Lipo on Upper and Lower Abs and Flanks(sides) - Chicago, IL

Here are my stats: 5'7-155lbs 38 years old and female w/no kids, who is happily married to her job :-) So happy in fact she's kinda put all her time in energy into her job that she doesn't get the exercise she once did and has a tummy that was NEVER there before.

Ok, gonna stop talking in third person. I'm getting lipo on my upper and lower abs and flanks in 2 days and was once nervous but now excited as hell!

I've mentally prepared for the recovery period, which is something I didn't do 13 years ago for my boob job, and fell into a depression of sorts because of it. Im an independent busy body, so having to go slow and depend on others doesn't come easy for me. However, that procedure was one of the best things I ever did for myself. I went from being a hippy girl with size A boobs to balancing my body with full Cs. I felt more like a woman. Now--like then--I've got no boyfriend, don't really care what others think, and doing it strictly for myself. It's kinda a gift to myself for everything I put into my climb up the ladder, AND a way for me to jump start my healthy lifestyle. Can. Not. Wait!

I'm going to post before pics tomorrow and OF COURSE afters as well. I'm spiritual so I'm gonna ask for prayers. I don't care who or what you pray to, I'll take it! Whether it's Buddah, Jesus, Mary, Medusa, or your favorite pair of panties...a prayer is a piece of love and I LOVE love :)

Going in for my Pre-Op today! Then tomorrow's the big day!!!

So...my hotel won't let me check in yet, however I did get to check my baggage---thank goodness.

Now I've got an hour before I have to be at the surgery center and just walking around the city for a bit. Maybe I'll go in a little early so they can start me on drugs, lol---I'm SO HUNGRY AND THIRSTY!!!!

Anywho...the next time you hear from me, I'll be closer to my goal and on pain meds. Again, prayers are welcome :-)

...but TOTALLY worth it! Dr. D is fabulos and his team rocks. Should you go to him you HAVE to meet the RN there, Marilyn. You won't meet a better person.

Not in what I consider pain. More discomfort. Little high on drugs. So talk tomorrow...

Drain-Drain-Drain. So, I put down plastic bags and covered them with absorbent HUGE beach towels and placed a beach towel on top of my tummy to not mess up the hotel sheets...yeah. Didn't work. I'll definitely be paying for those. Anywhoo. I've added pics of only HALF of the gauze I went through last night. Yes, they look bloody but they're supposed to. The fluids that's squirted inside you isn't red, however, if there's even ONE drop of blood caught on its way outta the incisions, it's gonna be bright red. Don't freak out.

I'm including the gross pics, because I believe people should mentally prepare, that you don't just get this done, and then bam all is right in the world. Preparing mentally is the biggest piece of the puzzle. It's made it easier for me. Post more later today.

Gross Pic #1

Gross Pic #2

First off, thanks for your support and prayers. greatly appreciated. Tips for those who haven't had the procedure yet: 1)Have gauze or maxi pads the first day to tape with surgical tape afterwards over your incisions. You're gonna drain like crazy...which is AWESOME because what drains out is just less fluid your body has to absorb. 2)Keep your garment on. It DOES reduce swelling, and those who say it doesn't...well, lucky them. 3) Stay hydrated. I had Gatoraide and tons of water, which has kept me peeing, but has also helped eliminate some of the swelling.
Ok...that's it for now as far as tips. Unlike a lot of people who've posted GORGEOUS day-after pics, I was told to not take my garment off until today at my first post op appt. And I am following doc's orders like it's my job! So these pics are 2 days post op, so swelling has kicked in and seems to be mainly in my lower abs. Oh, also my legs are swollen. Doc says it gravity pulling the fluid down, so I'm now propping my legs up and it's helping. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress. Again, thanks for the love.

Stats:
1.Not as swollen as I thought I might be, but wearing my garment religiously.
2. Gonna stop taking pain meds today. They just put me out of it, and I want to have the wherewithal to actually KNOW what's going on with my body.
3. Started my period today...early?? Hmmm.
4. My vajayjay is SWOLLEN!!! Geeeez! SO WEIRD. But that's where the fluid settles I'm told. There and in lower abs.
5. Everything below the waist is swollen...all the way to my ankles. My ankles are cankles!
6. Got that crappy sunburn feeling on my left side...ugh! I've been told that's the nerves healing. Yeah, not fun.
7.Not gonna weigh myself until the 2 month mark. WAAAY too up and down on that thing right now.
8. Getting my second ultrasound massage today and getting sutures out also.
9. Go back to work tomorrow. Boo! Haha!
10. Talk tomorrow!

Swelling down on legs, ankles, and feet.

Not a lot of change in the way i look. However, I've had 3 ultrasound massages and while it's hell while it's in motion, it feels SO GOOD once it's over. Ahhh...I highly recommend them. They also told me to give myself massages. I try, but they're nothing like what they give. Wow, just wow.

My garment has now become my favorite accessory. Primarily because it keeps swelling at a minimum. I feel lost without it.

My doc put 4 incisions in me for the procedure, and stitched 2 up and left two open. He removed the sutures a couple days ago and they're fine but one of the "open" ones is still draining a tiny bit. Nothing big, but thought I'd mention it.

That's it for now. I hear day 10 is usually a biotch, so I'll let you guys know. Haha!

So here's a brief up to date status at 2 weeks:

I'm a little sore at night but during the day, I'm pretty much good as gold. At night I talk a couple of extra strength Tylenol and I'm good. My pace walking is getting faster and I'm able to sleep on both my sides and tummy.

I'm taking Zinc, B- complex, Vitamin C, and Bromine. Been taking those since day after surgery and I contribute that and wearing my garment like it's my job to my nearly no bruising and minimal swelling(well, minimal in comparison to some pics I've seen).

Every now and then I'll feel a nerve or two tingle of cause a burning sensation, but not nearly as bad as last week. Well, that's it for now. I'll keep you guys updated :-) Oh, and I've added some more pics...

I'm sorry, in all my excitement I haven't mentioned the facility name of where I've had both Lipo and now Perlane-L administered.

Trust me when I say IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GET DONE, IT'S THE DOCTOR THAT DOES IT THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT.

And by the way, the Liposuction and Cosmetic Institute in Chicago do more treatments than anyone else in the country. That is a fact.

If you're in the Midwest and choose to do fillers or lipo, then Dr. Damen in Chicago is the person you want to go with. He and his team are AMAZING. After doing the lipo 16 days ago, I decided to have Dr. Damen administer under eye filler.
I'm not going to trust my face and body to just anyone. Once you take a look at his credentials, you'll understand why being the anal person I am, chose Dr. Damen. I suggest you go here:
http://www.lipodoc.com/staff/dr-michael-damen-md/
He takes his time in the consultation and that's what you want. I've had a bad experience with Botox with another doctor who didn't take his time, so I admire Dr. Damen for being methodical in both consultations and answering ALL of my crazy questions.

Again, just wanted to give the team there a shout out!

Just some pics. Still wearing the garment at night and girdle to work. They're like my security blankets :-)