Post Op Day 3 - Inner Thighs and Arms Pics posted

I feel pretty good…MUCH better than I expected.  I was anticipating this being so much worse so I’m thrilled to be feeling this good.  So far this recovery is going much easier for me than the LBL was….almost as good as the Tummy Tuck recovery.
I posted a couple of pics which friends can see....
 

So here’s what I had done a few days ago:

Inner Thighplasty – because I had so much loose/wrinkled skin all the way around and up/down my legs I needed the incision from groin to knee (the groin one wraps around to the back of my leg creases).  It looks like he ended it right about the middle of the knee area and did not bring the front I think the placement of the incisions will be very nice.

Brachioplasty – this was a revision but not just making the scar look better, he removed skin and re-did the armpits.  After my brachio I was left with too much skin and large web like armpits.  I can already tell I have normal feeling/looking armpits. AND he was able to move my arm scar lower so it is not running across the middle of my arm.  I’m going to try to take pictures of them this afternoon.

Revision to Tummy Tuck incision – he wanted to re-do the incision from the belly button up to “straighten" it out. I thought it looked start already…

Revision to Breast Lift - he removed the dog ear I had at the very top of the TT incision (what I was calling my 3^rd boob…so glad it is gone) AND I think he even lifted me a little more because the girls look fuller and I see a small amount of steri-strips along the lower sides of the breasts….I had mentioned to him that I was a little disappointed that I had a sort of sunken in look on the top part of the breasts…now I see no puckering and they look nice.  Gotta wait for all swelling to go down but I think I’ll be happy.

Bleph – he removed one teeny tiny wrinkle at the corner of my left eye were I guess I had a spitting stitch…no big deal.

 

 

Tips:

*Freshette – the BEST thing I bought.  I stand over the toilet like a guy and pee into it.  It is narrower and softer than using a big Dixie cup….much more comfortable.  Standing to pee takes the strain off the groin stitches and it’s helping to keep the area dryer.

*Shower Seat – Using a shower seat the first few times has been best for me.  So much to clean/rinse off and it is VERY tiring so sitting while washing has made it much easier.

 

What I wish I knew before I had surgery:

So far no big surprises…I had done plenty of research asked lots of questions so I went in pretty prepared. If anything comes up in the next few days I’ll share it with you.

I needed plenty of ice packs and didn’t have enough so we had to make a run to the local store for frozen peas.  If I had known how much I’d need the ice I would have bought a dozen of those soft gel packs and just used them after each procedure.  20/20 hindsight.

 

 

Day 1 Post Op (Fri 3/26)

I slept pretty well last night….I woke up a few times, didn’t get a lot of sleep but was not in a lot of pain so that was good.

My surgeon and nurse came to check on me….he said I look great and that I will be very pleased with how things turned out.  Neither he nor the 2 nurses like the way my knees swelled up…This is because the garment ends above my knees and should be one that goes below the knees….since I have TED hose on as a blood clot preventative measure the space between the hose and the garment has caused a massive bulge.  If you cut a football in half and put them on the inner sides of both knees that what it looks like.

 

The nurse showered me this morning…I was going to wait till tomorrow but she kept encouraging me to do it today so I did and I’m glad I did…felt nice.

What a challenge to get all the garments back on…..had to place all the pads up and around my legs, get the garment on, wrap the arms, but pad down my tummy were he revised the incision and get the surgery bra on with the pads under that too.  The whole thing took about 2.5 hours.

 

In general I felt really remarkably well today

 

Day 2 Post Op (Sat  3/27)

OMG , I had a VERY bad morning…SO MUCH PAIN in my stomach.  Nothing to do with any of the incisions, I believe this is all gas pains.  It would go around my gut and straight thru to my back.  The nurse walked me up and down the hall a few times AND gave me a back massage, foot massage, hand and forearm massage….SO WORTH hiring her….wish I could take her home with me…LOL

Anyhow, by about 1pm I was feeling much better.,,

 

My appetite has been pretty good, I’m not hungry but I’m not feeling like I don’t want to eat either… I’m just being careful about what I eat because I don’t want to cause any extra gas. ….For dinner Matthew cooked some broccoli, cauliflower and asparagus…I asked him if he is trying to kill me….LOL  I avoided the broc and cauliflower…I’m trying to keep my protein intake high to help with recovery but don’t want to overstuff myself either.

 

I can get out of bed today all by myself but still can’t get the legs all the way back in…I need help with that.  I have to keep reminding myself I had my arms done so I don’t over do it….I don’t want to pop stitches in my armpits.  The armpits are really sore (it was like this after my first brachio too)

I’m keeping my arms elevated on 2 pillows (each arm on 2) and I’m thrilled to say I have no swelling in the forearms and hands.  (last time it got real bad and then I was told about using 2 pillows).

 

Renee stopped by to visit…it was nice to see her and nice to have someone to chat with about all this especially since she already went thru it and could give me lots of tips and advice.

 

 

Day 3 Post Op (Sun  3/28)

 

Having a good start to the day.  At 4am I was able to get myself back into bed for the first time all by myself.  It was not easy and took a long time but I did it.  I’m glad Matthew is here to help because I don’t think I’m ready to do this every time yet.

 

Still only taking 1 pain killer every 5 hrs but sometimes think I should take 2 to completely kill the pain in the armpits.  I’ll see how it goes for the next few hrs and will take another one if needed.  I don’t have “pain" I have discomfort…I feel the leg incisions pulling when I move or walk.  I’ve been able to sit with no problem but it is not comfortable….the pressure put on the back of the thighs is not comfortable. 

 

I meant to take some laxatives last night but forgot…I guess I’ll take them Monday night if nothing happens by then (I took 3 stool softeners in the morning).

I sat on the toilet this morning hoping to get things “moving"……didn’t happen yet but I’m also not in pain from it yet…hopefully by tomorrow things be going. (Sorry for the TMI).  One thing I’m doing different this time is adding Metamucil to my protein shake so when I do go it won’t be so painful (lets hope).  I can feel things starting to percolate tonight….(ok, enough about that…)

 

Every time I stand up I leak some bloody fluid…mostly from the left groin area and the right knee..….there is one ugly looking lump that I’m not sure about…. I mentioned it to the nurse when she came to shower me and she cleaned it of for me.  I’ll stop by my surgeon’s office in the morning before I leave town (I’m a 90 min – 2 hr drive away)….I want him to look at two spots (one in the left groin one in the left armpit).  I hope the leaking stops because I have off white carpets in my bedrooms at home and don’t really want to fill it with red dots…

 

I had a nurse coming this afternoon to give me a shower and help out with stuff (takes pressure off Matthew who has been doing so much for me already).  She also does the butt wound packing stuff which is giving Matthew a break from having to do it.  Poor guy has been packing and cleaning it since Dec.  I wish she lived closer to my house, I would continue to have her come in for 2-3 hrs every other day to help out but it’s not worth it for her to drive 3 hrs round trip.

 

My butt is sore from sitting in bed for the last 3 days…..

Swelling……

I have no swelling in the forearms or hands, I don’t think there is much swelling in the upper arms.

My tummy is swollen from the upper incision revision and I’m sure some of the swelling in the lower belly is because I have not had a bowel movement yet…I look a little pregnant…I know it will go down in a couple of days. 

My mons was REALLY swollen the first day but already went down a lot.  I had no mons swelling with my tummy tuck so I was surprised when I first saw it the other day.

My legs are really swollen, put it's expected at this point, especially the knees but I can tell the legs are smaller…just not so sure how the knees will look in the end.  Can’t wait to be about 6 weeks out…for me the 6 week mark seems to be the defining moment.  I’m going to try to elevate the legs today hoping it will reduce swelling for me.
My nurse commented yesterday that she is surprised to see I have so little bruising…I told her I believe it’s because I take the Arnica Montana pills and Bromelain immediately after each procedure.  I swear this stuff works great for me.  Arnica Montana and Bromelain.....supplements that help reduce/eliminate swelling and bruising.  I swear these work for me.  This is a link to the brand I get.  You can also get them a little cheaper at GNC but they are lower grade quality and you really want the Bromelain to have Quercetin in it (that's what really helps with the swelling).  The arnica is more for the bruising.  www.vitamedica.com/html/healingprogram.html

 

I took a couple of pics today after I had my shower…I like to capture how everything looks at all stages as a reminder for myself, plus it helps me to see the progress.  I’ll post some as soon as I have some good pics I can share with friends

 

In general I’d say I’m very pleased with how things are going….hope it continues this way.

Hope you all are doing well.
More to come in a couple days....
Thanks for all your well wishes and support!!!!
 

Your thighs look great Ruth! What a difference. You are going to have some hot legs before long!

Ruth your legs look great.  What a difference. I had my pretesting done Sat so in 17 days I will be do the big thing.  Was wondering with circumferential and anchor cut do they do the girls parts too? 

Most surgeons do "lift" the mons as part of the TT but you should ask your surgeon to be sure.  It doesn't matter which style of TT you get they still usually do the mons as they are doing lower horizontal cut.

Thanks for the kind words on my legs.  I think I'll thrilled once I'm all healed.

Hi Ruth
I am so glad that everything is manageable for you.

I cant wait for the 6 weeks, to see how everything  plays out.

your legs look really good.  your gonna be so hot!!!

Deb

WOW you look great. I'm glad you are doing so well. I'm doing pretty good too, 8 weeks out from my procedures. Dr liked how everything was going so I don't have to see him again until 6months. He wants to talk about doing my thighs. I would love to do it but will have to save the $ up for it. If you don't mind sharing how much was just you thighs?

Your pics look fantastic.

Lorraine
Moosemom

Ruth, looking good.  Went back to see if any of your TT pics showed the extra boob/dog ear.  Think I have that too . . .  hmmm, I know thighs and arm revision was main focus, but will be interested in knowing how the dog-ear revision looks too.

Lisa

I have not posted any pics of the dog-ear /3rd boob cause I haven't posted any pics of boobs (bashful).  BUT
I can tell you that from what I can see so far I LOVE the results of the revision.  I'm swollen in the tummy from the belly button up because he re-cut that area and there is steri-strips there and around the under part of the boobs but what I can see looks fantastic.  I kind of look and feel like a mummy.....bandaged, taped, and wrapped from my arms to below my knees!!

LOL....If I can find a picture of the area and just cut out the dog-ear I'll send it to you...I'll let you know.

Ruth:

Your thighs look great.  I know you have got to be thrilled even though not healed.  I was so excited to look down and not see that saggy, wrinkly skin on my thighs.  I've worn longer shorts on vacation and have not been disappointed in how my legs look.  I can't wait for the scars to fade, but I know it can take up to 18mos.  Hang in there.  You look great. .  Lin