Update - 17 days post-op Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift

Hi everybody.

Saw my surgeon today...this was my 3rd meeting with him since my tummy tuck and breast lift surgery on 27 Sept.  He removed the remainder of the stitches today and also had to drain some fluid from my lower tummy area.  Didn't feel a thing so that was a good thing.  He is pleased with how I am healing and told me I didn't have to go back to see him for 2 weeks.

I asked the surgeon how much the skin weighed that he removed from my tummy and breasts and he said about 6 lbs in total.

I am amazed at how the body heals itself...I couldn't be more pleased.  I keep "touching wood" that it has gone so well.  I don't want to get too caulky and thank God every day.

Speedy recovery to all those who are post-op, and good luck to those who are soon having surgery.

Take care...Linda

Glad you are doing so well! Congratulations.

Jan

Way to go!  Did you have and JP drains left in after your surgery?  Are you still in a compression binder?

Keep up the good work!

 Hi, thanks.

I had two drains left in after surgery.  They came from both hips, and joined into one drain bottle.  The drains were removed 10 days after my surgery.  Yes, I am still wearing a binder.  I only have one, so I take it off only to wa****  The doc wants me to wear it for 6 weeks, so almost 3 weeks gone and 3 to go....yippee.  It gets cumbersome and itchy sometimes, but what I have done now is put a cotton t-shirt on first, then wrap the binder around.  That way I have the soft cotton against my skin and not the sometimes scratchy binder.  Works great.

Take care...Linda

Linda,
Thanks for the tip with the tee shirt under your binder.  I'm having surgery in 2 weeks and have been trying to find any tips for easier recovery.

Glad you are healing well. 

I'm have tummy tuck, breast lift and arm lift.

Thanks
Judy

Hi Judy, wishing you a uneventful surgery in two weeks.  You won't be sorry, and for me it has not been bad at all...any discomfort was so manageable.  The pain meds work wonderfully, and I was off them by the 4th day.  

Like you, I was very glad to get tips before surgery from other OH members as to how to make it all go smoothly.


One OH member recommended to me that I take an Advil in between the stronger pain med that the doc will prescribe.  The strong meds I had to take every 4 hours.  So after 2 hours, I took an Advil.  Then in two hours I was due for the strong med, so took that, then in 2 hours, took another Advil.  This regime keeps you in a quite comfortable state.  After 4 days, I was completely off the stronger med, and only took an Advil at bedtime.  I was off the Advil in another day or two.

And another OH member recommended to me that when taking a shower, tie a pair of panty hose around your waist and pin your drain bottle(s) to the panty hose.  You have your hands free to wash yourself, plus there are no silly bottles dragging on the bottom of the bathtub.  Works great.

You'll have to keep track of how much drainage you have, so what I did was keep a paper and pen on the counter in the bathroom and just wrote it down every time I emptied the drain bottle each day, and brought this to the doctor's office each visit until the drain tubes were removed 10 days after surgery.


If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  I know how much I appreciated the help of others on here who had experienced first hand the surgeries.

Lucky you getting your arms done as well.,  My next surgery will be my arms.  They actually bother me the most and I debated whether to get them done first.  I couldn't afford the 3 at once, but next year for sure I am getting the arms done. My thighs are quite unsightly, but I am not going to worry about those.  At my age I am not concerned about looking good in shorts or a bathing suit....thank God for Capri's...lol

Take care...Linda

HI Linda,

So happy to hear that you are doing so well.  Just wondering...have you lost or gained weight since your surgery.  I am curious about that.  Does your restriction feel tighter after your TT?  Did you lose your appetite for a few days?

Sorry..so many questions.

Patty

Hi Patty,

I seemed to have lost about 9 lbs since surgery.  I asked my surgeon yesterday how much the skin he removed weighed, and he said around 6 lbs, so looks like I may have lost about 3 lbs on my own.

My appetite was not that big when I first got home, but it increased as days passed.  I do feel more restricted since the tummy tuck.  Not sure why that is, but perhaps with the food intake my stomach and digestive tract pushes out and I feel a pressure with the binder on now.  I am not starving by any means, I am eating well, just smaller amounts and more often.  

Ask away....I am happy to share my experience to help others.  I did the same thing when i was getting ready.

Take care...Linda

Happy for you Linda!  Wishing you a speedy, uneventful recovery!

Linda, thanks for the tips!  I'm glad things are going so well.  That's encouraging to read.  Here's to a continuing great recovery!        Jenny