The Day of the Surgery — as told by the photographer..
The surgery starts at 8:00 AM, so we have to be there by 6:00 AM. I woke up at 4:30 AM, and left at 5:30 AM, before dawn. Sprinklers are going off regardless of rain.
The place we are going now is not a clinic, but a hospital surgery center. In the States, many plastic surgeons have a clinic where they do consultation and do follow up appointments for patients, and surgeries are done at the hospital elsewhere. It’s different from here where everything is done in the plastic surgery clinic. In Japan, we say “I’m going to hospital” lightly when we go for check ups and getting prescription, but in the States, if you say “I’m going to hospital”, people might get worried about you.
At 6:00 AM, we arrive at the hospital. Patients already wait at this early hour. It has a lighter atmosphere than Japanese counterpart, and there is a candy and coffee self service.
While waiting, Chris goes through the paperwork, and she signs them as she reads and agrees.
I also receive a paper to sign. It includes something like “not to touch the surroundings, not to faint, etc.”
In the waiting room, TV is on, and there are lots of medicine and insurance commercials. America also deals with social issue of big aging generation, I hear.
About 7:30 AM, Chris is changed and ready for IV. In the States, patients are not to eat after midnight, which is nice and clear compared to Japan, which is 6 hours prior to your surgery time.
Chris, who suddenly looks serious and says; “Grandpa in heaven, please watch over me….” Oh wow, it’s good to know this vivacious girl could be nervous too. “Wait, my grandpa is still alive!” yes, that is my vivacious girl.
Pousti Plastic Surgery would be something like “Pousti Biyou Geka” in Japanese.
A message from the clinic; Dr. Pousti specializes in breast procedures and body contouring. The most popular procedure in our office is breast augmentation and tummy tuck surgery. yes, eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty (nose) surgery is very common. When Dr. Pousti meets with patients, he makes sure that the patient is in good health and that the patient is performing surgery for the "right reason". you have to be doing the surgery for yourself, not to make someone else happy.
I read their liposuction F&Q, which was similar to what we know in Japan. In Japan, we call it “Lipo (Lee-Po)”, but in the States, it’s know as “Lipo (Lai-po).
The photo gallery lets you see the photos of patients depending upon patients’ age, height, gender, skin color, bust/inplant size. In Japan, patients are pretty much all Japanese; here, there is a variety of people. That’ll be probably the reason why they let you do a specialized search. you can check Tummy Tuck here, which is getting popular in Japan.
Marking starts. Job gets done quickly with a good surgeon in any country.
This is her picture before the surgery. Once the marked parts fat goes away, the beautiful silhouette will show.
I go in with scrubs, mask, and hair cap.
And shoes cover. I’ve never seen those in Japan, so I didn’t understand what that was first.
Dr Pousti smiling and ready to go!
Nurses and Doctors. In the States, even nurse is specialized.
The clock hits 8:00AM.
Operation time!
She goes under in 3 seconds with general anesthetic. A tube goes into respiratory tract quickly. from this moment on, everything moves so fast. A bladder tube gets inserted also.
Dr Pousti puts the tape on Chris’s eyes.
Everyone flips Chris’s body. Wait, Sideways? I was surprised since I’ve never seen that done in Japan.
The head is raised with pillow, and cushions go between legs and arms.
Surgical appliances are similar to the ones used in Japan.
Oh, I recognize this one too!
Sterilization starts. Wow! Disinfectant looks like a chocolate sauce. The ones I’m used to see in Japan is liquid, so this is interesting. (In Japan, they use the disinfectant for vein injection.) Chris, you look yummy looking like chocolate banana!
This gets spread with sponge.
Dr. Pousti changes. The robe string in back comes in front to tie; the way he twirls on his heels is very dashing.
It seems like he’s marking the parts that the cannule goes in.
Saline is inserted.
“one hundred”. It’s the same as “100cc desu” in Japan.
Nurse who turns on the button studies Dr Pousti’s movement.
Scene where he inserts Saline. this procedure is the same in Japan.
Only 10 minutes after going into surgery!!!
Here comes the first fat out from Miss Chris! everything gets done fast!
I’m used to seeing surgeries with epidural, so I’m shocked with how quick general anesthetic can go. since patient is completely under, everything moves in a matter of second.
Since surgery is done in a hospital as opposed to the plastic surgery clinics in Japan, general anesthetic can be done with less risk.
There is a doctor who specializes in anesthetic watches the monitor with all her might.
Chris continues to dream nicely.
Nurse is holding the body so that the body doesn’t shake during suction since she’s on her side.
About in 30 minutes, right thigh is done.
Taping on incision part.
The other side. everyone helps to flip her over. *In Japan where patients remain conscious, patients are told to get up here.
Again that chocolate sauce looking disinfectant.
The Ipod in surgery room. The music is on all time.
I hear he is super busy doctor in demand, sometimes having 40 cases of breast augmentation in a month.
Miss Chris from the other side.
Left side suction starts.
He changes the size of the cannule depending upon the parts – the same in Japan also.
Dr. Pousti checking the finishing look.
Suturing after changing the lights. The surgery light has the cap so that he can touch it with his surgical gloves. Check out American version of Before and After.
Before. It might be hard to see from sideway….
After. The upper part gets straight curve, and obtains feminine cuteness.
Next is the inner thighs and inner knees. It’s done with open legs with tapes stabilizing her legs over the socks. everything except the surgical parts is covered completely.
Dr Pousti turns gracefully for the third time. Sucking the fat from inner thigh by pressing them. Inner thighs done, and sutured.
A stretcher is ready next to her.
Compression garment is worn…. (the same design as Chuizy)
Moved to the stretcher with sheets.
Then Chris is taken to another room right after.
Dr Pousti smiled and said to me, “It was a good experience for both of us.” thank you Doc!
While Chris is sleeping, a flower is delivered for her from the doctor.
3 hours and half after the surgery started, Chris goes home in wheelchair.
San Diego and La Jolla Liposuction & Liposculpture- Chris’ Story- Cosmetic Surgery by Dr. Tom Pousti
PIAC is pleased to welcome Dr Songyos Chantajitr to our team. Dr Songyos has been the chief of Plastic Surgery at Banphaeo Hospital. Prior to this he completed his Doctor of Medicine training in 1999, then trained as a General Surgeon in 2006, going on to complete his qualification as a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in 2009. Dr Songyos specialises in facial and breast surgery, and is accepting appointments and surgery from 15th August 2012 at PIAC. Dr Songyos’s full resume is available on our website here 
July 06, 2011 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
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Today was my first of several follow-up appointments with my surgeon. I saw for the first time the results of my breast reduction. It was absolutely amazing!!! I am a C cup now but they are still slightly swollen. They are smaller and purky and I am thrilled with the results. They took all the bandages off and there was no weight pulling me down without a bra on. I still have the steri strips where there is an incision but those will come off at my next appointment next week. as for my tummy, it is definitely flat and still so swollen but I can tell it’s going to be fabulous once I am all healed. I am still hunched over but the surgeon says that it will just take time to stand up straight because he said he sewed my muscles really tight. I also had one of my drains removed today. The one on the right side was taken out and I am so happy about that because it always felt like it was pulling. I was so scared to have the drains removed because the thought of a 12 inch tube being pulled out of me has been freaking me out. The nurse started to remove the drain and I was like “ouch, ouch, ouch” and she told that she only just took the tape off so far…lol I was pleasantly surprised that I felt nothing when the drain come out. I know it’s gross but I am going to take a picture the next time the other one is removed. I am hoping that it will be removed by the home health care nurse this weekend. I have been told by the surgeon that I can shower now as long as I cover the drain. It has been so hard not being able to shower and just having sponge baths and trying to wash my hair without getting wet. So it’s been a week and everyday I feel so much better. I am still sleeping in the living room so that I could have some privacy from the support staff that arrive early in the morning to get Shawn up. I plan on moving back into our bedroom this weekend. My mom has been here since the surgery and she goes home on Sunday. It’s going to be tough without her but at least we have lots of support staff helping us until I am cleared to lift, which could be about 6-8 weeks. It’s been really hard not being able to lift Kian and he has been really whiny lately because he knows something is up. Pretty much the pain is non-existent and it’s just mostly uncomfortable now. If anyone has ever thought about doing this then all I have to say is if you can make it through the 1st week, which is tough, then you will be just fine!!
