Post Op Day 18 - Inner Thighs and Arms Pics posted

WOW, almost 3 weeks post op already (I had surgery 3 weeks ago on Thurs)........ here are the details on the last few days.  New pics posted on the arms and inner thighs.  Friends can read the entire story in my blog and they can see all the pictures....

Day 14 Post Op (Fri 4/9)

Wahoo! I have human feet again…..Looks like the swelling is going down.  Still a bit puffy but I feel so much more human.  Now if I could get the whole pooping thing completely regulated I’ll be the happiest girl……

 

Day 15 Post Op (Sat 4/10)

So far so good….the swelling is still going down – not all gone, but much better. 

I’m not crazy about the way the incisions look right now….lumpy/bumpy/ropey but the surgeon assured me this will improve and they will flatten out.  I have to trust him he’s done such a good job with other parts of me I have to trust that this will end up great too.

Day 16 Post Op (Sun 4/11)

The swelling is much less – not all gone, but much better.  I feel so much better!!

 

Day 18 Post Op (Tue 4/13)

Since I’m wearing the Thigh High compression hose and my regular compression garment which ends just below the knees I’ve noticed my Tummy and lower butt area is a little swollen…..LOL…I guess the fluid has to collect somewhere.  So I’ve put the TT Binder on top of the compression garment.  I swear if it was the middle of summer I’d have to shoot myself because all these layers of compression which are doing a good job at keeping the swelling down but it’s a lot to have on under my pants and top.  I can’t wait to be in just one garment!!!  If anyone complains about having to wear a compression garment I want them to come and try this on for a week…they’ll be happy to wear just one garment!

 

My workout for today was taking a shower......let me tell you by the time I take off all the bandages, and all the compression garments ( 2 arm sleeves, surgery bra, full body compression garment that goes below the knees and a pair of compression hose), then take a shower, apply polysporin to all the new incisions, apply scar cream to the older ones (the TT and LBL scars), then put all the bandages and all the garments back on I feel more tired than I do after walking for 3 miles!!!!!!  I needed to lay down and rest for 20 mins!

 

Summary of all my healing:

The redness due to the reaction to the steri-strips/tape is getting better.  Still some redness in some area (breasts and TT) but no longer itchy

Swelling is so much less….much, much, better!!!!!!  I’m still wearing the compression hose under my full length compression garment so they don’t swell again.  I will try to spend a day without the compression hose on Friday….hopefully it won’t back-fire on me.

Arms: Doing very well.  Except for the small spot in the armpit that opened up within the first few days every thing is healing nicely.  The incisions look pretty good.  It’s thicker and ropey in the area that comes from the armpit down the side and also at the elbows but the surgeon assures me these will smooth out and be fine.

Breast revision: the incision is a little thicker than I expected (based on my original breast surgery) but again the surgeon says it will smooth down.

Inner Thighs:  Were do I start…..overall things are great.  The incision right at the knee is thick/ropey/lumpy….hard to describe. The incision going down the leg looks pretty good.  The incision around the groin is still a bit sore but that’s mostly at the end of the day……the part that goes around the back of leg is a thicker/lumpier than the front part.

 

Future work:  At my last office visit we discussed the need for some minor scar revision work…nothing big, it could be done right in the office under l local. 

I also asked if there is anything that could be done to tighten up the top of he back of thighs and the lowest part of the butt…I asked if there is “reverse butt lift"….cutting under the butt check and tucking the cheeks up and hosting the back of the thigh at the same time.  Anyhow…..he said yes we’ll look at doing something in the fall.

 

So all in all things are healing, swelling is down, I get tired easily but am able to manage everything around the house (can’t wait till I can take on the outside and work in the garden).

I hope to go for a walk on Thursday…maybe 15 or 20 mins….I’ll go slow but it will feel great if I can do it.  I think being at 3 weeks post-op on Thursday it should be safe to do a slow walk….I’ll take the cell phone just in case I have to call for a ride home…LOL!

Next update to come at the 1 month mark.....till then I hope you are all doing well.  Hugs to those healing and best wishes to those preparing for surgery.

Hello, thank you so much  for showing your arm pics.  I had my arm lift four weeks ago and my results look like your first surgery. We have already scheduled to work on my left arm because it bothered me so much, but after seeing your results, I'm not scared / worried about asking for a revision on both arms which I thought I was over reacting. You look great. Thank you!!

Glad it helps.....that's exactly why I post this stuff....to help and educate others.
Best wishes on your journey

Ruth, Yes you are right. Your arms look super now like they should have looked the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   gAIL

Thanks Gail!

How are your arms doing?

Ruth, They are looking good. I need to get Howie to take a picture.  I go back to the doctor the end of May.

You're looking great Ruth! I have a little bit of a sag at the bottom of my butt too but I'm not worried about it.  In fact, that's probably normal for non-WLS women over 30 or 40 anyway!  lol  My drs went as far back in my groin without turning me over to help with the sag in the back of my thigh and to try to help the sag in the bottom of the butt. I'm not looking for perfection so I can live with it. I may have to have a couple of tweaks in the office too but nothing big.  Believe me, I could pick my body to pieces for sure, but I've got enough scars on my body for now and I'm just happy that I look better than I ever have in my entire life!

AMEN!

I'm not positive if I will go ahead with doing anything to back of the thigh/lower butt.....it's an option but I am also tired of being cut and just want to recover and start really living my life.  I'll decide around October...by then I'll be all recovered from the LBL and Inner thighs so I'll have a good idea of how things look. 
Hey, for my age and after I've had all this work done I think I look pretty darn good...I'm happy!!  I'm not going to walk around in public in a bikini or short shorts so a little sag in the butt won't be the worst thing.  Could also be a good thing to serve as a reminder of where I've come from and NEVER EVER want to go back to.....

Thanks for sharing!!!

your arms are just looking fantastic - nice healing going on! I'm at 15 days out and still much redness and that open spot... nice having the daily blog - it's funny day 14 did make a turning point for feeling  a bit more back to normal though still having to take it easy.