Upper, Lower Abs, Waist, Outer and Inner Thighs - Portland, OR

I had my pre-op at 4pm on 4/30/2012 and I was kind of discouraged overall but I am still somewhat hopeful. I am 43, 130 lbs, I run, bike, and lift weights at home and at 24 hr. fitness 1-2 hrs a day 6-7 days a week. I wear a heart rate monitor always when I work out, I count what I burn then calculate what I can eat, I eat no meat, avoid cheese and bread, and watch the quality and quantity of my food intake. My Body fat % is 25, the highest it has ever been as an adult and I have determined that a combination of 1. age and hormonal changes 2. being in school and sitting on my behind many hours a day and 3. eating/ drinking a few hundred calories more than I burn have contributed to my growing midsection. I could add additional structure to my life and eliminate all joy I receive from beer and wine "in moderation" but decided for a graduation/ birthday present instead.

I have always had a tummy pooch it is just larger now than I prefer. I also have large for my size legs, muscular with some side bags I have also always detested. The doc came in and after the requisite questions I pointed out the belly fat I wanted to have removed, which was clear to him, but I described the fact that I would like to sit and not have a belly roll over the top of my jeans. He said even models have some rolls and that the sagging of the flesh likely could not be corrected. I said I would like to see my belly button. He qualified his response with the fact the skin was already hanging over so he could not guarantee that I would see my belly button. He agreed that he could make it flatter. He then looked at my thighs and asked what I was expecting to be done on my inner thighs. OMG. It was sort of embarrassing to have to show a doctor what I wanted corrected. I mentioned bike shorts and the sausage legs that form when I wear them. I got the distinct impression that he didn't feel there was much to do so I felt like I was having to justify myself. Take a look at the pics, I am not emaciated in the least but actually a good candidate for this type of procedure. This was an unexpected awkwardness for me. I asked about my outer thigh and he said sure, there is some fat there and he can shave that off some but generally said I had muscular legs. I asked about knee and he said there wasn't much there. Saves me a grand which is nice but I said I was interested in having it done if blending with the inner thigh was necessary. He didn't say anything else. I told him I was feeling discouraged in kind of a light hearted but defeated tone, like he could not remedy my complaints. He said he could but that there wasn't much there so it was an easy case for him. That seemed a mix of odd and hopeful. I mean, I can grab handfuls of flesh with fat on my belly, I am surprised that it is not enough to feel confident to suck out. (And yes, I am in the medical field and understand the need for subcutaneous fat) But, that he is doing it means there must be enough for him to feel that I will see results because If I don't see results then he doesn't have a satisfied customer.

He didn't encourage the knee so he didn't up-sell me there. I asked about the waist and what determines waist because I wanted to confirm what the consultant said about doing my waist not my hips because of blending. Based on the diagrams the waist includes the lower back and I pointed out the little fat roll I have in back (flanks) that blends with the upper hip. He said that it was a fine line between hips and waist and he grabbed a piece he said was my problem area (yay, he actually recognized something) and said that it was so small he would do it with my waist. So, It was all kind of light hearted, our interactions, but I feel a little discouraged as though what I am having done is not enough to warrant the cost. But then I am getting the flanks done and no knee so hopefully I will at least be trimmer in he mid section with my skinny jeans.

Stats: Age: 43 Weight: 130 Height: 5' 5.3/4" Waist 1" above naval: 28.5" Waist at naval: 29" Waist 1" below naval: 33" R. Thigh: 21" L. Thigh: 21"

My procedure was on Monday April 30th. I was scheduled at 8am, got into the OR at 9:30 perhaps? I was on Demerol, valium and xanax so I was not super aware of fine details like time. But, when I was done, two staff squeezed me into my body suit, squeezed absorbent pads into the suit to soak up the drainage, sat me in a wheel chair, rolled me out at 12:30 (my ride was told 11am) and we were back to my home at 1pm.
I left with 13 holes:

3 on each side of my abdomen/ flank (6 total)
1 on each inner thigh (2 total)
2 on each outer thigh the second under my butt cheek (the ones I didn’t know about) (4 total)
1 between my breasts for the upper abdomen.

Puppy training Wee Wee pads for the couch and bed were laid out and I spent most of the day dozing under a blanket until I felt wet and needed a change. This occurred several times in part because the drainage was leaking rapidly, It could be seen running down my body as I was switching out the pads, but also that there were two holes I didn’t know about because they were in my bottom, meant I was soaking several jammy pants quickly. Every couple of hours I changed pads and took my Percocet and antibiotic at the prescribed intervals. But, by 6pm I was feeling well enough to receive a visit from a friend and walk to the corner for a light dinner. At 1am we were up, changed pads and I took my meds. I took meds again at 5 am and changed the pads again at 7am which is when we realized we had completely missed the holes in my bottom. The drainage was serosanguinous, red but mostly a mix of the saline with lidocaine (they pump in for numbing) and body fluid not blood, and was minimal by post up morning day one.

Post op day one May 1st, I did not take any more Percocet. I had given myself just 2 days to recover with work looming on Thursday so If possible, I needed to be off meds and feel what I was capable of without covering any existing pain or sleeping two days away. I did laundry, some housekeeping, washed my bedding and the pressure garment and dried it while I showered. I continued to drain but minimally. I had no real pain, just stiffness as if I had worked out hard and was sore. I was tired and dozed a bit on the couch again but also managed a walk to the store in the evening. I also lacked much of an appetite.

Post op day two, May 2nd, was my birthday. I was a bit more sore and kept discomfort at bay with q6 hr. 500 mg doses of Tylenol. I took a walk, did some school work off and on, ate a little more than the day before, took a brief nap, showered and washed my garment again.

Post op day three May 3rd, I am back at work. Stiff standing and sitting down and slow moving but with Tylenol I suspect I will be just fine.

Day 3 post-op: I worked today but as it was an admin/ training day I was able to sit much of the day. I am more sore than Day 2, I feel like I have pulled muscles from lifting or working out too hard and need a day of rest Generally I feel tired but I don't know if this is to the procedure or my schedule. I don't have a scale so I can't tell of a weight change, not that it really matters but I did take my measurements while I washed the garment.
Waist 1" above naval: 29" (+.5")
Waist at naval: 30" (+1)
Waist 1" below naval 32" (-1")
R. thigh 21.5 (+.5)
L. thigh 21.5 (+.5)

So, clearly from the measurements, I feel a little puffy and am not seeing any changes yet. I took a walk with the garment off this evening and felt less comfortable than with everything being held snug. As the swelling goes down I will take measurements and move into the 2nd stage garment. I am also noticing more visible brusing and the collection of swelling/ fluid in places gravity takes it ie: I had lower abs sucked so the fluid is collecting below the lower abs. Yuck. That will hopefully go away. Depending on how I feel I may even do a light workout, upper body only, on Saturday.