? on abdominplasty

Is that the same as a tummy tuck? The Dr is coding it as that so insurance approved. He is planning to do above and below the belly button down as far as he can.

i am scheduled Feb 15th. YEAH!!! Anything anyone can tell me what to bring to the hospital and have ready at home that was a must?

Thanks for any and all advise.

Hi Anne!

Congrats on your upcoming surg.  The abdominalplasty is the same as a tummy tuck, altho there are varying degrees of that procedure, those of which your physician will advise you on.

As for the hospital prepardness....i made sure that i wore something lose and comfy to the hospital so that i could wear that home, like drawstring pj bottoms.  i took sugar free snacks as well in case i wanted to munch on something and had it readily available to me.  for the most part, you take the usual stuff, tolietries, magazines etc.  also, make sure that you have slippers that you dont have to bend over to put on, or wear the little footy socks that they will give you.  other than that, bring a pillow for the car ride home b/c you will need that as well.  i would also suggest that you time your dismissal within 30 minutes of your pain medication so that you will be as comfy as possible for the ride home.

as for home.....i made sure that i had everything that i would possibly need for a week, in my bedroom.  i have a recliner in there, so i sat up a table next to the chair with all the things i thought i would be needing (lip balm, magazines etc etc) as well as placing my vitamins, tylenol etc next to my chair.  i also bought mens sleeve-less undershirts to wear under the binder which i still wear.  also get some kind of lanyard to hang around your neck with safety pins to attach your drains to when you shower.  i bought gauze to place over my surgical incisions so that my clothing wouldnt rub.  i placed all of the clothes that i thought i would wear for a week in drawers that were in an area where i wouldnt have to reach up, or bend far over to get to.  everything in reach for me.  i also placed a small refrig in our bedroom so that i would have cold water/pudding/jello within reach so i wouldnt have to travel down the stairs.  i placed my clock, heating pad and extra pillows/blankets by my chair as well.

basically, just think of your location in your home and try and do whatever you can to eliminate extra stress on your body.  im so grateful i did what i did.  i also put a little basket of crackers so that when i took pain meds in the middle of the night, i could munch a couple of crackers so that i wouldnt get sick.

plan on taking your pain meds round the clock for several days...so scimp and try and be a hero.  take them as needed.

good luck and keep us updated!  email me if you have any specific questions i can help you with.

kim

thanks for all the great advice- I was wondering about snacks as we have to eat often.

Great suggestion on bringing sugar-free stuff to the hospital. That was my problem when they switched me off the iv pain meds to the pills I'd be taking at home. I had nothing in my stomach and they didn't have anything for me to eat (well it was about 3 or 4 in the morning at least for my LBL) except for graham crackers. Not having something that I could eat made me sick and you don't want to throw up after having your ab muscles tightened. Had the same issue w/ my MTL & BL/BA ended up throwing up all evening. If I ever go in for surgery again I'll be sure to bring some of my protein bars or drinks so I know I'll have something in my stomach to avoid the sickness after anesthesia and the pain meds.

Sonya

Before you have this surgery, make sure your understanding of the procedure and the plastics surgeon's are on the same page.  There are degrees of abdominoplasty ranging from a panniculectomy to a full blown tummy tuck.  If you don't know or don't understand what he plans to do before he does it, I can almost guarantee you won't be happy with the results.  Although what you are describing does sound like a tummy tuck without the waist being drawn in.

I had the full blown tummy tuck.  The only thing I really needed help with was getting my compression garment back on. 

I was able to sleep in a bed after the first night, but otherwise I camped on the couch, with my stuff within reach on a table.  Going up and down stairs wasn't a problem for me.

Take some munchies with you - where I was staying, it was both a bariatric facility and plastic surgery - and I was the ONLY one there eating food.  It was below-ok at best....

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! 

thanks Jody-
Hospital food is not always the best. How long did you have to wear the compression garment.

We had our orginal surgery the same month. I am excited but also very nervous.

Oh - you're right - we did!

I'm only 10 days out - so I'm still wearing it.  Actually, I don't mind wearing it - it sort of feels like a security blanket after awhile.  But - I gotta tell ya - this IS the time of year to have the surgery and be wearing it - I'm snuggy warm all the time.  The Dr didn't tell me how long I'll be wearing it - but I figure it will be at least 2 months or so from what I've heard on this forum. 

Now - one thing I didn't account for was wearing a bra - my DD game me one of her sports bras and that worked great.  I finally put one of my own on today.  If you don't have the anchor cut - that won't be an issue with you.  I wore it all the time (even at night) except when shower, of course.

Anne~ I am so happy for you!!! I had to look it up too admominplasty is a tummy tuck. I hope it gets approved for you and you will be so happy with the results.

Hospital wise, I literally slept the majority of 24 hours after my procedure. I would wake up every 10 minutes or so and half asleep hit my pain pump button, then doze back off. I didn't eat at all the day of my surgery just ice (and I didn't want anything). Jello was my friend the next day and before I left (for lunch) I had soup and a couple bites of chicken. It surprised my how tight my stomach was after my surgery--I know that is what I paid for, but I mentally was still stunned that my tummy was smooth and tight and that I had to walk bent over. That is short lived though and oh so worth it!!!

Oh, and between my stomach being tightened and the compression garment it is like early out of you RNY again. A few bites would fill me up. I enjoyed that, it didn't last forever but it did help me lose just a couple more pounds (that and they cut off 7 )

Thanks Leslie!!

How are you doing now? Thanks for the great info- i am very excited but yet very nervous.
I am worried about being off work and trying to stay positive in the recovery time that this is all woorth it. i know it will be in the long run.

some have stated about wearing a posrts bra instead of reg bra- did you have to do that? I see the surg again on Feb 8th and surg set for the 15th.

I will not know what to think to see that huge roll of skin from haven the triplets gone forever!!! YEAH!!!

Thanks again!!