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14 days later
So far, I'm estatic about my side profile but bummed about my love handles. I think my PS did a fabulous job with my TT. But... I know that have fat in my flanks and without lipo or something, I honestly don't think I will happy with the front silhouette even once the swelling goes down. I don't want to wait 6 months to follow up with something else. I see so many other pictures where the lipo was safely done with the TT and say, why not me? But then I try to convince myself that if I had gotten more done or with a PS that does do lipo with the TT, I may have had drains and my recovery would not have been nearly as perfect.
I've read all the PS's replies to others with the same concerns and they keep saying, wait 3 months, 6 months, etc for the swelling to go down or to have lipo done after the fact. The truth is, many of us are spending almost $10K or more to finally fix our wrecked bodies years or decades after the fact. We want the money, pain, and recovery to be a one shot deal that feels worth it.
6 days later
My recovery has been almost too easy. I've not not had any pain or needed any meds since Day 3, slept in my own bed last night for the first time (still with lots of pillows) and made it out this morning for a hair appointment. No bruising. No major swelling. I was able to do about 4-5 hour of office work from home the last 2 days without any difficulty. The no drain thing is amazing. My 5-year old granddaughter gently sat in my lap this afternoon.
Now the complaints.... The compression socks are irritating. I still can't drive yet. My major physical woe is this dull, annoying, chronic back pain that is most likely due to me still only being able to stand up with about a 5% bend. Also, I seem to get winded very easily. Again, probably due to the bend. I engage in a lot of Lamaze-like deep breathing to get me through. Did I mention the backache?
Now the worries... Could he have pulled me tighter? Why do I still have some loose skin? Why didn't I insist on getting lipo to sculpt my flanks? I don't want to pay for that separately, have another procedure, and have more downtime. Why does my belly button look so pitiful?
I try to remind myself that I only wanted a semblance of a normal figure - which I can clearly see when I have clothes on. I haven't seen my belly button in 25 years so why does it matter now? I try to remind myself that I know it will get better over the weeks.
Tomorrow is my 1 week follow up. I also have my first lymphatic massage scheduled to help speed of the rest of the healing.
The pictures below are at day 1 postop, so I get that I'm still swollen. Will post more pictures at my 1 week.
I did it! - Day of procedure
My pain level was a 2 out of 10 (don't laugh or cough), until about 7, then it went up to a 7 out of 10. I ate spaghetti (no food restrictions), took 2 Percocet, and feel better now. My back is beginning to ache a bit but I've gotten relief from putting a pillow behind. I'm also trying a lot of homeopathic approaches Arnica, Bromelain, natural stool softener - not a laxative!
The most incredible thing about my PS. He uses a barbed, no tension suture and NO DRAINS! He called personally to check on me around 7ish pm.
I will shower tomorrow and post pics then!
Provider Review
Extremely easy to make an appointment. I received a consult within 2 weeks of my call and had surgery scheduled within 2 weeks of the consult. The office staff are incredibly responsive and helpful. The consult and follow up appointments were brief. Very grateful for no drain option and his attention to the no tension suture - it's quite a work of art. Wished we had talked a bit more about options or addressing the flanks, during the TT or with lipo. He ended up doing lipo of the flanks and lower back approximately 4 months afterwards as I was really disappointed that I did not have any contour of my sides. I followed up with him again at the 6 month mark because I still have a good bit of loose skin and fat rolls in the front and on my sides. Dr. Ruff was quick to schedule a follow up but basically told me, "This is as good as it gets." I have since received second opinions that indicated that they would have done lipo with a TT to achieve a more desirable result. My suggestion, have multiple consults with different doctors. Dr. Ruff's no-lipo TT preference seems ideal for someone who is not carrying any extra fat (I referred such a friend and her results are amazing). And I could not have imagined a more amazing recovery. However, I would have preferred to have been told about various options and outcomes given my body shape before hand in order to weigh my options before spending $14,000.