Karey,

I'm sorry I'm late to this party! I've had the plague (doc says the flu but I promise it's a million times worse than that). You're going to do so well and let me answer two of your questions from one who has gone before you.

First, you asked when will you feel worthy/or that it was the right time to have had the TT. NOW is the time. You're going to lose 10 lbs with it. You will lose weight during recovery. If there's one thing I've learned from being 141 for about 4 or 5 months now, it's that though my "goal" is/was 136, I don't worry about it anymore. The world thinks I'm thin. Sometimes I don't, but I go into stores and pick up mediums and sales girls take them away from me and hand me extra smalls. And they're always right. I was much further from goal than you when I had my TT and, not to brag (haha) but my stomach rocks. Yours is going to also. There is NO doubt in my mind that this is the time for you. I think you will come out better now that you would if you lost 15 lbs first. You have to give the surgeon a little something to sculpt with to get the best shape. We're not meant to be skin and bones. Put the timing fear to rest, ok?

I feel equally strongly about the implants. GET THEM. I don't claim as much authority on this topic because I do think there may be different factors that go into that decision for a woman my age, but I really, really love my implants. I got small ones. As you know, I had the lift first. Then, low and behold, I lost 50 more pounds that I never thought I'd lose. And a B cup just wasn't enough for me. Even at 5'2 I felt out of proportion with my hips -- even after the thigh lift. I really struggled with it and I ultimately went with the smallest implant my Dad would consent to (my Dad's my surgeon for those who read that and said WHAT???). I got 250 cc gel, low profile silicone implants and they're perfect. They're still small -- a mid-C. But the texture and look is so wonderful. I joke with Dad that even if I'd never been MO, I might have had my breasts scooped out and had implants put in because the texture and feel is so great. It might be a personal preference -- I don't know -- but I wouldn't let age stop you. You can choose a subtle augmentation that will make you look and feel so good. My opinion is that a B isn't big enough for most women. That's a vast generalization, but I feel I know enough about your body and your WL journey to comment.

And my advice is go SILICONE not saline. And go low profile, not normal profile, if you don't want that "implant" look (a lot of people like that look -- you know, where there's a lot of curve on top -- low profile carries the weight a little more in the center and bottom -- you still have plenty of cleavage, they just don't scream "IMPLANT" -- but that's a completely personal choice).

You're going to be a whole new person next week. I can't wait for you to be a week post-op.

Thoughts are with you....

__________________
________________
Julie-NYC
banded 4/10/06, NYU, Dr. Fielding