MALLOL BELLA - Lipo Full Torso & Upper Thighs, BBL, Mini Arm Lift

As promised, this is how my supply purchase worked out. Your results may demand different supply use, but for what it's worth, here's mine.

MEDS
o Fish Oil & Naproxin, Bromelain, Omega 3 for post surgery inflammation - USED NONE OF IT
o Liquid Iron - PRE-SURGERY ONLY
o Water pills - YEP
o Arnica tabs and gel - NOPE
o Benadryl - NOPE
o Yeast infection medication - NOPE
o Ibuprofen/Acetaminophen - YEP
o Laxatives & Gas pills - YEP
o Metamucil - NOPE, BUT I COULD HAVE.
o Midol - NOPE
o Perc or Oxy (if you can get it) - YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
o Mosquito wipes/spray - NOPE

COMFORT
o Moo Moos / Baggy clothes - HELL YES
o Toilet Donut - YES, BUT I DITCHED IT AFTER TWO DAYS
o Boopy pillow - FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, YES
o Pillows, blanket, towels - YES
o Heating Pad - NOPE. DIDN'T EVEN BRING IT
o Warm socks - IN THE HOSPITAL, DEF
o Undies - NOPE - NO NEED WITH THE FAJA
o Tank for under boards - YES, BUT WELL AFTER SURGERY

SANITATION
o Wipes - YES, VERY MUCH SO
o Puppy pads/Chux - 100X YES
o Go girl - TRIED. PPED ON MY HAND THREE TIMES. TOSSED IT.
o Maxi pads - YES, BUT FOR THE OOZING
o Hand sanitizer - YES

HEALING
o Antibacterial soap - YES YES YES
o Gauze - YEP
o Scar tape - NOT ONCE
o Medical Tape - YES
o Thermometer - YES
o Wahl Cold N Hot Deep Massager - POST SURGERY A FEW TIMES, BUT UNNECESSARY

GEAR
o Arm compressors - NO
o Compression Socks - A MILLION TIMES YES
o Foam - YES
o Board (back board) - A FEW TIMES, BUT WORTH IT

SNACKS
o Ensure/protein bars/yogurt - YES, YES, YES

Things I wish I had, but didn't bring: more pain pills, but that's about it.

Hey chicas!!! So, I'm back to doing a million things but I thought I'd do a 3 month update.

PAIN. What. The. F$%K? So, Dr. Mallol must have seared the fat right off my back, which is exactly what I asked for. Feels as if there is a sheet-sized "scab" under my skin (back and inside thighs). That would make sense. It tugs when I move. Initially, I moved less thinking I just needed to give it time to heal. At about week nine I gave that up. Now, WHENEVER I feel that lovely little rip/tug/burn, I stretch, hold it, stretch some more. I got that from AntiBoxgal20's posts about her physical therapy (mad luv). It's not gone but it's on its way.

(Side note: not one single doctor ever recommended this to help mitigate the pain - props to Real Self for this forum of shared experiences and AntiBoxgal 20 for the solution).

FAJA. Gone. Wore is 24/7 for just over 11 weeks, then broke up with it cold turkey. I'm not even sure where it is. The first few days HURT - what was that about? I just assumed it was swelling, and while there was some, it was almost indiscernible on the curves. It's been a week and the faja removal pain is gone, with no negative impact on my results. So, bye Faja-lecia (ok, that was pretty bad).

HEALTH. I feel like me again FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Interesting, that happened right around when I kicked the faja to the curb. Coincidence? I think not. I also developed something called C-DIFF. It is most commonly seen when a person takes multiple courses of antibiotics, or multiple antibiotics at once - check and check. Had it for two weeks, and I'm pretty sure I died somewhere in there. To say it causes diarrhea is like saying Trump is a bit mouthy. I had to be put on yet ANOTHER course of antibiotics, and if that didn't work, it was back to the hospital for me. The antibiotics worked. C-DIFF can be fatal, though, so if you get the runs for more than three days, see your doc.

PROGRESS. As you can see from my pic, no big change from 6 weeks (faja 24/7) and 12 weeks (no faja). I can see some SLIGHT upper hip shrinkage if I blur my eyes, dim the lights and hold my head at an angle.

I can finally say I am happy with my results. So what changed? My head space. If I am being completely honest with myself, I walked into that surgery fully expecting to come out looking like a picture. Not only did I NOT look like the picture, I was miserable in every imaginable way (and even a few unimaginable ones) afterwards. I was also too focused on what Dr. Mallol missed (dude never touched my actual arms). And I was FLOORED at how unflatteringly protrusive my boobs seemed (turns out the faja was making them stick up and out like highbeams).

Now, I've lived with this body for three months. The body "in my head" is a faded memory. The body of my past is long gone. The body in my "here and now" is the only one I have left. I've stopped seeing it through a lens of comparison, and turns out that I love it. Go figure.

Well, ladies, I have to dip back into my world for a few months, so I can only pop on to RS occasionally. You know me - I like to answer everyone - but if it takes me a minute to hit you back, that's why.

Love you, miss you, and may the angels walk with you.

~Bey

It was because of you that I could finally shake off this inexplicable disappointment. You guys stayed right there by my side, reminded me you were there, circled me with your love and support. I owe you all so much. And while I normally reply to every single person individually, I wanted to take a minute and say thank you to this entire family of incredible women that you all are. Mad love, mad respect. Always.

~Bey