LBL and arms at same time?

I am hoping to get my LBL done in December and lately started contemplating doing the arms at the same time also.  My consult is in 3 weeks.  I trust my doctor, and if he says it's not bad together, I might just go for it.  If you have had them both done together, how was the recovery?  Did you wish you had done them at different times?  I imagine it's difficult to get up/down between the ab and arm surgeries.  I am hoping that I can get away with only 3 weeks recovery.  Is that unreasonable if I do both together? 

Thanks!

 

Hi - I guess LBL is lower body lift? - I'm not sure about that.  I just had a panniculectomy with brachioplasty two weeks ago - I wish I had waited and done it separately.  First, it was just a lot to deal with - the drains and the compression belt for the abdomen and then with the arms out of commission too with their compression garments.

 

I didn't get a good result with the brachioplasty - the doctor is already talking about a revision.  He doesn't know what went wrong - he felt he had removed enough tissue - but it's obviously not enough.  I experienced severe arm and hand swelling after surgery.  I wonder  if the swelling occurred during surgery and prevented a tight brachioplasty.

 

Just sharing my experience - I wish I had waited on it.  Now, I'll be talking to him about a second surgery.

I had a LBL in June and had wanted to get my arms done at the same time.  My doc wouldn't do it, she said the LBL is very extensive to the body and the amount of time you are under sedation is already pretty long.  So it was not something that she thought was medically a good idea.  Especially with the core weakened, you'll need to use your arms to get up/down, etc.  As i was recovering, I did indeed notice that I relied on my arms to help me get up out of the recliner, the commode and to adjust myself while sitting/laying down.  Also relied heavily on my legs (all those squats with my trainer over the years came in handy!)    That period didn't last long, but If I had my arms done at the same time, I could see that I may have had some issues.  

That said, I have heard of folks that have had it done at the same time and have been fine.  I was in good shape from a fitness level before my surgery, I was disappointed because I thought I could handle doing both.  But I was very lucky to have had a relatively complications free recovery within minimal pain and no incision issues.  So at this point, I trust that my doc knew best.  

 

Whatever you decide, I wish you luck and a fast recovery.   

 

thanks for the feedback.  I won't be making any decisions before talking to the doctor.  I think he's pretty conservative, so if he thinks it's best not to do them together, I would certainly not push for it.

I had a LBL in January.  I don't even want to think about what my recovery would have been like if I hadn't been able to use my arms!  Your core is pretty much disabled for the first week or two after surgery, so you end up relying on your arms and legs to push and position yourself to get up and down.  Unless you have a lot of help at home, I'd hesitate about doing my arms at the same time.

Totally agree with emelar...

The LBL is a tough recovery. You have virtually no use of your core and you need to overuse your arms and legs. Easier said than done. If you add on arm lift surgery to that, I do not know how would you get around. I think you would find it to be equally painful and frustrating. It is one thing to be in pain..it is another to be frustrated because of lack of mobility. I highly suggest you do the procedures separately.

I was a few months shy of 59 when I had my LBL (lower body lift), BL (breast lift), arms, and sm groin thigh lift.  I was in surgery about 12 hrs with an epidural and twilight sedation.  4 days later I had a neck & face lift.  I was in the clinic for 7 days and then at the Hampton Inn for 7 days.  Dr Sauceda came by daily both while I was in the clinic and the hotel.  His nurse came by daily at the hotel to help me shower, deal with the stitches (gauze/ointment) and gettng back into my compression garment. 

I took off 8 weeks and then went back to work.

6 weeks out from LBL, breast lift and arm lift and I'm SO glad I had them together. The arms and breast have been super easy the lbl harder but not bad. I'm not out of the woods but I can see the light. I wouldnt want the extra recovery time at all!