Another day, another aspiration
Today, I'm 23 days post op with my arms, chest wall and flanks being excised. At least the 3 pockets are getting smaller - but still very fluidy. I hope they only have to aspirated one or two more times. I go back again on Friday if they are fluid filled again, and I can already say that Friday morning I won't be at the black Friday sales, instead, I will be in LA being drained. At least I don't have an aversion, and I'm glad that the large pocket is down from 180cc to 50 over the past 10 days.
I never expected when I began this plastic surgery journey that I would have such a problem with seromas and complications. I am glad that this procedure is much easier than my legs or LBL in terms of seromas/complications/infections.
I am SO pleased with my results. I am happy about my arms, but I am THRILLED wih having my sides done. I really didn't want the scar down my middle - no idea why, but it just bothers me, and I felt that for me having the 2 incisions down each side is a better option. I love the defination to my waist, and the fact that I have no extra skin on my belly following my LBL.
Jennie
31 lbs lost before surgery
31 lbs lost before surgery
Jennie,
It is so heartwarming to see you stay so positive after all that you've been through with your plastics! Good for you!
I hope your pockets don't fill up and the fluid is reasorbed by your body and that healing takes place with no more complications!
I'm happy you're so pleased with your results! Maybe we could see some pics??
Diane
Thanks Diane,
For me, it is important that people realize that there can be complications and unexpected things happen with plastic surgery - I certainly didn't expect the kind of complications I had with my belt lipectomy lift. I was 5 1/2 weeks out when I developed my first seroma and 7 1/2 weeks out when it became infected. That led to a series of other complicaitons and surgeries. I've learned a lot about seromas - way more than I should know, but I do find it facinating, and that some of us are just more prone to them and have issues with them. I also have learned how disruptive this process is, BUT it is also one of the most emotionally healing things that I've done for myself. I can finally look at myself and feel confident and feel pleased with the way I look.
I also knew, as well as my plastic surgeon knew, going into my leg and arm procedures how my body reacts to these surgeries, sutures, drains, etc. I had to count the costs of going through each procedure and he had to also count the cost and decide if he still want to manage such a challenging case. I'm glad that we work well together and that his goal and my goal are that my outward appearance would be one that is more normal and reflective of the hard work that I've put in.
I fogot to take before pictures this time! I'm waiting for Dr. Lee to email me my pre-op befores, but I can friend you and you can see my photos before the body lift last year. I have to add my thigh pictures and have my dh take some afters of my arm/torso. I just havent' done that yet. Maybe because it is round 3 and I more know what to expect, I haven't taken the progress pics that I did following my LBL. But I will get pics up soon!
For me, it is important that people realize that there can be complications and unexpected things happen with plastic surgery - I certainly didn't expect the kind of complications I had with my belt lipectomy lift. I was 5 1/2 weeks out when I developed my first seroma and 7 1/2 weeks out when it became infected. That led to a series of other complicaitons and surgeries. I've learned a lot about seromas - way more than I should know, but I do find it facinating, and that some of us are just more prone to them and have issues with them. I also have learned how disruptive this process is, BUT it is also one of the most emotionally healing things that I've done for myself. I can finally look at myself and feel confident and feel pleased with the way I look.
I also knew, as well as my plastic surgeon knew, going into my leg and arm procedures how my body reacts to these surgeries, sutures, drains, etc. I had to count the costs of going through each procedure and he had to also count the cost and decide if he still want to manage such a challenging case. I'm glad that we work well together and that his goal and my goal are that my outward appearance would be one that is more normal and reflective of the hard work that I've put in.
I fogot to take before pictures this time! I'm waiting for Dr. Lee to email me my pre-op befores, but I can friend you and you can see my photos before the body lift last year. I have to add my thigh pictures and have my dh take some afters of my arm/torso. I just havent' done that yet. Maybe because it is round 3 and I more know what to expect, I haven't taken the progress pics that I did following my LBL. But I will get pics up soon!
Jennie
31 lbs lost before surgery
31 lbs lost before surgery
OMG - I'll be having my second aspiriation on Thursday and the thought of it still makes me weak at the knees. I don't know why - it's really no big deal. And when I was taking insulin, I gave myself 5 needles in the stomach everyday. The whole thought of having the aspiration is making me rethink having PS on my arms and neck. You've been through so much and still sound so brave. I hope it's over for you soon.
L.
L.
I guess I've learned that seromas are just part of the process for some of us, and while it is a pain for the short term, the results are worth it. I would rather have the skin gone. For many of us, we just never realized that this could be an issue, and I want people to know that it happens. I dare say that most people will get a pocket when having a procedure involving the trunk - but much of the time it can be unnoticed or reabsorb and not to too much of an issue. For some of us it is an issue. My first seroma started just above my pubic one and went all the way across my lower belly from pubic bone to hipbones and around the left side in a tunnel. It was HUGE. The aspirations helped, but for what ever reason, it became infected. Was that due to the aspirations? Don't know. Was it another factor? Don't know All I know is that eventually my entire torso was a huge fluidy mess and it would not resolve.
My legs had more general swelling issues - they were HUGE with swelling, but there was not a defined pocket. It seemed more of a disruption of the lymph system and we had to wait it out and use compressive wraps (not ace wraps) and have lymph drainage massage - which is a different type of massage. I had to wear custom made stockings for some time too. During that time, I had 3 places revised on my thighs. More needed to be taken off at my upper thighs because my legs were rubbing together and it was really bothering me. I also had a strange lump at my right knee. This was a 2 hour revision in office under local numbing meds. I really didn't feel anything and found the process facinating to watch from my point of view. The lump in my knee was a fat necrosis - a lump of fat that had esentially died and was hardening. When my doctor removed the lump, which was bigger than expected, it left a hole, which was carefully sewed up and such. I formed a seroma there 5 days later. It was big - no it was huge for the area. The ultra sound showed it to me 6cm x 11cm x 4cm (w x l x d) and it was aspirated. My doctor was not there that day to do this and another plastic surgeon felt that he would rather have the radiologist aspirate it. The next day the it was more fluid filled. I went back and a drain was placed in that leg. Over 200 cc of fluid filled the drain, not to mention how much was now on the floor of the procedure room. The next day, I had a MRSA infection in my leg. Once the infection was healed I had to pack the leg for 35 days until it closed.
My husband and I wanted to complete the process and do my arms, and our original goal was to do that by years end. I was afraid to email my doctor and ask if he would even consider it. It took me several weeks to have the courage, but I knew that I wanted to put it all behind and that even with the complications all the results and benefits were well worth the hard work and what I'd been through. After all the agonizing, I wrote Dr. Lee an email and was so surprised that he answered in less than 30 minutes. He was fine with going ahead, and to call his scheduler. It took another 4 weeks to work up the courage to do that. I tell you all of this so that you know we did not enter in iightly after the complications to another procedure. We understand there can be delayed healing, or having to be still or under compression for extended periods. It is still worth the emotional and physical cost of the process.
My family and close friends have been absolutely wonderful and encouraging. They have not said that I shouldn't do another reconstructive surgery. They have driven me to Los Angeles 3-4 times per week if needed to deal with things. They have stood by me and encouraged me. They are proud of my success. Going into this procedure, they were just as encouraging. Don't give up on the dream of completing the surgery. Just know that it is a season in your life, like the active weight loss was a season and it will take time and hard work to get there. The weightloss wasn't easy, the body toning and exercise wasn't easy, and the plastic surgery recovery isn't easy but it is well worth it. My husband feels that all the money we've spent - about $26,000 was the best investment -- and my parents gave me almost 1/2 of that money to help pay the procedure costs. The investment in me has been great, but now I look at the great things that I'm released to do and I feel like I can soar! Don't give up - don't let a little seroma get you down. I know the needle looks big when they are aspirating you - but your usually numb there and don't feel it. Look at the fact that you are still beating obesity and you are getting your life back on track.
Hugs!
My legs had more general swelling issues - they were HUGE with swelling, but there was not a defined pocket. It seemed more of a disruption of the lymph system and we had to wait it out and use compressive wraps (not ace wraps) and have lymph drainage massage - which is a different type of massage. I had to wear custom made stockings for some time too. During that time, I had 3 places revised on my thighs. More needed to be taken off at my upper thighs because my legs were rubbing together and it was really bothering me. I also had a strange lump at my right knee. This was a 2 hour revision in office under local numbing meds. I really didn't feel anything and found the process facinating to watch from my point of view. The lump in my knee was a fat necrosis - a lump of fat that had esentially died and was hardening. When my doctor removed the lump, which was bigger than expected, it left a hole, which was carefully sewed up and such. I formed a seroma there 5 days later. It was big - no it was huge for the area. The ultra sound showed it to me 6cm x 11cm x 4cm (w x l x d) and it was aspirated. My doctor was not there that day to do this and another plastic surgeon felt that he would rather have the radiologist aspirate it. The next day the it was more fluid filled. I went back and a drain was placed in that leg. Over 200 cc of fluid filled the drain, not to mention how much was now on the floor of the procedure room. The next day, I had a MRSA infection in my leg. Once the infection was healed I had to pack the leg for 35 days until it closed.
My husband and I wanted to complete the process and do my arms, and our original goal was to do that by years end. I was afraid to email my doctor and ask if he would even consider it. It took me several weeks to have the courage, but I knew that I wanted to put it all behind and that even with the complications all the results and benefits were well worth the hard work and what I'd been through. After all the agonizing, I wrote Dr. Lee an email and was so surprised that he answered in less than 30 minutes. He was fine with going ahead, and to call his scheduler. It took another 4 weeks to work up the courage to do that. I tell you all of this so that you know we did not enter in iightly after the complications to another procedure. We understand there can be delayed healing, or having to be still or under compression for extended periods. It is still worth the emotional and physical cost of the process.
My family and close friends have been absolutely wonderful and encouraging. They have not said that I shouldn't do another reconstructive surgery. They have driven me to Los Angeles 3-4 times per week if needed to deal with things. They have stood by me and encouraged me. They are proud of my success. Going into this procedure, they were just as encouraging. Don't give up on the dream of completing the surgery. Just know that it is a season in your life, like the active weight loss was a season and it will take time and hard work to get there. The weightloss wasn't easy, the body toning and exercise wasn't easy, and the plastic surgery recovery isn't easy but it is well worth it. My husband feels that all the money we've spent - about $26,000 was the best investment -- and my parents gave me almost 1/2 of that money to help pay the procedure costs. The investment in me has been great, but now I look at the great things that I'm released to do and I feel like I can soar! Don't give up - don't let a little seroma get you down. I know the needle looks big when they are aspirating you - but your usually numb there and don't feel it. Look at the fact that you are still beating obesity and you are getting your life back on track.
Hugs!
Jennie
31 lbs lost before surgery
31 lbs lost before surgery
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