Follow Up! (4 weeks post-LBL/arm lift)

I'm about 32 days post-op now and had my second follow up with my surgeon.

Everything is super awesome. He's very pleased. Belly button is fine. Butt is still swollen and will look more normal as time goes on. Very happy with all incisions and healing. If things are wonky anywhere they can be addressed once we know if they're really wonky or just temp/healing wonky.

Then, when I was getting dressed at the end of the appointment, I got my garments on all by myself!!! Freedom! Apparently the legs are way easier if you start from the top instead of the bottom. Who knew? :)

Still no exercise and still lifting restriction. So still no laundry for me. (Oh darn.) I am released to only 12 hours a day for compression if I choose. And I can switch to something like Spanx if I want.

All awesome!

My next follow up will also be my pre-op for surgery #2 and that's scheduled for August 3. I got the PCP order today for my pre-op physical etc. Also got the prescription for my mammogram which is required before the breast lift. I'll get the prescriptions for meds at my August 3 appointment.

I was super nervous and excited going into this appointment. One of the scary things for me with plastics is that I don't really know what "normal" is, so everything worries me. I was worried about my belly button, I was worried about my butt. The surgeon is thrilled and tells me everything is looking the way it should. :D What a relief!! And I know that surgery #2 will be significantly easier than surgery #1 was, which is also a HUGE relief.

I am glad things are going well, Gwen!

When I was given the go-ahead not to wear my (what felt like) head to toe shapewear, I got THIS one from Walmart. It was easy to get in and out of. I liked it a lot.

Regular spanx without the hooks scared me in the beginning. I did not want to do too much tugging. I got a hole at the 4 week mark. I thought I was out of the woods then but I was not.

Thanks! Those are cute :)

I feel like I'm going to keep wearing my current gear - at least around the house for now. I was surprised to get the go ahead to cut back and thought "nooo! I'm not ready yet!" I think the garments are like a comfort blankie right now ;)

They were my comfort blankie, too, for a long long time. I wore the one I posted above for a long time after I stopped wearing my longer one. I think it took close to a year for me to feel comfortable in regular panties and no support garment at all.

Me too. When I took off my compression sleeves or do not wear at least a spanx on my legs I had swelling. It was 6-8 months to get totally away.

So I tried the pull up shape wear this morning and had the realization that anything large enough to be able to pull up over my thighs is too large to provide compression for my abdomen!

I ordered two sizes of the pair you recommend - they should be here from Wednesday. I'm right at the cusp between sizes.

Congrats on the stellar follow up appt. Always good to hear that you are healing 'normally' because post-plastics surgery the body sure does look messed up for a while. Healing is not graceful, LoL!

I wore my abdominal compression gear for quite some time even after I didn't have to. Definitely a comfort for me and my PS said that's quite common. Besides, I figured that compression has to gotta keep helping with any swelling and fluid that sticks around for a while, or increases by the end of the day.

Very, very, very sorry to hear about the laundry restriction. You must be devastated.

Take care!

Yay, Gwen! I am so glad you are healing well. You are in incredible hands with Dr. Michaels. One note of caution - get your mammogram ASAP. I had mine maybe 8 days before my breast lift, and it showed some masses...due to a history of breast cancer in my family, they made me get a needle biopsy and it was VERY stressful to get appointments and pack them all in in a short amount of time. I ended up seeing a specialist that wasn't covered by my insurance, blah blah blah. So my only advice is to schedule the mammogram just in case you need a follow-up appointment.

(Luckily the masses were just fatty tissue and the breast lift went fabulously on time :))

Thanks for the warning! I scheduled it for 3ish weeks pre-op, so hopefully it'll work out!