Freedom from Being in a Skin Prison - Carmel, IN

I'm sleeping good. I'm sleep in a recliner. I only take 1 pain pill a day and really not needed. I take it for discomfort of swelling and a little back discomfort from walking slighly hunched over. I'm on day 5 and everyday I get stronger.

It was about 2 hours long. Yes she did decide to do lipo. She decides during surgery if it's needed and it was not additional.. I really loved her.. I know you will too

Was the lipo just the 2 spots on your stomach or was there some on the sides as well? How long were you at the hospital after surgery? Hope you don't mind my questions.

I don't mind the questions at all. I arrived at surgery center at 6am and went into surgery approx 8:50am - 10:45am and left about 2:40pm. Yes the 2 spots on the sides are where she did lipo of my flanks. Those are the only 2 spots.

I used her also and am 10 days post. It was the best thing I have ever done! Dr. Turkle is amazing at what she does and her conturing of the body is so good! She gives a real hourglass figure. I got the exparel and if you can swing the extra $350 I say it is def. worth it! I also got lipo (no money charged - she really wants you to look your best). My surgery took 2 hours also. I see people on here saying "oh i regret it" like the second or third day from the pain, but even with the pain i NEVER once regretted it!

Couple more questions if you don't mind. How "hunched over" are you? Is it real noticeable? What is the epidural that you paid extra for, does it go home with you? Did you work with Carolyn in her office, how was she to work with?

No one notices the haunch. I can feel it but I we t walking a bit around Kohl's today and it felt good to get out. The numbing medicine is the Exparel and they do it during surgery. It's $350 more but I think it's worth it. Carolyn is the scheduler, so you have to work with her to schedule it. You also have to do 10 days of anticoagulants called lovenox but I got the generic and after insurance they were $10.. If you wanba email me personally you can at Donojaan@yahoo.com..

Thank you, I may do that later if you don't mind. I am really nervous and just have lots of questions :) Thanks!

Peglynn No problem at all. I watched tons of videos on YouTube of tummy tuck post op and just got an idea of what I may experience, supplies to buy and just get a better heads up.. Today is 1 week post op and I'm going to do some walking.. Went shopping last night and it felt good.. Feel free to email for any questions you may have.. Thanks

Thank you

I am swollen but not huge. I think we feel bigger because of the numbingand the tightness. I use ice and naproxen. Also I stopped wearing my girdle.. It is so uncomfortable.. I had start wearing a binder but it hurts. What about you?

What about your navel? Mine looks yucky but I know it will get better

I am still wearing the binder! I might look into naproxen if it reduces swelling! And my BB looks yucky too. My aunt looked at it (she had one done) and said it was totally normal! Mine is almost closed with gross stuff!

Yes mine is almost closed with yucky stuff too. Ask your aunt how long before it looks normal and did she start putting antibiotic oimtment on it or did it clear on its own? Naproxen or Ibuprofen (any anti inflammatory) yeah my binder isn't comfy..

I asked her and she said she thought it took around 3.5-4 weeks or so before it started looking better! She said she did put neosporin on it, but she can't remember if Dr. Turkle had told her to do that or not. She just did.

I'm great! I'll be 3 wks post op Thursday. Went back to work Monday.. Felt great! I will tell you if you do get survery DO NOT put girdle in dryer.. I walked at gym last night.. I feel good!!

I will be 3 weeks post tomorrow! I feel pretty good too. Swollen.. Especially right above my incision. Basically belly button down. I'm wearing my girdle except for when I wash it.. And it's too late for that! I already dried it! On low though. How is your swelling?

Swelling isn't bad. Did you get lipo? The girdle caused a couple lumps on sides because of buckling. So I'm done with that girdle but swelling isn't too bad. Are you watching your salt intake? Is the swelling in the evening?

My swelling seems to be all the time but worse in the evening. I actually went in cause I thought it was Seroma the way it moved. They tried to drain it, but didn't get any fluid.. So said it was probably just the way I was swelling. And I do need to watch my salt intake better for sure! I have two major lumps in my hips, but I think it's just swelling? Right above my incision. It almost looks like fat.. But I didn't have them before? Are you wearing and girdle at all then?

No more girdle. I have one of those lumps on my left side.. She told me to massage it and it feels like scar tissue she's not worried anout it but I'm watching it. I swear the girdle caused it because it buckles because I washed it and when you sit it creases.. Today I have a skirt on with an ace bandage around my incision.. Gauze is directly on my scar.. I may get a spanx but I'm monitoring

This binder does buckle..i agree with that completely. I went to walmart like other people have suggested and bought a back up girdle. There like $12, and cinch you good. they have the underwear with hooks on the bottom instead of velcro (my velcro is almost shot on this binder. I think I washed it too much) but don't roll down or buckle like the hospital binder. My BB is not healing exactly as it should. It is still pretty red etc. I sent the nurse pics and she called me and told me to go binder free at night to see if air will help it. How is your BB doing?

My bb is nice! My scar looks nice too. I'm using the healing serum, cocoa butter oil. I started taking a prescribed water pill to see if that will make a difference in decreasing any swelling.. I ate too much salt yesterday. I am doing well with my ace bandage wrap.. and massaging my lumps and I can see and feel the difference..

How are you? I wore skinny jeans today!! Yay.. Mon pubis is a little swollen but I'm massaging.. Also went spinning at gym yesterday morning

I am doing good! My BB is still healing not quite right, and I've had two small openings..possibly stitches trying to surface? But all in all I feel great. I am starting back exercising (I am 5 weeks post on Wednesday). I am so out of shape from no working out and all my muscles are screaming at me! How about you?

I went cycling last week 1 day and again this morning. I have been coughing for about a week and I have a pain like a cramp on my lower right side (kind of like when you ran track and your side hurt).. Like that. I called Dr Turkle and she didn't seem voncerned said the only way to look inside was a CT scan and I was like naw.. I will keep
Monitoring and massaging it..

That is so odd you said that. I had pain on my left side..same area! Not even kidding. It bothers me all the time. I keep massaging it and hoping it will go away. At first I thought maybe I pulled a muscle in my exercise class! But I am wearing my binder when I do any exercising just to try to be aware and prevent an injury. I wondered if its just our muscles waking up after activity? I was really worried at first and almost called too.

Where are your pics missy? I wanna see your progress. Now what exercise class are you in? Are you still numb under your belly button down? Is your mon pubis kinda raised a little? Do you
Sleep im binder and how long are you anticipate wearing it?

My husband didn't want pics up! Super long story with his family etc! But send me a message with your email and i will send you them!!! I am very numb all over. And my mon pubis is very raised! I was concerned at first cause you can see a hump in underwear! The nurse told me I could switch to a walmart binder and I wear it either during the day or at night. I don't know how long to wear it though (as in weeks?) I take something called Pulse (which is like zumba)! I take it easy though..dont worry!

I do something* ... not take something! lol
It's a class in my area that is awesome for weight loss and toning.

Donojaan@yahoo.com
Yeah my mons pubis is raised but I feel scar tissue beneath one side.. Gonna discuss what can be done about it. I think I'm gonna start using silicone for my scar. Black people scar horrible but I think my scar is not bad when you consider it was saggy ugly skin before. I wish I could go back to Zumba but I have a herniated disc in my back.. I may entertain a cortisone injection. Overall I love that I did it. I feel sexier and my hubby loves my nee look.. Of course he loved me before. Hey are you doing the healing serum also? I can't remember if you said you were or not??

I am thinking about the silicone thing also! I am using the healing serum.. But since it's made there by the other surgeon, I wondered if it's just a sales ploy? I'm sure it helps, but is it the best for scars? I'll shoot you an email tomorrow morning with those pics!

Hmmm made by the other surgeon

That's what the receptionist said. She said the stuff is great and made by a surgeon/chemist right here in there own office? So idk? lol

But I am using it. I have read on here also to use just plain tape? If you look up silicone sheets, you will see a lot of plastic surgeons recommend just using plastic tape for several weeks. I might try that!

Are you talking about the healing serum at Dr Turkles office? It's made by "Skinprint". Not a surgeon at the office. I used the serum after all of my surgeries with Dr Turkle and I couldn't be happier with how my scars turned out and I'm almost 3 yrs post op from the TT now.

LOL.. I totally understand. I was just wondering if it said "Skin Print healing serum" on the front? Maybe they are selling something different now? I had the arm surgery a few yrs. back also and between Dr. Turkles maticulous work and the healing serum.. these scars look pretty amazing, and I've followed a lot of out comes.

It does say that... Yep :) My 6 week is tomorrow so I'm going to ask the nurse about it! But if it works I guess that's all that matters!

Wow!! You're already at 6 weeks!! How are you doing? Skin Print is a skincare line that is exclusive. I think Dr Turkle is the only PS in our state that carries the line. Excellent products!! My scars 3 yrs later are thin and white. Better then I could have imagined. They went through funky stages the first year :-)