Thank you so much for your input. That is saying something to travel from out of state. I travel in an RV during the winter months and have limited internet power. In the summer I live in south Jersey on a farm in the woods and have satellite internet and have trouble watching anything. Its so frustrating because I can't ever watch utube videos or stream shows. I'll try to do it at a friends when I can. Do you have any input on Dr Capella or any other Dr's? I want to have a consult with at least two of them. I am willing to travel but would like to stay in the North East.

Thanks Gwen!

For the abdominoplasty and gynecomastia, I'd recommend something like this -- https://www.medicointernational.com/store/product-info.php?s c-150-male-above-the-knee-body-shaper-pid180.html

I used this for the arms, and it seems like it should be fairly unisex -- https://www.medicointernational.com/store/product-info.php?T -1105-Arm-Compression-Sleeves-pid577.html

Cool, we hit 10% too so that's all good and given bariatrics and diabetes I'll be adding to the pot I'm sure! Do healthcare premiums count in that?

I will be 5 weeks post LBL on Monday. I was supposed to have a 4-week follow up with my surgeon I accepted a job in North Carolina when I was 1-week post op and it's hard to find time after giving notice to drive 8+ hours and be there on a Tuesday/Thursday without taking a full 3 days off. So, I've been communicating any concerns to my surgeon via email and I will see him at 8-weeks on 3/29. It will only be a 4 hour drive since we will have moved by then!

At 3-weeks or so I was told I could move to 2nd stage garments (ie: Spanx) and that at 4-6 weeks I 'didn't need to wear them at all unless I wanted to'. Well, I tried out Spanx for about 2 days and realized my swelling had increased quite a bit, so I have gone back to mostly wearing a surgical garment from waking until bedtime and I'm now sleeping without it. I know a lot of people may do the opposite, but I feel very much like I'm 'falling out' when I don't wear it when I'm being active. I sleep a lot better without the garment.

I haven't taken any Valium since 2/24, so I'm thinking I'm done with that. I figure I may have the need for it occasionally when I add back in working out. I can return to activity at 6 weeks, but my plan is to wait to talk to the doctor before I do more than just walking.

My glue is finally all gone. I got more vigorous with my loofa scrubbing because I was sick of it. I have one drain hole with a scab, one that the scab fell out of and there's a bit of a pit there and I have one open spot due to a 'spit stitch' (a stitch that came through the skin). The opening is about 2mm long and after I pulled the stitch out it dried up nicely. I have a few other stitches sticking out so I'll be interested to see if those cause similar issues. My butt pain seems to have resolved itself some this week too, that or returning to work in the office has made me sit on it for shorter periods of time and I haven't noticed. My tailbone is now very exposed and I have no fat over it so it feels bruised. That may be something I just need to get used to. I'm not sure biking will ever be my thing!

My breasts look fantastic, the scarring is already flesh toned and the vertical part of the 'lollypop' is the only portion I think you'd pick out if you didn't know I had surgery. My LBL scar is redder, but I'm still impressed by how it looks! I have one breast that has a small 'empty' area where it feels concave. I am assuming that might be a section he added fat to that didn't take. I will ask about it at my 8 week visit, but I sort of assume my body will move fat around to fill the void.

As a reference for how my weight changed - I was 130.6lbs the day of surgery and he removed 2.65lbs of tissue. I was 124.4lbs the day after I came home (9 days post op) and since have bounced in the 125-127 range. I actually would like to target being back in the 130-135 range, but I'm sure my body will get there on its own. I had 19% body fat going into surgery and I'll repeat the DEXA scan this summer.

I'm going to try and upload a censored picture of my front view, so if you're friends with me you should be able to see it.