Treatment Provider

Douglas L. Gervais, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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4 in a half week update!!

Hey everyone!!

It’s been awhile since I updated last so though it was time, been really busy with wedding planning!!

I will be 5 weeks tomorrow already… Wow!! Time is flying by, some days fast and some that never end lol. The pictures I attached above are my 4 week pictures not 5 week.

So where to start…

Sleeping: I am sleeping so much better this past week. I can lay on my sides and back and turn over but still not stomach. I’m not sure if it’s that I can’t sleep on my stomach or that I’m scared to try. I’m just not ready for that adventure yet. Everything else regarding sleeping is going good.

Intimate life: So I had a few messages regarding this so thought I would share (may be TMI sorry). I was given the “OK” to start being intimate with my husband last weekend, I would have been 4.5 weeks along. For tips here I can give is on top was much more comfortable for me and plan on being a little sore the next day. Other than that just take it slow and enjoy ;p

Activity: I have been back to work full time since I was a week in half along. I have a desk job so that REALLY helped. I could not have done it without that. I have also been taking walks and will start the elliptical tonight if I don’t get outside to walk. This has probably been the most frustrating, I want to workout not just walk arghhh. I was given the “go ahead” from the doctor but was instructed to not get my heard rate high or work hard, wth am I supposed to do then lol.. I understand the logic just feel so LAZY and the rest of my body (especially ass) are in need of toning.. Every day I feel better and better with less pain as the days go on. I would have to say that today Is the first day that I haven’t had as much back pain, this has been far the worst part of recovery. Make sure you have a lot of pillows around to adjust your body as needed. Other than that just taking everyday slowly and counting down the days to NO pain ?

Swelling: I wake up super flat and tight and then go to bed all puffy and swollen every night still. It’s not as bad as it used to be but still there. I started working out (lowest level on elliptical) and when I’m done with that I’m really swollen lol. I love how flat I am in the mornings I just wish it would stay like that so I can go buy some new clothes lol. I hate all of my clothes now!! I want to wear sexy form fitting clothes and all mine are layered clothes or loose tops so my belly never showed through. Waiting till the day I wake up with no swelling that’s for sure.

Currently, I wear a spandex garment during the day for work and then no garment for a few hours when I get home and then my wrap from after surgery at night. I have been putting on Vitamin D and Bio Oil every night before bed and it seems to work a little I think? I was left with some deep scars still after surgery so I will definitely be tattooing them after I fully heal, unless I can find a good cover up cream or something.

Scar treatment: I was given a scar gel from the doctor that I use twice a day that is supposed to help the appearance of the scar, anyone else using a gel? I hear a lot about the tape but I was told to use the gel so I’m patiently following orders. I also go once a week to get a scar massage which really seem to help smooth things out and break up the scar tissue areas. I’m a little sore afterwards but love the results so far.

Overall, I am very happy I did this with no regrets, even with the stretch mark scars I was left. Would love to hear any tips I’m missing ?

Post Op 3 Weeks!!

Hey gals!

I thought it was time to post an update on my progress so far. I made it to 3 weeks, yay!! I've definitely have had my ups and downs that's for sure. Everything seems like its moving at slow motion right now which has been very tough. I seen results and felt pretty good around 2 weeks and maybe even a little over two weeks but feel like I took a step back a little here lately. All of a sudden I'm much more tired and even sore certain days more than I was at 2 weeks.

My back has gotten way better than it was but I still have quite a bit of pain in my flank area where I had the lipo. I also have dents in my flank area and patches where its harder than the other areas. I asked the doctor about this last week and he said it was normal but wanted me to start wearing the spandez during the day and CG only at night. The CG has gotten pretty big on me and is crunching up when I sit or walk and this happens to be crunching together n the flank area . I so far have bought 3 spandez and returned 2 already cause they didn't fit well at all. My 3rd one I just bought today from Macy's so I'm hoping this one works out. The CG has been terrible uncomfortable, can almost wrap it around my waist twice now which doesn’t help for crunching up and pain.

I started scar gel this week and had my first ultrasound massage which felt like it did help with smoothing things out and breaking up some of the hard areas which could be scar tissue. I am still pretty swollen so it’s hard to tell what’s scar tissue or just swollen. After the massage I’ve been in more pain than normally which isn’t fun at all. I will continue massages once a week for the next 6-8 weeks to help with smoothing the scar out, hopefully they won’t all be as painful as today was.

What else can I report… Umm I’m still not sleeping on my stomach, still am pretty swollen with even more in the evenings, get tired fast, can’t walk as fast or far as I would like, and am definitely going stir crazy without being intimate with my husband hint hint ;p

I didn’t really see much of an appearance change from 2 to 3 weeks besides I do seem more swollen now than I did before. I struggle with not known what the final outcome will look like and if I will be tighter than I am now. I hate looking at how flat and flabby my butt and legs have become, can’t wait to get back in the gym (this weekend).

I can’t think of anything else so any questions you have let me know!!

15 Day Post Op

I finally made it to two weeks and 1 day, yay!!! Things are getting better day by day. I still have aa little back pain going on and random pains on my sides almost like stretching pains but other than that its going pretty good. I of course still need to watch what I do, your stomach will tell you when its too much.

I have been back to work now for a week and its been pretty easy going. I have a desk job so that's made it manageable. AS long as you get up and walk around every so often you'll be fine.

As you can see I am still swollen but it has gone down. I was only able to get 1 picture before my phone dies but i'll get more this weekend. My scar is healing good but still have some bruising.

Hmm what else would be helpful at week two.. I feel lke everything is in slow motion lol. I was able to shower at day 8, back to work at day 9, slept in my own bed at day 9, was finally able to start sleeping on my sides at day 12 and 13.

I had my follow up post op apt today which went very good. I was planning on wearing my CG for another week but the doctor gave me the ok to switch to a spandex one this weekend, yay!!!! I will wear this one at night still because there's more padding and then the spandex one during the day so I can maybe start wearing normal clothes. I will start my scar gel treatment to help the tissue heal next week and I also start my scar massage theory next week on a weekly basis. Besides all this fun stuff I was given the ok to start using the treadmill or elliptical this weekend at the lowest speed and short distances. I am so excited to start doing a few normal things again (Or start of).

I will be at this stage for the next 4 weeks, yikes! Hoping for a good outcome and results :)

Provider Review

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
4825 Olson Memorial Hwy. (Hwy. 55), Minneapolis, Minnesota
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