How Long Before. . . . . .

I am having a TT, brachioplasty & BA in May. I know my PS will give me a vague range of time but I was wondering:

How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds?

How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)?

How long before you could open a car door?

Drive?

Shower?

Work out on an eclipticalal machine?

Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm?

Pull on panty hose?

I know this seesm strange - but for some reason I think I am going to be in bad shape - then I read posts & folks are doing great!!

Thanks!!

How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds? (10 lbs until 6 wks)

How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)? depends on your doc and your body. Anywhere from 4 days to 4 weeks

How long before you could open a car door? 2 days

Drive? 2 weeks

Shower? next day

Work out on an eclipticalal machine? 6 weeks

Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm? three weeks

Pull on panty hose? two weeks

 

Thanks so much!! I think I am just WAAAYYY over thinking this whole recovery thing - perhaps it won't be as bad I as I envisioning.

Would you say at about 6 weeks you felt pretty "normal"?

How long did you wear your compression garments?

How long before you can wear a regular bra? I can't wait to go to Vicotiras Secret & get new 36 D bras!!

Don't ever think your overthinking recovery!! It's a huge deal.. and its something I avoided because I was scared of the recovery and it made it that much harder.  Kudos to you for overthinking!

I am having a Brachio on this week, so I can't answer that one yet, but I had a TT earlier this year and went to the gym at about 3 wks and did some work on an elliptical and treadmill... I swelled up pretty badly after that day, but otherwise felt good.  The dr didn't let me shower until after my 1 wk follow-up appt. My TT drains come out at 1 and 2 weeks (1 each time). 

Good Luck!!!

How long did you wear your compression garmets?

Thanks!!

I just had surgery (brachio and side/back fat removed) November 20, but I will answer what I can!


How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds?  Have not tried more than 5 pounds yet.

How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)?  Arms and back/side both came out on day 4

How long before you could open a car door? One week

Drive? 2 weeks...still hurts a little, but I only drive to work and back

Shower? after drains came out...day 4

Work out on an eclipticalal machine?  never ever been on one of those!

Carry an oversized purse/bag on your arm?  just started that this week....not much in the bag!

Pull on panty hose?  hmmm haven't had those on in years, but I probably could have done that at 2 weeks. 

I started back to work this week (I was off 3 weeks).  There are others that have gone back sooner than that, but I just couldn't do it.  I just had no energy.  Three weeks seemed to be the "magic" time for me.  

Good luck!  You will do fine.

Brooke

P.S.  I got my compression garment about 10 days after surgery.  Before that I was wrapped in stretchy ace bandages.  Both are 24/7 only off for showers and washing the garment.  Doc hasn't said how long I will wear it, but I figure 3-6 months???

Wow great questions I know we are all different and surgeons have different instructions but I will give you my experience (Now mind you I am different than most as pre surgery I lift 70 pounds daily at work) so.......

Lifting 5 lbs- I did that after 2 weeks up to 50 at 4 weeks

My drains (TT) 2 came out at 1 week the other 2 at two weeks but I also had a LBL

Car door day after surgery

Drive 5 days after  surgery

Shower as soon as I got home day after surgery

I never excercise I know I am bad so I can say the doc said I could do eliptical and treadmill at 4 weeks

I carried my oversized bag home day after surgery

Don't wear panty hose but wear spanx and put them on right at 2 weeks after the drains came out.

Best wishes to you on your journey just remember everyone is different
I am 5 weeks out from a BA and LBL/TT and feeling great

Cheers

MO

A lot of this depends on the individual surgeons protocol but from my  experiences.,,,

How long before I can lift more then 5 pounds?  4-6 weeks but not more than 10

How long before the drains come out (TT & arms)? really depends....I've had some out in 2 days and some up to about 2 1/2 weeks

How long before you could open a car door?  When I had my arms done it took  a few weeks to be able to really reach the door but i figured out a way to get in and have the door practically closed so I could reach it.

Drive?  You have to be totally off pain killers before you can drive.  I wasn't comfortable driving after my TT  for about 3 or 4 weeks because it was just weird getting in and out of the car.

Shower?  next day

Work out on an eclipticalal machine?  Depends on the procedure.... after my arms it was 2 weeks, after my TT it was 4 weeks, after my LBL....I don't know yet - I just had surgery 2 weeks ago and there is NO WAY I'm getting on the machines yet.  I'm just happy to walk around.

Carry an over sized purse/bag on your arm   sorry can't help with that...don't carry an oversized bag.

Pull on panty hose?  You will NOT want panty hose on your incisions for a long time.  You'll be in a compression garment for probably 3 months...... 

Hope that helps some..

Thanks so much!! I am trying to calm my inner anxiety and hearing that others are able to do things in just a few days - makes me feel so much better. We will be at the recovery inn for 2 weeks - so that is great!! I just don't want ot be an invalid for too long BUT at the same time - I want that brachioplasty scar to be pencil thin!! So I plan on asking for help.

New question: the brachioplasty is the one that is really frightening me - can you bend your arms at all after surgery?? Of do you look like the tin man for a few weeks?

Thanks again!!
Linda