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 consultations 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 the hospital” lightly when we go for checkups and get prescriptions, but in the States, if you say “I’m going to the 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 its 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, the TV is on, and there are lots of medicine and insurance commercials. America also deals with the social issue of a big aging generation, I hear.
At 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 before 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.
Prime 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 are 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 known as “Lipo (Lai-po).
The photo gallery lets you see the photos of patients depending on patients’ age, height, gender, skin color, and bust/implant 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. The 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, a mask, and a 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 8:00 AM.
She goes under in 3 seconds with a general anesthetic. A tube goes into the respiratory tract quickly. From this moment on, everything moves so fast. A bladder tube gets inserted also.
Everyone flips Chris’s body. Wait, Sideways? I was surprised since I’ve never seen that done in Japan.
The head is raised with a pillow, and cushions go between the legs and arms.
Surgical appliances are similar to the ones used in Japan.
Oh, I recognize this one too!
Sterilization starts. Wow! The disinfectant looks like a chocolate sauce. The ones I’m used to seeing in Japan are liquid, so this is interesting. (In Japan, they use disinfectant for vein injection.) Chris, you look yummy looking like a chocolate banana!
This gets spread with a sponge.
Dr. Pousti changes.
The robe string in the 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 cannula goes in.
Saline is inserted.
“One hundred”.
It’s the same as “100cc desu” in Japan.
The nurse who turns on the button studies Dr Pousti’s movement.
In the 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 the patient is completely under, everything moves in a matter of seconds.
Since surgery is done in a hospital as opposed to plastic surgery clinics in Japan, general anesthetic can be done with less risk.
Dr. Pousti puts the tape on Chris’s eyes.
There is a doctor who specializes in anesthetics who watches the monitor with all her might.
Chris continues to dream nicely.
The nurse is holding the body so that the body doesn’t shake during suction since she’s on her side.
About in 30 minutes, the 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 looks disinfectant.
The Ipod in the surgery room. The music is on all time.
I hear he is a 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 cannula depending upon the parts – the same in Japan also.
Dr. Pousti checking the finishing look.
Suturing after changing the lights. The surgery light has a cap so that he can touch it with his surgical gloves.
Next are 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 the inner thigh by pressing them. Inner thighs are done and sutured.
A stretcher is ready next to her.
A 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 a half after the surgery started, Chris goes home in a wheelchair.
