Abdomen, Love Handles, and Back fat

I figured since this site was so helpful in my pre/post surgery process, I should right a review of my own. I spent over a year researching everything associated with having liposuction, alternatives, and the possibility of bariatric surgery options. I settled on lipo for a few reasons:
*Cost: Less expensive than a tummy tuck. I didn't need to pay a large amount for a surgery that wasn't necessary for ME. I have no kids, my pre-surgery measurements were 46-37.5-52, and i'm 35 so my skin can snapback.
*Longterm Lifestyle: My insurance approved me 100% for the gastric sleeve. However, i'm 35 and the sleeve will significantly change what you are able to eat. While I don't eat bad all the time, I want to be able to enjoy family dinners when I travel to visit my family each year without having to worry about how much pain/nausea will occur because of surgery.
*Recovery Time: I was already planning on changing jobs and would not be able to take several weeks of downtime. Liposuction would alot me the least amount of downtime.
So! Like I said, I spent over a year doing research. Always make sure you ask questions. Never feel like you're asking too many because not only is this alot of money but it's your body and life. I checked doctor reviews, researched surgical centers across the country, doctors, etc. I wanted a doctor that not only was board certified, but also had years of experience, and most importantly, a great bedside manner. I went with Dr. Armin Moshyedi in Bethesda MD. He has over 17 years of experience and knowledge, his staff were very friendly, and he was very personable.
When I found the doctor that I wanted, I researched the surgical center that I was going to have the surgery at. I spoke to the ladies there and they were very helpful and friendly. One of my requirements was that I did not want to be in a surgical center that had millennials.
While I am a millennial and we're great with technology, I want experience. I want a staff that has seen these surgeries done over and over again. I want a staff that has seen all kinds of complications, results, people, etc. As a millennial, I think that we're a generation that has gotten away from manners office etiquette, a certain level of professionalism, and critical thinking. We'll protest for the fair treatment of others but we'll turn around and judge a stranger without a second thought. I feel like we are a generation of entitlement. Entitlement can be connected to a number characteristics that I don't want to be in my operating room. However, I digress! When it's all said and done, I preferred experience over internships and book knowledge!

Surgery Prep

Physical:
I use to go to a traditional doctor's office but over the years, i've started going to Patient First. I've learned that I can get everything done that I would get at a regular doctor's office but without the isses. There's no appointment scheduling a month in advanced. I can get blood work done, prescriptions filled, there's always a doctor available, and the wait has always been less than 10 minutes.

My physical came back great but my iron was slightly low. So I had to get a prescription for that. I thought that it was going to prevent me from having my surgery. However, I found out that it wasn't too low to do the surgery. YAYYY!!!

Meds
My plastic surgeon gave me two prescriptions, of Oxycodine and another one (can't remember the name). I don't normally take meds so I was nervous that they would make me nauseous. So, he gave me another prescription for nausea in the event that happened.

Intake
A nurse contacted me from the surgical center. My surgery was going to be done at the Suburban Outpatient Surgery Center in Bethesda MD which is located in the John Hopkins Surgical Center building. She confirmed my information over the phone and I had an opportunity to ask her questions. I asked her about the staff, how well they knew my doctor, the number of liposuctions that occur there, etc.

Supplies
So I purchased two body corsets, 1 body shaper, and a tank top shaper. I wanted to be prepared at every stage of my recovery. The doctor, of course will wrap you up, but I wanted to make sure I had items that were going to guarantee the support that I needed.

The corsets (purchased on Hourglass Angel website) that I purchased were $64 each and have boning in them. They kind of resemble bathing suits with little shorts and no bra section. It disconnects in the crouch area so that I can use the restroom when need be. The body shaper (purchased on Amazon) looked similar, however, it did not have the boning like the corsets did. I'll use that after my first month or two. The tank (purchased on Amazon) was for later on down the road, just in case I needed it.

I also purchased a Faja Board. You put it in the stomach area of your corset so that your stomach is flat and even when you're recovering. When you bend, you're stomach naturally creases and I wanted to prevent this. I also wanted to make sure that the stomach area stayed in shape while recovering.

Day of Surgery: March 16, 2017

Feeling all kinds of optimistic. You'd think I was nervous but I was actually excited. Just in case anything happened, I updated my Medical Directive and updated it to my Google Drive in a folder called medical with all of my information on it. I then shared the folder with my closest friends and my mom.

This is a great idea to do in general. If something happens to you and you're incoherent, someone needs to be able to speak on your behalf and know your history and medical information.

I made it to the surgery center with my mom and we waited to be taken back. I sent out some emails and text and then I was finally taken back to the surgery room. I remember tapping my finger and humming in my head thinking to myself, when are they going to put me to sleep. Next thing I know, I'm waking up in my recovery room all wrapped up. I didn't feel ANY pain. I was just loopy from the anesthesia.

Once I was able to inhale enough into this airline breather, they gave the green thumb for my mom to take me home.

Draining
I drained all over. My doctor didn't stitch me up so that the excess "juices" can drain out, and drain out I did. By the time we made it back to my house, I had soaked through my coat. My mom put plastic over my couch and some towels so that I could just lay there instead of trying to walk up a flight of stairs to my room.

Once I made it to to the couch, I just laid there and went to sleep. I woke up that evening and my mom made me some chicken broth. With the meds in my system, not only was I not hungry, but the food may not stay settled in my stomach.

Let me tell you, I wouldn't have had anyone else take care of me but my mom. It's nothing like your mom caring for you when you're sick because they care for all the little details and you get attention like no other. My mom made sure to clean me up and change my towels every few hours.

Day After
The next day after the surgery, I was still draining. I actually stopped draining late that evening. I was taking my meds every 6 hours. To keep track of what needed to be taken, I would take the Oxycodine every 6 hours on the 6 (6am, 12pm, 6pm, 12am). Then I would take the one for muscle spasms an hour after each oxycodine. I was still drinking chicken broth, eating crackers, and pineapples.

PINEAPPLES!!!! So much can be said about this amazing sweet fruit. The enzyme Bromelain that's found in pineapples helps in reducing swelling. I ate on pineapple all day and by that evening, while I was still swollen, I was feeling good enough to actually go out.....but my mom wouldn't allow that lol.

Hopefully after all of this is done, these pictures will be dramatically different.