This is a very interesting thread. I had my fleurs de lys abdominoplasty 14 weeks ago, on the NHS, and I am delighted with the results. I feel a million percent better than I did with the horrendous skin I had hanging from my body. They told me from the outset that I wouldn't really see the true and final results for about a year to 18 months as that is the time it takes for everything to settle.
I know I may have to have some more done to the top section but to be honest I don't mind one bit as they got rid of the worst of it.
I have had a very different experience to Mike, yes it was incredibly painful afterwards (well, let's face it, you are cut from side to side and up the middle - it's gonna hurt like hell for a while)... and I had a few complications which were swiftly dealt with. I had a period of immobility which drove me demented, I gained about 12lbs during the time I couldn't move around but as soon as I was mobile again that soon shifted (within a matter of a couple of weeks) and I am back to goal and have been since I could move around fully again.
I have lost some feeling to the lower abdomen but I was fully aware of the risks before I went in for the op, having researched it fully both the pros and cons.
For me this operation has been incredibly uplifting (no pun intended) and positive. There are some niggles but nothing compared to how I felt about the skin.
I have photos of before and some after at different stages. It was April 7th when I had my op and I can't believe how great I feel now.
I'm sorry that not everyone has had a positive experience but there are some who have. It isn't all doom, gloom, dog ears and horrendously painful scarring. Honest! I'm not belittling anyone's suffering - heaven knows it is a dreadful thing to suffer - but it is important to realise that there are happy stories as well as horror stories.
Bottom line is this - if you truly feel, having weighed up the pros and cons, researched to the nth degree and listened to all sorts of accounts.. and you still feel you want the op.. then it's a gamble only you can take. For me it's paid off - big time. I'm very fortunate, I know. I think I am probably in the majority though and as is the way of humans,.. it is predominantly the horror stories that make the press... I do wish you the very very best with the op Mike and hope they can resolve everything as far as possible for you. Your honesty and openness was appreciated when I was heading for my op.