Today is day 2 after inner thigh lift. It is painful to get in and out of bed. When I'm lying down it is okay. My husband is going to help me take a shower later. I have some before pictures but none post op yet. TBH, I'm scared to take the garment off. Updated on 16 Dec 2024: I have been waiting for this one. I thought it would be super painful but it hasn't really been that bad at all. Because I've had so many skin removal surgeries I've had time to perfect how much medication I need and how often I need it making for a smooth transition.. Updated on 17 Dec 2024: This is the time that starts being tough!! Going off pain meds and just taking Aleve. My head starts to clear which is WONDERFUL and my realization of body pain starts to increase. Also, around day 5 is when swell hell increases as well. I always swell a lot after surgery. And it usually takes me a good 10 months to get rid of all the swelling. I’m prepared this time. I took 3 weeks off of work to recover from this surgery. Most of the time I only take 1 week! So, plenty of rest in this season. Here’s to healing beautifully! Updated on 18 Dec 2024: I feel 3/4 human today. It 6 days post op. I’m still —OF COURSE—so swollen. I cannot bend down to pick anything up if I drop it. Mostly I’m just laying in bed resting. I spent a long time reading through real self yesterday. No matter how many surgeries I go through I always forget —this is a HUGE BLESSING—that there are really puny days in the beginning. Getting clear headed again feels great. But, the physical pain is worse. I know I will be turning a corner in the next few days. Happy Healing Eve everyone! Updated on 21 Dec 2024: I’ve purchased 2 of this garment! It’s great because I can pull it down to use the potty. Makes for much easier bathroom experience. I came home in a full body suit. Which is fine because it has an opening at the crotch but it’s hard to navigate. I also used these pouches of protein gels to get my protein up during recovery! Updated on 21 Dec 2024: I’m feeling a bit more human today! This has been a HARD recovery. I took 3 weeks off of work for this recovery. And I’m going to need it!!! I’ve read almost every post here on RS for people who have done this particular surgery. There are not many. Especially recently. The results of this surgery are not as beautiful as say a facelift or boobs. I’ve just have terrible skin. Lot of laxity. Sun damage. And 50 years of dieting. Not massive weight loss but gaining and losing the same 25-30 pounds over and over and over again. Updated on 24 Dec 2024: Well, my lady parts are SO SWOLLEN!! It makes it hard to pee. I’ve had to use the female urinal. The whole potty process is very difficult. Something I have taken for granted. Having to maneuver and manipulate is not pleasant. An unexpected difficulty with this surgery. It also did not land in my awareness that the incisions by my vagina and around my butt would be so painful. I mostly was anticipating the long incision down my leg. That has been a NON-issue. Not painful at all really. It looks painful but I have not experienced any pain with them. Arms and legs and the joints in them are very important for everyday life. Updated on 25 Dec 2024: Ugh, I might have an infection AND it’s Christmas Day. Not going to be able to talk to Drs. office until tomorrow. This surgery recovery has been different than I thought. It’s been so hard going to the bathroom. Challenging incisions in that area. VERY SWOLLEN. Hard to make sure that it stays clean. I am trying my best. I cannot see the areas by myself either. My husband has to take the pictures. And it is embarrassing. Legs spread wide open with everything exposed. ;-/. Updated on 27 Dec 2024: The after picture makes it look like I’m just fine! In REALITY I’m soooo swollen, the bruising on my thighs I so tender, and the incisions in my groin area make me feel like I’m going to split open at any moment. I’m getting better every day. My energy is not good. I get tired very easily and cannot sit down comfortably. I have an adjustable bed which is THE BEST. It takes the pressure off the incisions. I took 3 weeks off work for this recovery and I’m so glad I did. Updated on 29 Dec 2024: 17 days post-op inner thigh lift. The biggest challenge is still going potty. I’m still using the female urinal and the raised potty seat with handles. Also, all the compression garments with an open crotch aggravates the incisions in that area. I’ve ordered 4 pair without open crotch and we shall see. 12 weeks in compression needs to be doable. While I’m in bed it’s fine but as I become more mobile the rubbing is intolerable. Updated on 1 Jan 2025: Getting better each and every day! I have been in bed pretty much all day everyday since my surgery. I get exhausted plus walking with these incisions is VERY UNCOMFORTABLE! I still have to pee using the female urinal and that’s not something I want to tote around. So, I’m just continuing to rest and heal until I have to go back to work. January 6th is the day. 4 more days until I hit the ground running full speed ahead. I’m happy with my results. I still have loose crepey skin. I will just have to live with it. Updated on 5 Jan 2025: Well, I’ve been off work for 3 weeks. I’m going back tomorrow. I sit ALL DAY for my job. It should be interesting. I have one spot that is on my right leg at the intersection of all incisions that is red and angry. It’s towards the back near my butt cheek. It’s very painful. Almost like there is a Stitch that wants to push through. It’s not there yet soooo ugggghhhh it is just very tender. Other than that I believe I’m healing well. 3 more weeks until I can workout again! Updated on 8 Jan 2025: I’m healing well except one spot. And it hurts so bad. It has gone down some. I’ve been to my surgeon twice about this same spot. He’s told me that it is not infected. But, it looks like it to me. Anyway, I went back to work this week. I sit down for my job. I was really uncomfortable sitting down 10 hours a day. I did it though. Of all my surgeries this one has needed the most recovery time. I took 3 weeks off work to heal. I needed every bit of that time. From here I just have to wait the healing process out! Updated on 9 Jan 2025: There is a spot right around my groin area that is really ugly and inflamed. I’m not sure what it needs but it throbs, and burns, and is in an area that gets a lot of friction. Walking or sitting down. I have big respect for people in chronic pain. I don’t know how they do it. Hurting non-stop is wearisome. I’ve got a doctors appointment tomorrow again! My doctor has been looking at this spot each week. It supposed to snow here tomorrow and Friday might not be able to get there. :-/ Updated on 11 Jan 2025: These are the BEST compression garment. I was given a full body suit at the time of surgery. It had. Open crotch that really aggravated the incision sites at the crotch area. And I had to pull the entire garment down. So, I purchased compression pants. Those were much better but also had the open crotch. I have an infected area that just kept getting more aggravated with the rubbing of it with the open crotch garments. I FINALLY found these. They run REALLY SMALL! I ordered a small according to the sizing guide and had to return them for a medium. They finally got here. I’m a month post op and will probably have to wear these for at least another month or 2. Save time and order these up front! The company is Leonisa. Updated on 15 Jan 2025: I am about the same. Just healing. My infected place is healing. Slowly, but it is healing. I will be 5 weeks post-op tomorrow! 1 more week until I can start working out again!!! Updated on 1 Feb 2025: I’m back to gently working out! Which feels good. My legs are better but not perfect! I still have crepey skin and cellulite. Just know if you choose to do this surgery it will help but not create “beautiful legs”. This is my experience. I am STILL SO HAPPY that I chose to do it! Updated on 13 Apr 2025: My loose skin is back. Not as bad as before but definitely back. I could probably have a revision on my left leg at the top. My surgeon said he had to b careful not to pull the labia. That makes sense. I’m glad he was conservative in that way! Skin laxity will not be “cured” with this surgery. Unfortunately. I do have terrible skin laxity. I might think about a revision. It hard to really think about it now as I’ve just healed from this surgery.
COUNTDOWN--11 days until the big day. I've been WAITING & WAITING for this surgery!! I've had 4 body surgeries in the last 3 years. I reviewed each surgery separately (lower body lift, bra line lift, arm lift, and a lip lift). I just turned 56 September 12th. It's the right time for sure. I'm nervous and excited. My facelift is under general anesthesia. There is simply no way I could do this surgery awake. I already have bad anxiety when my head is held in a firm/tight way. (I almost had a panic attack at the dentist office when my head and mouth were held really tightly--ugh). Soooo, I'm mostly nervous because it's my face. I'm sure ALL of us are somewhat nervous when our face is on the line. The surgeon who did my arms is doing my face. He did a fantastic job on my arms. I feel confident he knows what he's doing. September 29th is THE DAY!! I will post all my before and afters and the process. It is so helpful to read everyone's experiences. I hope you all are healing well. Xoxoxo!! Updated on 30 Sep 2022: I will be going back to the doctors office today to have drain removed and bandage taken off. I will be able to see more then. Plus, I’m pretty loopy from the meds. Updated on 30 Sep 2022: I went today to get my bandages off. Th nurses washed my hair!! That was so nice. Updated on 2 Oct 2022: Today I feel yucky. It always happens when I reduce my pain meds. I feel better in my head but feel worse in my body. I can feel all the swelling. I feel like I’m being strangled. That’s kinda scary. I also can feel the stitches in my ears. I’m lol at myself. I want to whine and complain. Then, I’m like Leigh you JUST had surgery. Where they cut your face open. Um-duh!!! Soooo, the emotional and physical healing continues. I’ve had lots of surgeries so I should be used to it by now. With all my other surgeries I’m just SO HAPPY!! I know I will be with this one too. I’m an active person so just laying around feeling crumby is hard. However, it will be WORTH IT!! I hope you all are healing well and enjoying the results!! Xoxoxo Updated on 3 Oct 2022: The hardest part of this recovery is the feeling that I’m being strangled. I know that swelling of the neck has to happen because that is the surgery I had (insert eye roll emoji)!! But, last night it almost cause me to have a panic attack. Thank goodness for Xanax. And I hate that I had to take it. But, boy once my anxiety started to become larger about not being able to breathe (I can breathe) it was over and I started to cry. I really felt ridiculous but it was overwhelming. I was able to relax and sleep. Today is Day 4. Sometimes being on RS is helpful and sometimes it’s scary. Some talk of this “noose” neck lasting a LONG time. That scares me to even think about. Id never heard ANYONE speak of it prior to yesterday. Emotionally my surgeries have been the hardest. I’ve had a LOT of cosmetic surgeries. This is the first one to my face. Right now, it looks great. Bruised but great. Who knows what the end result will be. Sometimes it is the swelling that causes the neck to be smooth. I trust my doctor. He is so gentle and unassuming. He was THE ONLY doctor I saw (I consulted 3) that cared and was not scared of my panic “disorder”. Other doctors told me “it’s mind over matter”. Well, I am a trauma therapist and it’s NOT just mind over matter. Trauma is stored in the neural networks of our brains. Therefore, when we experience something in the present that resembles a feeling we’ve had in the past we can be flooded with those emotions. Usually being able to calm myself is what I need. But, when I’m loopy from anesthesia my pre-frontal cortex is offline and I’m not ABLE to bring comfort to myself and I fall into a panic attack. Dr Smith just calmly said, “that’s okay. You can’t help it. We’ll take care of you!” And he did just that!! I Did not have a panic attack coming out of anesthesia!! I see him on Thursday to remove my stitches. I will ask him then about the tightness around my neck. I hope you are healing well!!! Love, Leigh Updated on 4 Oct 2022: Wow, you guys! I ALWAYS FORGET (which is such a great gift later) how AWFUL I feel EMOTIONALLY after my surgeries. Surgery is physical painful but, for me, the EMOTIONS are something else!! I am a very active person. ON-THE-GO all the time! So, sitting here all day (because I do not have energy) is really hard. I mentioned that I feel like I’m being strangled. That is REALLY, REALLY hard to take. I’m using EVERY TOOL I know to keep calm. Spa music, short, guided meditations, reading posts on here (more for distraction than calming —ha!), sitting in the sunshine, petting my sweet dog!! And this is HARD! I see my doctor on Thursday to take the stitches out. I’m going to ask him about this strangulation thing. A lot of facelift and neck lift reviews only go for a few days or weeks before people stop posting. I wonder why? Is it because the FL/NL did not work? Or did it work so well people just move on with life? There was one on here awhile back where the poster shared everyday for about 45 days and then monthly. I cannot find it. She was so honest and transparent. Her result —IN THE END —was absolutely stunning. But, Boy did her face look monster like in the beginning. It really was just swelling and healing. I was so impressed she shared her journey. I wish I could find it now. I know one of her BIG TIPS was DO NOT CONTINUOUSLY look at yourself in the mirror!! I believe that is good advice. I cannot stand to even see a paper cut. Hahaha. So, this bruising makes me sick to my stomach to look at!! I’m worried that I will either deflate back to gobble neck OR feel this strangulation feeling forever. Breathe. This is what I’m telling myself. STOP thinking about tomorrow or the next day, week, month, and year!! IF YOU have a positive result and feel comfortable sharing I’d love some encouragement!! Updated on 5 Oct 2022: I’m so bruised (to be expected) that it’s hard for me to look at it. Much less touch it. I’m very weak in the stomach to look at physical trauma. Haha. I’ve had a LOT of surgeries to MY BODY but have a hard time seeing the trauma to it. Not exactly sure what to think or expect. So many people on here LOVED their necks during the healing/swelling phase. But, after much of the swelling went down so did the results. I’m going to ask my surgeon tomorrow. I live in a small town in the eastern part of the United States. We are not some fancy place like NYC, LA, Beverly Hills. He’s been a plastic surgeon here over 25 years. He has a good reputation. He’s not flashy. I believe I can trust him. I’m going to ask why I feel like I’m choking and see what he tells me. He did fat grafting to my lips and marionette lines. So my lips and cheeks are bruised and swollen too. I will update tomorrow after I see him. I hope you are all healing well!! Xoxo, Leigh Updated on 5 Oct 2022: Forgot to post pictures and this site doesn’t allow for editing. I hate that. Updated on 7 Oct 2022: Sooo, I had my stitches taken out yesterday. It wasn’t too bad. It did hurt a bit at a couple of places. I took a1/2 a pain pill. My husband drove me. The doctor told me everything was looking as it should. I did ask him about the “noose neck” and he said he’d never heard of that term before. In his casual, calm, unassuming manner simply said that when a person has damage (surgery) to the underlying facial structure there will be tightness and swelling. He also said that if it’s not tight there probably will not be a long term result. (I’m NOT SAYING that if your neck isn’t tight like I’m describing mine feeling that your surgery will not last!!). I actually have NO IDEA. I’m not a doctor and I’ve never had a facelift before. I’m just giving my experience of my journey. AND if your face and neck are REALLY REALLY TIGHT that it’s normal. IT IS HARD to handle. If you have any anxiety issues MAKE SURE you tell your doctor. He gave me EXTRA and I had to ASK SEVERAL times (I guess because now doctors are scared of prescribing too many scheduled drugs) anti-anxiety medication. 10 pills of .5 Xanax. I’ve had to use it too. It has been VERY HELPFUL getting me over the hump when I think I cannot take the choking feelings. I don’t know when this will loosen up. I see him again in 3 weeks. I know other ladies on here an other sites have said their surgeons have said to expect 6-9 months of this. Well, that is just TOO scary to think about. I’m taking 1 day at a time. 1 moment at a time if I have to. I simply just do not see how people are out and about after this surgery. FOR ME, it is MUCH more difficult than I imagined. But, ALL my surgeries have been. The beauty of being human is we forget. We forget how painful and uncomfortable something is when we don’t feel it anymore. I’m right where I should be at a week out. Uncomfortable and questioning myself. Lol. Onwards friends!! Hope you’re healing beautifully today!! XO, Leigh Updated on 10 Oct 2022: Headed back to work today. I’m tired and swollen and bruised still. But, this is just part of the healing process. I believe I’m turning a corner. At least I hope so. My neck is STILL really tight, swollen and bruised. It’s getting a little bit better. I do not feel choked ALL the time. But, it is still there. I’ve been reading back through all my surgeries and really is is just part of the process. The emotional and physical pain of surgery is overlooked so many times by many of us. We/I want the finished product. And I get it. But, it takes TIME. A LONG, LONG time. So, I’m being (ok trying) to be patient, loving, and positive towards myself. Sending love and healing to you as well. Xoxoxo, Leigh Updated on 13 Oct 2022: Hi there!! Well, I’m 14 days after my lower face and neck lift. My scars look really good in front. They are pretty scabby behind my ears. My neck is still REALLY tight. I don’t feel as though I’m being strangled and choked 24/7 now. In the morning when I first wake up it is swollen. If I eat food that’s salty I swell and the feeling returns. So, not much happening except healing. I’m promising myself 3 months before I freak out about anything. There is a lump on my left side profile. I don’t like it. But, I’m hoping it’s just swelling. One thing other than the tightness is the FATIGUE. Happy HEALING xoxo, Leigh Updated on 15 Oct 2022: I know better than to start JUDGING my results this early. But, there are just some things you “know” are not going to change for the better. My skin laxity. I did not have good skin to begin with. AND I have damaged it SO MUCH being in the sun and laying in tanning beds my whole life. There is STILL skin laxity at the base of my neck. I don’t think that is going to get better. There are lumps and bumps on the right side of my chin—I do think these will change because of swelling decreases—that look ugly. I’m telling myself that “at least it looks better than it did”. I’m going to have I be okay with this and just work on improving my skin with cool peels laser and RF. Updated on 16 Oct 2022: Take LOTS of before pictures so you can remind yourself WHY you did this. There are hard days in the beginning. When I do the side by sides I get happy!! I remember. We can do this!! Happy healing. XOXO, Leigh Updated on 18 Oct 2022: Healing from a facelift surgery is hard emotionally. Our face is out for the world to see. I’m hoping the things that I don’t like—the lumps and bumps—smooth out. And I hope the things I do like stay this way—my tight jaw line. it looks WAAAAY better than it did. It’s a huge improvement. I guess I just want everything to be perfect. AND this surgery causes me to LOOK AT MYSELF way too much. Too much scrutiny. I’m healing and that is a great thing!! My stitches in front of my ears are almost nonexistent already. The scars on this one will not be noticeable!! Woo-hoo;-)!! Happy healing Xoxo, Leigh Updated on 21 Oct 2022: Things are moving along. Just like many other people have shared sometimes I’m really excited an other times I’m worried that these lumps/bumps will stay or start to sag when swelling is gone. Until the swelling is gone we just don’t know what the final result is going to be. Im posting here so that others who are looking to this surgery or have already done it and want to know what the healing process is like can have an idea. I always appreciate those who are willing to post their journey. The face is different than the other surgeries for me. I feel a little more vulnerable. A little more emotionally fragile. Happy Healing XOXO Updated on 25 Oct 2022: I don’t even want to post these pictures. Under my chin is lumpy and bumpy and makes me look like I have a baby double chin. I AM POSTING because of what this site has done for me. It shows me he ups and downs of plastic surgery. I don’t think we do others a fair service if we leave out the hard parts. These pictures make me scared. I see the doctor on Thursday. That will be 1 month. I have a couple funky things behind my ears that I want him to look at. And I want to ask him to explain my under chin issues. Ugh. I HOPE it’s going to be okay. I don’t want to have to get a revision. I have to STOP looking every day. It really is a stressor. Updated on 11 Nov 2022: As with all my surgeries there are good days and bad days. Days where I’m thinking it looks good and I’m healing well. To days that I think that these bumps and lumps are going to be here forever and I feel sad. Sometimes I think I should’ve gotten an upper and lower bleph too. Anyhoo, I’m just at 6 weeks. Love, Leigh Updated on 12 Nov 2022: It might not be noticeable to anyone else. But, some days I’m choking and some days it feels as if I’m progressing nicely. There is bruising that moves. It’s kinda weird. I don’t really understand the bruises that move. I’m trying not to look at myself all the time. It’s really scrutinizing myself. Which we really don’t need to do. I know “in my head” that I’ve GOT TO let my body heal. But, boy the feelings/thoughts that try to attack me. Whew!! I feel crazy sometimes. I’m going to post a picture of BEFORE I started any facial rejuvenation. And an AFTER my facelift. That should put me in perspective. JUST REMEMBER recovering from any surgery is HARD. We forget the HARD part. The more surgeries we have a the same time the more healing we will need before seeing the end result . I’m saying all this stuff for myself really!!! I need to hear it!! Under my chin is bumpy and lumpy and not looking that great. Here’s to 6 weeks post-op. I’m also not wearing any makeup either. So there’s that too. Updated on 17 Nov 2022: Well, it’s been 7 weeks today! Continuing to heal. Under my chin is still lumpy and bumpy. My platysma bands are stringy and tight. I’m trying to be PATIENT. It’s so hard not to be worried that my neck is going to stay this way. What I need to do is not LOOK at it every day. I may try this so I can just let myself heal. Then after 6 months decide what I need to do—if anything. Here’s to healing well!! Xoxoxo, Leigh Updated on 23 Dec 2022: Well, I’m a day over 12 weeks. I had laser resurfacing 2 weeks ago. So without any makeup my face looks kinda brutal to me. I still have a LOT of banding in my neck AND a tiny bit of loose skin. I’m still hopeful for a good FINAL outcome. If my neck doesn’t turn out like I hoped it would I do believe my surgeon will work with me. I also am telling myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect. I am 56 years old. But, I DO want to be happy with it. I had NO IDEA that laser resurfacing takes months to heal the red. So, that’s why I titled this post “hmmmm”. I’m just not sure right now. I know, for me, it is hard to hurry up and wait. I hope you’re healing well. XOXO, Leigh Updated on 24 Dec 2022: Makeup makes such a difference!! Updated on 25 Dec 2022: One thing that KEEPS ME GRATEFUL is my before pictures. I’m not 100% pleased with my results. As you can see from my side profile my jawline is not as tight as I would like. BUT, oh my goodness SO MUCH BETTER than before. Updated on 23 Jan 2023: I believe I need a revision. —insert crying emoji- I don’t even know about revisions. I have the cobra look and loose skin. But under the skin is super tight —ugh. Updated on 3 Jun 2023: I’m sometimes happy with my lower face and neck lift. Sometimes not. It depends on the angle I’m taking a picture of. I will probably have a revision in the future whenever I need a mid and upper lift as well. I’ve had a LOT of plastic surgery. I sometimes think I just need to be satisfied with what I’ve got. Then other times I’m like “nah” keep going. —insert eye roll here —. Ha!! I hope you are enjoying your results! Xoxo, Leigh Updated on 27 Jan 2024: It’s not perfect but side by sides remind me how far I’ve really come!! My skin quality is really bad so I still have some loose skin on my neck! I will get that second time around. I hope yall are doing well!! XOXO, Leigh
Scheduled for February 11th, 2021. I have gotten all my blood work done. I had my EKG done this morning and I PAID!! Check, check, check! This is my 3rd of 3 BODY surgeries! I've had a lower body lift in April of 2019. A bra line lift & lip-lift in December of 2019. Now, for my last body surgery I'm doing an extended brachioplasty. All the way to my wrist. (Insert wide eyed emoji here).I have loose skin. It's hereditary. Since my hysterectomy my skin has just melted like candle wax. I literally have loose skin on my forearms. He is going under my arm to lipo and get all the smooshy fat under my arm. I think the surgery for the skin is called J-plasty. I'm not sure. I'm a little nervous but mostly excited. Since I've had several surgeries in the last couple of years I know I will get better.But, anesthesia and pain and swelling and all the healing that occurs is hard. That's what I'm mostly nervous about. Soooo, I'm just 14 days out. I'm going to post pictures but I really want to wait until I have the afters since I just hate my arm skin. YUCK. Updated on 14 Feb 2021: This surgery has been the worst, pain wise, for me. Not being able to use my arms is the worst. So, I haven’t posted or taken any pictures yet. (insert sad face). I’ve got some pictures from before the surgery. I’m going to try and shower today. Maybe. I need too. But, my poor husband has to take care of his aging parents who are quickly becoming like children. These are the moments when I ask myself WHY???? . This WILL PASS and I WILL be okay. It just takes time and patience. Updated on 14 Feb 2021: So, I was able to take a shower and get some pictures. Of course I’m Swollen and cannot see much change yet. But, I think I will especially under my arm area. That’s what hurt the most right now. There is a weird scrunching of tape in under my arms. I go see the doctor tomorrow and will ask him what that is. Updated on 16 Feb 2021: So, I’m trying to stay off pain pills today. There is always good and bad with that decision. The good is getting clearer in my head. The bad is awareness of such discomfort. Just laying here healing. Feeling the bruising and the stitches and the searing pain when I move wrong. I’m bored but have ZERO energy to do anything. Tic-tock, tic-tock!!! Oh and I had to buy some milk of magnesia. Yummy. Not. 5 days and no bowel movement. I don’t remember having this problem with my other surgeries. But,they were shorter than this one. Anyhoo, it’s cold in TN today so I’m in the best place I can be. BED!! Updated on 16 Feb 2021: Uuuuuuggggghhhhh, I feel like TOTAL GARBAGE!!! My stomach is now completely trashed after 1/2 dose milk of magnesia yesterday with no effect. Then double dose this mid-morning around 11am. It’s now 6:48pm and I’m SICK. Ugh.....this is SUPER BAD. My arms feel like stuffed sausage casing. (To be expected after 6 hours of surgery). I do remember feeling terrible around day 5-7 from my LBL. But, gosh, I’m a BABY!! I kinda get mad a myself for being such a baby. Like, what did I expect??? Anyway, it feels like this is going to last forever. I know it’s not, but it’s still hard physically and emotionally. I have beat myself up today for being so vain and extravagant. That’s makes me sad too. Ugh. I should just go to sleep and hope for a better day tomorrow. Updated on 17 Feb 2021: I took a pain pill to take a shower today and I think that really helped me. I had a bit more mobility in my arms. My left arm is a little more functional in terms of lifting over my head. My right arm pit has a “snag” or something and I cannot lift it over my head without pinching it. I have 4 more days to recuperate before going back to work. So hears to happy healing!! Updated on 18 Feb 2021: So, I’m feeling a little better today. I only took 1 pain pill yesterday and then 1 at night to sleep. I took some pictures today to try and show you what my arms look like. But, to be honest, I was so impressed with my lower body lift!!! I mean it’s just incredible. My arms are gonna be icing on the cake. They are tight and I can feel burning sensations every so often. I’m swollen under my arm pits so it feels like I’m holding my arms like a linebacker. Lol. Updated on 22 Feb 2021: 11 days PO and I’m headed back to work. I will let you know how it goes either tonight or tomorrow!!! This is NOT m outfit. I have a long top to cover up. Updated on 24 Feb 2021: Soooo, I DID make it through work yesterday. HOWEVER, at the end, I didn’t think I was going to make it!! I was flushed and hot. Got waves of nausea. It was just too much. I worked 10:30-7:30. I’m only sharing this because I’ve been searching online to find out what is “normal” recovery for EXTENDED brachioplasty. I know everyone is different. I’ve seen reports on here on how easy their surgery was and they were not in pain, etc...That is what I expected. Expectations are everything. That was/is NOT my experience. I was in the bed 24/7 besides going to the bathroom for 8 days!!! Omg, I only took a week off from work. I needed 2 weeks. The second week I could have just rested and gotten back to normal life gently. Instead, I was back at work 11 days PO. I had to cancel my morning job today. I will be going into my office this afternoon for clients but I just thought, “I cannot do it this morning without making myself sick.” So, that is my experience so far if it helps anyone. Updated on 25 Feb 2021: I purchased an extra compression garment so I can switch them out for washing. I got this one on Amazon and it is a great price. Updated on 1 Mar 2021: Today, after my shower, my surgical tape came off. So, this is the first time I’ve seen the incisions. It kinda made me a little sick. Lol. They look great but I CANNOT stand anything even remotely gorey. Like, even a paper cut. Lol. Sooo, it was a little hard at first but the incisions look amazing!! He did a BEAUTIFUL job. Thursday will be 3 weeks. So, I’m 1/2 way to being able to workout again!! Woot-woot! Updated on 4 Mar 2021: Improving daily!! I cannot wait to work out again. I have so much motivation to sculpt my arms!! I see Dr Smith tomorrow!! Updated on 13 Mar 2021: No more boobie fat!!! Still in the healing process. But getting better daily. It takes a LONG TIME for the swelling to leave my body!! I’ve got some progress pictures for under my arms. I will post those too. Have a healing day! Updated on 14 Mar 2021: Healing is UGLY. I’ve healed from 3 cosmetic surgeries and healing SUCKS! I’m so glad that I know there will be a good at the finish line. I’m posting a picture of my right under arm. It’s UGLY. It’s red and angry and lumpy. Doc says the body is trying to spit the stitches. Ugh. Even the thought of that is ugly. Sounds awful too. 33 days PO today. Updated on 16 Mar 2021: I usually post right arm pictures because I’m right handed, I guess. Not sure. Anyway, my left arm is healing BEAUTIFULLY. No holes in my armpit, no redness, just healing. I don’t use my left hand/arm as much and I suppose that’s why. Here is a before and after of my left arm. I’m at 35 PO. I will get an underarm picture too and post that when I get ready for work. Updated on 18 Mar 2021: So, I’m 5 weeks today. Getting better. But, I’m just gonna say that this surgery recovery SUCKS! I’ve read on here that some people are totally fine within a short amount of time. But, with this extended arm lift, it’s been HARD. My underarms feel like I have tennis balls in my armpits. It’s very uncomfortable. HOWEVER, I LOVE the loss of saggy bat wings. I just want to represent to everyone what they “could” experience. I feel like when I’m recovering from surgery I want to know if what I’m experiencing is normal. Especially when it’s hard. Updated on 24 Mar 2021: My scar placement is AH-MAZING!!! Dr Smith is a genius. My scars are barely visible from the front, back or even held out straight. The only way to see them is if I old my arms up. Updated on 15 Apr 2021: This may not look like much but I HATED that fat that squeezed out of my exercise top!! Now, it’s NOT THERE!!! I will probably take a lot more pictures now that spring is here and summer is right around the corner. Updated on 1 May 2021: As my arms heal it just keeps getting better!!! Updated on 1 Jun 2021: Well, there really is not much to say except that I’m healing well. Arm lift surgery results do not come through on pictures. Unless there is a before picture. Which I have included on my review in other posts. My arms just look like normal arms. Nothing special. EXCEPT for the fact that I had SUCH LOOSE SKIN before the surgery. Now, it just looks normal. But, normal for me is MUCH BETTER! I think my surgeon did a phenomenal job. I really couldn’t be happier!!! All my surgeries are a WIN for me. Updated on 12 Jul 2021: My arm lift is amazing!! Dr Smith outdid himself!! I’m so thrilled! It’s summer and I can wear sleeveless with confidence. My scars are healing beautifully. I am numb on the back of my arms. Some parts of the scars are red and some are white. Just part of the healing process. I’m gonna start working out with a personal trainer and get some muscle and definition going. Updated on 15 Dec 2021: One of the best surgeries I’ve had. I’m so dang happy to be rid of the bat wings!! The scars are almost invisible at 10 months!! Updated on 18 Jan 2022: This is one of the BEST surgeries!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE my arms. The pictures for arm lifts just don’t do justice to real life. I’m 55 years old and don’t have saggy arm skin. Just amazing. If your on the fence AND have a good surgeon JUST DO IT!!! Make sure your surgeon can do arm lifts. They are a complicated surgery. My scars which are becoming almost invisible are SO WORTH IT!!! Updated on 16 Oct 2022: I cannot be happier that all my loose skin is GONE!! I have gone back through to read my review and GUESS WHAT??? I had completely forgotten how bad I felt at first. That’s really the beauty of it all—that we FORGET. All I’m left with are the best arms I can have. Just trying to be my best self inside and out!! XO, Leigh
So far I have been very pleased with Dr. Smith and his team! I had a LBL ON 11/3/20 and my results are truly life changing! I’ve had a few minor issues and they have never hesitated to get me back in and take care of whatever I felt my concern was. Can not wait to go back for my arms and chest!
12/2016 I had a TT and I was displeased with my BB from the beginning. It was large, floppy, and screamed TT. Nothing about it was flattering. I constantly expressed my concerns to the surgeon, but he would say, "well, that's actually your belly button," or you need to remind yourself of what it looked like before surgery. He finally agreed to "revise" it, but honestly, if anything, he made it worse. He cut some of the scar off and restitched it, but the results remained the same. Finally, I had enough and went to the plastic surgeon expert in town, Dr. Steven Smith! I had consulted with Smith re the original TT, but against my gut and better judgement I went with the other surgeon. Dr. Smith worked his magic and I am now 4 days post-op with a brand new BB that looks amazing! There were so many things wrong with my original BB! Dr. Smith is a genius! Hands down the best surgeon in town! His entire team is phenomenal! Updated on 23 Apr 2018: Remember this is zoomed in and there’s a lot of healing left to take place. Still very pleased! Such an improvement from where I started! Updated on 23 Apr 2018: Still larger than I would prefer, but again, Dr. Smith performed amazing work considering what he had to work with. A complete new TT would be the only option to recreate an entire new B.B.
Dr. Smith is a great physican. I had a breast lift with implant. I specified that I didn't want to look overdone and he did exactly what I asked. He listened. My new breasts are the perfect size for my body and do not look silly. I would highly reccommend him (I do!!) to anyone looking for looking to refresh their breasts.
In addition to his calming manner, Dr. Smith has excellent clinical skills. He completed four residencies in order to fully prepare for his current practice. The surgery was pleasant, and I had no pain whatsoever. I appreciated the nurse's presence. She contributed to the calm environment. The repiercing a few weeks later was also uneventful. When he finally put the precious gems into my new lobes, I was so proud of my appearance. I lived through the 80s when big, heavy earrings were popular. My right earlobe was torn completely in two, and the left nearly was.I am delighted with my new earrings and the lobes I wear them in. The skill shown by Dr. Smith was superb, and his team members were warm and inviting. I would recommend Dr. Smith to anyone seeking similar surgery. I choose my M.D.'s with care, in part because I am a retired Registered Nurse, B.S.N., UT-K, Class of '86.Last updated by Pikieoodah on September 23, 2016
I had been desperate for a rhinoplasty since my early teens. I decided to see Dr. Smith because I was most impressed by his before and after photos. The consultation was great as I remember, and he was able to fix things that I didn't even know were possible to fix. I wanted a small bump shaved down, but he also lifted the nose slightly, made the tip more attractive, and relieved tension on my upper lip. I was amazed at how painless the procedure was. I never took any pain meds or even a Tylenol. I had surgery on a Friday and was back in class on Monday. My face did swell the second day, to where I didn't recognize myself, but I laughed it off and it went away in a couple days. I was in disbelief when the bandages came off. It was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. I was told it'd take a full year to see the final result. I had the operation in November of 2014, and now in October I can say I'm in love with my new nose. After surgery I found myself looking at it constantly. The profile that plagued me for years is now one I admire. Looking at it in the mirror hasn't grown old even after a year. My confidence has shot up and because of that, my quality of life is ten times what it was. Prior to surgery I would avoid socializing because I was so self-conscious of my nose. I now feel beautiful and can say I'm perfectly happy with my face. I am blown away by how pleasant and easy this experience was. Updated on 14 Sep 2016: Updated on 14 Sep 2016: A month before surgery (nose is heavily contoured with makeup) and after at over a year later. Updated on 14 Sep 2016:
I am a 43 yr old mom. I am 5'4 and currently weigh 189 lbs. I am very ready for my much needed surgeries! I am scheduled to have a tummy tuck with lipo and muscle and hernia repair on Friday August 21, 2015. I had my 2nd consult and have my surgery now paid in full. I'm not sure if I will need to go in for a 'pre op" or if just the packet they are supposed to send will be all I need. I will also be having other procedures done in stages later on. I am excited and nervous at the same time. I don't know why this surprised me, but I thought I would have nothing but pure excitement. I feel very comfortable with my PS and think he will do an awesome job! I have read the supplies needed, etc, but would like to know from you guys what you actually needed and what things actually helped you. I am going to order a medical lift reclining chair soon to have for when I come home from surgery. How long do you think I will need it? Our bed is easy to get into, but the mattress is very cushy, so it will be hard to get up from without really straining my just repaired tummy muscles. I've also read about the toilet seat riser and/or the female urinal. My hubby thinks the female urinal is gross, so do you think the toilet seat riser would be okay? Or do I really need the female urinal for at least a couple of days? I don't want to be in constant pain trying to pee...so any help will be greatly appreciated! What do you guys think about needing a walker? How long were you slumped over and did the walker help? I have about 6 stairs to climb to go potty, so not sure if that will help me anyway. {I guess down the hall until I get to the stairs and then back}. Are there other things you wished you had but didn't? Any other useful tips would be much appreciated! I'm sorry if I'm asking the most repeated questions. Thanks so much for your help and support! Updated on 30 Jul 2015: Hi, Guys! I don't have much to report. I'm just trying to get everything ready on the home front for surgery and my recovery. I have been worrying and thinking a lot. Maybe it's my way of working things out? I don't know, but it's driving me crazy! lol I thought I would post to see what you guys did in these situations. A disclaimer.... some might be TMI. :) This one, I think I'm working out. I've been frustrated at trying to find a medical lift reclining chair to have after surgery. Apparently, they aren't as easy to find to rent as I thought. They do have them for sale, but who wants to buy something that you will only need temporarily? So, just feeling a bit frustrated. I do have a leather sofa with recliners built in and a recliner by itself, so I guess that isn't a big deal. I was just looking forward to having the "lift" to help me up. My hubby has done everything to convince me to just sleep in our bed, but I'm afraid he might hit my tummy or pull out my drains by accident. He even says that he will sleep on the sofa in our bedroom and I can have the bed all to myself for awhile. My PS wants me to sleep reclined after surgery, so I will do what he wants to get the best results. How did you guys sleep after surgery? Did you do a reclined position? If so, how long before you got to sleep in your own bed? When in your own bed, did you have a certain type of pillow to stay reclined or just used a lot of pillows? Or were you able to sleep flat by the time you got to sleep in your own bed? Did your spouse accidentally hit your tummy or drains? Our bed is high, but not too high that I can't get in it easy. It's the getting out that I'm concerned with. I've been wondering about the CG. After surgery, did you have a compression garment or were you just wrapped for awhile? How did you know what size to get? What about the second stage? Could you have taken a shower that day or the next? {Physically, I mean} I am enjoying reading other people's reviews and have found some great suggestions. Did most of you wear a maxi dress and/or a maxi skirt/shirt to surgery? I've read some wore flip flops as they are easy to get on after surgery. I think I would want socks on to keep my feet warm though. I guess they will probably put on compression socks or something anyway. Did anyone have their period on surgery day? I planned my tt surgery to be after my period, but afraid that with all the stress going on that it may be delayed. If so, I guess I should just reschedule even though I will lose my deposit. I don't know. Maybe I'm just worrying too much? I am just not sure what to do with that. My period was delayed for my 1st consultation, but about an hour before I went to the appointment..it started. I know..TMI, but I REALLY DON'T want it to happen on surgery day! My surgery is also scheduled the day after we drop our youngest daughter off at college. So I'm feeling very emotional with that on top of the surgery. I'm planning my surgery and recovery while also planning my baby's "off to college" plans. I don't know why these things seem like they are so sudden, but I feel like it is flying by! Did anyone else feel that way? I had been so excited, but I still get these panicky feelings every once in awhile. I guess that is normal? Maybe it is more for the baby going to college than the surgery? Sorry for rambling! Thank you to anyone who read this long post! Hope all of you tummy tuckers are healing well and to those who haven't had it yet... Good luck! Updated on 5 Aug 2015: I got a call from my PS's office yesterday. Apparently, my specialist 'doesn't give medical clearances". UMM..WHAT?! I have gone over what my specialist said to us. Literally...word for word. We were told that my specialist would give me a medical clearance and that the PS's office could just call/send the paperwork. She even gave me all of my test results to give to him. I was totally thrown by getting a call yesterday saying they didn't get a medical clearance from my specialist.{She didn't deny it, they just couldn't get one from her in writing}. I had hoped I didn't have to go to my primary since I have seen the specialist every 3 months. The specialist's nurse said that the primary would possible be able to do the EKG at the office and then give the medical clearance. {The PS wants an EKG, so I have to have one}. The specialist's nurse told me {I went there in person as I had no phone service} that I 'am" cleared for surgery as I am stable, but that the primary had to give the medical clearance. I know I shouldn't have been upset, but I have paid for my surgery IN FULL already. I did that based on the conversation that I had with my specialist. Granted, I didn't get to talk to the specialist yesterday about why the nurse said she doesn't give medical clearances, but it looks like the nurse would have done it. We were also hit with NO cell service yesterday, so trying to call doctor's offices or talk on the phone was impossible. That was another upset as I realized how much we rely on cell phones. Scary when you don't have them. That's a whole other post. LOL This morning my husband called and set up a primary care appointment for me for tomorrow afternoon before they close. He also said that they do EKG's at their office. So, maybe this will work out better. It just takes forever to get test results there and I really need to turn them in ASAP. So, we still may just schedule an EKG at my PS's office just so they have it right away. Sorry for venting! I'm just more stressed now. I REALLY thought this was settled as I need to focus on other things. If my specialist gives the OK for my surgery, I don't see why the primary care wouldn't. I guess I'm just so upset because I thought this was already settled and behind me. I think I just felt more comfortable with the specialist as I've seen them so often. Anyway...tomorrow I will know what I need to do. I am doing great health wise, blood test result wise, etc so there shouldn't be a reason that I don't get a medical clearance. It's just stressful. lol Thanks for letting me vent! It just really threw me. It really shouldn't be a big deal, so I'll just relax and move forward. Thank you to all who have shown me support and encouragement! I really appreciate it! {{{BIG HUGS}}} Updated on 6 Aug 2015: I went to the primary care dr today. My PS's office sent over the medical release form and release for the EKG. My primary did the EKG in office and wrote my medical clearance to send to Dr. Smith. So excited to finally have this all completed for sure now! I have my written medical clearance actually completed :) It actually worked out with having to go to my primary as they could just do the EKG there and we had no waiting for results to be sent. So, now 'for sure" I have a written medical clearance and my EKG done with results. So, I'm cleared by two of my physicians now. I think they will fax the clearance tomorrow morning if they didn't get a chance today before the PS's office closed. Now I'm planning all the things that I have to get completed before the week of my surgery. This weekend is going to be spent buying things for my daughter for her dorm and getting the things I need for my recovery. I'm excited, but I still haven't received my pre surgery packet from the PS yet. I guess it could come tomorrow. They didn't have the written medical clearance, so they were probably just waiting on that first. They seem very organized and have really helped me figure out what to do and when so far. I am just a worrier wondering if there will be things I need to get and don't want to wait until the last minute. I want to wait to buy things though until I know what my PS prefers. I can't stop buying a lot of adorable panties. lol I am so ready to toss out my semi compression granny panties and find something more feminine! I ordered two more pink/lace pairs last night. I wonder if I should wait to purchase instead of buying in my current size? I just thought since everyone said to buy my size now in CGs that the same would be true for panties, right? I want something adorable to wear while I'm healing too. :) I am just really excited about all the feminine lacy panties. Some are down right adorable! Have any of you ladies gotten bitten by that bug? Maybe it's because I never even considered wearing 'sexy' panties while fat? Who knows? It is making me very happy though! I'm sure my hubby won't complain either. lol :) Hoping all of you tummy tuckers are healing well and feeling great! For those about to have surgery, my thoughts are with you and can't wait to see your new body! I know I can't wait to see mine! :) Updated on 15 Aug 2015: I can't believe that Friday is getting closer! My new power recliner arrived yesterday. We ended up buying a new leather power recliner as there aren't any places around here to rent medical lift chairs. They don't rent them because they get dirty with people having surgery and can't clean them. {The explanation they gave us}. I was going to buy one, but it takes 6-8 weeks for delivery. So, my husband and I found a very comfortable recliner to use at a local furniture store. I am still not sure if having it in the livingroom is a great idea or moving it to our bedroom. I can see everyone here, but maybe I would want quiet for the first couple of days? If in bedroom, then I'm afraid I won't get up as much because the bathroom is right there. I have a blood clotting disorder, so I need to make sure I'm up walking when I can. Decisions! Decisions! lol Sorry that I haven't been on for awhile. I have been fighting a horrible migraine. I just got home from my trip out of state. I went to my Neurologist to get Botox. I get the shots in my head and neck/shoulders. I usually sit just fine for them, but the migraine was really causing pain and tenderness this time. My Neurologist could actually tell where my pain was and on which side. {I just thought it radiated, so I wasn't sure. It just felt like all over} . I wasn't sure if the Botox really worked, but after going too long without the shots...I KNOW they work. lol I got myself into a horrible mess with the headaches and by the time I got there I was completely miserable. I don't usually ask for anything, but it was so bad that I just had to. I thought a steroid shot would work wonders so I asked for one. The Neurologist said they couldn't give me anything with the Botox shots, so I got a round of pills plus a pain medicine. Apparently, dr said they needed to go together to work. I ended up having a horrible time breathing with side effects. The steroid I was given causes all the side effects I had. I didn't get any print out of the side effects so I had no idea what was happening. I almost made an ER visit. I hate going to the ER, so when I do it means that something is really not right. I stopped the medicine that night. I drove back the next day, 7 hours, with a horrible migraine. So, yesterday was spent in bed trying to get my migraine under control. I still have one, but it is some better today. I'm hoping it will be gone in the next day or two. :) I definitely do not want this for surgery day! TMI, but I finally started my period! I was almost a week late! I guess stress or whatever caused a delay. I was so worried thinking that I would be on it during my surgery and I just didn't want to be. I'm glad that is not going to be an issue. I do appreciate all of you ladies for sharing your experiences as I know that I won't be the only one wondering about this. Thanks for the answers we needed! {{{HUGS}}} Tonight, I took my daughter out to get more things for her dorm and to see if I could find something to wear after surgery. I decided on yoga pants with a cotton top. I am just going to have my husband pull the shirt over my head. I have not found a button up shirt and don't like wearing those anyway. I do have some sun dresses here, but not sure I wanted to wear it the day of surgery. I want to make sure I'm comfortable when I'm done in case I'm feeling pretty miserable. I prefer pants to keep my thighs from rubbing together. I do worry because I chose pants without a drawstring, but I shouldn't be that huge of a difference in size right after surgery should I? I am still needing to find a toilet seat riser as my toilet is very low. Does anyone have a link to the one they used? I would need one that would secure and not slip around. I've been looking for a new one on Amazon. Did any of you ladies get yours on there? As the time is getting closer to my surgery I do have some anxieties that have popped up. I'm not sure if it is just worry or if I don't feel like I've gotten the answer to my questions about it. I know that I have asked, so not sure why the doubt. When I'm nervous I have a hard time understanding what is being said to me. I would like to know what your experience is with this. What did your PS say to you on the 'size" or how you would look after surgery? What were you expecting to look like after surgery? Did your surgery exceed your expectations or fall short? Sorry...just curious as to what everyone's experience of this was/is. What exactly did your PS say to you about the outcome he/she expected for you? Did they give you any clear expectations? What panties did you use after surgery while recovering? I know some of you said 'granny panties". What do you think about the hipsters? Would they sit comfortable enough above the incision while not messing with the drain tube? I think the nurse said the drain tube will be in my hip. I was thinking that they would be cute, but since I've never worn them before I'm not sure. If my hanging tummy were gone I'm sure they wouldn't be annoying where they sit. I usually like my undies up high{granny panties} because of my tummy. Okay..enough rambling and playing a thousand questions. lol Thank you to all my RS buddies for your support and encouragement! I appreciate all the advice and you sharing your knowledge with me and others! I hope that all of you guys that just got your surgery or are about to get it, do great and looking forward to your updates! Happy Healing Everyone! {{{{BIG HUGS}}} Updated on 19 Aug 2015: Well....Friday is almost here! Today was the last day that I had time to do all of my things to get ready for surgery and recovery. I have been stressing out and worrying a lot about my surgery. I think stress has caused my blood sugars to run high, so I hope now they will be back to normal. I know after we get my daughter settled into her dorm tomorrow that it should relieve some of the stress. Dr. Smith's Nurse called me today to talk about Friday's preparations. They usually call the day before, but helped me out by calling today. {Tomorrow we are moving our daughter into her dorm, so we won't even be here}. I appreciate how very thoughtful and caring everyone there is. They truly are super sweet and helpful. :) I had a bit of a melt down on the phone with the nurse. I was really trying not to be upset, but I burst into tears unexpectedly. I hate doing that, so it was especially embarrassing that it wasn't expected. I have just been very nervous and unsure of what expectations that I was supposed to have on the 'after" me. I wanted to be realistic, but I needed to know what realistic was in my case. I have complete faith in Dr. Smith, but it was my body that I questioned. I wasn't sure what it could/would do. {If that makes sense}. The nurse offered for me to come in today to speak with Dr. Smith about my concerns and ask any questions that I might have. I took her up on it and we had a great discussion with Dr. Smith. He was so sweet and answered everything that I asked. He even showed me some things on me which I really liked as it helped to understand what was going to come off, stay, etc. I truly appreciate the time he took with my family and me today. I feel very excited for the surgery and feel like I have a greater understanding of what to expect. I get nervous and forget things, so I'm glad that he didn't mind repeating things to me. He really helped me feel great about doing this on Friday. I am truly excited again to be getting my tummy tuck and lipo with him in two days! Good luck to everyone having surgery this week! I wish you well and a speedy recovery! I will try to post pictures after my surgery when I can. Wish me luck! Thanks again to all of my RS buddies for being such a great support! {{{BIG HUGS!!}}} and lots of healing sent your way! I look forward to catching up to you guys "on the flat side". Updated on 28 Aug 2015: I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to post any updates since my surgery. Surgery went great, but the pain after was excruciating. I was in the hospital for two days to try to get my pain under control. After coming home, it was slow going for me. I was barely moving and it hurt to even breathe. Before the pain was under control, I was really regretting getting the surgery.{I was in A LOT of pain}. There didn't seem to be a moment's peace and I didn't even care about my results. I can't believe that I felt that way, but I did. Now that I am feeling better, I am loving my results so far! Dr. Smith was so patient and kind even when I had my husband call, what seemed like constantly, about my pain before I was admitted to the hospital. So great doctor and husband! :) My first post op was on Tuesday. I only had one drain in the hip, but it was to stay in for a little bit longer. He said everything was looking great and cleaned out my belly button. Dr. Smith had removed the tape for my bb while I was at the hospital. So not a lot we had to do that visit. I wish I had listened to the others who said to take a pain pill before Post Op Visit. I tried to take Ibuprofen instead. The car ride there a lone had put me in agony. I was hurting and cramping so much. I was a bit of a mess, but Kristi {his nurse} made me feel better with encouragement and just being her sweet self. It really meant a lot. Dr. Smith was also sweet and helpful. He really just wanted to help me as much as he could. Today {Friday August 28, 2015} was my second Post Op Visit. I am one week Post Op. I had my drain removed from my hip. He told me to take a deep breath and slowly blow it out. It did really help with it not hurting. It just felt 'weird". I did have a pain before that. Maybe I had a stitch he removed? Other than that it wasn't bad. I took a pain pill before the car ride and visit which made a HUGE difference. That is my advice about the car rides and Post Op appointments. Take a pain pill for those. During all the stuff going on with my pain etc, My hubby somehow found time to go out and buy me a walker, toilet seat riser, and a shower chair with back. ALL of which I need and have used a lot. Well, I only had my first shower last night {6 days PO}, but I can see that I will use it as much as I need. My family has been so patient and loving to me and I really am blessed. This update has taken some hours to type as I hurt a lot and have to move around to find some comfort. I am still taking pain pills and alternating with Ibuprofen to try not to take so much pain meds. I feel that I owe a long update so that you guys aren't just hanging wondering what happened to me since before surgery. Thanks for all of your concerns and support! It really meant a lot to come and see that you ladies not only checked on me that day, but have later on also. So this was for you and to say THANK YOU! I am hurting and need to end now. I will update tomorrow or so with before photos and some afters. I hope that the ladies that got surgeries on my day and after are all doing great and that the others are healing beautifully with no issues. I look forward to catching up on you guys in the coming days. HUGS TO ALL OF YOU!! Updated on 30 Aug 2015: Okay Ladies...Here are my overdue Before and some After Photos for you. The Before pictures were taken about 2 or 3 days before Surgery. {Except for the two where I am marked for surgery}. I posted some After photos also. They are during the first week. I enjoyed my first shower so much! It felt great! It was on Day 6 with hip drain still in. My tape is still over my incision, so I haven't gotten to see it yet. Or get a picture of it. My bb tape is off and it started looking infected yesterday. My husband has been cleaning it for me and put a band-aid over it to keep the compression garment from rubbing on it. It is starting to look like a bb now. Hopefully we are on our way to a healed bb very soon! I hope that my Before and After Photos can help other people with the same body shape to see what they can expect after TT surgery. Also what a great and skilled surgeon Dr. Steven J Smith is. I was a full tummy which I hadn't seen on here before. I weighed between 189/193 on surgery day. {I forgot to weigh that morning}. I am very swollen and have been for awhile. It is a very tight feeling and it feels like a rock. I can't wait until this phase passes. I won't miss these intense muscle spasms! I definitely won't miss the pain. So just trying to focus on finally getting my tummy back! :) Good luck to all of the ladies considering and about to have tummy tuck surgery! Happy Healing to all of us that have! Updated on 31 Aug 2015: Here are a couple of pictures of me side by side/Before & Afters. I think the 'after" photos are Post Op Day 3 or 4 and Post Op Day 7. I still can't stand up straight and I'm swollen, but hopefully you guys can still see the dramatic difference. I am leaning forward quite a bit in the pink panties one. I am so pleased by how flat I am. :D I think Dr. Smith is an amazing and skillful surgeon! He sure has given me my tummy back! I have more confidence and my new panties fit! No huge ugly tummy in the way! I am truly blessed! Updated on 4 Sep 2015: Today is 14 Days Post Op. Can you believe that 2 weeks has already passed? I was feeling a bit down that my healing seems to be going so slowly. I honestly thought that I would be so much further in the recovery process than I am now. I feel like I'm behind everyone else and that really makes me feel bad. I am so lucky to have you guys and an amazing supportive family. My PS and his staff are also amazing and very supportive as well. Dr. Smith made me feel better at my last post op visit on Wednesday. He told me that some people take longer to heal than others and that it OK. I was feeling like such a failure, so that really helped keep me positive. I am not sure what I expected to be able to do right now, but it definitely was much more than I actually am doing. It is so hard to walk any distance. I start cramping with muscle spasms and have shooting pains. I also get winded very easily. I was walking 3 miles a day and doing a Burlesque Dance DVD so I don't understand why I feel like I can barely move. It really seems like everything I do is such an effort. I still sleep in the recliner, love the toilet seat riser, use my walker for the longer walks, am so grateful for the shower chair, and use lots of pillows. Maybe I'm just old? lol Or Maybe it is the swelling? Boy do I have swelling! It feels like a huge hard ball is trying to poke through my tummy. I have fire pulling by my incision and I could have sworn I hurt my pelvis bone. I mean...there was A LOT done to me, so I suppose it will take awhile to heal. lol Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to start to do my normal activities again? How did you do it? Did you feel exhausted all the time too? I am finally sleeping 3 or 4 hours straight at night which is GREAT news! I was so exhausted from not getting much sleep. I am so happy that sleep is now becoming easier and I didn't even have to take sleeping pills! :) Progress, right? :) The pain medication actually works well now and I am going longer periods without having to take it. I definitely have a better, positive outlook since Dr. Smith talked to me about it being okay that I may take longer to heal than others. Now I am hoping to be doing A LOT by next week. I sure am going to aim to get out of the house at least. I am posting pictures from yesterday [13 Days Post Op}, so that you can see the swelling taking place. I am HUGE and so very swollen! How long did this painful swelling last for you guys? What did you do to make it go away or ease up? I am drinking nothing but water since surgery and watching/cut out salt. So, I'm not sure what I am doing wrong. I know that I should walk more, but walking and riding in the car are torture for me. Literally, it kills my stomach. How do I get passed that so that I can move forward? ANY tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! I am definitely ready for another garment though. I am not sure about Spanx as I have worn them before, but hated them. I have ordered the SPANX Higher Power High-Waisted Mid-Thigh Shaper (032). I am hoping that it is comfortable and doesn't squeeze me. Have you guys tried these? If so, what was your experience after tt surgery? I am trying to find a garment that isn't too tight, or hot, or scratchy. I wish I could find one that feels like 'clothes". Like cotton or cotton lined. Smooth, soft, and easy on my very sore and swollen body! I am about to get a Maidenform Flexees Women's Shapewear Wear Your Own Bra Singlet. I know they also have the Maidenform Flexees Romper, so not sure which one I will actually try. Still reading some reviews. * I am also looking at the Maidenform Flexees Women's Shapewear Minimizing Hi-Waist Boyshort Has anyone tried this? What did you think? I am looking for something comfortable enough to sleep in if I want. Any ideas? I'm also looking at the actual surgical garments like : Isavela Womens 2nd Stage Body Suit With Suspenders Mid Thigh Length or Marena Women's 1st Stage Compression Girdle. I just want to make sure they are comfortable and worth the money before I buy them. Anyone use these? What are your honest opinions? Are they comfortable? What kind of fabric is it? Does it breathe? Do you sweat a lot in it? Finally, what garments do YOU like to wear and why? I am a larger lady, so I would need something that doesn't roll, pinch, bind, etc. Do you have any that you can recommend that is not extra firm and would be comfortable for all day or night wear? I am needing to find something soon. I think I would do better with a shaper/garment than my abdomen wrap I have now. It is okay and does help hold me in. My belly button is healing. It is still draining and my husband cleans it for me. What a great guy! I think he must love me! :) LOL I almost threw up when Dr. Smith looked at it at my 3rd Post Op visit. lol I was embarrassed, but hopefully he didn't notice. :D I just can't stand to look at it. I guess that is why I don't mind that my surgical tape is still on my tummy tuck incision. I am showering every day now and starting to get on our normal schedule which is good news. I am enjoying meeting all of you lovely ladies and sharing our journeys. Brightest Blessings and Happy Healing to all of you!
Dr. Steven J Smith is an artist. His work is beautiful! He did my tummy tuck 3 months prior to my fat transfer to butt with liposuction of back and medial thigh. The pain was completely controlled with medication. I slept on my stomach for a couple weeks. The first day there was alot of bleeding and drainage from liposuction insisions. The hardest part of the recovery was probably getting the compression pants on and off. I have complete faith in Dr. Smith, I would have more work done if I had unlimited funds! I think his work is very tastefully and carefully done. I trusted him to augment and contour my entire back side. The recovery is a breeze. Again the nurses were so sweet before and after surgery. His staff both upstairs and downstairs in the operating room are first class. I don't think I mentioned that the facility is state of the art! I can't say enough good things about Dr. Smith and his staff.
A photo would be helpful to offer more specific advice. However, it is not common that an osteotomy alone can add much projection to the bridge of the nose. If you have a deficit in the dorsum, injectable fillers can be a good nonsurgical alternative and also allow you the ability to build it up sequentially until you are satisfied. In fact, it may be possible to use fillers alone in certain circumstances.
Constricted breasts represent a form of arrested development where the central mound does not expand completely. The tuberous or constricted breast is best treated with subglandular (subfascial) placement of an implant, frequently with multiple radial partial thickness incisions in the breast.A periareolar incision is usually used for the best access and ability to make the radial releasing incisions. Also, a periareolar mastopexy is often required and can be accomplished, incorporating the periareolar incision.The optimal size of the implant that would provide the best shape and proportions can be accurately estimated by dimensional planning by measuring your chest width and breast boundaries. The size can be confirmed during surgery with intraoperative sizers before final confirmation of the volume needed.Also, the new style of textured, shaped, highly cohesive gel (gummy bear) implants may provide the most natural shape and can often be enhanced with immediate fat grafting to add detail and soft tissue thickness if needed, especially in the medial and upper poles.
Based on the limited photos, your implants appear to have good placement and symmetry. The best option in my opinion, if you have adequate donor sites, would be to perform fat grafting to thicken the soft tissue coverage over the implants and hide the rippling.
Based on your photos, the implants appear to be too low and the medial origins of the pectorals muscles need additional dissection to enlarge the pockets and create a smooth arc to the medial borders.
From your photo, it appears you have dark pigmentation under the lower eyelids. I would suggest treating the pigmentation with lasers or peel solutions and then assess the contour. If there is a tear trough depression, dilute filler may be an option.
