RE: plastics question

April 30, 2003

<<Okay everyone that has had tummy work, could you do me a favor? Sit down

and look at your belly. When I'm standing my belly looks quite good. When I

sit down, I can still see my excess hanging a bit in my lap and hanging over

my belly button. I am grateful to have been able to have abdominplasty but I

feel like it should be tighter. I mean, if I do any sitting, I still have the

problems with sweating and discomfort in the bend of the leg and top of the

pubic area. It is better than before. I had the work done Feb 17th so it's

been roughly 2 and a half months. I still have a large egg shaped knot to the

left of center of my scar. Hoping that will go away. >>

Dawn -

I had full panni (hip to hip, pubic bone to breast bone) done 2/14. It was a

" fleur di leis " incision, with " approximately 3 lbs " skin removed from

pannus. (I'll NEVER know exactly how much was removed, because after an

investigation, the surgerical nurse admitted she was having an off day and

" forgot " to weight the removed skin!!! Yes, FORGOT!!!) That's another

story! Anyway, top muscles were tightened and the incision was around the

belly button and up to breast bone. Belly button was replaced. So, we're

the same timeframe our from surgery.

I still have what I would describe as a " poochy " tummy. I've expressed my

concerns to my surgeon (a women AND an artist AND very particular). She

assures me there is " swelling " that will take 6-8 months, maybe longer, to

resolve. Also, I have that eensy-weesy roll-over on the left side below the

belly button (that side is higher with fluid/swelling). That roll seems to

" roll " a bit over the hip-to-hip scar, which is very tight. Dr. assures me

that, ultimately, there will be no significant roll, and if there is a bit,

it can be " revised " in the office. That with WLS patients, the skin if

oftentimes too " damaged " to really, really stay tight after the surgery, and

oftentimes loosens up a bit.

I have felt the same as you. I am grateful, and when I stand I am absolutely

flat. When I sit, however, I have this little " poochy " tummy below the

belly button, and now, a wee bit of loose skin above the waist (just the

weeist bit). It is ALL HARD skin, however, very hard. Not loose. The

surgeon, who is thin, sat down and showed me that even SHE has this bit extra

when she sits. She said it is normal to have this somewhat when you sit

(unless you've NOT got any loose skin and are simply skinny/boney as it is).

So, I don't know. I'm concerned too. She has assurred me, over and over,

that after 8 months or so, if there is any " excess " or roll-over still, she

can go in (in the office) and cut the small area out. There will be no roll,

or REAL roll, that is. I, too, am concerned about the same stuff, the heat,

sweating, under what eensy bit is still there, however relatively

insignificant (to others) that is.

Maybe I thought I'd be perfectly FLAT even sitting down? Yes. But, I'm not.

However, I can sit and wear VERY tight and revealing clothes and not have a

pannus, as this is just the slightest bit. I think my expectations were

unrealistic, maybe, and every day I'm fighting myself to NOT be disappointed

for this blessing. I have to keep looking at my BEFORE (the panni) pictures

and then at myself NOW, and I get grounded. I'm with ya, however.

Bobbie

Anchorage

April 30, 2003

Dawn,

I think you should get your abdominoplasty revised. Mine was over 9 months ago,

I've lost 15 more pounds since I had it (along with a few other reconstructive

procedures), and it's still very tight. When I sit down, I see perfectly flat

tummy (see attached photo). I know the attachment won't go through for the rest

of you, but maybe I'll try to put it in our files section.

The best way to get lumps (if they are adhesions) off your scar is to massage

them, but an egg-sized knot sounds overlarge and I'd also get that checked out.

To be really frank, if I was this unhappy with an abdominoplasty as it sounds

you are, I'd be looking for another surgeon to do the breasts if at all

possible. This reconstructive surgery for us is both an art AND a science, and

you want the very best. Over 20, 30, or 40 years, a few thousand dollars'

difference between a mediocre surgeon and the best in the area amounts to

nothing, especially if it makes you happy all that time. Just my opinion, of

course, but I've seen both beautiful tummy tucks and much less attractive ones,

and the difference in visible self-esteem from the two groups of people is

stunning. That's a 24/7 thing, and don't you want to feel like you look

gorgeous? Who doesn't?! Of course, reconstructive abdominal surgery is more

about function than beauty but I feel confident saying you can have both if you

use the right surgeon, and I think we DESERVE to feel really good about

ourselves after the lives most of us lived as MO people.

Best of luck to you,

Ziobro

Open RNY 09/17/01 Weber, Seattle

Plastics 07/22/02 Egrari, Bellevue http://www.egrari.com

http://tinyurl.com/4e3h my AMOS profile

310/130

________________________________

From: Dawn Conner-Jeppesen

Sent: Wed 4/30/2003 6:47 AM

To: graduate-ossg

Subject: plastics question

Okay everyone that has had tummy work, could you do me a favor? Sit down and

look at your belly. When I'm standing my belly looks quite good. When I sit

down, I can still see my excess hanging a bit in my lap and hanging over my

belly button. I am grateful to have been able to have abdominplasty but I feel

like it should be tighter. I mean, if I do any sitting, I still have the

problems with sweating and discomfort in the bend of the leg and top of the

pubic area. It is better than before. I had the work done Feb 17th so it's been

roughly 2 and a half months. I still have a large egg shaped knot to the left of

center of my scar. Hoping that will go away.

The reason I ask is because I am scheduled for June 4th to get a breatlift

approval. The surgeon will only do one surgery at a time. If this needs more

work, I want it fixed before then. Plus, we will be going home to the states by

the end of the year. If I needed it fixed later, I don't think a new insurance

would pay for it.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dawn

April 30, 2003

Well, I have more than my share in the Photos section, but cannot delete any

photos there. Also, there's no way to add or remove files in the Files section.

Is this true for everyone? I'd be glad to help by removing some of the stuff

I've posted over time (and then would like to add a few very small files which

are recent photos), but I can't.

Z

________________________________

From: Ziobro

Sent: Wed 4/30/2003 8:49 AM

To: Dawn Conner-Jeppesen; graduate-ossg

Subject: RE: plastics question