As you know, this blog is starting up as I head into reconstructive surgery.  The phrase that I’ve taken to using is “major reconstructive surgery made necessary by successful weight loss.”  This seems to calm people’s reactions when they hear “major surgery.”

So, what’s going to happen?  Warning – I’m going to tell you in detail and I’m not going to waste time being euphemistic about it.  It’s graphic and you should choose if it’s TMI for you.

There are two parts to this surgery – a belt lipectomy and a double mastopexy. Let’s start with the first, which is the bigger procedure.

A belt lipectomy is a lower body lift.  Sounds so simple!  Well, on me – they are doing a lot more than lifting, let me tell you!  After 150 lbs lost, I have a major pouch of skin and surface (subcutaneous) fat around my whole body.  In the front (it’s called a panniculus here), it hangs down to the tops of my thighs and it’s thicker than I can hold with my hands.  They will remove this – it is maybe 15 lbs all on it’s own! – and, with an incision that goes 360 around my body (right at the top of the legs/hips), they will pull everything together – that will flatten my stomach (first time that I’ll ever have that in my life that I remember!) and lift the buttocks and thighs somewhat (won’t affect the inner thighs).  They will also make a vertical incision down my middle front and go in and tighten the abdominal wall of muscle that has stretched out with all the excess.  They don’t actually cut and tighten – just tighten.  And, in all of this, they will cut out, reposition and reattach my navel.  Very weird to think about it!  That will be a major part of the recovery – learning to stand/lay straight again which will stretch those abdominal muscles.

Then the mastopexy – this is a breast reconstruction.  It’s a double mastopexy, well, because I have two of them.  Just to be clear!  Currently, they hang down near my belly button and are very thin and loose.  The surgery will take much of the fat from the bottom and move it to the top, pull them up into more appropriate breast positions, then cut out, reposition and reattach the nipples.  Technically, and certainly in bra size, this will reduce them, but it’s mostly about moving things around to be more…erm….shapely than about removing a lot of mass.  There just isn’t that much excess mass – it’s all about where it is!

The interesting, weird, personal thing about the mastopexy is that I have to say what I’d like to end up with.  The cup size, etc.  I could chose to get implants (not going to), be busty (had enough of that in my life) – I have to say!  And I’m not one who has ever thought about cosmetic surgery or has a real accurate picture of what size I prefer.  The best that I could come up with at first when the surgeon asked me was that I really just wanted them to look like breasts – you know – breasts!  Have some round to them.  Proportionate.  Perhaps a smidge perky!  Dare I say cup-able?!!  Breasts!!!!

Well, I guess I’m out there now.  If you wondered how plain-spoken this blog would be.  It’s plain. And that’s what I wanted more of when I was surfing for other’s experience, so it’s what I’m going to give.

Okay – those are the procedures.  All together, it’s an 8-10 hour surgery.  I’ll spend perhaps only one night in the hospital – with a possible option for a second.  The recovery will be lengthy and multi-faceted.  I’ll come home with 6 drains that we’ll have to record and empty 2x/day and they’ll come out gradually as they can – perhaps over 3 weeks.  There will be a lot of bruising and swelling and I think it will take a few hours each day just to clean and care for the incisions – ointment, protection, layers of binder/bra and clothing to keep everything safe and comfortable.  I likely won’t feel really at all functional for 4 weeks – no driving, no lifting, only walking as much as I can and in circles so I don’t get stuck too far away and run out of steam.  I’ll wear an abdominal binder and surgical bra for at least 6 weeks and still no lifting, but shopping may be able to happen as the swelling is finally down and we’ll know my true size.  Somewhere around 8 weeks, I should have the all clear to resume life as normal.

I’ll be using this blog a lot, I hope – and it’s my intention to have a very, very different period of time this summer.  Obviously taking the time and energy to recover, but then taking the rest of the time to really break my patterns.  I want to write – blog and songwrite – relax, read, reassess – you get the picture.  I want to be without “shoulds” as much as I can.  I’m pretty sure that will get harder as I feel better – but I’m determined to relax.  I WILL RELAX!!  Okay, relax, Jen…<sheesh> this is complicated!