TT & Lipo Q's for the experienced ones!

How long until you really know your healed, done, and going to look the way you are "going to look"?

I know there is a PS forum but just feel more comfortable here and know some of you have done this already.

My drains are out, I wear my garmet 24/7, but when I REALLY looked in the mirror this morning, I cried. I know I have issues, so it is probably just me, and I am being impatient. But the lipo areas are still quite swollen and "lumpy" for a lack of a better term. My abdomen has NO FLOPPY skin, which makes me super happy but I am not "flat" like I was told would be the result.

Am I expecting too much after 3 weeks? Am I nuts? My surgeon is in Columbia doing "Dr's without Borders", and I email him pics every few days and he respnds back. He says it looks great.

I am just wondering if my self esteem and crazy head is what is making me expect so much, or if I should be seeing better results by now.

Any info would be helpful. I would appreciate it.

I think it's to soon says the woman who hasn't had surgery yet.

I seem to remember seeing Shauna I think it was a few weeks after surgery - and although her results ended up being PHENOMENAL - she was still swollen and even walking hunched over.

Nicole's took some time after her surgery as well - and I know she has said on here that her results were NOT what she had anticipated.

Will you be harsher on yourself than us?  Hot damit yes you will be.  Will you ever be "perfect"  Nope.  And will you always see your flaws?  Yep.  We won't be able to them as clearly as you.

Better healing!

thanks Pam, as a non-surgical response, I agree with you 100% about everything you said. And this week we increased the HCTZ that I already take on a daily basis. Inormally take 12.5 each morning, for now, I am taking 25mg to help with some of the fluid which is alot of the "lumpiness" and swelling. I can tell a slight difference just in the last few days of doing that.

I am just too hard on myself. I know that. Guess I just wanted to hear that I am not the only one who is going or went through the "is this it?" mode! LOL

Hi
 I have had both, actually I have had it all except my breasts cause they didn't need it, when he contoured the sides the bra fat area, my breasts changed. I never wanted implants, thats just me.
it can take up to a year to see the final results, actually the first 2 months you may not see to much, VERY SWOLLEN  and the more u r on your feet the more you will swell.
Lipo - you will be very tender for probably about 3 months and the bruising can last a while maybe a month. your stomach should get flatter as the swelling goes down.
In reality 6 months is a good estimate of what your final results will be, just keep your weight stable no up or down more then 10 lbs . Where do you have lumps, they are probably more pronounced because of the swelling. you have to give it time
Susan

thanks susan, not want I wanted to hear, but what I NEEDED to hear.

I bought an extra garment yesterday. So I now have 3 to rotate through, that way I can continue to wear them constantly.

With the kids and school, it's pretty much impossible to "not be on my feel too much", but I am trying to sit on my ass as much as my time allows. I just hate even being "semi-lazy" but want results so if it means I sit and delegate chores, so be it. LOL

Thanks for the imput!

Jo, the PS board isn't scary, for the most part they are nice, informative women over there.   Also, search on Dr. Sauceda; he has a patients forum created by the folks he's worked on.   He is an excellent doc from Mexico.   The women on THAT board are very helpful, even if you haven't used Dr. S.   Many of them have blogs and pics and since you can't just go traipsing off to Mx. everytime you have a stitch protruding or think you have a seroma, they have a little community helping each other through.   P.S. - would Arnica help with the swelling??

make sure your compression garments are binding enough to keep the swelling down

Oh they are! LOL. In fact, one night I felt like I needed a breather from one, BIG MISTAKE. I wear one at all times.

JoJo,

I have had plastics twice.  I am not a goal but due to other health issues, surgeon and I decided on getting the TT done.  In my opinion you may be going through the post op blues.  You are so newly out of surgery that it is much too soon.  After my second panni I had the drains in for 4 weeks and once they were pulled I thought that I would be on my way, until the plastic surgeon debried the dead stuff.  I had a hole the size of the grand canyon and was put on a vac for 6 weeks.  So I think you are probably doing great but maybe just not ready to look in the mirror and be objective.  It is only March, by Memorial day you will probably be bringing out your bikini.  Try to relax, your body will repair itself alot quicker that way.

Good luck and get better soon.


Jeamme