Tummy Tuck, Arm Lift, Mini Facelift

Dr Vath is wonderful! As far as the muscle repair pain, it really does feel like you have done a ton of crunches. Your stomach will be sore but it is not a constant pain. Percocet helped a lot, and sitting in a V position was great. I had very little pain. The ony thing that bothers me now is the swelling that comes and goes with activity. It will stop eventually, and I definitely look a heck of a lot better now than pre TT.

Thanks so much for responding .... can you tell I'm very nervous? I wish I felt more confident about this decision and knew it would be worth it. Is there any particular "thing" that brings on the swelling or is it just due to overdoing it? Again.. so happy to hear you are thrilled with the results. I'm just obsessed about the procedure right now! One quick question... I am not thrilled about my flanks or inner thighs but Dr. Vath said I didn't need lipo on the flanks... and I spaced asking about the thighs because I was so nervous. Do you know if lipo on inner thighs or flanks just creates more loos skin? Can that usually be resolved with just working out? Is it best to just take one step at a time? Thanks!!

My experience with lipo was both positive and negative. 4 years ago I went to a doctor who specialized in vaser lipo (who has since closed his practice). I had my stomach, flanks, and outer thighs done in 2 separate surgeries. At first I loved the results of my stomach and flanks, but I had problems with my thighs. One thigh was definitely bigger. The doctor did a revision on my right leg but he took too much fat out in 1 place which eventually caused my skin to fold over. I was embarrassed to be in a swimsuit and I live at the beach at least a month each year! Thankfully, Dr Vath surgically fixed it for me when he did my TT and arm lift. Eventually, my lower abdomen skin also sagged so much from the lipo that I needed a TT. My flanks are still good though! Bottom line, I think lipo is good if you don't need a lot of fat removed or if you do it in conjunction with surgery. I think it also depends on a person's age. Also, there was no way that exercise would have fixed my loose skin. I go to the gym 5x per week and although my muscles have toned, my skin still sagged. Regarding swelling, apparently it is just what the body does to protect itself as it heals. My lymphatic massage person said that one day I will notice that the swelling has stopped, but that could take months. It isn't awful, but I just want to see my final results NOW! Things that create swelling are too much salt in your diet and not drinking enough water. I am really watching my sodium intake and I drink 2 liters of water a day. It helps. Remember, the swelling will go away...and you will be very happy that you took the plunge to have the surgery. Regarding your nerves, It might help to have another consultation with Dr Vath to get all your questions answered. I saw him twice and after the 2nd time, I was convinced I was making a good decision. The nurses are available by phone to answer questions if you have already scheduled your surgery. The entire staff is wonderful! The surgical nurses are fantastic. I have had 2 separate surgeries with Dr Vath and I totally trust him! I will probably do another surgery with him at the end of the year; a lower body lift...then I will be done! Good luck.

Thank you again for all the information!! It's very reassuring. Good luck on your progress!!!!