5ft3in 143lbs...BBL and Lower Blepharoplasty..travelling from Canada. Culver City, CA

Well have made it through the first 3 weeks and am glad to share everything is better. I am still swollen but nowhere near where I was and while my butt has gotten smaller it is a vast improvement from the mess of loose skin that was there before. I did have a minor scare last week and went into full panic mode, but am thinking that was just where I was with my nerves. I had a bit of fluid in my abdomen and couldn't find a plastic surgeon who would look at me as I didn't get the surgery done with them. Both Dr. Hughes calmed me down and BGITR talked me off the ledge to just call my physician -as a plastic surgeon is not required to remove fluid???? My doctor was great, commented on how awesome my abs look ( wait, I have abs?!! ) and removed the fluid. I sincerely believe I was a victim of the post surgery blues as I was pretty much bat [RS bleep] crazy, reacting and overreacting to the smallest things. I admit I can be a nut at the best of the times, but the last couple of weeks was over the top even for me. Glad that's over.
I am still rather sore and feel quite bruised, am also quite tired. I assume this is the sedentary life I have been leading with recovery. I had booked 3 weeks off work (ALOT for me as I am a workaholic) and was scheduled to go back to work today,but just didn't feel well enough. I think I may actually book off the rest of the week,not sure. That said, I asked doc if I could switch too second stage garment and wear the binder and foam only at night but he suggested not too as I need the compression so fluid doesn't build up again. I am double minded about this as I mentioned in my last post I look 4 months along with the foam and binder and while I couldn't care less what people think, going from a flat stomach to 4 months pregnant may raise some eyebrows at work. Though who knows, I could scare my boss into a promotion if he thinks I am carrying a Rosemary's baby lol. On a serious note, Dr Hughes reluctantly agreed to my wearing the binder and foam at night but still wants me to wear something for compression during the day in my stage two garment. So here is where I need your ladies' help: I think I can buy a lipo board that sits on the abdomen for compression but am clueless as to what to purchase for a second stage garment. I would still like some compression so don't want anything to flimsy. Can anyone recommend anything that really worked for them? I ordered a MariaE from eBay. -it took two weeks to get and I got it today only too find the damn thing is waaaay too small. So am kinda desperate now. Please let me know your help is very much appreciated!

Hi ladies- here are a list of items I felt are absolutely necessary. The lens used though is for someone who travels, or someone who may not have someone around 100% of the time immediately post surgery.
- grabber (an absolute must- I found you cant bend for the first 3-4 days post surgery)
-female urinal ( 4bucks on walmart.com) an absolute Godsend -and candidly I am still using it
-wipes. and more wipes. and then some more:-) I had 2 different kinds: flushable for the restroom of course, and then antibacterial -best place to buy I found was amazon.ca/com
-antibacterial soap -for showering before and after surgery
-reactine (for those of you in Canada, I recommend getting prescription reactine from your doctor -they are 20mg and covered by health benefits if you have one) but I was majorly itchy days 3-10 and one a day worked really really well for me
-Vitamins: B6, B12, Vitamin C, Bromelain, Arnica, Stool Softener (for those in Canada, I got something called Docusate-$8 from Shoppers and they work like a charm). Iron as well, but I get injections so take pills if you can.
-shower cap
-bendy straw(s) - very helpful for days 1-3
-clothes- all the other ladies were right, I took too many. What I really used were a couple of maxi dresses (I suggest going up 2-3 sizes -I usually wear a small and the large was still snug between the swelling, and the binders and foam) try and get dark colored so everything doesnt show if that matters to you. I also had a long skirt and a loose tank top that worked great - note I went super cheap on all of these items : Old Navy and walmart -I didnt pay more than 20dollars for any items. Also suggest camisoles - I used 4 just from costco. Again everything was 2 sizes bigger than what I normally wear. I wont ever wear these items again so they worked perfectly.
- super size underwear:-)
-BBL pillow: ordered the bblpillow from bblpillow.com it was $107USD and free shipping. they are awesome and I got it in one day when I got to the States. I cut out the BBL logo as I will be using this at work and dont need to advertise. Used it in the car, airplane and will use for work when I get back
-kindseat -BGITR-thank you. Yes its pricey, I ordered the cushion and bag as well which are each $30 a piece, so total for all 3 items was $207 from wildmind.org. You need about 1.5-2weeks to get this even if you purchase in States, I received it the day before I left LA. Awesome though for kneeling and eating -best purchase ever.
-comfortable slippers or shoes. since you cant bend in the first few days, its hard to get anything on other than slip on /flip flop type shoes.

I think thats it!
-an old bedsheet which I brought from home. Saved me a staining the rental accomodations sheets and I left it there.
-creams/lotions etc: I didnt have the energy to use any of the creams am just starting to now. If you have someone with you that will massage etc then arnica cream/gel and cocoa butter cream/oil are awesome.
-for the blepharoplasty, you need Q-tips and vaseline/petroleum jelly. Eyes feel like 1000X better when you use this.
ok, that's it for the list I think.

Hi ladies-it has been awhile and I do owe you an update. Today is 2 weeks and 1 day post op. So I will try and share everything that has happened between Day 5 and Day 15.
Days 5—7 were a total [RS bleep] for me. I for some reason had major pain-I have a very high tolerance for pain so am surprised this was happening to me. The only thing I can chalk it up to is perhaps too much walking around earlier.
That said, I had my second post op on June 25- 1 week and 2 days post surgery, and one day before I flew home. I was unlucky, as I did have major fluid build up in the stomach area and Olga drained it for me. She gave me a smaller black short garment and also said to use the foam where one is over my stomach under the black garment, and then foam under the white binder. So, I look like I am about 4 or 5months along ..lol-I had several people offer me their seats at the airport –I didnt bother correcting them lol. Just pleasantly said no. It helped though as people are still kind to pregnant gals, and I did have offers to pick up my bags?
The trip home was fine, I sat on my knees on the chair and read a book. Used my bbl pillow for takeoff and landing.
I have been in some pain though since I got home, I thought by now it would just be sore but I have not been able to completely be off painkillers. I am pretty much off the percoset as I am terrified of addiction, and am on extra strength Tylenol though every 6 hrs. Dr. Hughes isn’t worried as he said he had to be pretty aggressive with me so the ‘extended’ pain does not come as a surprise.
I have been pretty self conscious of my body though –I am very swollen and as mentioned above this is because of the aggressive lipo that had to be done. That said, I need to be truthful – I have been a ball of anxiety this past week-not entirely sure why, but probably due to a combination of things – the pain, not sleeping well at all, worried that everything hadn’t worked out, the swelling /fluid build up still appears to be in my tummy, major headaches and some other personal crap. It took a great lady to talk me off the ledge today –and I cant thank her enough. I am so blessed to have met her on this site.
Anyway, so I am still really swollen, so am reluctant to post pictures-I have been assured-the swelling to go away can take up to 6 months. If you really want to see them, let me know and I will post them. My next post will include what I felt were must have’s –and hope it will help other ladies.
I will try and post much more frequently ladies. Hugs