Hi!
I thought I’d give this a go because I used this website a lot leading up to my procedure. I had it performed today and am currently in recovery mode. At this very moment, my pain is managed well by the medication and the only thing annoying me is the compression garment on my abdomen. I didn’t have Lipo on my stomach but the design includes suspenders to keep it up on the legs. I can’t tell if it’s up as far as it should be but will assume it is.
I chose Dr. Sowder after seeing a few plastic surgeons in other states. I never felt at ease enough to go through with anything. I was looking for Abdominoplasty and possible breast help though my small chest has never been a bother to me. After children though, my small chest became less tight resulting in what I call “forearm skin.” It wasn’t terrible at all just some volume lost in the top of the breasts. A perky 32B was perfect before kids but it became more like a loose 34A.
I looked at Abdominoplasty for my Diastasis Recti. I am searching for back pain help and more strength in the core vs an aesthetic so it is making the decision hard. I’m a fitness instructor so I miss having a solid foundation. This is how I found fat transfer however, because quite frankly I’m too scared of jumping right into a tummy tuck and wanted to dip my toes in the water with my reactions, emotions, recover, and so forth. The chance at slimmer and possibly more toned looking legs is what I’m most excited about.
Since High School, my legs have been my one insecurity. They are just naturally thick for my body. They are strong and I’m grateful for what they allow me to do but I shy away from shorts or skirts because they’ve never reflected what I feel is the hard work I put into working and stretching them out. My goal for this procedure is to gain confidence and a renewed desire to workout because I can see and feel results more easily. Of course, I’d love to feel amazing in a bathing suit and skirt too! My worry is that cellulite may be more pronounced thus having a somewhat reverse affect of the aesthetic I want, howeve, I know that eating right and taking care of myself can aid in my final results. It’s basically required! For my chest, I’m not looking for large or visibly altered breasts. I hope to have a natural beautiful boost that just makes me happy looking in a mirror!
Surgery day (today) is probably a little more painful than expected but doable. My donor sites are the most sensitive and chest is slightly too. I almost fainted in Pre-Op because I was nervous and thirsty. Laugh out loud... the nurse was fantastic though.
I can’t speak to the results yet but I can speak to the incredible bedside manner and general demeanor of Dr. Sowder and her staff. They all made me very comfortable and I didn’t feel judged. I genuinely trust Dr. Sowder’s advice and opinion. She even chit chatted me while marking me up which really helped my nerves. The ability to focus on non-surgical talk helps me immensely! I can’t wait to see how everything turned out (and get out of this garment)! I will post photos as soon as I can take some.
Tips: have your meds to get and stay ahead of the pain. Plan for someone to help with little ones for a few days. I can walk around but I’m definitely not my normal at all. Prepare to not be allowed to shower until Post-Op which is a kicker for me. Mine is Monday. Between 5 days and this garment (with an opening for the bathroom), I feel I’m going to be a stinky mess of a patient by Monday and probably earlier. As a mom to young ones, I relish the shower daily asa relaxing time so this will be tough.
Updated on 15 Dec 2018:
It’s Day 3 not including surgery day. I definitely underestimated the pain and am still on the meds but not the max dose!
I can walk but sitting on the toilet is painful. My bed is the only place I want to sit. I’m using ice packs on my thighs which helps with the feeling of being swollen and stiff.
My appetite is starting to come back but I haven’t had a bowel Movement yet. I’ve eaten mostly fruit and toast until today. Today I had an actual sandwich.
I’m wearing my garments pretty much non-stop. I’ve taken it off once today to clean up and put Arnica gel on. I put it right back on. I have not taken the compression bra off.
I have a lot of bruising which is expected as well as swelling. I’m tired and hope to feel better ASAP, but I’m hopeful and trying to be patient.
Updated on 16 Dec 2018:
I have a lot of tingling, numbing sensations in the thighs. It’s an interesting feeling as it covers a decent amount of the thigh. My left IT band area is fairly numbish feeling as well as the inner thigh of the right leg. My right knee is a bit numb too. So if I touch it it’s a feeling of I know I’m touching it but the sensation is not normal feeling.
I’d compare the breast healing to the feeling I had when I was trying to dry my breast milk up. If you breastfed or have had milk come in or out, it feels very similar to the swelling and pain of the recovery of fat transfer. (For me atleast).
I stopped taking the Oxycodone today and went to the bathroom! It was also similar to post birth first poop but not quite as bad! I released my abdomen area from my garment in hopes it would help move my bowels. It seemed to help!
I have my first Post-Op tomorrow so looking forward to shower instructions.
Updated on 17 Dec 2018:
I had my post op today and Dr. Sowder said everything looks to be healing on track. I’ll go back right after the 1st to get out of the garments.
The bra is actually helpful as my breasts feel very full and as if they are working against gravity when it came off! I was able to shower tonight which was much needed and then I realized it was going to be a bit less refreshing than I had hoped for.
I am supposed to keep the water from directly striking the breasts. I have a small shower in our master as the tub is separate so that was harder than I expected. I was instructed to do gentle massage of the donor areas in the shower as well. Some of my stitches are poking out which I can trim but have yet to attempt. They are in tough places.
I laundered the garments while I iced my chest after the shower. Then I held my boobs as I walked around because they felt like they were going to pop! All in all, I’m happy to have been able to wash them! I also dried them because time won’t really allow air drying to be an option. Hopefully I can get back into the body spanx.
So here’s my advice so far- get an extra set of garments. Get big ice packs that you can reuse and just pop in the freezer. I like to ice my hamstrings and quadriceps area and my chest. My ice packs are long rectangles so they cover a good amount. They are also gel so easy to mold to the body.
I feel much better now that I’m off the narcotics. The pain is present but not terrible that Tylenol can’t help. I’m allowed to take ibuprofen once I’m a full week out.
I really think a good caregiver is super necessary. My daughter had emergency surgery on Friday so me getting full downtime hasn’t been a reality but my husband has helped a ton. If you go into the surgery and have kids and tasks, plan for a week of someone else taking over the drop offs and pick ups, chores, and so on. I can move around but I have gotten tired or experienced more pain when I was up and about. Have some healthy easy to eat food on hand. I didn’t have much of an appetite until today but I would want a smoothie and be way to tired to actually make it.
My right breast is bigger than the left this evening. I’m sure it is more swollen as I’m right handed.
I’m still unsure about whether or not it’s worth it as the results settle but I am optimistic that it will all turn out good! I’m hoping for the modest return to small but perky boobs and easier to define and sculpt legs and butt from the lipo.
Updated on 18 Dec 2018:
Tomorrow makes 1 week since surgery day. Today I drove again for the first time. I also went on a walk around the neighborhood. I’m up and moving and feel pretty good.
My right breast is still bigger than left but I’m chopping it up to being more swollen for now as you can see it’s bruised more as well.
I blew dry my hair which I wasn’t able to make it through yesterday. My chest is the more constant pain/tightness currently and my legs seem more situational with pain or issues. I’m still icing both and taking Tylenol if needed.
My swelling has gone done a bit on the donor sites and I am starting to see the results of the contoured donor sites which besides the green/yellow/purple bruising look pretty good.
I am missing working out which Dr. S warned me about being as I’m into pilates and spin. It’s hard not getting that serotonin spike!
Stitches are doing well and I do have some itching every now and again.
I notice I really hate the garment on my abdomen! It makes me feel so awkward and robotic. I also have no clue how people could wear normal clothing over it. It’s so uncomfortable to me- adding work wear would make me give up lol.
I look a hot mess wardrobe wise. If you can buy some cute sweats and matching tops that cover the garment that may make your life better. I’m in my husbands sweat pants and have realized I don’t buy button down shirts it seems.
I am able to put normal shirts on though. Just trying to be cognizant of lifting arms too high.
Updated on 25 Dec 2018:
I can’t imagine doing this in a hot summer and having to wear garments! However, doing it right before the holidays when everyone wants to feed you is also hard...
I’m almost two weeks out and still in pain but no pain meds. Bruising is pretty gnarly on the legs and breasts. I highly recommend the Arnicare Gel. Not being able to exercise adequately when family is around and the food is crazy is also tough on anyone who is used to getting their workouts in!
Think of these things when you are timing surgery! My results are looking good so far!
Updated on 28 Dec 2018:
It’s been 16/17 days since operation and I have to say that I am feeling much better overall!
My breast shape and size is pretty perfect! It’s impressive and just what I wanted. I included photos of today. I have some tendency to swell a bit more on the right side but overall I believe they are calming down to the same/similar size. I still have stitches poking out and coming out as well as bruising. I have been taking the arnicare tabs as my local store sold out of the gel- what are the chances of that?
I wore regular compression tights part of the day yesterday as I had some pain behind my right knee from the garment bunching. That seemed to help immensely for the tender spot.
I wear a soft seamless bra while my garments wash currently.
I recommend getting shower gloves for massage in shower of donor spots! These are great as long as you trim any stitches that may be poking through. I feel much more confidant in a gentle compressive massage than I did in the beginning. It’s worth mentioning that I still have significant numbing/tingly or just a funny sensation where the bruising is from the jostled nerves. It’s similar to being really cold or icing an area and having that lack of sensation sensation if that makes sense.
Something else I love is a lotion that absorbs quickly so it isn’t difficult to put the garments on! I use the camellia cream from the body shop and it’s so awesome!
I can’t tell if these pictures are uploading upside down? I have no idea why if so. Sorry!
Updated on 4 Jan 2019:
I had my 3 week Post Op and can start weaning off the garments.
The garments although annoying do offer support and prevent some of the tingling and random pain I will experience. That being said, really good compression tights or leggings can do the same thing and maybe even more comfortably.
You can’t use these right away as the garments fasten on the sides allowing you to get into them- there’s no way I could have pulled on tights! Wouldn’t want to either. So wear the garments until you are healed enough to switch to compression tights. I have a feeling I’ll be wearing my tights for awhile!
I have bruising still as well as what I’d characterize as an increase of the appearance of cellulite on my thighs. This may be from the bruising as well. I haven’t been working out while healing so that can also be part of it. Obviously that’s not what I want to happen but I’m hoping as time goes on, I get back to working out and the swelling continues to dissipate I will be okay with any cellulite still hanging around.
I have only read about one procedure to reduce it that I would do and it doesn’t seem to be available in Washington. So here’s to hoping I can get this together on my own!
I also have some hardening areas on my left outer thigh and feel more pain in this area. I have a feeling it’s fasciae adhesions that need some heavy massage which seems counterintuitive to the pain.
The breasts are almost feeling normal as in no pain or weird heaviness. Dr. S says they are still swollen so my size will drop even more. That’s ok with me as right now they look awesome but feel a little tough on the tops. I’m okay with more softening.
I did this for the legs primarily with the bonus of getting pre baby small boobs back. The breasts weren’t my big focus but I didn’t want them to be worse off for sure. So far they look great. For me, someone who wants to stay small they are great. I wouldn’t do another fat transfer to get bigger at this point.
I think if I was looking for size, fat transfer would not have made sense for breasts but for just a little natural boost; great so far.
I can see the contours of the lipo better each day. Again, I can see more cellulite but I can def see some new shape and that’s what lipo does. I think a reduction in cellulite would be a bonus but don’t expect it.
I’m able to gradually increase activity at this point and wear bras that are comfortable. Some of my previous bras don’t fit but most do; just tighter. I think by the time everything settles I’ll just be fuller versus a complete new size!
Updated on 27 Jan 2019:
I haven’t had my appt. yet but I’m updating anyway to note some changes and so forth.
One, I do have a small lump palpable to the touch on the top portion of my left breast. It’s small but I’m assuming it’s the fat necrosis? Maybe I’m wrong. I’ve lost significant size but I’m still okay with the result as they are full which is what I hoped for. Should I lose much more, I may be sad!
Again, my fat transfer was just as important on my donor sites for me. I was more worried about my legs than my breasts but the breasts are kind of awesome so far.
As for legs, I’m hoping that lymphatic massage will help with their ultimate result but I haven’t been cleared for it yet. I have some uneven feeling which I think is still residual swelling. The areas that feel “bigger” to the touch also have numbness still. The numbness is getting better. I still have some pain and interesting sensations. I’m not ready to bare my legs by any means.
As for exercise- I don’t think I would run still as impact causes significant sensory load on any sensitive areas. I have done some light pilates and plan to try cycling this week. My IT band area is still very numb so I’m trying to be cognizant of the healing process.
Some of my scars are almost gone and others are very red/puffed. I will be looking for options to help those.