OMG OMG OMG

I had abdominoplasty 9 days ago.  It was to remove the loose skin.  Doc said the underlying muscles were fine and he didn't have to do much.  I didn't have a lot of extra skin but it hung over with a bit of a muffin top too and I wanted it gone.

Today I tried a couple of pairs of pants on and can't even come CLOSE to being able to zip them up.

I would not be in so much of a panic if I were not leaving for my cruise three weeks from today.  If I can't zip up my clothes I won't have a thing to wear.  NOTHING.

Is this normal?  Will I see it go down to normal in the next three weeks?  Yikes.  I knew I was cutting it close but doc said I'd be fine in 2 - 4 weeks and I had six so I thought I was outside of the window.

YIKES!!  Am I going to make it?  What was your experience as to getting back into your clothes?

Swelling is normal and everyone has a different timeline. I think mine went away @ about 6 weeks. Mine was mostly in my thighs and pants were tight @ work when I went back at 4 weeks. I think it was about 6 weeks when the same pants had a bunch of room in the thighs. Time and patience will tell.

I went down 2 sizes after my LBL but I couldn't get into my old sizes for a while after my LBL. I didn't even try to get into normal clothes for at least 2 or 3 weeks. I had to buy smaller pants at about 5 or 6 weeks out.

My post op instructions say "after several weeks -- brusing and swelling will continue to subside and you'll begin to see your results."  I haven't tried normal clothes 'cause I'd read about the frustration of that, but I can tell that today I'm less swollen than yesterday.  This is my 3rd day post op.  I strongly suggest you go to Walgreen's (or some pharmacy) and get the strongest Arnica Gel you can find.  I'm typically a terrible bruiser but I've put the gel all over my swollen/bruised areas and some of the bruises actually look like the end of the bruising period, you know when they turn yellow and fade.  I honestly can't believe it!  Arnica is also good for deep muscle pain.

I think you will see a huge difference in the next week or so, from everything I've read.  Make sure you're really forcing fluids, getting plenty of protein and Vitamins A & C.  Other than that you just have to wait and see.

I was in size 6 pants before my lbl, and in size 8s for about 2 weeks after. Went back to 6s for a couple weeks, and now that the swelling is down, am a 4 or 2.

Are you using compression to keep the swelling down? That might help speed the process a bit.

Oh thank you.  That is very encouraging.  I started out as a 4 but tried on some pants the other day and they were about three inches from buttoning.  I just need to get back into the 4's before the trip because that is all I own.  So you are saying it was just a few weeks?  I have three more to go before the trip.

I'm going into compression this week.  My doc doesn't like to start out with compression.  So that may encourage the rebound.

I do wish you luck with it!  Yes, I was 2 weeks without compression, and then about 2 weeks after I got into it, I was back in my pre-surgery size. 

I hope you make it - and think you will!