Tuesday, April 13, 2010

The Support Group To Scare Your Pants Off

Well Vickie and I went to support group tonight and listened to the plastic surgeon who was the guest speaker.

We both walked away with the same conclusion...

Hell no.

He walked us through all the different types of surgery, risks, complications, pictures...etc. He was honest and let me tell you...after all the stories and statistics and pictures I decided I just may be able to live with my stomach and thighs just they way they are! Drains, corrections, pain...yeah...have I ever mentioned I am a giant puss?

Now, the discussion on boobie lifts and augmentations didn't scare me and that will probably be in my future someday.

Sigh.

I did ask him about skin rebounding in general. I wanted to know if there was any truth when people say "You are younger, so your skin will bounce back". He said a little. He said it has to do with several things. Sun damage, age, genes, whether or not you are a smoker, how many times your weight has gone up and down, etc.

SO I asked him to clarify about the areas with stretch marks. And he did say that once there are stretch marks, the skin cannot go back. Damage done.

He also said that if you want your scars to heal nicely, he recommends any product with silicone in it. You can get it at any store, next to the bandaids. His favorite product is Scar Guard. You apply it once a day. He said other products like Maderma (spelling?) actually have no science behind them...so look for silicone.

25 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip on the scar guard! I have not taken a stance on the whole plastic surgery thing. When I get to my goal weight I will have to face that subject. I know it can be a hot button topic out in bandland.

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  2. Punky - do you watch Ruby? She's contemplating PS - on her arms and the doc said it's 25 lbs - just on her arms. Can you imagine? But she saw all the scars and now doesn't think she wants to do it....such a big step...and one too many take lightly in my opinion (or don't do enough research is what I mean). Smooches.

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  3. I did not need to read this. It makes me sad to think that after all my hard work my tummy can't look cute without all the horrific--ness you describe..Ahh! I had just talked myself into it after Drazil's graphic post but now if you don't think you can do it I don't knwo if I can. Hmm.

    So let me get this right--you are supposed to rub the silicone stuff on your stretch marks?

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  4. Amy, it was so nice to see you tonight. You really do look beautiful! I got home and told John that I will have to invest in Spanx, cause I'm to freaked out to have any plastic surgery. Dear God, I was nauseated looking at the pictures. Even Drazil's pictures freaked me out! I look forward to making a lunch date soon.

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  5. you aren't lying about plastic surgery being super scary. i subscribe to a youtuber who has documented her lapband journey in videos including her plastic surgery. she just got finished having to have a revision and barely catching a bad infection that might have caused her to lose not only her band but her breasts as well. super scary!

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  6. My mom had a tummy tuck after she lost 100+ pounds following gastric bypass. Since she no longer has her fu-pa (that's what I call the "apron") she gained weight in her thighs and boobies instead. That's my only thought. Not that I plan on ever gaining weight back but if by some slim chance it happens...where will it go if my fu-pa is gone?

    As for the boob lift..I'm with ya! I know it's in my future. I can't wait. I'm hoping they can help out the back boobs too. Stupid back fat! Big boobs were in and now a big butt is in...can we make back fat stylish? I'd be so cool if back fat were in fashion!

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  7. Oh man... I've had stretch marks in every possible location since puberty started at 11 for me. I'm doomed :(

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  8. Interesting info, Amy. Thanks for posting! I'm kind of scared of the idea of plastic surgery, too. I have one more hernia repair surgery in my future (doc said I need to lose more weight first), I was jokingly going to ask if he couldn't repair the hernia AND give me a tummy tuck at the same time. But OUCH....it all sounds painful.

    silicone....will have to check for that!

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  9. I could care less what my stomach is going to look like, especially after knowing a couple women who have had tummy tucks (one is a year and a half out from it, the other is 3 years out and she's super athletic) and both of them still complain about pain from the tightness in their stomachs. They say they can't do sit-ups or crunches and personally, even if it never helps, I still don't like that physical limitation.

    But big, perfect boobies? Absolutely! Sign me right up!

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  10. I agree, I think that I am prepared to live with my body the way it turns out. Except for my BOOBS!! They may have to be reduced!!

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  11. Me three!! I'm leaving my arms and stomach alone but the boobs.. ahh, somethings got to be done with those one day - and like you, it doesn't actually scare me like the stomach one does. Great post, Amy!!

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  12. That's good to hear about ScarGuard. I bought some and used it for a week or two, but it was stinky and my surgeon didn't know enough about it to tell me whether it would work. Stinky though it may be, I'll get back into using it now!

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  13. Interesting about silicone!

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  14. Thanks for the info. I will definately be buying some scar guard once I can use it. I have enough scars, and I don't need anymore. Interesting and kinda scarry about if you have stretch marks.

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  15. I was hoping you would tell us you whipped up your dress and asked for his personal opinion. Go for the breast lift. I had a reduction and it wasn't a big deal. Lifts are supposed to be easier.

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  16. I am terrified of tummy tucks. I am also in the, "I can probably deal with what I have" mindset as of now. We will see when I get to goal though! You look to hot for surgery anyway! :)

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  17. Thanks for posting the info. Let me preface this by saying **I reserve the right to change my mind later** I'm too scared to ever get a tummy tuck. I'm a puss too.
    The LB surgery was bad enough.
    I can't even imagine the horribleness from a full TT.
    I also know myself pretty well and I would STILL find problems even afterward. I'm just going to put up with the extra skin. Hot stock TIP - Invest in SPANX now!

    I am planning on reducing & lifting the bazoombas though! FOR SURE!

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  18. I feel certain that when I reach my goal I'll be practically perfect!LOL! I've had some surgery in my day, but those drains scare the crap out of me! I'm thinking Spanx are pretty powerful. As far as the girls go, funny but that doesn't scare me as bad either. We'll see.

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  19. Amy -- A bandster who I used to follow (who stopped posting a while ago) put up a bunch of posts about her plastic surgery. Here's a link to a page with a bunch of info and photos -- http://sheshrinks.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2007-01-21T00%3A48%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=20

    I thought this was really interesting.

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  20. I have a friend who had GB several years ago and then a tummy tuck. She has gained back about 60-70 lbs. and looks really out of proportion. Her stomach is still pretty flat, but her ass and thighs are HUGE. It doesn't look natural.

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  21. Oh, MY PANTS ARE COMING OFF FOR SURE!!! To get this stupid skin cut off. The first time I lost weight (160 lbs), my skin went back fairly nicely. This time (117 lbs)... my flap hangs lower with every ounce I lose. I have seriously considered cutting the sucker off myself. My surgery is on the 20th (Tuesday!). I'm prepared for pain, drains, swelling, the works... I want it gone that badly. So, if someone is thinking they don't want it, they probably don't need it. Because if you're thinking about it every day... it will drive you insane to not do it!

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  22. That's nice to hear about scarguard, I heard a lot of good things about it but nothing that came straight from a doc. Thanks for sharing.

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  23. I wouldn't mind PS but I don't think I can afford. Actually I KNOW I can't. But since I live in Canada I will be able to get my breast reduction and lift covered- thank god.

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  24. My mom had a tummy tuck a few years after her gastric bypass surgery, and I came in to help her out. Wow... it looked brutal. She rebounds pretty quick though, so she could get up and go to the bathroom and such, but got tired quick. We had to drain the bulbs and keep tally of how much was in there. After all the swelling and such, she looked amazing. :) I need to get one done, but it'll have to wait. I'm also in line for a boob job! *lol* One of our family friends had a boob/tummy tuck/ thighs/and bat wings done, and even she did good, just painful.

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  25. yeah..i freaked out too about the plastic surgeon's visit to support group... but now that i am wearing a lot of sleeveless stuff i am thinking the arms will get done first (and as soon as they let me after goal). i figure *everyone* sees my arms and only 20 or so women see me naked a year...(i wish...lol)... so the tummy and boobs can probably wait.

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