PS Confusion

I'd prefer to ask this question on the DS forum because of the high esteem in which I hold so many of you and I know you'll give me honest and thoughtful answers.  I recently canceled my PS because of  the overwhelming feeling that I should not go.  From bitter experience the only times I have had real problems in my life were when I failed to obey that voice inside of me. Many of you know exactly what I mean.

After much consideration, I believe that I wanted to have too much done too quickly.

Now, what to do? I want a face & neck lift in addition to a "total body lift" Since I'll be 58 this year, does anyone have a realistic schedule to follow for someone of this age? 

Several surgeons have formulated plans which will have all or nearly all of the procedures done within several weeks of each other.  However, this seems too ambitious an undertaking in too short a time for me.  I mean no criticism whatsoever of those who have chosen to go this route.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give me 

I will be watching with interest any replies as I am the same age and need probably the same things done.  I haven't really decided exactly how much pain I am willing to go through and how many things I could live without though.

Michele

I'll keep you posted 

A year and a half ago, at age 56, in the best shape of my life (working out for a year + ahead of time, pumped up with iron and vitamins), I too planned to have all my PS done in three staged operations:  Face, neck, arms first; LBL and thighs 30 days later, and boobs and modest upper body lift 45 days after that.  My surgeon is a very respected specialist in post WLS reconstructuve surgery (Agha), with a lot of experience.

After the face and arms, I was given Percosets and Reglan (to prevent the percs from slowing down my guts).  I don't know exactly if it was the Reglan or not, although I'm pretty convinced it was, but between the psychiatric side effects that happened, and the amount of pain caused by the surgery, especially the liposuction, I developed panic and anxiety attacks, and became terrified of the idea of pursuing further surgery.  I am STILL suffering (though to a lesser extent) from that experience.  Plus, the antidepressants my doctors put me on (and inactivity and stress eating, I'm sure contributed) caused a VERY rapid 35 lb regain after being 6+ years stable or losing a little.

It was WAY too ambitious for me, I think.  The surgery was VERY painful to me and very debilitating.  I'm not sure it was worth it - although perhaps KNOWING how bad it would be, I would have been less freaked out.  I'm not eager to go back under the knife - but until I lose the weight I gained, it's a moot point anyway.

Thank you for sharing.  You give strength  to my concerns.  I, too, had a terrible time with Reglan-also developed uncontrollable movements and a rash.  The kicker is I had to tell the physician that I was having a reaction to the drug.  The nurses thought I was being an a**hole because I "wouldn't" hold still.  It is truly awful to be sooooooo sick and have to do your own medical detective work  

I sincerely hope you continue to get better and to loose the weight gain.  You really had a rotten time.


i. 

Nothing wrong with doing what you think you can handle at one time. We are all different. I wanted it done and over with. I am POA for my Dad and I had to work it around his care.
 
So thankfully I had lots of flier miles. I made 3 trips to Brazil to Dr Kuster and we planned the trips with two trips being 2 weeks and the third was 3.5 weeks as that was the lower body lift with inverted butt lift. I could of been home a few days earlier on the third round.

I could of stayed longer and done them all 2-3 weeks apart, but that was too close for me and gone too long for my Dad. I also did not need blood, like some do when they do a lot close together.

Not sure who your doc is, but discuss this all with him/her. Tell them your concerns. Protein load pre surgery. Take Arnica to aid  healing pre and post op... but approve it with your doc so they know your taking it. It is an homeopathic healer. I think it made a BIG difference for me, plus I pushed 120-140 grams of protein for 2 weeks pre-ps. Your body needs protein and heals faster when levels are increased.

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Thank you for the advice.

I'm 58.  That said, I was afraid if I piece-mealed my PS, that if it was too painful I wouldn't go through the rest.  I decided to go to Monterry, Mexico with Dr Sauceda.  He did an LBL, BL, arms, and small upper thigh lift on a Thur with an epidural and twilight sedation.  4 days later on Monday, I had a neck lift and a full facelift.  I wasn't in a lot of pain from the body work.  The epidural helps for about 30 hrs, then was on oral meds, until the facelift.  I had a little more pain with the facelift than the body work.  Probably as my eyes burned when I came too, but Dr S was right there, giving me something for the pain and cold compresses for my eyes.  My nurse put compresses on every hour for 10min at a time all night. 

I stayed in the clinic with 24/7 care until Wed afternoon, so total time in the clinic was a week.  Then I was at the hotel for a week.  I did take 6 more weeks off from work.  My recovery has been textbook so far.  I do love my new body and face.  I have pics up in Dr Sauceda's photo section.  You do need to be a friend and have the password.  I'll be 16 weeks out on Thursday.

The mind game that begins with weight loss, is so much different after PS.  I now look at my new body, perky bewbies and no hanging skin or huge muffin top and just think I look normal now.  I'll never be a size 2, but I just wanted to look "normal" with or without clothes.  I'll be 59 in less than 2 weeks and think I look pretty darn good for an old broad!

Thanks for the info.  Could you elaborate on what you mean by "mind game" ?  I don't understand.






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When I looked in the mirror after losing weight, I could still see the "fat me" looking back at times.  The muffin top, hanging panni all contributed to the picture in my mind.  Even though I was in size 9 jeans and large tops, sometimes I still saw the me at 225lbs. 

Now, with a flat tummy, perky bewbies (not seeing how far south they can go), no hanging glob of skin.  I can finally see myself as others see and tell me... I look normal.  I'm still in size 9 jeans, but more medium than large tops.  I still look at my jeans when they come out of the dryer and am amazed that I can fit into these little tiny jeans.    That's what I meant my mind games.  After PS, my body is normal looking.  I'll never be a size 2, but I'm pretty darn happy where I'm at.