Post Op experiences

I am in the process of PS consults.  I am considering using a surgeon about 4 hours from my home and will meet with him next week.  I am assuming the best procedure for me will be a LBL with a possible BL.   I have lots of questions about the logistics of not using a local surgeon and was hoping to get a better idea of the healing process post op. 

How long would you suggest I stay in the local area after the procedure before going home based on your recovery experiences?    How much did you see your surgeon in the 2 weeks following the procedure?  How long did you have your drains...how long did you feel comfortable in your wounds healing?   How long before you could manage a 4 hour car ride?!  

Did anyone else deal with a non local surgery?  Did you have follow up care from a PCP or set up another PS as a fall back? 

I will obviously discuss all these things with the surgeon, but I want to make sure I have a small grasp in directing some of my questions.  

Thanks in advance!  I have been reading many posts on this board and I appreciate how candid and helpful everyone has been in sharing their experiences!  

I had a none local surgeon for my brachio. He is about 2.5 hrs away from me.

I stayed in town 4 days. He wanted me back in his office the day after surgery, a week out and 2 weeks out. Now I'm not scheduled to go back for 3 months. He was very aware/worried about me being far away, but always warned me that if a complication occurred, I would have to make the drive. Thankfully, nothing has happened.

For a more envasive procedure, I am not sure I'd go so far away...just because the riding is cumbersome and you have to be in town a lot longer.

I know there are people who do drive that far. Hopefully they chime in.

I'm considering a TT, and for that, I'm going local.

I'm curious as to the responses you get. I have scheduled a LBL w/ butt augmentation for November, and the surgeon is 4 hours away from me as well. I have a room at the residence inn booked for a week to stay close by. My surgeon said I could ride back after a few days (3) but I would not be happy about it. I decided to stay longer, just to be a bit more into my recovery before taking that ride.

Waiting to see what others think as well.

I had a hernia repair, LBL, BL and spiral thigh lift with Dr. Agha in Newport Beach, CA 3 weeks ago. I am from Chicago. He prefers his out-of-town patients stay for 3 weeks. I am staying 8 weeks so I can have my second stage (arm lift, upper body lift) before I go home.

Hijack Trish!
How did you like Dr Agha?  I live in Colorado, but my boyfriend lives a mile from his office.  I checked into his services and was very impressed. 

I am extremely impressed and pleased with Dr. Agha's work.  It's not like there are not good plastic surgeons in Chicago, but my stomach, butt and mons areas were such a mess that I needed someone I trusted to deal with my case.  I looked at before/after pix from the other PS and didn't really see anyone who looked like me to start with.  I didn't want to go through all this and not be happy.

Trish, I have to agree with you!  He has some absolutely stunning before and afters!  There's one woman on there who has lost what I have and her body looked like mine!  Her after pics is just breathtaking! 

Wow!! Just looked at Dr. Agha's gallery and his work is amazing!! I really need thigh work, but still on the fence....

Laura

I know what pics you're talking about. You're right, the transformation is unbelievable! All his before and afters are impressive, but that one is amazing.

Definitely ask your surgeon the frequency of check-ups.

My surgeon was 4 hours away too.  Luckily my daughter lived in the vicinity so I imposed on her.  I ended up staying just a little over 2 weeks.  I had 3 drains initially, 2 came out the first week and I took the 3rd out myself after I got home.  I didn't have any follow up care with a PCP in the area, I just drove back to his office for my checkups.  I think my first check up was 5 days later and the 2nd was a week after that.  I easily drove home after 2 weeks.