Question:
What supplies should I have on hand after my plastic surgery?

I'm going to have a butt/thigh lift and my arms done on December 10th. What type of supplies (medical), garments, will I need or could use? What kind of personal care is needed? Any advice will be appreciated. I want to be as prepared as possible to I don't have to have others run and get this or that. Thanks for any advice. If there is any websites that would be helpful please let me know. Please share your experience. After my bypass surgery one of the promises I made was to pass any knowledge I have concerning this process so that it makes it a little easier for the next person. Thank you.    — Linda R. (posted on November 12, 2004)

November 11, 2004
Hi, I just had a LBL with lipo on 11/1 and garments needed were provided by my PS. Call and ask to be sure. At this point all I need is rolled gauze to cover the wound after my hubby applies some healing creams my PS has us use. Each surgeon is different so I would check with the office just to be sure. Good luck with your PS. Wendy
   — Wendy H.

November 12, 2004
My surgeon gave me a very good list of what I'd need at home, Ask yours for one. I did need to have rolled gauze and paper tape, and eventually needed some antibiotic cream and moisturizing lotion. I had an abdominal binder that I was given in the hospital, but after about four weeks, went into regular shapewear (girdle-type garments from right under the bra down to the thighs). Because the binder doesn't cover the pubic area, the surgeon did suggest a panty girdle from the beginning. I had skin removed that flabbed over the sides of my bra, so I wasn't able to wear a regular bra for about a week. During that week, the surgeon wanted me to wrap my breasts in Ace-type bandages, which I got from the hospital. After the Ace bandages, I was told to wear sports bras, but to be honest, I couldn't get them on over my head (I also had brachioplasty and couldn't maneuver my arms well enough), so I wore soft cotton bras with wide sides that didn't irritate the incision. On my arms, I had to wear Ace bandages for several weeks, but again, was given those in the hospital. Also, I came home with five JP drains, that I needed to empty and measure a few times a day. I asked the nurse at the hospital for some of the measuring cups they use so that I could get an accurate reading. Someone had suggested that regular panty underwear might be uncomfortable around the abdominal incisions, and suggested wearing men's boxer shorts as underwear. I did buy a three-pack, but found that my regular underwear (waist-high rather than bikini) were just fine. (I now wear the boxers as pajamas.) I don't remember needing anything else. Best wishes to you.
   — Vespa R.

November 12, 2004
You will likely need some 4x4 gauze bandages and some sort of tape for adhering but more than that you will have to find out from your surgeon. They all have their different protocols and how they go about things. I had a hole at the top of my butt crack to pack for 3 months so I went through lots of gauze and tape and saline etc. Most of the stuff will only be for the first few weeks, if even that long. Usually they want the incisions to be aired so they won't keep them stiffled. Any compression garments I got from the surgeon and wore as directed. I have ones that goes from my calfs to just under the breasts, which I got for the LBL. Where you aren't having a total LBL they may just wrap your legs good. I am 2 days PO from a medial thigh lift and my legs are wraped in ace bandages. The hroizontal incisions at the top of the leg are exposed to keep them dry. He also did a bunch of revision work on the uppoer torso but it is all exposed to the air. However, my surgeon does use glue to close the skin so that is why they are not covered. The drain insertion points are covered slightly but that's it. He did not use the glue in the groin area because it can get yucky from the heat and moisture in that area. That is considered the worst area to heal after thigh lift work. I haven't had arms done yet, so I cannot speak to the needs there. Good luck! Just remember the pain does get better. Even between this morning and this afternoon I feel some better and am moving better. So just hang in there. The first week will be the worst.
   — zoedogcbr