First Plastic Surgery Scheduled (Abdominoplasty) Need Veteran's Advice

I am going down to Beverly Hills to see Dr. Katzen.
http://www.360bodylift.com/
He is out-of-network for me, but I am very confident in his abilities to attain the best results possible. It will also give me a week away from home to concentrate on healing.
Funny thing was I had him in mind a few years ago when I still lived in Alaska. Relocating to NorCal made it a reality.
My insurance has authorized my breast reduction and arm lift but not my abdominoplasty or torsoplasty. They do all they can to work with your insurance company.

Good luck in your search!

Hi - I am 9 weeks out from a full TT without lippo and 3 hernia repairs.  This was my 6th abdominal surgery - Gall bladder, C-Section, LapBand, 2nd C-Section, revision to RNY and now this.  

THe TT with muscle repair is by far the most painful and difficult recovery.  I think the Gall Bladder was the second worst.  My ce-sections were a walk in the park considering.  

I recommend having everything as organised as possible at home so that others can care for you and themselves.  Eat small aomount of high protein food often throughout the day and hydrate.  Pain meds are a must and I used sleeping pills for a month so that I got the rest I needed.  I am only just now able to function normally though I have had some serious complications and my recovery has been slow because of them (unrelated to the actual TT) I think you should be prepared ofr the healing to take longer than the surgeons say.  

I hope for your sake it goes great and you are here posting saying it wasn't an ass kicker after all!  Good luck - Ashley

• Mattress pad in case of leakage during the night.
• Recliner
• Shower chair
• Walker
• Grabber

Comfy, easy to wear clothes.  I used sweatpants and men's flannel shirts with pockets that were great for safety pinning the drains

I was sore, walked bent-over and miserable for about a week, then felt great.

Everyone is different. I had tummy tuck with the full vertical incision, breast lift and arm lift all at the same time. I didn't need a walker or a lift chair or even help getting up.  The nurse said to scoot to the end of the chair and lean forward like you are diving in a pond and then use your leg muscles to get up.  I did need help washing my hair, but that was from the arm lift. I did take my pain meds regularly. It is better to prevent pain than to stop it...

Plastics was WAY more difficult to recover from pain wise than anything else I have had. The drains were by far the worst part. I hated dealing with those stupid things!

Good luck!!!

I'm not a veteran yet, my surgery is in 3 weeks. 

 

Here is a list of stuff I'm shipping to myself, from my home in NY, to California. - 

Saltines for car rides 

Compression socks

Protein powder Protein bars

Jerky

starbucks instant coffee

Lg safety pins 

G2

Fiber

Chapstick

Instant pudding

Ice packs

Eyedrops

bendy Straws

kashi hi protein Cereal

Digital thermometer

Benedryl

Toilet riser

4 wheeled walker

My pillows from our bed

Shower seat

Earplugs and eyeMask

Tylenol Acetaminophen

Anti-bacterial soap

Vaseline

4x4 gauze, pads, tape, gloves

Lanyard to clip tubes to

Colace and Miralax

3-way plug  and Extension cord for chargers

Silicone sheets

Lambs wool sheet mattress cover

Gel cushion for plane

Scar-guard

I've arranged for a wheelchair for the flight home, for my connecting airport, and no carry on luggage.

 

Husband will pick this up after we get there - 

Yogurt Cottage cheese Fruit packs Jello packs Applesauce Pineapple juice Milk OJ Bananas Frozen dinners Case of water

I have kindle books, Netflix and HBOgo, tons of games, magazines and local newspaper on my iPad.

I thank all all the posters before me who suggested this stuff. 

-Cyn

EXERCISE especially your core (abdomen and lower back).   After the first few days I had no problem getting in and out of bed.  Other exercise like walking and zumba it did take a full six weeks to be able to go back to Pilates and yoga.

Hello!  I am 8 weeks out.  I had a lipoabdominalplasty and breast lift.  First I must say I would def do it again!  My results are phenomenal!  First preparation.  I ate protein and drank shakes.  Veggies etc.  3 days prior to surgery I did liquid diet.  Ie; shakes, sugar free jello, pudding, protein soup cream base. Herbalife makes one.  Hydration is key!!!!!!  My supplies were hybaclens, 5x9 abdominal pads (Amazon) very inexpensive, bacitracin, zeroform, 2" surgi tape or 5" surgi tape, alcohol wipes (2boxes of 200) hymen reconstructive cream , bandage scissors, a good lotion for dry skin, toilet seat riser (Amazon or Walmart) a lariat for neck to hang drains from in shower(my dr provided) :), comfy clothes.  Tv pillow for bed or if u have recliner. I preferred my bed.  Lots of pillows for under knees and sides of body (king or body) I wore mastectomy bra at first but hated it so switched to good sports bra. ( danskin at Walmart). I wear compression garment 3 different stages provided by dr.  Compression stockings for first few weeks until your more mobile.  Food:  water cases, straws bendable,  cases of protein shakes.  I made wedding soup for coming home from hospital.  Comfort foods...I walked the night of my surgery once I got back to my room.  I also walked every 2 hours not overkill but just to keep circulation.  Also had Tylenol.  I had Rny in 2010 and lost 145 lbs!!!  Motrin if you are allowed.  Def take pain meds so not to have pain.  I am still experiencing tightness in my abdomen.  I am now using silicone scar sheeting.  Ebay sells epiderm sheet for 99. Much less expensive than other websites.  Trying to think of anything else.  Oh, have help for first few weeks for drain drainage, showering,  etc.  I also bought a stack of new washcloths and used a new clean one each time w hybaclens starting w incisions first to prevent bacteria.  Clean towel also. Zeroform for belly button packed w bacitracin on it to help preven****er from shower and healing for a few weeks. I think that's it lol! Best of luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also stool softfener a MUST!

 

You definitely want to continue eating normally and take your supplements and vitamins to be in best health you can. Also, you should definitely quit smoking, though fortunately, less people are smoking now.

If an abdominopasty involves muscle tightening and repair of the diastasis recti, then the pain, recovery is very similar to a C-section recovery. Dr. Domanskis

Dr. Edward Jonas Domanskis is Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery 1441 Avocado Avenue, Suite 307 Newport Beach, California 92660 949.640-6324/1.888.234-5080(Ca) Website: http://www.surgery-plastic.com Assistant Clinical Professor of SurgeryWOS-Plastic,University of California (Irvine) Orange County’s Physician of Excellence/America’s Top Physicians/Top Doctors  Plastic Surgery- 2005/2006/2007/2008/2009/2012/2013 President,American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons www.ASBPS.org

Non-Toxic, No Nanos Skin Care- www.ORGANODERM.com

Scar Therapy-www.ScaRxtape.com

 

I am starting to think about having all those things done and would love to have all done at once and be done with it. Didn't think it was possible but I am glad to hear it is depending on the doctor. I just started today researching about it and came across your post And I am very curious as of the paying for it. I am sure insurance doesn't cover for it and I can only imagine how expensive it is and it makes me a little sad to know I may not be able to afford it. How much did your whole surgery cost? Did you pa out of pocket? I can't imagine that everyone who has it done just save 30k and pay for it at once. I would love to know if there other alternatives to pay for it.