XP: Five Week Update!
I'm five weeks out from my body work today.
I'm a big baby! I've really let my friends baby me and take me out. Today I have to drive and go take a friend to the airport so I guess I'm back out on my own.
I'm feeling pretty good. Sometime this week I stopped worrying so much about opening areas on my LBL. Last week I had a tiny spot open and got very paranoid so was really gentle. I had moved back to my bedroom last Thursday and the bed is a lot higher than the sofabed in the living room.
I do have a few problem areas: A stitch is still in the crease of my eyelid. I think I was too swollen for Patty to see it because it is all the way in the inside. I'll have to find a nurse to look at it for me.
I have a small opening in my groin that is a pain. I keep it padded with soft clean hankies to keep from rubbing when I walk. I may have a tiny opening at the edge of one under breast incision but it's healing nicely.
I'd say I'm really lucky to have so few minor problems given everything that I had done.
Pro's: I LOVE my body! My breasts are still perfect. My stomach isn't pulled taut but at five weeks I'm going to give it some time and see what happens when the rest of the swelling goes down. I never really swelled very much, or at least I don't think so. If I eat something with soy sauce I immediately gain two pounds the next day from sodium weight. I love my thighs and how slim they are, though I do still have that bit of a fat pocket at the top inner thigh. No problem. I'd say pretty normal for a woman who's 61. My arms look great. Also not ultra thin but just perfect on my body.
Con's: Darn Binders! I HATE this bra/arm combo. It digs into my breasts and rides up all the time. This morning I put on a sport bra under it with a thick band where the binder rests, I'll see how that goes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not nuts for the body binder either but I can live with it. I have to continue to wear the binders 24/7 for another week. I still have scabs on my legs and LBL line. Not many but enough to be a bit annoying. I still worry that if one falls off, it might reveal a hole or something. I have to stop thinking that and visualize perfection under the scabs.
My appetite is coming back. DARN! I want to keep off the pounds I shed post-op so I'll have to be careful wtih my eating.
My face seems to change daily. The swelling goes down a little more and I get to see more of what I'll look like. My feelings are still out on how much I like or don't like it but I'm giving it time. Regardless of whether I love it, it's a vast improvement. I have a great jaw line and who could complain about that!!
I've been going out to do things daily. Walks, museum, movies, shopping etc. Today I'm going to attempt my first walk around the lake in front of my house. The path is 3.25 miles but there's lots of places to stop and sit if I need to. I've only done 1.75 miles of the trail at once thus far but it's time to pull up my big girl panties and get on with it. The sun is shining and it will be in the 60's so it's a great day to do it.
I'd say it's been a great five weeks!
I'm a big baby! I've really let my friends baby me and take me out. Today I have to drive and go take a friend to the airport so I guess I'm back out on my own.
I'm feeling pretty good. Sometime this week I stopped worrying so much about opening areas on my LBL. Last week I had a tiny spot open and got very paranoid so was really gentle. I had moved back to my bedroom last Thursday and the bed is a lot higher than the sofabed in the living room.
I do have a few problem areas: A stitch is still in the crease of my eyelid. I think I was too swollen for Patty to see it because it is all the way in the inside. I'll have to find a nurse to look at it for me.
I have a small opening in my groin that is a pain. I keep it padded with soft clean hankies to keep from rubbing when I walk. I may have a tiny opening at the edge of one under breast incision but it's healing nicely.
I'd say I'm really lucky to have so few minor problems given everything that I had done.
Pro's: I LOVE my body! My breasts are still perfect. My stomach isn't pulled taut but at five weeks I'm going to give it some time and see what happens when the rest of the swelling goes down. I never really swelled very much, or at least I don't think so. If I eat something with soy sauce I immediately gain two pounds the next day from sodium weight. I love my thighs and how slim they are, though I do still have that bit of a fat pocket at the top inner thigh. No problem. I'd say pretty normal for a woman who's 61. My arms look great. Also not ultra thin but just perfect on my body.
Con's: Darn Binders! I HATE this bra/arm combo. It digs into my breasts and rides up all the time. This morning I put on a sport bra under it with a thick band where the binder rests, I'll see how that goes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not nuts for the body binder either but I can live with it. I have to continue to wear the binders 24/7 for another week. I still have scabs on my legs and LBL line. Not many but enough to be a bit annoying. I still worry that if one falls off, it might reveal a hole or something. I have to stop thinking that and visualize perfection under the scabs.
My appetite is coming back. DARN! I want to keep off the pounds I shed post-op so I'll have to be careful wtih my eating.
My face seems to change daily. The swelling goes down a little more and I get to see more of what I'll look like. My feelings are still out on how much I like or don't like it but I'm giving it time. Regardless of whether I love it, it's a vast improvement. I have a great jaw line and who could complain about that!!
I've been going out to do things daily. Walks, museum, movies, shopping etc. Today I'm going to attempt my first walk around the lake in front of my house. The path is 3.25 miles but there's lots of places to stop and sit if I need to. I've only done 1.75 miles of the trail at once thus far but it's time to pull up my big girl panties and get on with it. The sun is shining and it will be in the 60's so it's a great day to do it.
I'd say it's been a great five weeks!
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
It sounds like you have a truly lovely place to walk. I would love that. I have a few questions, if you do not mind.
1. Is it pretty typical that everyone, or most everyone, will have their incision open at some point?
2. Regarding your facelife - it sounds like you have an awesome result along the jaw. If you were not 100% satisfied is it because your expectations were higher or is it becasue, at our age, it is just difficult to get the results we want?
Thanks
Anna
1. Is it pretty typical that everyone, or most everyone, will have their incision open at some point?
2. Regarding your facelife - it sounds like you have an awesome result along the jaw. If you were not 100% satisfied is it because your expectations were higher or is it becasue, at our age, it is just difficult to get the results we want?
Thanks
Anna
Hi Anna,
I don't know if everyone has a spot open up. Probably not, but most don't have the yards of incision lines that I do. I had so many procedures at once. The groin area is really a sensitive area because it is a moist spot. I had to leave the stitches in there for an extra week after everything else came out. I think that mine opened up from getting up and down from the toilet but not sure. I had to spread my legs to pee to not get my binders wet. Sorry TMI but true.
Regarding my face, I had such a gaunt face and looked like I was 80 during the last month before surgery. I had to keep smiling or everything fell south! Dr. Sauceda had to do a fat transfer to help smooth out my face. I still have some wrinkles in my face. Maybe I expected them to be gone. My jowls are gone, my jawline is terrific. I think that when we have a facelift, regardless of realistic expectations, we expect perfection. At 61 with overly stretched skin, no doctor could give me perfection. Dr. Sauceda always says that he can guarantee improvement and he definitely did! Everyone that sees me thinks my face looks great. So once again, we have the most critical eye of all when it's aimed at ourselves. I'll post some pics on Dr. Sauceda's group. You can judge for yoruself.
I don't know if everyone has a spot open up. Probably not, but most don't have the yards of incision lines that I do. I had so many procedures at once. The groin area is really a sensitive area because it is a moist spot. I had to leave the stitches in there for an extra week after everything else came out. I think that mine opened up from getting up and down from the toilet but not sure. I had to spread my legs to pee to not get my binders wet. Sorry TMI but true.
Regarding my face, I had such a gaunt face and looked like I was 80 during the last month before surgery. I had to keep smiling or everything fell south! Dr. Sauceda had to do a fat transfer to help smooth out my face. I still have some wrinkles in my face. Maybe I expected them to be gone. My jowls are gone, my jawline is terrific. I think that when we have a facelift, regardless of realistic expectations, we expect perfection. At 61 with overly stretched skin, no doctor could give me perfection. Dr. Sauceda always says that he can guarantee improvement and he definitely did! Everyone that sees me thinks my face looks great. So once again, we have the most critical eye of all when it's aimed at ourselves. I'll post some pics on Dr. Sauceda's group. You can judge for yoruself.
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
I just saw Goldie Hawn on Dr. Oz. I take back everything I said about my face. When she walked out, she looked like she was wearing a clown smile. She's only 2 years older than me. The amount of work that she must have had done on her face isn't a good thing.
When I went into surgery I told Dr. S that my son would be very angry if I came out looking scarey. I definitely look like myself with just a little lift. It looks like I got what I asked for.
I'm not a fan of the women that look like they are in a wind tunnel, or just came out of plastics!
When I went into surgery I told Dr. S that my son would be very angry if I came out looking scarey. I definitely look like myself with just a little lift. It looks like I got what I asked for.
I'm not a fan of the women that look like they are in a wind tunnel, or just came out of plastics!
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
Good Morning Lee!
I slept in today.. took some Melatonin last night slept until 9am. I think I needed it.
You have been doing so well. You are a champ doing 1.75 miles! OMG! I walk around Costco and I swear I need a day to recover. Yesterday, I noticed my outer thigh burning painful sensation. So, I added some extra pressure to my thighs last night (positioning pillows etc). This morning feeling lots better.
I am having more of an appetite as well but honestly the body needs the extra nutrition. Just think how hard your body is working to heal all the work you had done. I amped up my protein intake to over 100 grams and fluids 100 fl oz. I watched some Dr Oz show.. talked about the lympatic system.. which is responsible to flush out our systems..it needs lots of water to its job..
I would say give your body at least another 3 weeks.. I am sure your Tummy will be flat like a pancake!
I know the binder/bra/compression garments get on our nerves for sure.. Sometimes I place a piece of non stick gauze on the "pinchy" parts. The high waisted shorts style girdle thing from Assets (sold at target) seems to help keep the binder in its place too. I also have gauze taped to my drain wounds. I have to change these daily.
I have a chair that goes over my toilet. Its given to patients who have hip surgery. It about as high as my bed. I dont have to sit too low to pee.. Its been one of my saving graces.
I am glad you are doing so well.. just dont push yourself too hard kiddo!
Michelle
I slept in today.. took some Melatonin last night slept until 9am. I think I needed it.
You have been doing so well. You are a champ doing 1.75 miles! OMG! I walk around Costco and I swear I need a day to recover. Yesterday, I noticed my outer thigh burning painful sensation. So, I added some extra pressure to my thighs last night (positioning pillows etc). This morning feeling lots better.
I am having more of an appetite as well but honestly the body needs the extra nutrition. Just think how hard your body is working to heal all the work you had done. I amped up my protein intake to over 100 grams and fluids 100 fl oz. I watched some Dr Oz show.. talked about the lympatic system.. which is responsible to flush out our systems..it needs lots of water to its job..
I would say give your body at least another 3 weeks.. I am sure your Tummy will be flat like a pancake!
I know the binder/bra/compression garments get on our nerves for sure.. Sometimes I place a piece of non stick gauze on the "pinchy" parts. The high waisted shorts style girdle thing from Assets (sold at target) seems to help keep the binder in its place too. I also have gauze taped to my drain wounds. I have to change these daily.
I have a chair that goes over my toilet. Its given to patients who have hip surgery. It about as high as my bed. I dont have to sit too low to pee.. Its been one of my saving graces.
I am glad you are doing so well.. just dont push yourself too hard kiddo!
Michelle
Michelle, you sound terrific. I'm glad you got in a good sleep. You're following me by a few weeks. At your stage, Costco wore me out too!
I generally wear my yoga pants and leave that fold over flap up over the top of my binder so that it's not visible, even if my shirt rides up. I do like the feeling of compression on my incisions as it makes me feel protected and not wobbly.
I switched from gauze to using cotton hankies that are easy to wash. They're so soft and feel much better than gauze to me. At the top of my body garment, I use the short (inside the sneaker) sport sock to pad those areas that can be pinchy.
I'm not pushing myself, just ready to get out and do some slow walking. If it takes longer, I don't care. the beautiful weather makes me want to be outdoors enjoying it. Rain will probably come to Northern California before we know it.
Keep taking such good care of yourself!
I generally wear my yoga pants and leave that fold over flap up over the top of my binder so that it's not visible, even if my shirt rides up. I do like the feeling of compression on my incisions as it makes me feel protected and not wobbly.
I switched from gauze to using cotton hankies that are easy to wash. They're so soft and feel much better than gauze to me. At the top of my body garment, I use the short (inside the sneaker) sport sock to pad those areas that can be pinchy.
I'm not pushing myself, just ready to get out and do some slow walking. If it takes longer, I don't care. the beautiful weather makes me want to be outdoors enjoying it. Rain will probably come to Northern California before we know it.
Keep taking such good care of yourself!
HW: 249 SW: 229 GW: 149 Age: 63 - Body by Sauceda - 12/2011
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