Just had a Body Lift/Circumferential Tummy Tuck with Lipo Included , Feeling Excited! - Chicago, IL

It's been a little over 5 months since I had my body lift surgery. Overall, I am satisfied with the results, although there are some minor improvements that can be made. I'll talk to my doctor today and will discuss how we can achieve a fully flat lower stomach. I'm thinking I might still be retaining some fluids in that area, so some additional lipo might be in order.

It's been 6 weeks since I had my surgery and I think I'm making slow and steady progress towards my final goal.

When I was 1 week post op, Dr Gutowski was worried that I was swollen more than usual and he suggested to open up a few incision sites to drain what appeared to be seroma. So I went back to the OR for a minor exploration surgery and Dr G determined that there wasn't that much fluid to drain and I was just really swollen. Anyway, Dr G inserted 2 drains around my incision line in the front just in case. I originally had a drainless circumferential tummy tuck. The drains proved to be helpful because my body started putting out a significant amount of fluid. I had the drains taken out around 10 days later when the fluid output reduced to less than 25 ml per day.

Although I'm still somewhat swollen, I have to point out that Dr G has been on top of things. He is a great surgeon and a nice person; I didn't have to pay anything for the minor post op procedure and he even ordered an extra compression garment for me and I got it for free.

Today, I'm seeing Dr G and he's also going to take care of a scar revision on my back totally unrelated to my bodylift surgery.

Made it through surgery! I haven't yet asked Dr. Gutowski how long the procedure took, but I think it was most likely in the 3-4 hour range.

Yesterday, I arrived at the surgery center at 11:45 am, the receptionist gave me some documents to fill out and sign, and I was taken to a locker room where I was told to undress and put on a surgical gown that opens in the back.

Next, a nurse escorted me to an area where she took my vitals, and then the anesthesiologist came, asked me some questions about my health and she set up and got my IV started.

Dr. Gutowski was already there, he came over, closed the curtains around my area, and he proceeded to mark me up. He drew a lot of lines on my body to guide him where to excise the skin. It was so nice of him to revise a few of the scars I had on my body for free, at no extra cost during my body lift surgery.

A few minutes later at around 1 pm, they put me on a stretcher and rolled me into the OR, the anesthesiologist put something like a gas mask on me, she talked a little, Dr. Gutowski was also there waiting for me and before I knew it I was out.

Next thing I remember, I woke up some 3-4 hours later, the nurse helped me get dressed over a compression garment I had already on.

A caregiver I hired was already waiting outside to pick me up, my nurse wheeled me out in a wheelchair and with the help of my caregiver she helped me get in the car.

My caregiver was great at taking care of me overnight in a hotel, she even brought in a gravity chair so I could sleep in the "beach chair" position which is ideal to not put any tension on the sutures. The next morning Dr. Gutowski stopped by at the hotel, checked on me and said everything looked good except for a minor bleeding, fluid discharge I had, which he said is ok.

I'll update more later but so far I haven't experienced much pain, if any, because I started taking my pain medication to stay ahead of it.

Here are some pictures that Dr. G took right before and after the procedure.