Scared of my LBL!! Any and all advice or tips please!!!

VSG 5 years ago.  TT and BA/BL 4 years ago.  However, my hips still sag big time b/c the TT didn't fix that.  I had TONS of belly hang, so the TT was first.  While I'm doing the LBL, my Dr. wants to go back in and 'redo' the TT (tighten abs again and remove any more skin/fat in stomach).  Been there, done that so I'm not scared of the TT.  However, I've got a Nurse friend who has scared me to death on the LBL :(  I go for my second consult today with my husband.  I love my Dr., and when we had the first consult, I felt good about it.  But now my Nurse friend has scared me of stories that she's seen where patients had wound openings, and stayed in the hospital for 6-12 months.  I'm trying my hardest to block the 'worst' out, but still.  I've been through 3 c sections, VSG and TT.  All were ok.  But I'm so scared of the fresh incisions around the back that i will have no choice but to lay on during recovery.

Any and all advice, tips, good feelings about any of it are welcome!  I definitely want it done, just trying to calm my nerves.

 

I agonized over doing lbl v tummy tuck.  I couldn't wrap my mind around the 360 degree incision.  It hurt me to think about it.  But I ended up doing it.

Truth is, the incision was no big deal.  I had a small opening just above my butt crack, but that's pretty common and required no special care.  It healed up on its own in a few weeks.  The muscle repair just about killed me, but if you've already done a tt, you know what you're facing.

There are possible complications in all these surgeries, but you've already gotten through one and I wouldn't expect the LBL to be any worse than the tt alone.

I went today for the second consult and he did say that he had a patient with the hole just above the butt crack and it healed up just fine.  Yes, I've been through the muscle repair and mine were completely separated to the sides of my stomach (probably from the 2 kids i had 13 months apart lol).  I'm more afraid of the fresh scar.  I don't care about the long term scar (I've got one now hip to hip that's white, so the color goes away).  I guess I just let my nurse friend get to me and of course, she's seen the worst case scenarios.  He's doing another lady the same week as me (I set my date for July 9) and she's about the same size as me.  Just so scared to have to lay on that scar along the back!  I know all to well how bad those feel, much less laying on it!!  And I know that my front was pulled TIGHT so it was hard to stand up straight.  Is it the same along the back?  Of course, now, I'm all free to move how I want 4 years later, but I'm so scared of that incision opening.  He did say that he 'designs' his scar to be sutured in a fashion where it would take a lot of force to open it and of course, is several layers deep of sutures.

No, I had no issues with the incision at all.  I was in compression garments and the incision line is numb - no pain.  I wondered too about sleeping comfortably, but it wasn't a problem.  The opening wasn't painful either.  I could just feel that it was there, and there was a little drainage from it.

Healing and Health that all goes smoothly with minimal pain and no complications!
Pain and difficulty are a given.
Closer to the time:
up your protein to aid in healing
Many recommend a t-shirt under the binder to avoid chafing
drink plenty of fluids to help flush out the swelling (swell hell)
stool softener against constipation which can happen from pain killers
move the body a bit in-between resting
Mikimi in Israel

I had a unique nerve pain issue with mine so that part isn't a good reference point, that would have happened with me even if I had done a mere tummy tuck. Doing arms at the same time was tough for me. Mobility was a major issue and I did boobs too so I didn't sleep well at first.

Rent a recliner to get in and out of. I am not totally happy with my butt, it's a flat 80 year old white man booty. I just didn't have enough fat to fill it in with. However, the difference on the sides of my body and indirect impact on the thighs from the LBL make it worth it. The incision is nothing, truly. At first, I was like..how can I hunch over without pulling open the back incision? but it didn't happen. I have had zero issues with the incision and after the first 2-3 weeks, the pain was manageable. I made week 5 this past Monday and now I forget I had it done. I jump up and have to catch myself and slow down a bit.

wow that makes me feel so much better!  Yes, I have nightmares of hunching over and pulling the incision around back!!!  My butt isn't that big either, as in moreso flat.  My previous tummy tuck made my stomach smooth.  so from the side, I'm thin.  If you look at me face to face, my hips are HUGE.  And it's nothing but flappy saggy skin!!!  So really need to get the hips gone b/c that is what I'm drawn to!

I had the LBL recently - 2 months ago. The incision was not a problem at all. It is numb. Still. Probably will be for a while. The muscle repair was painful but even that was not as bad as I had prepared myself for. The incision on the butt was the easiest part. It still pulls a little but I had no openings and no discharge from it at all, from day one. 

Wow, that is awesome!!!  I'm starting to feel much better about this.  Yes, even 4 years later, my TT scar is still numb and part of my stomach area.  That of course does not bother me now.  Thank you so much for the input!!!

No worries...I am 3 weeks out from my Lower body lift and when I was just two weeks out my incisions were all closed.  I am wearing my stage two garment currently which also gives you that nice tight feeling.  Feel free to check out my profile where I posted my 2 week photos!