Lower Body Lift After TT w/lipo and MR, Darien, CT

In a few days it will be 3 months since my lower body lift.

I'm sorry I haven't posted any updates since July. Just been kind of busy visiting relatives and doing a few projects around the house before I went back to work. I work in a school so I get the summers off which is why I schedule my surgeries then. That way I don't have to feel rushed going to work if I need more time to recuperate.

Anyway, I'm so loving my new shape! The relatives remarked that I look 20 years younger. I didn't tell them about the surgeries cause I didn't want them to judge me. I just told them I watch what I eat and I've been walking daily - which I do.

I'm so glad I had the LBL after the TT instead of having everything done at once. I think it was easier to see exactly how much needed to come off around my hips. The extra surprise of having a perky butt certainly helps, too.

I haven't lost any weight since the LBL - just inches! About 4 around my hip area. Hey! I'll take it!

My clothes fit me so much better now. They hang nicely. No "love handles" sticking out. I've been wearing mostly dresses and stretchy skirts cause it's summer now. My pants are so big that even with a belt they fall off. I think I'm still a little swollen so I want to wait a while before I buy new pants. I have some leggings I can wear when it gets colder.

About the swelling. As you can see from some of my pics, I feel like I still have some swelling under my bra area (above my stomach) from when I had the TT last year. It's gone down some so I'm hoping it will continue to do so in the next few months. I think it's the meds I'm on for arthritis. It takes me a long time to heal, even from minor scrapes and injuries.

My incision area (from the TT and LBL) is still very red compared to other ladies who had surgery the same time I did. The scar isn't raised or puffy, just red. My backside is also a little swollen and still has that weird feeling. I wish my mons area was flatter but I can live with it. I think it kind of looks like a "Ken" doll. Maybe if I have any other work done in the future, I'll ask if it can be lipo'd.

Was it worth it? Most definitely! Even with the continued swelling, I'm very pleased with the outcome.

My husband continues to chase me around the house (LOL) and I get looks and compliments from men when I'm out walking. Mostly older men but, hey, I'll take the attention.

I'm going to see my doctor for a follow up in 2 weeks so I'll report back then.

I'm feeling really pretty good. Not taking any pain meds except for 2 extra strength Tylenol before bedtime (so I won't be so restless at night). Sometimes I get little twinges if I lay on my incision too long.

I'm posting some pics I took this morning. They're not the best - had to take them in front of a mirror. I'll have hubby take better pics this weekend.

So, my new incision line goes all around my torso. My PS opened up part of my TT scar (from my hips to almost under my belly button) to smooth out my skin. My figure is more straight now - not curvy anymore. I'm sure I'm swollen and that's why I look this way. Even if I don't become curvy again, I'll take this shape over the "love handles" that were on my hips before the LBL. I think my backside is very flat now. Still deciding if I like the look. Just wish my butt was a little rounder and popped out a bit. It is higher up now and not saggy anymore. Maybe it'll look better when the swelling goes down. I can live with it in any case. Not a big fan of a large booty but a little bit would be ok LOL!

The hardest part of this surgery so far has been cleaning and bandaging the incision on my backside. It's hard to reach around there. Hubby did it for me for a few days but he was getting frustrated with applying the bandages so I decided to do it myself. I've been using the 4x4 bandages from CVS and holding them in place with paper tape (same ones I used for the TT). Couldn't find anything wider in the stores. There's so much more area to cover this time around that I'm using 12 of the bandages twice a day for covering the incision. Going thru 1 box of bandages per day! First I tape a bandage to my skin then I put a piece of tape attaching two bandages together. I do this all away around my incision. Then I put the binder back on. The binder kind of keeps the bandages together and I feel nice and tight with it on. I found some longer bandages from Amazon and am going to order them. Should be here by next week. Hopefully, covering my incision won't be such a project with longer bandages.

I haven't been too mobile. Mostly reading and watching TV. I feel good - just don't want to pull my stitches out. The incision is nice and smooth this time. Not bumpy like the TT. Looks like my PS used a different kind of thread this time. I'm not doing any bending or lifting but I am cooking and doing some laundry. With the TT, I was out of commission for about 4 weeks. Couldn't do anything. This time, though, it's not even a week and I feel pretty normal. I might try going for a short walk tomorrow.

I have 2 drains. Hoping they will come out when I go to the doctor next week. They're both putting out less than 25 cc's per day. Kind of hard to find shirts long enough to cover the drains but I'm not leaving the house anyway. Just don't want to keep wearing a nightie all day.

Well that's all for now.

Had my LBL surgery yesterday. Feeling pretty good this morning. Feeling so much better this time than with the TT. This is a breeze! Slept on/off most of yesterday. Took 1 Vicodin and my antibiotic when I got home from the surgery. They put me in a binder this time - no compression suit. Makes moving around and going to the bathroom much easier. Having to pee almost every hour but not really in a lot of pain. Skin feels tight and a little burning sensation but that's all. When I woke up this morning, I almost feel normal. My mind is clear and I'm not in pain - just feeling tight under my binder. I've decided not to take the Vicodin this morning. Don't really think I'll need it. I'll probably take it tonight so I can get a good night's sleep. Hopefully, I won't feel the need to pee all night again. My hubby is going to change and clean my dressings later this morning so I'll get a look at the incision then. Here are 2 pics I took last night.