After going to several plastic surgery clinic hospitals I've settled on the North Shore LIJ-NY Eye Ear & Throat-Lennox Hill partnership. I had some complications and currently in 3 weeks post for left breast lift and Tummy Tuck but 1 1/2 week post for right breast lift due to hematoma at day 10 post.
Day of:
I was quite nervous going in but was excited overall. Check-in went smoothly and all staff was pleasant and inviting except for one woman that worked in the locker room - she was biased with her pleasantries (she was very nice and informative to a patient that spoke er native language but very cold and directive to other patients including myself).
Both doctors took their time making all marking (like 30 minutes or so), the nurses and anesthesiologist were informing, pleasant and up-spirited as they were preparing me. When I walked into the operating room, everyone was pleasant and kind and both doctors were reassuring and had smiles on their faces as I went under and that is very important to anyone undergoing medical treatment: relaxed mind = relaxed spirit = relaxed body.
As per the Drs, it took me a while to wake up (they went to dinner and came back and I was just coming up out of the fog). The staff gave me some juice, water and a muffin. I was veeeery groggy but couldn't feel too much pain---until i had to move into the wheelchair to be transported to the hotel across the street. I felt like a ton of pressure was on my abdomen but I didn't feel too much pain on my breast. With NSLIJ-NYEETH-Lennox Hill Plastic Clinic your recovery is at a very posh hotel directly across the street with a private duty nurse. Both the hospital cost and nurse is out of pocket (which I included in my total cost price listed above). The hotel is in partnership with the hospital and receive their patients daily so they know the deal. I had an handicap suite with a full kitchen (not like i used it) and tons of extra pillows. My nurse stayed with me overnight. I made sure to drink a cup of water every hour to encourage going to the bathroom. I was able to relieve myself after being in the room in two hours and approximately every 90minutes after and I was encouraged to walk for 5 minutes around the room each time I went. I wasn't in as much pain as I anticipated. My doctors told me they injected a 72hour anesthetic into my abdominal muscles to lessen the pain. I took one valium and one Percocet during the overnight hotel stay.
My husband came to see me that evening and stayed for a few hours and returned home to the kids.
The resident came around 6am the next morning to check on me and gave me the ok to go home. I encourage any of you to make sure you have a cane handy for the first two weeks because your back WILL HURT from walking bent over!!!! Getting into a Ford explorer was tough because every move felt like my stitched were coming apart or my DRAINS would HURT LIKE HELL.
The worst part of my recovery was those damn drains!!!!! One wrong move and they stung!
Having an elevator apartment building is a gift because going up even one step was a chore.
My home recover was fairly decent. I stayed in bed all day with tons of pillow propping up my back and legs. I was in some pain but more uncomfortable than anything. My behind started to get numb after laying in the "recliner" position after so long. During the first three days at home I took two more Percocet, tylenol and 3 more valium - but only during the evening to help me sleep. Again: the pain wasn't as bad as I anticipated. When stationary I felt more of a whole-body throbbing, the real pain came when I had to move!
(Have to go, will post pics and more info later)