Well, today I had some stitches out and Dr. Lev discovered while taking out the stitches that I accidentally pulled a couple of stitches out of my head, probably while washing my hair. I sorta remember that as I was washing my hair I felt an itch along the back of my upper neck along the hairline where some of the stitching is located. I scratched it and I think when I did that, I accidentally removed a couple of stitches. For a couple of days, it felt really itchy and strange when I ran my fingers over the area. It felt like it was open or something. But I couldn't see. I forgot to mention anything to Dr. Lev when he came to see me and so it wasn't until Day Eight when it was time to remove those stitches, that he noticed I had taken over his job and removed my own stitches!

Steven was present in room #2 at the Villa Plenitud where all of Dr. Lev's postop exams take place. As a matter of fact, Dr. Lev's wife Patty was present as well and so there we all were in room #2 when Alejandro said to me."What happened? It's all open here!"

Now.one thing I can tell you for absolutely sure...

Ya don't wanna hear your plastic surgeon say, as he's looking at your recently stitched up head, "It's all open here"...Ya just don't!

I immediately started to freak out and Patty began nervously reading a magazine while Steven was holding my hand and chose to turn his head the other way.

This did not look good to me.

So, I asked Alejandro."What does this mean?" (as if I didn't know!)

He said he'd have to put a couple of stitches in.

I told him "not without putting me out first!"

He said I shouldn't be a baby.

I told him I AM a baby.

He saw the handwriting on the wall and then said.."Ok, I'll put the stitches in tomorrow, but for now, let me clean the area with a q-tip and some alcohol and cover it up.is that okay??"

I didn't like the way it sounded, but I said yes anyway.

So he fussed a minute over at the medicine cabinet area and then came over and I saw the q-tip and the alcohol and the gauze, so I knew he was on the up and up.

It burned like crazy when he ran the q-tip over the open area. I yelped like a BABY (^%(&*%*&)(*&_)&*%#$%^&*()!!!)

Then he proudly announced, "Ok! Good! I just gave you two little shots of Novocain or (xylocaine or one of those caines) and now the area is numb so I can do the stitches and you won't feel a thing!"

"Liar Liar Pants On Fire" I yelped, in keeping with my "baby" reputation that precedes me wherever and whenever I go to all things medical.

It didn't help matters that my husband turned a whiter shade of pale and Patty started turning the pages of the magazine real fast, one after the other, not even as much as glancing at them!

I didn't look. No way. And I just squeezed Steven's hand until he made a small almost inaudible suffering sound. I felt a little pressure but absolutely no pain. Thankod. And it was over in less than thirty seconds.

Proudly, Alejandro said."You see? That's what I do for all my patients who are children."

I was very proud of myself for enduring such a thing (children, shmildren!).

So, was it wrong for me to ask for a lollypop after it was all over?

I think not!

But it definitely was wrong for him not to have one to give me!

I promptly told him."This was a one-shot deal, buster! Don't think I'm going to forget about that little sly trick you pulled on me with that 'cleaning it with a q-tip and alcohol' thing! I got your number, buddy!

"AND you don't have any lollypops...so you're definitely on my doo doo list today!!!"

Needless to say, I'm going to be much more careful from now on when I'm washing my hair!