondered if I will need/want surgery after my weight loss and this information is good to think about. Thanks.

[Kim]

Yes on all counts. I resented not being able to go and do like I had become used to. I am still lamenting it today. I was wondering if it was even worth it. The DS was- jury is still out on the plastics.