Question:
What should I have at home for when I get home after my abdominoplasty?

Hi everybody!! This question goes out to all of those who have had an abdominoplasty done. I am finally having mine done next Tuesday 12/3 and am wondering what should I have at home to be ready. Is there anything special I need?<p>I am renting a recliner and have bought some things like broth, crackers, jello's and such for the first couple of days home. I'm sure I won't have much of an appetite. Will I need to have things like gauze and such or will the hospital supply me with those things? Any input will be appreciated.<p>Peace and love to all on this journey. MUAH!    — Liza B. (posted on November 29, 2002)

November 29, 2002
Hi Liza,<p> I haven't go an answer for your question, but I am having my abdominoplasty/mammoplasty done on monday and I am also going to rent a recliner, and would like to find out what I will need to have at home for afterwards, I know the nurse and doctor will let me know what I need, and will send some stuff home, but if you find out anything e-mail me okay?are you staying overnight in the hospital?, the doctor told me I will be in at least 1 to 2 days for sure. valita
   — bikerchic

November 29, 2002
Your surgeon should have ordered compression garments for you to wear for several weeks. If not, www.marenagroup.com has some wonderfully comfortable garments, a little pricey, but worth it. Also, be sure to have all you perscriptions filled ahead of time...pain pills, antibiotics, etc. A great tip given to me was to have pen & paper next to your bed (or recliner) to write down whenever you take your meds, because you WILL forget. Some people like to have a walker (like seniors use) because you won't be able to stand up straight for a week or 2, but I didn't and managed. As for broth and stuff like that, this isn't WLS, I got my appetite back just fine the next day, and I had my abdominoplasty as an outpatient (no problem). Just be sure you don't wait until the pain gets bad to take your pills. I'm not one for narcotics normally, but I learned pretty quickly to take that percocet religiously! LOL Today is my 10th day post-op, and I went shopping, went out to dinner and am doing fine. I still can't stand up totally straight, but nobody that doesn't know can really tell. Oh, and I'm loving' the new bod! Good luck, and I'm sure you'll love yours, too!
   — Leslie F.

November 29, 2002
Oh, I almost forgot...yes, gauze is always good to have in the house, even maxi-pads may come in handy in the beginning. If you have a nice nurse, sometimes they will give you a package of gauze pads (the 4 x 4's), but it'd be a good idea to have some at home anyway. Good luck again! :))
   — Leslie F.

November 29, 2002
I was starving after I woke up from surgery YOU will need the binder if the Doc doesn't provide it or a long line girdle some thin Maxi pads work best place them along the incision line to catch any drainage also Keep those drains safe Gaurd them with your life if they fall out You will be in a world of hurt 'not exactly physically but the liquid must find a way out mine pushed its way thru 5 places on my incision line and got infectd so baby those lines no pulling on them I pulled mine when turning over in bed My Doc did not have us in a Binder big big mistake the bulbs would have stayed in place with a Binder keep the area clean drink plenty of fluids You should be able to sleep in bed just have some pillows to elevate your body you do not want to be laying flat no pulling on those tight muscles and it will be the drain holes that you hate the worst and give you the most pain the incision isnt bad I could not understand why I was hurting so much around my belly button area my doc explained it like this pertend this from incision up to ribs is like a chicken breast..and you place your hands in and seperate the skin from the meat this is what the Plastic Surgeon does and then whip stitches all the way down Now that hummer is hard to get use to but now after 6 months i love the tight feeling this will slow down your amount of food intake for a while because if you eat too much and your tummy buldges it is such a miserable feeling so tight take you pain med I asked for Lortab it goes right into the body and to me is so much better then vicoden pills I hate the pills and do not to any lifting or picking up baby your tummy this operation cost a fortune and you can't aford a redo good luck you will be so happy with out that hanging skin Kathy
   — Kathleen M.

November 29, 2002
Haven't had a tt but a friend has and the one tip she offered was to pick up a couple of cheapy outfits you can toss away when you're healed. The oozing stains clothing (even underthings) horribly! She lived in a moomoo type outfit for the first few weeks and then tossed them out. The stains were yellowish and just wouldn't wash out!
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 29, 2002
I had my tt on 11/4 - doing great - just wasn't prepared for the numbness. My plastic surgeon said that the feeling will come back but it takes some time as they have to cut through all those nerve endings. I didn't have a problem with food right after the surgery - wasn't too hungry but not like the WLS a couple of years ago, you can eat right away. I slept in my recliner for three weeks - until I had the last drain taken out. The one was removed after two weeks but the second one stayed in for an additional week as it was still draining. You don't want to rush to have them taken out - the fluid has to find a way out and better it go in the drain than have to find an opening or make one in the incision. Love the new look - just can't wait to get rid of the numbness. Good luck.
   — mary ann M.

December 2, 2002
It's a good idea to get your prescriptions filled BEFORE you even go into the hospital so you have them IMMEDIATELY!! That was probably the smartest thing I did. Other then that, I really didn't need anything special. This surgery wasn't 1/4 as rough as the Lap RNY. I ate regular foods and had no problems.
   — Patty H.