Thighplasty Questions (long)

Well, it's almost time for my thigh lift and arm lift so I thought I'd ask those who have gone down that path before me for some advice.  I was wondering if you had any trouble getting in and out of bed.  I think I'm going to rent a recliner for the first few nights because my bed is literally too high for me.  I would have to use a step stool to get in and out of it without  literally sliding on my backside just to get down like I do now. (I'm pretty short so that doesn't help.)  I normally have to climb on it with one knee first and then turn my body around to get on it now as it is.  (Wish I would have never bought that darn thick pillow top bed!)  So my questions are:

1) Where did you sleep the first few nights?

2) When did you feel healed enough to bend your knees and to move into a sitting position? I don't mean just to get up and down from a chair, but say a high bed or maybe even sit with your legs crossed?

3)  How long does the swelling last in your legs? (Hopefully not as long as TTs and LBLs)

4)  For those who had a TT, was the pain level as bad (different I know) or was it more of a hassle because of the locations of the scar that made it more difficult to maneuver like to go to the bathroom and such?

5)  How long did you have to wear compression garments?

6)  How long before you felt "normal" and had most of your energy back? 

7)  How long did you take off work?

Sorry for all the questions.  I just seem to be more worried about my thighs all of a sudden than I am my arms at this point.  I just seem to read more about arm lifts on here than thigh lifts. 

Today was the first day that I have actually started to become a little anxious and nervous about this all.  I'm also having some lipo done so that is also adding to the anxiety because I feel like I am going to be in pain from head (literally since I'm having chin lipo while I'm out) to toes!  I've got so much to do this weekend to get prepared for next week.

Thank you!
Melissa

 I had my eyes done at the same time so for the first few nights I slept in a recliner.  I have a high bed also and am short but I have a stool by the bed all the time. I slept with a pillow under my knees in the recliner and in the bed. I had almost no swelling. I swell more now than after right after surgery. I was very pleased. I tried the toilet riser and being short it was worse. It wasn't pleasant on the toilet but not to difficult getting up and down. I did not have a TT . I was wrapped in ace bandages with no compression garment. The bandages worked fine. I wore them about three weeks and then off and on  after that. I tried the shaper type garments and they worked fine but I really didn't need them. I felt fine after two weeks and was crossing my legs by three weeks. I had it done Dec 11 and with the holidays didn't go back to work till Jan 3.
I was worried about the thighs because I heard how bad it was but I think it was pretty easy. I have had stitches open and some work their way out on one leg and early out the top of both opened slightly. Overall I think it was easy. I had very little pain and was just slow getting up and down for a while. I expected the worst so I was happy. Hope it goes well for you. I had no lipo done so that may make a difference.

I sure hope I'm as lucky as you were!  I'm not really having much lipo on my thighs but rather on my back and on my sides.  I'm going to have to use the toilet in the hallway because the one in the master is one of those high toilet seats.  My feet almost dangles off of that one!  lol

Melissa, just a note on the toilet issue.  When I had my LBL, my husband took a walker we had from my mom's accident recovery, adjusted the leg height, and slid it back over the toilet seat with the front of it (the bar) against the open toilet seat lid.  That way, I could grab the handles to lower myself or push myself up without affecting the height of the seat in any way.  You would not have to purchase one; it can be rented from a medical supply co., some community service clubs, like Lions Club, have what they call Loan Closets for these types of things, usually loaning to the community for free.

I'll be thinking of you on the 4th.  Keep us posted!

Terri

I have a walker already.  I found one at a church resale shop for $10 before I had my LBL.  I never needed it though so I'll have to dig for it in the garage.

Thanks!

Hi Melissa,
WHen are you having your procedure done?  I'm having the same stuff done on March 25th.
I'm getting ready to post my questions so I'll wait to see what replies you get before I do mine.

Best wishes on your surgery!!!
Ruth

I'm having surgery next Thursday, March 4th.    Thanks for the well wishes!

Hi Melissa,

I'll try to answer your questions as they pertained to me. I had my medial thigh lift done at the same time as my brachioplasty. It's a lot of stuff to deal with at once but it's manageable. I was on my pain meds longer with these 2 surgeries than I was with the TT and BA/BL.

1) Where did you sleep the first few nights?
   I have a high bed too and there was no way I could get in it. You can't use your arms to compensate for your legs so trying to pull yourself up in situations doesn't work very well. I slept in a recliner over 2 weeks. It was just easier for me. I used a fluffy pillow under my knees.

2) When did you feel healed enough to bend your knees and to move into a sitting position?
I don't mean just to get up and down from a chair, but say a high bed or maybe even sit with your legs crossed?
Crossing my legs was the furthest thing on my mind. You will feel the incisions pulling in your groin area when you start to stand or squat ( like to sit on the toilet) You just go slow and a toilet seat riser helped me a lot. It was uncomfortable for my legs to be in a hanging down position for a good 2 weeks. I wanted them elevated as much as possible.

3)  How long does the swelling last in your legs? (Hopefully not as long as TTs and LBLs)
I never really had much swelling of my thighs or arms. There was some caused from the liposuction but not that much. I was very very sore and bruised from the lipo....on my legs and my arms
.
4)  For those who had a TT, was the pain level as bad (different I know) or was it more of a hassle because of the locations of the scar that made it more difficult to maneuver like to go to the bathroom and such?

You just use your legs everytime you move. Your tummy mainly feels the pull when you try to raise up or lay back.With your legs you just feel the pulling in everything you do. I just took my time and never rushed and if I felt like something was too difficult I waited before I attempted it. I have an SUV and it is a long stretch to get into. I had to use our other car those first couple of weeks to avoid that long stretch.

5)  How long did you have to wear compression garments?
I wore compression for at least 3 months. I used the ace bandages on my arms and a girdle for my thighs. I'm certain that is what really helped with me having very little swelling.

6)  How long before you felt "normal" and had most of your energy back? 
I was/am fighting anemia so my view is a little distorted from a normal person. It REALLY zapped my energy level and I was only 4 months out from my TT and BA/BL I forced the protein to try and help but I was really worn down. It was a couple months before I started to feel normal again. 

7)  How long did you take off work?
This one doesn't pertain to me since I'm not working. If I would have been I think I would have needed at the least 3 weeks and due to my iron issues actually longer than that.

I guess overall it's like most of the procedures. The roughest time is those first few days and then it just gets a little easier and you start to regain your mobility. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I wish you best and look forward to hearing about your results!

Thanks Renee!  Your answers really helped me to have a better understanding/comparison to the LBL.  I suffer from anemia too.  I had an iron infusion today and will have one 3 weeks after surgery if I need it.  I just didn't know if the lack of energy was as bad with these surgeries as the LBL.  Sounds like it may be.  I think if I was just doing my arms or my thighs it may not be so bad but I can see how doing both of them plus some lipo can knock me for a loop.  I didn't even think about getting into an SUV.   Makes sense though.  The arm lift is going to have the incision run all the way down the side of my chest to under my breast to remove the side boobage.  Hopefully that won't be too terribly painful.  I asked to be off for 4 weeks just in case but I told my boss my plans are to return after 3 since that's what my dr said would be enough.  I'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks again,
Melissa

I'm glad you asked these questions since I'm having the exact same procedures done with the same doc.  I'm nervous about doing arms and thighs at the same time too but this works best for me as far as taking time off work.

My date is March 2nd but I think we are going to change it to the 16th. 

Good Luck...can't wait to hear about your results!