I had my 6 month follow-up visit with my PS this past Friday. It was fairly short and sweet. It was mainly to ensure that everything was healing exactly as it should be. While I waited in boredom, I took a few pictures of my own to include in this blog.
As anticipated, post operative photos were taken and I did fine with that. To the right of the examination room picture below, a sliding door leads patients into a small room equipped with a black drop cloth hung on the wall, a chair as well as a computer and camera for before and after pictures. When the nurse came in, I was led into that area. Photos were taken of me beginning with a side view standing, front view standing and then the one that tells all, the seated (slightly at an angle) view. That's the best judge of the surgery because you can see if there is any overhang etcetera.
After the few clicks of the shutter button, I waited a little longer while the nurse displayed side by side on the rather large dual monitors in the little photo op room THE pictures. Then she asks, "Which view would you like a copy of?" I glance around to peer at the monitors, and oh my gosh, was there a HUGE difference. I immediately think, I don't want a copy of either one of them. Um, hello? EW. The purpose of the surgery is so I don't have to look at that ungodly sight again, ever. The only memorable thing I want to see from surgery are the scars and I'm very okay with that.
I knew how much I hated my stomach area but since it's been improved, seeing those before photos just seemed to magnify those feelings all over again. To look at the before really disgusted me and it's no freakin' wonder I was so self-conscience about it and hid it like it was leprosy.
Sufficed to say, because the nurse saw I was struggling to decide, she chose for me. She even put the momentos in a cute little mini folder to cherish for always. Blech. Oh, she chose the sitting views. Did I say blech?
If, and that's a huge IF, I can bring myself to do it, I'll edit this post to include the before and after photos. I'll need to crop them because in the before I'm completely nude with the exception of the classy paperish blue thong courtesy of the surgeon.
Like I said, IF ......
I also inquired about tanning, my PS suggested wearing a bikini or thong type bottom to protect the scar. As I mentioned before regarding tanning, it can cause the scar to get darker. Which he did mention to me and also followed it by saying "then again, it may not". I think he said that to me because I have darker pigmented skin so my scar is dark already. So take that suggestion for what it's worth.
Oh, I wanted to add ... my surgeon's very blunt bedside manner. As he's leaving the examining room and tells me bye he knows I'm working out, trying to lose some weight and says "If you lose weight and still have that fat on your thighs come back and see me and we can suck it out of there." I'm thinking, lol, seriously?
Once again, I cannot express how pleased I am with the results of my surgery. The planning, the time off, the drainage tubes, the catheter that was worn home that I had to remove myself, the pain endured as I recovered, the stitches that pinched and hurt as they were removed, the binder that became my security blanket as I healed, those damned compression hose, the anxiety of not being able to stand upright for several weeks, the concern at being able to workout and build those abdominal muscles, and all other things I experienced in between even to include the no tanning restriction was all well worth it.
Although my PS said that he didn't really need to see me, another follow-up appointment was scheduled for my anniversay month. So I'll return to his office for one final visit regarding my TT in August 2013.
Who knows, maybe we'll discuss getting that fat sucked out of my thunder thighs then ....
As anticipated, post operative photos were taken and I did fine with that. To the right of the examination room picture below, a sliding door leads patients into a small room equipped with a black drop cloth hung on the wall, a chair as well as a computer and camera for before and after pictures. When the nurse came in, I was led into that area. Photos were taken of me beginning with a side view standing, front view standing and then the one that tells all, the seated (slightly at an angle) view. That's the best judge of the surgery because you can see if there is any overhang etcetera.
I knew how much I hated my stomach area but since it's been improved, seeing those before photos just seemed to magnify those feelings all over again. To look at the before really disgusted me and it's no freakin' wonder I was so self-conscience about it and hid it like it was leprosy.
Sufficed to say, because the nurse saw I was struggling to decide, she chose for me. She even put the momentos in a cute little mini folder to cherish for always. Blech. Oh, she chose the sitting views. Did I say blech?
If, and that's a huge IF, I can bring myself to do it, I'll edit this post to include the before and after photos. I'll need to crop them because in the before I'm completely nude with the exception of the classy paperish blue thong courtesy of the surgeon.
Like I said, IF ......
I also inquired about tanning, my PS suggested wearing a bikini or thong type bottom to protect the scar. As I mentioned before regarding tanning, it can cause the scar to get darker. Which he did mention to me and also followed it by saying "then again, it may not". I think he said that to me because I have darker pigmented skin so my scar is dark already. So take that suggestion for what it's worth.
Oh, I wanted to add ... my surgeon's very blunt bedside manner. As he's leaving the examining room and tells me bye he knows I'm working out, trying to lose some weight and says "If you lose weight and still have that fat on your thighs come back and see me and we can suck it out of there." I'm thinking, lol, seriously?
Once again, I cannot express how pleased I am with the results of my surgery. The planning, the time off, the drainage tubes, the catheter that was worn home that I had to remove myself, the pain endured as I recovered, the stitches that pinched and hurt as they were removed, the binder that became my security blanket as I healed, those damned compression hose, the anxiety of not being able to stand upright for several weeks, the concern at being able to workout and build those abdominal muscles, and all other things I experienced in between even to include the no tanning restriction was all well worth it.
Although my PS said that he didn't really need to see me, another follow-up appointment was scheduled for my anniversay month. So I'll return to his office for one final visit regarding my TT in August 2013.
Who knows, maybe we'll discuss getting that fat sucked out of my thunder thighs then ....
