livinthedream

My swelling was bad to me, uncomfortable, but I did buy a compression garment online (rather than the binder they give you) and that helped tremendously. I don't think anyone noticed the swelling but me. It was mainly in my upper abdominal area. I'm 5 months post-op and have been doing great until recently, was feeling so good started working out harder and went out dancing with the girls, I think I pulled some stitches or something and my swelling is back! I need to go back and see him for a followup. I still have numbness around my bellybutton --probably a full circle 4 inches around is all still numb. It seems to be going away though because it used to be my whole belly was numb. I think the hardest part in the long run was the lipo. Still very sensitive on my sides. Good luck! It's a long healing process. Don't go wild like I did thinking I was completly healed. The begining is very tough so be prepared and have someone look after you and/or your kids (assuming u have some) :-)

I didn't have my drain reinserted, did you mean to post this somewhere else? I had mine in for 7 days. I can't remember how much fluid, but I emptied them everytime I went to the bathroom, so they were pretty full the first 5 days or so. By the last couple of days there was hardly any fluid. I think that's how they determine if they can be taken out or not. I would hate to have them re-inserted, hopefully that won't happen to you. Good luck!

One more thing -- Neosporin I used that religiously around my drain port and on the incision. Happy to say I did not get any infection. Plan to be off of your feet for one week -- you need somone to take care of you absolutely. You still need to get up and move around every hour to avoid clots and getting stiff. I moved a recliner into my bedroom and slept in it for 2 weeks straight. Also that way my kids could not jump on me in the middle of the night.

Hi, yes, you should have sterile gauze dressing & tape so you can change the dressing around your drains. Also, Dial anti-bacterial body wash to shower with. Baggy - elastic waist shorts or sweatpants. My friend who is a doctor, also recommended I have a stool softener because the pain meds cause constipation. I can't think of anything else, I know I was unprepared with the clothes situation, I had to wear my husbands shorts when I went back for my check up (all my shorts had zippers/snaps). It's not so much because of the swelling, but the drains, you have to stick them somewhere, it's like walking around with a set of balls :-). To me that was the absolute worst part of the expereince. Lucily I only had them in for a week, but some people have to wear them longer. Good Luck!

Good luck with your surgery! I forgot to mention my size. I'm 38 years old, 5'1" and now weigh 128 lbs. At the time of the surgery I was 139 lbs. My doctor doesn't weigh or record how much he removes, but I'm convinced it was a good 8 pounds that came off just from the surgery. I was always pretty curvey and very muscular, but after I had the babies my waist completly disappeared for 5 years. Now it's back :-) I went from a 32 inch waist to 26.5 inches (the size when I was 14 years old). I think the key on the depression is to #1 - don't look at the scar too much #2 - keep thinking it is only temporary. If you are light skinned it should fade in time (at least that is my hope). The drains are the worst, luckily I got my removed after 7 days. My Dr. said to use Dial anti-bacterial shower gel, so I was very careful and used that and carefully around the drain port. I came up with a trick to throw on a bikni bottom to hook the drains to (they have little clips on them) so I could shower without holding them. I'm glad to share anything that helps other women, I am sooo happy with my results!