Question:
In 3 weeks i am having plastic surgery

I am very excited but also very scared. I had open wls with a 6 inch incision in July 2000, hardly any pain to speak of.Now I am having a breast reduction, hernia repair, and belt abdominalplasty with a vertical cut from breast bone to pubic bone. Be honest, here how bad it this going to hurt. I am planning to be off work for 4 weeks. is this going to to awlful painful or what??    — STAR W. (posted on January 7, 2003)

January 7, 2003
I had the belt type incision abdominoplasty (smiley in front, around waist at back). No vertical incision, no breast reduction. I did have to have a lot of work done to the muscles in my stomach when they did it though. I'm a bit concerned at you planning to return to work at 4 weeks. Honestly I wasn't even up to driving any distance at all until week 5. I know at week 4 I was still dealing with a spot of cellulitis and had quite a bit of swelling still. As far as pain it all seems like a blur - kind of like childbirth where you forget the pain part. I know I took pain meds for over 2 weeks, less and less often the further out. But as for going back at 4 weeks, I realize people all heal differently but I didn't even have my drains and stitches out until week 3. You might plan for another week if you can. Good luck to you and enjoy your new body!
   — Shelly S.

January 7, 2003
I am waiting insurance approval for a panniculectomy and hernia repair. My surgeon said that the best case senario is off work for two weeks - worst case, four weeks and it all depends on pain (and of course the possibility of infection). He did tell me to expect this surgery to be more painful than the Open RNY was. Having said this, I know of several of his patients who were in the hospital only one night and returned to work within a week with no problems. So, it is all very individual. I have made up my mind that I will be able to return to work in two weeks. Of course, I will adjust that if necessary.
   — Patty_Butler

January 8, 2003
I had abdominoplasty and an inner thigh lift on July 1st and started attending classes on week later. It would have been nice to be home but I so wanted to get that class in. The thighs were much more painful than the abdominoplasty. You have a lot of numbness with the TT. If you are motivated to return to work in 4 weeks I bet you will be just fine barring any complications. I had a breast lift and implants on Dec. 30th and returned to my teaching job a week later. I wish I would have had at least another week off because I am very sore. I crater out on the couch as soon as I get home in the afternoon. I think you will be all right with 4 weeks off. My only suggestion is that you get out and try to walk as soon as you are up to it. In my experience, the sooner you get back to moving the faster you recover. Good, luck you are going to look like a whole new person!
   — cindy Q.