26 Years Old, Cancer SURVIVOR, Mom of 2 Heading to Almonte 4/29/2015!!!!

PHYSICAL:
Hey ladies! I'm 23 days post op and finally starting to feel normal! My skin is not nearly as tender and I am able to sleep on my back or side. I still sit on my boppy pillow religiously and still have 3 small stitches at the sites where Dra Almonte performed the bbl. My TT incision is healing perfectly! This lady is TALENTED! The scar fits perfectly beneath my underwear and swim wear. I am very swolen and can literally feel the fluid under my skin. This is informed to last approximately 6 months. I hope to return to the gym (just for arms and extremely light cardio) as soon as I can stand up straight to permanently. As of now I'm bent over directly after sleeping or sitting; its takes a few minutes to be able to stand up straight because of the tension and stiffness. Oh yeah, sleep has got to be the worst of it all. Although I can sleep on my sides now it is soooo uncomfortable! I use tons of pillows and my husband sleeps a good 3 feet away from me so we don't collide during the night. I use arnica gel and RAW cocoa butter (picture above) on my skin (tummy, back and butt) every day, sometimes twice a day. I cleaned my incision with alcohol and bandaged it with rolled gauze and GENTLE skin tape every day for about 18 days. Once all of the scabbing was gone I stopped taping it up.

DRAIN
This drain gave me anxiety!!!!! When I say I was terrified to remove it...I was have heart palpitations lol! So I removed my drain on day 14. By this point I was draining less than 50cc per day. I was going to have my doctor remove it but would have had to wait much longer than I wanted for an appointment. I decided to take to the slow and less painful method. I gave it a very slow and slight tug to expose the stitches and easily cut them with scissors I had sterilized. From there I SLOWLY twisted the drain fully left and fully right (a whole 360 degrees) attempting to loosen it. I felt internal scabbing loosen up and could tell the drain would just slide out now. I slowly pulled the drain out 1/4 inch by 1/4 inch. The pain was not bad at all! It took about 3 minutes to get the entire drain out; that's how slow I was going. It measured a total of 20 inches that was inside!!!!!!!! The drain hole is gross and I keep it cleaned and bandaged. After that point I stopped taking stupid sink baths and was able to take regular showers. I cover the drain site with extra tape, shower with dial anti bacterial soap, get out and dry off with a new clean towel, clean and bandage my drain site, use the raw cocoa and arnica since my pores are open after showering, and put my faja right back on with a t shirt underneath. I'm going to start scar therapy as soon as my drain site has closed completely.

ROUND 2
I couldn't get my arms done so am going back in about 6 months! I should not be this excited for pain to be inflicted upon my body! I'm going to have an arm lift, inner thigh lipo and hip grafting. I want a more curvy look from the front view. I'll be back with new information as it develops :)

PLANE:
Ladies, it is imperative that you book a non-stop first class return flight home with wheel chair assistance!!!!!! I was in such much on that plane it was unbearable :( I must admit, enduring cancer treatment made me a tough cookie. So if I AM COMPLAINING, it's real lol. The main cabin seats are too congested for someone who just completed surgery. Not nearly enough seat space or leg room for you to stretch seeing as circulation is extremely important after an operation. Remember to wear you "Anti-DVT/PE Compression Socks" on the plane and to bring your boppy, a neck pillow and regular pillow for your back. You will not be healed enough to carry any baggage so your carry on should only contain your valuables (passports, credit cards, ID, cash, medicine, electronics, etc) and pillows. Put everything else (clothes, left over supplies, etc) in a checked bag that will meet you baggage claim. BE ABSOLUTELY SURE TO EAT, POOP, AND TAKE A MODERATE DOSE OF MEDICATION PRIOR TO BOARDING!!!!!!! I took 10mg of valium so was able to sleep the majority of the plane ride.

TUMMY:
So many of our RS Sisters have warned of just how serious recovery is. Well let me say I did not listen. I have had so many surgeries that I assumed I'd bounce right back. What I did not account for was the fact I was having multiple procedures performed. The tummy tuck is the least painful but extremely restricting and confining. Dra Almonte removed a good 6-7 inches of skin! Ladies, I couldn't stand up straight if I tried (besides the fact that you're not supposed to). The skin is so TIGHT and pulls in every direction. Dra. Almonte made an approximate 18 INCH from one side of my back, clear across my abdomen, all the way to the other side of my back. If you stand directly behind me you can see the incision! But I have already tried on a new bikini and it hides my incision effortlessly!!!!!! So amazing!!!!! I've been cleaning my incision and belly button with alcohol and neosporin cream everyday and covering it was bandage wrap and tape. My stomach is very swolen, fluid-like in some areas, hard and firm in others.

DRAIN:
The b*tch of it all. The drain is the devil incarnate!!!!!! Ladies it is so agonizing I can't explain it :( :( :( Because each procedure separated the skin and muscle wall, blood and fluid develope. This requires a drain to flush out the fluid so the the skin wall can reattach to the muscle. The fluid initially comes out a dark red, clotty consistency, then a lighter red, eventually an orange like red and finally yellow with a red pale tinge of blood. I'm in the final stage but still draining about 200cc a day. When I reach less than 50cc per day (in about one more week) I can remove the drain. DO NOT REMOVE YOUR DRAIN EARLY!!!!! This is how serous is developed! When fluid builds up between the skin and muscle too quickly for the body to absorb it! It will look like a huge bulge and you'll have to have it manually drained with a needle! And not just once ladies, usually about 5 times. So I'm saying f*ck it, deal with this dumb drain, make sure all the fluid is done releasing, and take it approximately 2 weeks from my surgery date.

LIPO:
Yeah this stupid too lol. I absolutely love my results, all of my rolls are gone, and the Lipo incisions are very small :D I had lipo to my chin, underarm (sides above rib cage next to breast), full back, waist, and full abdomen. The lipo feel as though someone beat you to a pulp and now your in the hospital recovering. It burns, is very tight and extremely tender. I had a lot of bruising but use ARNICA gel everyday so it is subsiding very well :) I bought a hand massager for $16 from Walgreens and use it on the lowest setting over my tummy. The vibrations help loosen and reduce the fluid.

BBL:
I got some ass yall! Not too much but definitely a difference! My previous measurements were 41-38-41 (ugh, very boxy). With the swelling I am 36-32-45! Oh yeah! I can't wait to see my new measurements after the swelling subsides completing! I guess 34-29-43 :) this ass hurts a lot though! Very tender and don't even think about sitting on something firm, it is soooooo uncomfortable :(

OVERALL:
This is an extremely painful and difficult process. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HELP WHEN YOU RETURN HOME!!!! I only stayed 7 days after surgery. So I am unable to keep up with my baby, walk my son to the bus stop, cook for myself, clean, nothing! And you're not supposed to either! I get these short burst of energy when I feel like I can do do much! Problem is you can damage your incision and wind up in the ER. So ladies, make sure you take 3-6 weeks off work dependent upon your specific physical case, and pay all of your bills up fir the month you will be out :). I'll be back with news on this drain next week :)

Hey Ladies!!!! I have finally had the chance to meet Betty! She is the massage therapist! Ladies, when I tell you her talent is crafted by God Himself, you will never find a masseuse as talented, caring, sensual and passionate as her. The massages are lymphatic so have the purpose of pushing the built-up fluid from surgery towards your lymph nodes so that it can drain out of your body. You can begin massages between days 3 and 5 dependent upon how well you recovery. Betty completely undresses you and starts by examining your incisions and surgical areas. She checks for which areas have the most fluid and then rubs you down with an anti bruising cream and massage oil. I had tt, lipo and bbl. She started with my back and used a heated ultrasound massager and hot towel to loosen the tissue. Then she uses her hands to work the tissue and manipulate the fluid towards your drain and lymph nodes. It honestly is moderately painful BUT very important. These massages reduce swelling and release tension. Next she lays you down and works your front. I also had chin lipo so she massaged that area. My feet were swollen she I had the added bonus of a foot massage. Lastly she cleans your entire body with a hot towel! Omg it's amazing!!!!! I love Betty!!!! I purchased 6 massages so will have 2 a day for three days. Gosh I hope I can find a good masseuse back home. Btw they're only $30 for an hour! At home they're triple that :/ still can't wait to go home but I wish I could take Betty with me