Can't Wait to See the Final Results! - Palo Alto, CA

It's been 2 weeks and 1 day since my surgery and I'm doing great. I've been rubbing my bruised areas (mostly my lower thighs by my knees at this point) with Arnica creme a few times a day - making sure to massage toward the body) and it was helping my bruising, but I found that Dry Skin Brushing helped my swelling and bruising disappear almost completely within 4 days!! The swelling will come back if you are too active before your body is ready, but I've been doing it every morning (and sometimes when I get home from work) before I shower and it has made such a huge difference. Plus it is just good for you and makes your skin baby soft...

Dry skin brushing is a great way to stimulate lymphatic drainage, so it's important to drink lots of water in order to flush the toxins out of your system. Here is a link if you want to learn more about it: http://www.naturalhealthtechniques.com/healingtechniques/dry_brushing_technique.htm

I'm not a doctor, so please make sure you discuss this with your doctor first - I was comfortable doing this to myself because of where I was in the healing process, but your doc may recommend waiting a certain amount of time after surgery to start this!

Otherwise I'm a little frustrated with the hardness I feel in my flanks and waist, but I've been massaging it daily and am hoping it will go away within the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted! And I'll post some more after pics very soon!!

So, it's been a week and a day since my surgery, and my skin is still numb in certain areas on my abdomen, but the feeling is starting to come back in many areas. It makes it hard to scratch itches when you can't feel your hand, but other than that things are going well.

I went back to work this week and it has been tough sitting upright all day as my compression garment bunches at the smallest part of my waist and digs into my skin. Also, when I stand up after lying down for an extended period of time, there is one spot on my mid-back that experiences sharp pain once the blood starts flowing. I find that if I sit up for a moment then slowly stand this is greatly reduced, but it is still hard to get up and turn my alarm clock off.

I'm still thrilled with the results so far and I'll be getting my sutures removes tomorrow. I will take a few more pics once my bruising gets a little better.

I have found that topical arnica works loads better than the oral pellets, too. Hope this helps someone!!

Also - FYI, my surgeon informed me that she removed 3 LITERS of fat... more than she anticipated. I hid it well before (at least I think so) but now you can see how much more of a waist I have. And a flat tummy... I LOVE it!