Thighplasty Questions (long)

I just had my preop appt at Baylor this morning.  Maybe we'll run into each other in the office one of these days after our surgeries.  Let me know if your date changes!

Melissa

waiting on Sandra or Jeannette to call me back as we speak....Just got off the phone with Emily (the insurance coordinator) and my insurance has approved to pay for my Brachio!!!!!  Gotta get the bill revised, change the date (had to do that to accomodate my job) then I'm on my way right behind ya.

Oh my gosh that's great!  What insurance do you have?  Wasn't the whole purpose of filing insurance was for the purpose of  denial to get short term disability or something??  Gosh, makes me wish I should have at least tried!

yep,  the 401k folks wouldn't give me an early withdrawal without a denial letter from insurance so that's why we submitted it to them.  No one actually expected an approval from them at all.  Emily was quite surprised.  I still have to pay for the other 2 procedures and the O/R time for them but  I'm totally satisfied with that.  If I had known this, I would have had my arms done a lloooonnng time ago! 

Just a quick note to send best wishes tomorrow.  I'm having the same surgery later in the month.
Post to let us know how you are doing.

I had the Long thigh lift, long arm lift, LBL, anchor cut TT and a lower face lift a few days later in Mexico.  I'm around 7 weeks out now.

1) Where did you sleep the first few nights?

If home, I would have slept in the recliner.  I was in the clinic for 3 days and then the hotel.  the hotel bed was not as high as my one at home and I needed to have my sister swing my legs into bed.  I couldn't have gotten into my bed at home without a step.

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?

I still can't put my knee up on the bed and get in that way.  I actually stand beside the bed and put one leg in then scoot myself over and bring the other leg in.  If I had a sturdy stool, I would consider using that.  I could cross my legs at 6 weeks out.  It's a little uncomfortable after a while, but it's such a habit now, its hard to sit without crossing unless I have something to put my legs up on.  It doesn't pull at the top of the thighs as much as after a while the long incision gets sore.

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

My legs swell a little all over by the end of the workday if I cannot get my feet up.  There is just a little constant welling at the end of the incision in one leg and one arm. 

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?

I have not had much pain issues.  I think it was harder to sit on the low toilet at the hotel vs my high toilet at home.--I'm 4'll"

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

Doc said 6 weeks, but I plan to wear until I go on vacation at 9 weeks.  I'm going to take my garment to wear at night if I find I swell during the day.  I think I will continue to wear to wor****il my legs quit swelling totally.

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

6 weeks- but I had a lot done.  I felt the long thigh lift took a lot out of me.  I needed to elevate my legs to keep the swelling down.

7)  How long did you take off work?

6 weeks-then went back 3 days the first week back.  Would not have had the energy to go back sooner.

This is just my experience, someone may have had a different experience.  Hope this helps.  Lin

Wow, that is a lot to have done.  I'm not even sure I could do a vacation at 9 weeks unless there was a lot breaks.  Your info did help a lot.  Seems like the recliner is going to be the way to go, at least at first.  That way I won't have to have someone swing my legs all the time.  I'll probably still ask for help once I get into bed just so I won't have to swing my leg so high.  I don't want to risk over stretching the incisions.

Thanks for your help!
Melissa

The best thing I found for using the toilet was a freshette.  If you go online you might be able to get one sent quick.  It's a funnel that let's you stand and pee.  It literally saved my life by not having to sit to pee.  I slept in a recliner for the first 3 days and then slept on my loveseat with a pillow under my knees.  The loveseat was the perforect length to sleep with my head and fee both raised. I've had a TT inner thigh lift, lipo of outer thighs and breast implants.  Believe it or not the most painful was day three after the implants.  I would also suggest getting mens boxer briefs so you don't have to wear underwear that sits in the groin crease where you incision will likely be.  The boxer briefs were another life saver. 

Never thought about boxer briefs.  Good idea.  I've been meaning to order the freshette and keep forgetting!  Gosh I hope I can "use" it and not freeze when it comes time to go. 

Thanks!

Trust me you'll be able to use it.  When you have to pee, the thought of anything hitting your incisions or having to sit is a huge motivator.  I took mine in the plastic carry bag everywhere I went and used it in public restrooms as well.  As long as it didn't hurt to go to the bathroom, I didn't care if someone saw me standing in the stall.