2 month post op visit--hmmm?

Well this is the first visit I've been feeling less than warm and fuzzy. It was a new nurse and let me tell you, bedside manner is not her forte. I told her of my continued pulling pain and numbness and that I was concerned that my saddlebags were not a temporary thing and that thus far they have not turned out the way the surgeon had showed me they would when he did his preop visit. She said it is swelling and basically pulled the "when you are such a train wreck to begin with, what do you expect?" sort of reply. Basically that I'm lucky to have gotten what I got, deal with the pain and zip it. I would say that is the way I should feel too except that I am not the one who set the expectation of what the outer thigh would look like--the surgeon did. And I don't think it is too far fetched to think that when one spends 23K, you should have your outer thigh addressed in an acceptable fashion. Am I out of line? I have to qualify again--I am very pleased with the transformation that has taken place, HOWEVER, he said I would be rid of my saddlebags and to this point I am not and I really don't see how it could improve that vastly and I'm actually concerned that if swelling goes down then I'll be left with saggy floppier thighs, although I'm no expert. I think I am the most irritated because the thighs are causing problems with my being able to fit pants. She said I have to wear compression garments for the thighs so I will and I'll try to be patient.

I know I'll never be perfect, but I was hoping that after all that money and all this pain I'd not be left feel self conscious about a body part that was supposed to be addressed with the surgery.

Here I go to try to pour myself into my compression garment. I considered trying to pull my eyelids over my head instead, but thought that putting the garment on would be a teeny weeny itsy bit easier. ;)

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Denise

Hi there, from one saddle bag queen to another!  I know EXACTLY how you feel.  My saddlebags actually looked pretty good after my LBL but I had a feeling they would fall and was warned by my surgeon that this was a possibility.  By 2 and definitely 3 months, I knew they were going south again.  My Doc says the lower body fat people tend to have this issue and so I got them re lifted 2 weeks ago using a different technique...same surgeon, different technique.  I was told I needed to wait a year for things to totally settle down before he's do the revision, so when I was ready for round 2...arms and thighs, I had that done as well.  I'm holding my breath that they will stay this time.  He did not charge for this revision, by the way. 

Laura

P.S.  My surgeon is Dr. LoMonaco

Thanks for the reply. Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but I'd rather be realistic. HOping your 2nd time arond gets you what you want. I don't know that any more plastics are in my future, but hoping there is maybe something he can do--lasers, something super easy outpatient. I don't know. I hear Dr. L is awesome, I'm sure this time around will go great!

Take care!

Well I do know that Dr. L said that in order to fix the problem he would have to do it in the hospital under full sedation.  So even though he did not charge for the revision, I still had to pay OR and anesthesia fees.  But when you spend as much as we have it's worth it to get the optimal results.  Don't give up hope just yet though.  And I also think the nurse was dismissive of your concerns.  But she probably just doesn't know **** from shinola.  Hopefully the Doctor will be straight with you.  Good luck hon.

Laura

I have not and am not planning to have my thighs done so I cannot comment on that, BUT I will comment on the nurses attitude.

It is completely unacceptable!  You're right you spent 23K and you have a right to know and understand why things did not turn out as you were told by your surgeon.  Even if you spent $0 and things didn't turn out as you were told you have a right to know why.  Even if it was nothing the surgeon did or did not do -  he should explain to you.."Denise, i know I told you  your saddle bags would be gone, but when I got in there xyz happened and I just couldn't make that happen.  We need to do abc to make that happen and the timeline for that is ..."  I completely despise the whole  blame the patient technique used by some medical "professionals"

The nurse blowing you off is not ok, and I personally would have told her so, but I'm confrontational like that.  When do you next see your doc?

If it were me ( see confrontation above) I would tell your doc how unhappy you are with how you were treated.  This guy is basically in a cash business and if he wants his clientele to keep up he'll ditch the crappy nurse because he wants the people paying the bills to be happy. 

GLad to hear folks don't think I'm over reacting. I will definitely be asking for an explanation, but don't see him until early January. Maybe I'll see some improvement by then. I will tell him about his nurses dismissive attitude. I do love him though, so that is more important to me. I do know I will never book another Wednesday appt because that is when she works!

I am running into saddle bag issues!  I have not been pleased at the inconsistency regarding the results at my consults.  It is to the point, you don't know what to believe.   One PS said he wouldn't recommend the LBL, but do a lateral excision combined with a pani (i have no kids and solid abdominal musculature)....all others have gone from sugar coating the LBL will take care of the saddlebags 100% to you will definitely need a revision but cannot really tell me what that revision procedure would be. 

In all the pictures PS have shared with me, none have really addressed the lateral area.  When I really press the surgeon on what is a reasonable result, they almost get annoyed...then when I bring up revision policies, they seem real offended.  

I hope you see better results, Denise.  Just the nature of the anatomy and the location of your LBL incision, what you see now is likely what you're getting.   I am guessing they are just trying to pacify you by using the swelling explanation. 

The inconsistency is mind boggling.  Lucky you with solid muscles!! I think they are trying to pacify me to. We'll see what he has to say in a month or so.

Thanks! 

UNACCEPTABLE!!!  As a nurse I hate when other nurses give the profession a bad name. You need to call and write a letter of complaint. This is not someone who should be working in this environment. Plastics is sensitvie, this person is not.

You are absolutely right! I always say nurses are either the right hand of God or they really need to find a new profession as they have lost their sensitivity and compassion. Thanks for being the right hand of God...