8 days post-op LBL w/ butt augmentation update
I thought I'd share an update since I devoured them when I was pre-op trying to glean what to expect....WARNING - I ended up rambling, so this is quite long!
I had circumferential torsoplasty (as my surgeon refers to it), which is the LBL - tummy tuck, outer thigh lift, butt lift. He also did a smidge of liposuction to my thighs and lower back for contouring. I also had the butt auto-augmentation or brazillian butt lift where some of my own tissue was used to pad my ass and give me some shape. This was all done on 5/26.
The procedure went very well, but I did lose more blood than expected. My hemoglobin got down to 7.6 (I think) and I got 3 units of blood (transfusion) in the OR and then another one (just 1 unit) the next day. That night was ROUGH because I was so weak from the blood loss. I literally could not even stand, let alone walk. I was originally scheduled to stay one night, but ended up staying another due to the blood loss, delayed walking and then I developed a bit of a temperature (just under the dreaded 101 point). So, I had surgery on Thursday and went home Saturday.
Let's see....what else.....I did have a catheter and 4 drains when I woke up. I don't recall much pain, so that was nice. The catheter came out Friday night and 2 of my 4 drains came out Saturday morning before I went home as they weren't working well and not really draining much. I went in for a follow up on Tuesday (so 6 days post-op) and got one other drain removed. I have 1 left now, which will come out on Monday (11 days post-op) when I return for another follow up.
Oh, my surgeon does like his patients to wear a binder but I didn't have one for the first day because they couldn't find one small enough to fit me! The surgeon said I was too tiny! That was an odd thing to hear. They managed to find one small enough for me the next morning. It was just an abdominal one that wraps around you with velcro. It wasn't uncomfortable at all. When I went for my first follow up (6 days post-op) they put me into the one I'm wearing now, which is a spanx-like contraption (though tighter) that goes from my thighs to my ribcage. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's not horrible either.
What else.....Oh, I have found that the 2 most comfortable places for me to sit are on the toilet and in my computer chair! LOL! Odd, I know, but you sit where it feels good! I think this is partly because I had the butt aug, so I can't recline in a recliner as that puts pressure directly on that part of my butt and I'm told to avoid that for now (plus it hurts). I think if I just had the LBL, the recliner would work well for me.
Pain and meds......I think it's safe to say that I have not had severe pain at all. Wait! I take that back - I did take a drink of water that went down the wrong way and it forced me to cough and that hurt like a mother******! Other than that, though, (which I know doesn't really count!) the pain has not been that bad. My incisions are mostly numb and are taped, so I don't even really pull at them when I move. Every now and then a spot (usually my hips/back) will kind of burn. The stomach muscles aren't too bad (as long as you don't cough!) and as long as I move slowly they're okay. I'm using my arms and legs A LOT. I originally wanted my arms and boobs done at the same time, but am glad now that I had to wait on that. I need my arms! My sorest part has been my hips and ass. Again, I think that is because I had the butt aug done. This area is the most swollen, as well. Oh, meds......I had a prescription for the lower does of oxycodone filled for when I got home. I've only taken 16 of the 30 in the 7 days I've been home. The past several days I've only taken them at night to sleep. If I think I need something, Tylenol has been fine, but it's rare that I even need that now.
What they say about each day getting a big better is true. It might only be a smidge better the next day, but there is improvement. Today I got up and can almost stand and walk upright, so that was encouraging! I can also walk at a more normal pace and go up and down my stairs without a problem. I've been able to get in and out of bed without assistance for a few days, too. I'm sleeping on a gazillion pillows right now, so I'm kind of elevated. I also have to lay on them in a way that keeps pressure off my butt.
Hmmmm......I think that about covers it so far. One of the harder things for me has been not being able to cuddle with my kids. My 3 year old fell face first off the swing today and bloodied up the entire front of his face and I couldn't scoop him up and take care of him. That sucked! (I've not been home alone with my 4 kids, so my husband was here and took care of him.)
Oh, I did think of something else. My ankles and feet were super swollen for several days, mostly from IV fluids. Yesterday I peed and peed and peed and peed, so I knew I was finally getting rid of all those fluids. Today I have my normal ankles and feet again.
They removed 6 pounds from me, but when I came home I weighed the same as before surgery. This number slowly dropped by about a pound a day and then after I spent that one day peeing, I'm actually down about 9 pounds. I'm attributing this to having NO appetite for several days after surgery. It's returning now, so I hope to put a few pounds back on as I already had issue with being too thin (in my opinion - still am within the healthy BMI range, though on the lower end).
I did take pre-op pics and plan on taking my first post-op pics at 2 weeks out, so the end of next week.
I'm sorry I've rambled on and on, but I've just kind of typed things out as they occurred to me. Like I said, I know I was wondering about all of this when I was pre-op, so maybe my ramblings will be beneficial to someone else who's pre-op right now.
Feel free to ask me any questions! Thanks for reading my novel! ;)
I had circumferential torsoplasty (as my surgeon refers to it), which is the LBL - tummy tuck, outer thigh lift, butt lift. He also did a smidge of liposuction to my thighs and lower back for contouring. I also had the butt auto-augmentation or brazillian butt lift where some of my own tissue was used to pad my ass and give me some shape. This was all done on 5/26.
The procedure went very well, but I did lose more blood than expected. My hemoglobin got down to 7.6 (I think) and I got 3 units of blood (transfusion) in the OR and then another one (just 1 unit) the next day. That night was ROUGH because I was so weak from the blood loss. I literally could not even stand, let alone walk. I was originally scheduled to stay one night, but ended up staying another due to the blood loss, delayed walking and then I developed a bit of a temperature (just under the dreaded 101 point). So, I had surgery on Thursday and went home Saturday.
Let's see....what else.....I did have a catheter and 4 drains when I woke up. I don't recall much pain, so that was nice. The catheter came out Friday night and 2 of my 4 drains came out Saturday morning before I went home as they weren't working well and not really draining much. I went in for a follow up on Tuesday (so 6 days post-op) and got one other drain removed. I have 1 left now, which will come out on Monday (11 days post-op) when I return for another follow up.
Oh, my surgeon does like his patients to wear a binder but I didn't have one for the first day because they couldn't find one small enough to fit me! The surgeon said I was too tiny! That was an odd thing to hear. They managed to find one small enough for me the next morning. It was just an abdominal one that wraps around you with velcro. It wasn't uncomfortable at all. When I went for my first follow up (6 days post-op) they put me into the one I'm wearing now, which is a spanx-like contraption (though tighter) that goes from my thighs to my ribcage. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's not horrible either.
What else.....Oh, I have found that the 2 most comfortable places for me to sit are on the toilet and in my computer chair! LOL! Odd, I know, but you sit where it feels good! I think this is partly because I had the butt aug, so I can't recline in a recliner as that puts pressure directly on that part of my butt and I'm told to avoid that for now (plus it hurts). I think if I just had the LBL, the recliner would work well for me.
Pain and meds......I think it's safe to say that I have not had severe pain at all. Wait! I take that back - I did take a drink of water that went down the wrong way and it forced me to cough and that hurt like a mother******! Other than that, though, (which I know doesn't really count!) the pain has not been that bad. My incisions are mostly numb and are taped, so I don't even really pull at them when I move. Every now and then a spot (usually my hips/back) will kind of burn. The stomach muscles aren't too bad (as long as you don't cough!) and as long as I move slowly they're okay. I'm using my arms and legs A LOT. I originally wanted my arms and boobs done at the same time, but am glad now that I had to wait on that. I need my arms! My sorest part has been my hips and ass. Again, I think that is because I had the butt aug done. This area is the most swollen, as well. Oh, meds......I had a prescription for the lower does of oxycodone filled for when I got home. I've only taken 16 of the 30 in the 7 days I've been home. The past several days I've only taken them at night to sleep. If I think I need something, Tylenol has been fine, but it's rare that I even need that now.
What they say about each day getting a big better is true. It might only be a smidge better the next day, but there is improvement. Today I got up and can almost stand and walk upright, so that was encouraging! I can also walk at a more normal pace and go up and down my stairs without a problem. I've been able to get in and out of bed without assistance for a few days, too. I'm sleeping on a gazillion pillows right now, so I'm kind of elevated. I also have to lay on them in a way that keeps pressure off my butt.
Hmmmm......I think that about covers it so far. One of the harder things for me has been not being able to cuddle with my kids. My 3 year old fell face first off the swing today and bloodied up the entire front of his face and I couldn't scoop him up and take care of him. That sucked! (I've not been home alone with my 4 kids, so my husband was here and took care of him.)
Oh, I did think of something else. My ankles and feet were super swollen for several days, mostly from IV fluids. Yesterday I peed and peed and peed and peed, so I knew I was finally getting rid of all those fluids. Today I have my normal ankles and feet again.
They removed 6 pounds from me, but when I came home I weighed the same as before surgery. This number slowly dropped by about a pound a day and then after I spent that one day peeing, I'm actually down about 9 pounds. I'm attributing this to having NO appetite for several days after surgery. It's returning now, so I hope to put a few pounds back on as I already had issue with being too thin (in my opinion - still am within the healthy BMI range, though on the lower end).
I did take pre-op pics and plan on taking my first post-op pics at 2 weeks out, so the end of next week.
I'm sorry I've rambled on and on, but I've just kind of typed things out as they occurred to me. Like I said, I know I was wondering about all of this when I was pre-op, so maybe my ramblings will be beneficial to someone else who's pre-op right now.
Feel free to ask me any questions! Thanks for reading my novel! ;)
Good to hear from you. I have Fleur De Leis Tummy Tuck and brachioplasty on 5/24 so I'm 10 days post op.
I'd have to say I've had alot of pain. My legs are fine and that has been a lifesaver. I am 4 hours from plastic surgeon and trip home was horrendous.
I try to walk every 1-2 hours. My arm JP drains are out, but still have 2 in pubic area. I'm not taking narcotics any more - but have burning in incisions - especially under my arm pits.
I don't think I will have thigh & butt lift. Don't think I want to go through this again. I'm told the tummy tuck is the most painful, but still don't think I will do more.
I haven't got on scales yet. My appetite is still kinda low. I'm drinking lots of fluids, taking in extra protein and taking my vitamins & supplements.
I took before pics and will wait until my drains are out to take some after pictures.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I'd have to say I've had alot of pain. My legs are fine and that has been a lifesaver. I am 4 hours from plastic surgeon and trip home was horrendous.
I try to walk every 1-2 hours. My arm JP drains are out, but still have 2 in pubic area. I'm not taking narcotics any more - but have burning in incisions - especially under my arm pits.
I don't think I will have thigh & butt lift. Don't think I want to go through this again. I'm told the tummy tuck is the most painful, but still don't think I will do more.
I haven't got on scales yet. My appetite is still kinda low. I'm drinking lots of fluids, taking in extra protein and taking my vitamins & supplements.
I took before pics and will wait until my drains are out to take some after pictures.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Penny Highest Weight 255 * Wt loss includes 19 lb lost before surgery
Total cost with no insurance was $12760, but that was for one night's hospital stay. I paid this and then found out afterwards that my insurance company was approving the panni, so I was supposed to get $3200 back (so that means I'd have paid $9560). I imagine I'm going to get less than the full $3200 back now since I had to stay another night and get transfusions, unless my insurance will cover that, too.
WOW Becky! I've been away a lot and had no idea you were having plastics!! Sounds like everything is going wonderfully for you! I'm still a long way from plastics but am just starting to venture over here. Just to see whats going on. So happy for you.
Ruby
Ruby
tazmaddy34 is my HW/SW/CW/GW 346/335/183/150 5'4.25"
Becky,
Congrats on getting your ps!!! That is awesome! I am happy that you are recovering so well. Thank you very much for giving us a sneak peak in to your journey. It really helps me out in figuring out what I am in for..lol. I can 't wait to see your before and after pics. Take care of you.
Congrats on getting your ps!!! That is awesome! I am happy that you are recovering so well. Thank you very much for giving us a sneak peak in to your journey. It really helps me out in figuring out what I am in for..lol. I can 't wait to see your before and after pics. Take care of you.
AmandaSW 269 CW 135.6 GW 140
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