Tips on Garments, Burns and Hyperpigmentation post BBL (Salama) - Aventura, FL

I have already had my surgery and originally I was only going to use this site for info and not ever post anything. I did not want to risk the chance of being found out considering my profession. I also did not tell anyone except my husband that I was getting this procedure done. Recently there was a young lady who was severely burned and I felt really bad for her. My husband said I should start posting b/c I was also burned and developed areas of hyperpigmentation. This info could help somebody make an informed decision. I just want to make it Known that posting on something like this is not my thing and I will be very non specific with photos and dates for privacy reasons but I do want to help. I also want to state that Dr. Salama is a very good doctor but I feel he is taking on too many patients. I Barely saw him. The staff at elite is wonderful and very accomodating. Nancy and Nomie and very good with emailing back quickly and the massage therapists especially Celia are top notch. I do love the shape of my body and my butt. I just wish I wasnt burned or hyperpigmented. Both are being cared for and it is improving but it will take a long time.

I will try to always get right to the point in my posts without idle chatter.

1. Do your research and know your body. If you dont like something fix it right away. If you dont feel you have enough compression tell them. I would have left FL in a large if I didnt say something. Instead I left in a small cg.

2.Once you get home stay in a thigh in garment as long as possible. I know its uncomfortable especially if you didnt have thigh lipo but it is the only garment that will give you tight compression on the pubis and lower abdomen. I can give this advice b/c I have spent well over 1k just trying different garments and I have an actual trunk full of them. Stay in a thigh in as long as you can stand it.

3. If you are like me and have thunder thighs there will come a point when you need to go smaller but cant get the cg past your thighs.In that case vedette 136 and 107 or 111 are best. They give good compression from the pubis to high back. 107 and 111 are the thong and panty version of the same garment. Think about an extra panty or boyshort garment for that time of the month. 107 and 111 do not have hooks or zippers but dont be fooled it is tight. They have a latex inner layer. I luv the latex anything, great compression. The other vedette garments like the 128 i cannot believe girls are using this like 3 and 4 weeks postop. They are not built for what we are doing.

4. If you are using garments with the hook/eye combo in the crotch and need to go smaller but cant b/c its literally splitting your vagina in two, you can order extenders made by leonisa. I ordered mine from the pink room. http://www.inthepinkroom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=90 This way you can go smaller without sacrificing your privates.

5. Order epi-foam from biodermis. It has a silicone side that when pressed against you really helps with skin healing. Use there silicone strips on your incision sites once they are closed. Especially on the hip area. Mine have almost disappeared and the coloring is almost gone. Im still treating but confident they will almost undetectable.

6. Latex vests over the garment are the best. I used sqeem but they only go to xs. Jancriss http://www.nancymurray.jancriss.com/category/119-latex.aspx has latex vests and cinchers that go to 3xs and are thick and very well made. Its very stiff at first and will take two people to put on first few days. I am currently in a 3xs vest. They also have garments that are much tighter than lipoexpress garments. I had to actually cut one off of me bc it was suffocating.

7. invest in massages. Massage envy should be a last resort only. They do not cater to surgery patients. Look at chiropractor offices as they also usually do ultrasound therapy too. Also call lipo surgeons in the area and ask what massage therapists they use. Most surgeons that do lipo recommend massage therapy post op and they have to send their patients somewhere.

8. Do not use cotton in your belly button. Use a marble or a super tampon tip or something that is round but also rigid that will hold its shape once you are compressed in your garment.

9. You cannot drink enough water. It is vital to healing all things especially the skin. I drink at least 64oz. I used to drink a gallon a day but with the garments its tough. Just when you think you have peed yourself silly drink more. Your skin will thank you.

10. Drink fruit and veggie drinks at least twice a day. I don't mean the kind you buy but the kind you make yourself. I have a nutribullet. Use spinach, broccoli and pineapple as staples and then add whatever else. Even when you look healed on the outside you are still healing on the inside. You need it.

11. The board dr. Salama gives is garbage. It crumbled first use. I ordered a board from ann michelle http://www.annmichellstore.com/detail/index.cfm?nPID=3468 lipo express (something is weird with the site now) and all boards from the pink room http://www.inthepinkroom.com/store/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=10&page=1&Keyword=board&category=ALL&highprice=0&lowprice=0&allwords=board&exact=&atleast=&without=&cprice=&searchfields= I switch boards depending on the garment and vest I'm wearing as some work better with others. My skin a few months postop is still extremely sensitive and hurts. The boards eat me up one compressed. And so it doesn't leave permanent marks I also change the position of the board per Dr Salama so that upper and lower abdomen can get equal flattening time. Some board can be cut to better fit your body. I use the one from ann michelle the most. I cut it and safety pinned the fabric back very taught. The boards hurt my ribs so thats why I cut it. Do what you need to for your body. The pink room also has a triangle board for your lower back top of but region.

12. invest in an ultrasound massager. I bought this one http://youtu.be/RfjteNT67Yk luv it. Got one from ebay.


I really dont want to post but this site helped me so much and I feel I should give back. Give me time to sort thru my photos. I need to be careful what I post.
I really cringe at the idea of naked photos of myself on the web.

I also forgot to add one of the most important things for after care..... A heating pad. Get one that wraps all the way around or one for back and one to lay on. Even when Im in garment sleeping i lay on it. When I couldnt sit I laid on it watching movies. I still do. Makes a hug difference in the look of your stomach and lessens the lumps as long as your massage while your skin is still hot.