Liposuction: Stories

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Just Had Lipo....now What Do I Do?

  • Worth It
  • Cost: $1,800
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina

18 June, 09So I am almost 2 weeks after lipo(9...

18 June, 09

So I am almost 2 weeks after lipo(9 June) and I am still swollen, but a lil less. Also, I am in much less pain and am able to walk more, although I do not over do it. I am not very bruised and I started to get Lymphatic Drainage massages. So far I have had 2 sessions and this might be helping, even though I think I look the same. Does anyone know if there is a limit to massages that we can have per week? I wanted to have it done at least 4 times per week.  I am wearing the garment all the time, and was wondering if there is a second garment that we should be wearing after a month or 2 after the lipo procedure.  I still do not know how I look, since I have not stood up without the garment on. My clothes do not fit me, and am wearing baggy sweats and tights, since none of my jeans go up my legs. I just want this swelling to go down, but I know I need to be patient.

Does anyone know if there is another method to try to swell down?

Thank you.

I had lipo done earlier today on my stomach, in...

I had lipo done earlier today on my stomach, in and outer theighs, and love handle area, and I am very curious on what I should do now, and what i should not do now? I ate for dinner a salad with some soy protien, as I am a vegan. I want to know if I should walk only in the home, or can I start to go out after day 3? I have some errands to do, and need them done within the next few weeks.

Are there certain foods that I should stay away from? Eat more often? Also, I want to begin the lemon cleanse diet, but I do not know when is a good time. Can I start as early as next week? I was told from my doctor to wear the compression garment for 20 days. What should I do in the mean time? How can i avoid my skin from getting saggy? I am 30 years old. I did this so that I can have a smoother shape.

PLease tell me what I can do to have a speedy recovery and a great result. Since I just had it done today (a tuesday), I still do not know how my results are...I am swollen and feel some pain. I return to my doctor friday morning.

Great review?

Comments (19)

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Sydney593 25 Feb 2011
I AM 9 DAYS POST OP I KEEP GETTING
TIGHTNESS IF I LAY/SIT I DRINK A LOT OF WATER I FEEL MORE COMFITABLE LAYING DOWN ON MY SIDE WIT A LONG PILLOW BITBWEEN MY LEGS
HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO SITUP SLEEPING IS IT SAVE TO LAY FLAT ON YOUR BACK AND SLEEP I DID NOT GET BOTTLES FOR DRAINAGE ALL I READ PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THEM WHY NOT ME
morena 15 Jul 2009
chiropractors crack backs! no way!!! lol i will see a phys therapist instead lol ;)
ann in indy 16 Jul 2009
Chiropractors adjust, they don't crack. Well, first you have to go to your medical doctor and get a referral, you cannot legally just walk into a physical therapy facility. And no physical therapist can put a joint into place if it is out of alignment. If they do, they are practicing without a license. Funny, you have an invasive elective surgery and want to shun one of the least invasive forms of health care. Your loss though. Millions of people are helped every year by chiropractors. You can lol all you want honey, while your back hurts. Chiropractic is proven effective treatment and is one of the safest forms of health care available.
BlondeBrunette (unregistered guest) 11 Jul 2009
I am only 4 days out of surgery. Upper, lower abs, flanks, back, and hips. I can see a total shape difference even though I can tell I am SO swollen. OMG. Itchy and antsy and bored of being in bed. Hard to get up and down. and hard to get comfy. But all in all, I think It will be worth it.
morena 9 Jul 2009
actually...lol...my back has been acting up more as well...damn, now im scared lol...
ann in indy 13 Jul 2009
Seek out your friendly neighborhood chiropractor. :)
ann in indy 6 Jul 2009
oh yeah, if you are on your feet all day, the swelling would be difficult to deal with for sure. I don't think the heels had so much to do with it as being on your feet all day. I don't envy anyone that has to wear heels all the time. They sure do pull off an outfit, but being a chiropractor, I also know they destroy your back and feet. Hope things are going better for you now.
morena 5 Jul 2009
well i work retail management in a very trendy brasilian clothing store, and typically wear tall heels. im sure thats what did it, because walking in heels will work the stomach muscles, and i think thats why my stomach blew up...
ann in indy 4 Jul 2009
Are you serious, 3 weeks off work? What do you do? My work is physical and I was back in 3 days, had to be since am self employed. Heck I only took 3 weeks off when I gave birth to my son. Itching can be a sign of healing, just seems odd that you had to be off work a total of 4 weeks. I am doing great. Will post some picks again at 12 weeks, I am soooooooo very happy. Will address 2 small issues with my doc at my next follow-up in December, but am very pleased with my results.
morena 3 Jul 2009
i went back to work within three weeks and my stomach swelled up and started itching really bad the second day. i had to stay out again. i was told (and did my research) that the itching is a result of my body healing, and as far as the swelling, im probably over-exerting myself too much. im going to stay out another week and then take it from there. how are the rest of u doing with ur recovery?
Stealth 26 Jun 2009
I saw a difference immediately (the doctor let me see) and it persists. I use the garments 24/7 still (told to do so for 10-14 days then go to waking hours for 1-2 weeks). Secondary garments advised included spanx undergarments til 4-6 wks postop. I have minimal bruising (had full stomach and flank/love handles), but some swelling, well controlled with garments. Garments are very annoying tho. As for activity, we were told no activity that causes persistent pain to the area. No heavy lifting and workouts for at least a week. My husband had some extra work so he has to wait more like 2-3 wks. The compression garments are designed to help regain your skin turger, but the final outcome will depend on your inital skin laxity and thinness. At 30, I suspect your skin has a good chance of recovery with faithful use of the compression garments. as for diet, we were recommended to drink lots of water to flush the area and get rid of the toxins. there weren't any stringent diet requirements otherwise, but I'd personally avoid a salty diet (increased water retention). HTH, S
morena 21 Jun 2009
CD lipo, yea, actually, its been a week and two days since my surgery, and thanks to my pictures, i really notice more of a change. my stomach has gone down a lot. i guess its probably like watching a child grow. u dont notice the exact day the limbs strecthed and grew out, but one day u see the difference and no in the back of ur mind that it had to had happened some time or another...did that make sense? lol :)
morena 20 Jun 2009
i hope you took before pictures like i did...that way, you can compare and see the difference. so far, i didnt see any difference either, but i took pictures before and after and compared, and now i see the difference...so far, that is. its only been a week and a day since my surgery. i hope it continues to improve...a lot. if you have a webcam, then start taking picutres of your areas every week, maybe that will help you see the changes more clearly...
CDlipo 20 Jun 2009
yeah you are right. I should start to take pictures of myself every week. My boody still looks the same I think and it has been almost 2 weeks.
ann in indy 17 Jun 2009
I am still wearing my garment 7 weeks post op. My doc recommends wearing it for at least 3 months. It is really not that bad once you get used to it. You should have some mild activity. I went back to work 3 days post-op and was back in the gym with some cardio at about 2 weeks post-op and Body Pump at 3 weeks post-op. As far as diet, I seem to have less of an appetite, maybe it is because my body knows I put it through this invasive procedure, but I have not really had any desire to have junk food. I have always been a healthy eater. Don't under eat though or you will start to have deficiency issues.
CDlipo 18 Jun 2009
Wow, 3 months. I was wondering do I have to wear the same garment, or get another one, that is meant for use a month or 2 after the lipo. Have you seen good results wearing it for the 3 months? I hear that after 3 months the result is close to the final results we will have, even though it is 6 months or longer until we are totally unswollen. I am still very swollen and it has been almost 2 weeks. I started to get Lymphatic Drainage massages, which seem to help, and am going to continue. I am home more, so I am eating and sitting, as before I would eat and walk around. Also, jut recently, I am in less pain. I was thinking about starting the Lemon cleanse. Have you heard of it? I think I should wait though, a full month, this way my body swells down first. Any ideas? Good luck!
ann in indy 19 Jun 2009
I am only 7 weeks post-op right now, my doc recommended I wear it for at least 3 months, I am almost there so what the heck, although it is getting hot and humid in Indiana. I bought a second garment from Bella Jane online. It was a couple of weeks before I could put it on because it does not have the zippers and the hook and eye closure as the one the doc provided. IT was just too painful to consider trying. I now wear the one from my doc to work out in and use when I am washing my Bella Jane garment. I too was in pain for a while. felt like a healing scab on the inside of my body that was stretched when i would move. I have no pain now, but still have tenderness to the touch in my flanks and a bit in my legs with deep massage. I just keep at it though. I figure if I was willing to undergo an invasive procedure like surgery to improve myself, then I am going to do all the things I can in the months to follow to give me the best results. I have heard of the lemon cleanse as well as many others. Cleanses are good, but I would not do anything too drastic right after surgery. Give your body proper nutrients and hydration to allow it to heal properly. Go for walks if your routine has changed, be active. At 2 weeks post-op I got on the Treadclimber on a low setting to get the lymph going and get a little exercise.
morena 17 Jun 2009
i had abdominal liposuction on june 12th, 2009. my doctor instructed me to move around in moderation, and within the first three weeks, take your surgical garmet off as little as you possibly can, because wearing it will aide the swelling down to acheive the results you want. you also want to watch your diet because that also has an impact on your final results, and ofcourse, who wants to stuff themselves while wearing this garmet? its almost torture to have a double cheeseburger lol...anyhow, thats my two cents :)
CDlipo 18 Jun 2009
Thank you. I hope that your lipo is a success. I am still very swollen, yet not very bruised. I started to get Lymphatic Drainage massages (so far twice), and am going to continue. I do not know what is the limit per week to have it, but I would like to do it at least 4 times a week. The swelling has gone down, very little, but I am hopeful that within my first month, that I am more like my old self. I am walking around much better, with less pain, but I do know that I have to watch my diet and begin to excersise after my first month. Good luck!

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