Medial Thigh Lift - need the details/truth

It wasn't pleasant. I had a seroma about mid thigh that had to be opened up and packed in the office. I then had to pack it myself for weeks - maybe a couple of months. It has been a long time since my surgery in December of 08 so don't remember all of the details. I do remember it was very difficult to sit down for a few weeks. I was happy I did it though.

I have not told my story much here, but I had a 100 lb regain after losing 200 lbs with diet and exercise... and having plastics. I had the sleeve this past Oct. So far the tummy tuck has held up wonderfully. The legs not so much.

I had a TT, breast lift/augmentation, arms and spiral thigh lifts all done at the same time. Nothing hurt as much as the legs. The results are good, my scars are fading and most of my loose skin is gone, but I don't know that the result is worth the pain. The legs were the only area the surgeon left drains in also. The drains were demons. If I had to give up one of the procedures I had it would for sure be thighs. Now that it is done and I am healed, I don't regret having it done though. I think it is a personal decision for sure.

Is that a thigh?!

It is indeed my thigh. That was about a week after the lift was done and the drains were already out. Wheee!

Holy crap. It looks WAY too small to possibly be a thigh! I figured it must be your arm! But.. your arms are all colorful so rationally I know it's not your arm :D

That's amazing.

Bright side, they got better. The scars are hardly visible anymore.

Your legs are SO TEENY.

So actual questions. I can't imagine having all that stuff done at once having just done LBL and arms which both prevented me from moving in their own sort of way and then to toss in thighs which seems like it would also have it's own mobility limitations in the mix!

In real self stuff I'm reading where some doctors advise "bed rest" for TWO WEEKS after the thigh lift. Which is a bit intimidating to me. What sort of mobility challenges did you face that you'd attribute specifically to the thigh lift? Was using the toilet a challenge? Will it be possible for me to step over the side of a bathtub to be able to shower? (Not a huge bathtub.. just a generic 70s-built house bathtub.)

Did you have any particular issues walking due to the scars rubbing? Although I assume that compression gear would help with that? What were your bending limitations? Right now I'm doing a lot of "frog" style squatting, but I'd imagine after the thigh lift that reaching low stuff would be a no go entirely.

Squatting was a no go...that 'hover' position was SUPER painful. All the way sitting or standing...the journey between was miserable. Sitting on the potty was super miserable the first week but better each day and way easier if I had someone help me lower myself onto the potty. A raised seat might have been a wise investment.

I have a walk in shower and there is a little ledge going into it. That was challenging the first few days. I had to have a person with me to steady me and help me lean over and sort of flomp my foot into the shower. I would say you will need help in and out of the tub for the first week.

Compression was better once the drains were out. Until they were out it was really really painful to take on and off because it seemed the drains were always getting tugged on. The adult children still regale me with the tale of "when mom was crying and couldn't get her panties on and we had to help." It was apparently day 2 and I was not in my right mind, there were lots of tears, and they had to help mom cover her butt. It was tragic all around. Since I had the thighs and the TT it is hard for me to say but one of those two or both did not allow me to lean over enough to reach my own feet so I couldn't get my legs into my pantie-compression bodysuit thing to get it on. By day four I was able to get in and out ok.

I was pretty much unable to reach down, lift, or walk more than a little around the house for a solid week. No doubt. After a week and once the thigh drains were out I could push through and do more but I would say a second week would have been better.

I was back to work full time at my desk job in 2 weeks.

Thank you so much! This is really helpful. I figure, worst case, I can forgo showers and use the waterless shower wipe things that I got for this first surgery, but life really sucks without showers! I also went ahead and ordered one of those things that will let me pee standing up. It's called a Go Girl? Or something like that. I figure I can practice in the shower pre-op. While I'll still need to sit to poo.. it'll reduce the number of times I have to sit which seems like a good thing.

I should definitely find out if my surgeon uses drains for legs since I have no idea.

I love that you've got a family mythology going "back in the day when we had to cover mom's butt." :D The stories of the time when Gwen Was Very Drugged are starting to come out in my household now.... thanks guys :P