Gore-Tex X 2!(primary, infection and redo)This had to be the most painful surgery of the three that I have had - breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and these two lip augmentations - (four if you include the Gore-Tex revision I had which barely hurt at all). I was miserable as you can tell by my expression in my recovery photos. With my nose, well it didn't even hurt, really. It just felt like I had a head cold for a week. You don't move it so it doesn't hurt. My breasts, well that kinda hurt a bit, I won't lie to you. But, they gave me good meds so I don't remember much. Your breasts are bandaged to your body for about a week and a half anyway - so they didn't move much either. But, your lips - Oh my God! They move all of the time. I never really noticed how much your lips move until it hurt to do so. I mean anything at all. Even a little grin. My advice to you: don't watch anything funny and don't keep company with funny people, at least for awhile. Trust me. My ConsultationI went to my same surgeon that I have my rhino and breast augmentation with to hear out the options. I didn't know much back then so I went to him and him only. I had previously had collagen injections for a few months to "try on" the look before I took the permanent plunge. I knew I wanted big lips so - onward march! We talked about AlloDerm which he found not to last very long, we talked about Softform which he didn't care for and we talked about Gore-Tex. He really raved about it and showed me lots of photos of his patients who had it done. I liked the look and wanted more defined lips so I scheduled a surgery date and preoperative appointment and forked over the cash ($1,850.US). Since I had the two other procedures with him he gave me about $150. US off - woo hoo. Remember that fees vary from state to state, region to region. so, it could be much more or much less. I then went home and looked online for big lip pics - obsessed for about week until my pre-operative appointment came around. Pre-Operative AppointmentWe got there and were ushered into the back - and discussed the usual. I was given a pre-operative information packet that explained everything to do and know before my surgery date. The packet included all the medications I should not take for up to 2 weeks before the surgery. These medications included, but are not limited to, aspirin containing products, St. John's Wort, stimulants and the like. Would you like to view a typical Medication & Supplements List? I was given a box of SinEcch Arnica montana for swelling and bruising, my various prescriptions for meds (prednisone (which is a glucocorticoid. Glucocorticoids are adrenocortical steroids), antibiotics, valium for pre-op jitters and post-op sleep help, catapres for blood pressure and a list of what to get at the pharmacy (gauze, Vitamin C, etc). You can order SinEcch from Alpine Pharmaceuticals for about $29.95US. It reportedly significantly reduces swelling, bruising and speeds the healing process. I didn't bruise that much at all. Read about the benefits of Arnica montana? Then it was off to the lab down the hall to get "blood work" performed. This was an extra out-of-pocket expense that is necessary to check your white and red blood cell count which may indicate disease or disorders beforehand. So many things to do... so little time. My surgery was going to be here before I knew it and I had to prepare!! Please visit the Preparing For Surgery page and relax. This section contains, printer-friendly pre-op lists, tips and advice as well as things you must do to prepare for your big day. Night Before SurgeryI was nervous and excited as usual so I took my valium so I could sleep. I was the first surgery again (I always seem to get the first surgery slot, LOL). I took my shower and scrubbed my face with Hibiclens - this nasty drying antibacterial soap, washed my face, neck, entire body and even hair!! with this nasty stuff. I was so dry afterwards. I brushed my teeth for what seemed like days! Gargled/Rinsed with Listerine until my tongue felt like it was going to fall off. I wanted NO infections! I had gotten everything ready before the valium and bath and had no worries - just excitement! I went to sleep and dreamt of big lips Surgery Day! The Early Bird Gets The Lips!I had nervous jitters all morning and took a valium soon after I woke up. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, Gargled/Rinsed with Listerine - AGAIN. I was so ready - WOO HOO!!! We got in the car and I had my little kit with me - My favorite, lucky blue plastic surgery PJ's freshly pedicured toes and manicured nails - clean as a whistle and then... TRAFFIC! Oh for God's sake!!! Is EVERYONE getting Plastic Surgery today?? Don't ever move to the Bay Area (San Francisco, California) - it is bad, bad BAD! The commute is horrid - not LA-horrid but close. We arrived on time though :) I signed in - was immediately taken back - I know everyone by now LOL! The usual get into this gown ordeal, while Marc changed into his scrubs down the hall (he watches my surgeries). Pre-op pics were taken, the nurse comes in for the IV - joy... Last minute blood pressure checks - my blood pressure was fine - I couldn't take the Catapres this time due to it being low recently. Not in a bad way - just a real healthy, but pretty low ,pressure. Then it was off to the O.R. The SurgeryI waddled into the O.R. with my socks and surgical slippers - desperately trying to cover my butt so the surgical entire team wouldn't see it. Hopped right on the table with the nurse and IV in tow. Yes, yes, we've done this all before - let's get on with it darn it!! Okay NOW THE FEAR SETS IN! I HATE going under anesthesia. I always have this stupid fear of dying. Well I mean I consciously do not mind it but I am told I freak out a few seconds after I initially pass out. Rambling about how I am dying and I can "see the light", etc. I am pathetic. So I guess you could say my subconscious/unconscious self hates it - not me. I am a Gemini afterall and we are schizophrenic. No we are not. Yes we are, be quiet. My doctor holds my hand as the nurse injects Versed - okay here it comes... like that cold liquid mirror from "Matrix" when Keanu Reeves touches it with his finger and it travels up his whole arm and infiltrates his mouth That is how I describe the sensation. BAM! I am out like a light. Or am I? I can see Marc and Francesca (my now-best friend) talking off the O.R... I start that slow, drugged thinking process... *Why aren't they looking at me after all I am the patient* *I am going to sleep I want to see your eyes before I go to sleep* *look at me! (maybe I can will him) think think think* *what! is he flirting with her??* *I am getting ready to undergo surgery and may die and he is flirting with the O.R. tech* *I am so sleepy* *am I talking outloud??* *here comes my doc, I hope he can't hear me* *gosh, I am SO tired, what am I doing here? I hope my butt isn't showing.* Random thoughts like this always plant themselves into my mind. I just can't help it. I wonder if Versed beings out my neuroses. Like it intensifies it or something. LOL! Anyway apparently I get knocked out finally and the surgery starts. They basically make a small incision at the corner of each lip (that's four incisions) and skewer (there's that word again) your lip with a metal rod with a hook on the end - kind of like a surgical crotchet needle. The Gore-Tex is attached to the end of the the rod and pulled through you lip (my boyfriend said this was rather violent and it slipped off twice making a very gruesome sound). After the implant is "threaded" through your lip the ends are trimmed and the incisions sutured up. Viola! less than an hour later you have lips. You aren't anesthetized for too incredibly long if you have only this procedure, so you wake up rather easily and you immediately start feeling a painful throb. I am telling you the lips are sensitive after being skewered. I looked down and a long drool of blood and saliva fell on my lap - I started blubbering "I am bleeding" and so they washed my mouth out and Marc game me some water to sip - which was VERY difficult. I started complaining about the pain when the sat me down in the recovery recliner - they immediately gave me Vicodin. My little pulse monitor thingy on my finger kept cutting out (like not getting a contact/reading) and it would sound the alarm. They kept rushing back there to *rescue* me. LOL! Kepot giving me the eye like I was doing it on purpose! You can't feel your lips as far as pressure for days (just pain). Well at least that's' what happened to me. So, when you try to drink or eat you get more on your chest than you do in your mouth. Especially if you have breast implants - everything kind of gets caught right on top of your boobs. Okay, so I had to get a root canal and although the timeline and events are cloudy on how long post op I was so I looked back on my records...
I remember going to the dentist and his big hand was just killing my lips - you'd think I would have not been sensitive but the 3.5 tubes were apparently too big and they felt a little too long as well for my mouth. Not to mention the "corners" had been sticking me in the incision lines since day one. I told the dentist that he was hurting me and that I had lip implants that are still generally new and he needed to be more careful. Well he shot me up with local in my lip and lo and behold I felt no more pain - but I felt pressure - he was still being rough with my lips - what could I do?
Take a look to the left/above this is how big it was towards the end of the trip - you can imagine how big it was by the time I got home. Removal with Regional Nerve Block Thankfully it passed and the doc cut the edge of my lip and took a pair of forceps and ripped it out. It came popping out quite easily due to the infection and there was yellow and green pus all over it. YUCK!! He gave me a prescription for antibiotics and sent me off to wait THREE WHOLE MONTHS!! before I could implant another one in my lips. I had a top lip but no bottom lip - I looked like I had an overbite for 3 months! Even my boyfriend's mother noticed, she said, "are you hiding your lip or teeth for some reason?" I said "no I have no bottom! lip" *waaaaaaah* confession! Replacement & Another Infection Scare (August 5, 1999) Same old routine - or so I thought! Marc has been in 3 of my surgeries and at the LAST MINUTE they said that he can't go in. Some dork who was in for his wife's BA the week before (taping it and all) passed out and bumped his head. So, now Marc can't come in because of this idiot. Since I didn't take Catapres this time, my blood pressure then SHOT UP when I heard he wasn't coming in! They told me 2 minutes before I was going under. What !@%$!#!
Recovery - Another Scare! Well, Dr. F took a swab for a culture (wiped my lip with a single-ended cotton swab and stuck it in a labeled, sealed container). They are going to see what it grows to determine if it is an infection or not. In the mean time I am on some SERIOUS antibiotics called Clindamycin. Infection Free!!
Well, What Do I Think? Update! 6 1/2 Years Later Here I am today, 13 months after Radiance injection over my Gore-Tex. Thankfully all of the Radiance is gone. Well, except for the remnants of two lumps I had of it that is still slowly going away. Click photo for a larger image... |
I can't move much less am coherent enough to play jokes like that. As if.
It goes to close up and then I smile, eat or whatever and it opens back up. I have an appt. tomorrow so we will see what Dr. Friedman says. I will just be SO upset if I have to remove it again. if I do I am going to take them both out and get AlloDerm or something.
