Outer Thigh Smart Lipo

9 days post-op: It's amazing how much your body can heal in a week. I no longer get dizzy when taking off the compression garment, though it definitely feels better to have it on. I'm moving around with only minor soreness and even went out last night in a tight dress, without worrying about that saddle bag bulge. The bruises were getting to me, so I broke down and ordered arnica cream because others on this site recommended it. It's only been two days since I started using it, so I'll let you know how it works.

Four days post-op: Had my first follow-up appointment and was thrilled to hear I don't have any fluid pockets in my legs. The four incisions are healing well and stopped draining after the first 36 hours! I'm still pretty swollen, but I measured and I've lost an inch off each thigh so far. It's much easier to move around now, but getting down to sit is still uncomfortable. Walking is no problem! I'm off the Lortab because I don't think it helped and made me really tired.

Background: I've hated my legs for as long as I can remember. My brother and sister are stick thin, and I, well, wasn't. One of the defining moments in my body image was in second grade. The cutest boy in the class called me 'thunder thighs.' I was crushed and spent the next 23 years trying to diet and exercise my way out of the problem. No matter how small I got (90 lbs all through high school on my 5'2" frame), my thighs were always disproportionately large. I learned to love my other curves, but having my thighs be the widest part of me became a fixation.

Surgery: I had a consult and was assured that doing the saddle bags (outer thigh) was usually very successful. I got the pre-op instructions and was scheduled for a week later. The worst pain I experienced was pms without Advil--they said all I could take for a week before surgery was Tylenol.

I've struggled with becoming one of 'those' people who takes the extreme step of surgery. Some people close to me have said I should just accept myself the way I am. I was getting a little embarrassed about being seen as vain, and considered calling the whole thing off. Then I had my hubby take my 'before' pictures. No doubt left in my mind. . .I had to go through with it. I owed it to the second-grade girl inside me.

I prepared my bed with a plastic tablecloth over the mattress just as they recommended before leaving for the procedure. The triazolam they prescribed worked wonders on anxiety. They took the 'before' pics and the doctor marked me up and began. The shot of lidocaine burned quite badly, but that was the worst part. I felt twinges of pain throughout but nothing too bad. Before I knew it they were sitting me up and putting on the bandages and compression garment. They removed a liter and a half of fat total.

Post-Op: I went home and slept for three hours. I had a terrible time with dizziness/almost fainting when I had to pull down the compression garment to use the restroom. I ended up lying on the bathroom floor for about 10 minutes each time. I tend to go into shock easily and got faint/nauseated again when my hubby changed my bandages.

After the first 24 hours, the dizziness/fainting went away. I'm still taking the Lortab, but mainly because they said I can't take anything else but Tylenol for two weeks or it'll increase bleeding. I'm pretty sore but able to walk around quite well. My incisions have stopped draining. I go in tomorrow for a check up.

Results: I'm absolutely amazed with the results, and it's only two days post-op. I'm sure I'm swollen, but the overall shape of my legs is so much better! That hated saddle bag protrusion is gone! My hip is now the widest part of me, not my upper thigh. I went from a pear shape to a true hourglass! I wish I'd done this years ago so I hadn't spent my entire teenage years and twenties hiding my legs.

I'll post photos once we take some post-op ones.