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I had a belt lipectomy in Oct 2013. This is where...
I had a belt lipectomy in Oct 2013. This is where they removed all the excess skin from around my abs, flanks, and lower back area. Over the past 15 years I had lost approx 50 lbs and, although I was in great shape, there was nothing I could do (in terms of diet and physical exercise) to get rid of the excess skin. I don't recommend this procedure for people who are not in great physical shape beforehand. The recovery period is hard and you must have 4 solid weeks to recover AND I did not even have to get my stomach muscles tied! Had I not been in great shape and had my abs not been rock solid (before my surgery I was up to 4 spin classes a week at Soul Cycle, 2 Pilates classes per week and 1 yoga class per week plus my vegan diet) - they would have had to "tie " my stomach muscles together (very common with most tummy tucks and mommy makeovers) and the recovery would have been 2x as painful I am sure. Most of the the time, they end up tightening the stomach muscles and tie-ing up any hernias (which they did for me too but not painful).
I did not have a lot of pain after the first 2 weeks (plus I was hopped up on Percocet and then Vicodin for 13 days) -it was just very uncomfortable and you really have to give yourself time to take it easy.
I orginally had 3 drains put in and the last drain was removed 13 days after my surgery. I think I pre-maturely threw the pain pills out after my 3rd drain was removed (because I am 15 yrs sober and they were making me crazy......) and for 3 days after, it was difficult. I started taking Vitimin B5 to sleep and that helped. Overall I managed all the pain with Extra Strength Tylenol and Aleve.
What they don't tell you... Is you are very tired and need to rest for a solid 4 weeks! This is coming from a Type A personality who was in great shape without getting her stomach muscles tied. I imagine it would probably take most people 6 weeks.
Here is what they don't tell you to prepare for the surgery and thereafter:
Get a fantastic pillow set from Relax the Back or somewhere comparable. See link:
This is essential because you have to sleep on your back for 3 solid weeks and if you don't have a proper pillow/leg set- you will have major back aches. If you are prone to back problems (like I am) it is also important to tell your DR and nurses to put a pillow under your knees during surgery or you will come out of it with intense back pain!
The other thing you need to do is get some really great underwear that can come up over the surgical tapes and incisions. I suggest Jockey for women. You want them big enough that they come up to cover the back stitches. Before my surgery I was a size 6 but I was wearing size 7 Jockey underwear after the surgery. This is important because the Abdominal Binder they make you wear moves up and down and if there is not underwear over the incisions, it will "peel" the surgical tapes and this is painful and very uncomfortable. I also got some "wife beaters" to wear and I tucked them in under the Abdominal Binder and over the underwear. If you can keep the tapes in place (they only need to be changed every 4 or 5 days or so and last in the shower...) then you are golden and you will heal quicker. If the tapes are moving, it scrapes the incisions and the scabs come off and you get "blisters."
I also bought some Spanx. Although very tight and not the most comfortable thing to wear (how do fat people stuff their fat in these and wear them all night!?!) - they allowed me to finally start going back to work and get out. I was able to get out with the abdominal binder but only to get my nails done, AA meetings, etc. I am lucky, I own my own business and worked from home for a solid 3 weeks.
You definately need 4 or 5 days after the surgery to not have to deal with anything. This recovery is brutal but I am very happy I did it and got it over with!!!
I did not have a lot of pain after the first 2 weeks (plus I was hopped up on Percocet and then Vicodin for 13 days) -it was just very uncomfortable and you really have to give yourself time to take it easy.
I orginally had 3 drains put in and the last drain was removed 13 days after my surgery. I think I pre-maturely threw the pain pills out after my 3rd drain was removed (because I am 15 yrs sober and they were making me crazy......) and for 3 days after, it was difficult. I started taking Vitimin B5 to sleep and that helped. Overall I managed all the pain with Extra Strength Tylenol and Aleve.
What they don't tell you... Is you are very tired and need to rest for a solid 4 weeks! This is coming from a Type A personality who was in great shape without getting her stomach muscles tied. I imagine it would probably take most people 6 weeks.
Here is what they don't tell you to prepare for the surgery and thereafter:
Get a fantastic pillow set from Relax the Back or somewhere comparable. See link:
This is essential because you have to sleep on your back for 3 solid weeks and if you don't have a proper pillow/leg set- you will have major back aches. If you are prone to back problems (like I am) it is also important to tell your DR and nurses to put a pillow under your knees during surgery or you will come out of it with intense back pain!
The other thing you need to do is get some really great underwear that can come up over the surgical tapes and incisions. I suggest Jockey for women. You want them big enough that they come up to cover the back stitches. Before my surgery I was a size 6 but I was wearing size 7 Jockey underwear after the surgery. This is important because the Abdominal Binder they make you wear moves up and down and if there is not underwear over the incisions, it will "peel" the surgical tapes and this is painful and very uncomfortable. I also got some "wife beaters" to wear and I tucked them in under the Abdominal Binder and over the underwear. If you can keep the tapes in place (they only need to be changed every 4 or 5 days or so and last in the shower...) then you are golden and you will heal quicker. If the tapes are moving, it scrapes the incisions and the scabs come off and you get "blisters."
I also bought some Spanx. Although very tight and not the most comfortable thing to wear (how do fat people stuff their fat in these and wear them all night!?!) - they allowed me to finally start going back to work and get out. I was able to get out with the abdominal binder but only to get my nails done, AA meetings, etc. I am lucky, I own my own business and worked from home for a solid 3 weeks.
You definately need 4 or 5 days after the surgery to not have to deal with anything. This recovery is brutal but I am very happy I did it and got it over with!!!
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