Realistic expectations set and excellent results

I had always been a little overweight. About 11 years ago I started exercising and eating a healthy diet. I lost 70 pounds. Over the last 2 years, I fluctuated with gaining 10 - 17 pounds back. No matter what I did, the weight just kept staying there. At 37 years old, I decided I would use liposuction to help with those areas that the fat just keeps sticking to - the area's that I think most women struggle with as they start to age (full abdomen area, flanks, inner thighs and knees). Below is my daily experience after surgery. Surgery day: I was the last patient of the day and it got delayed by an hour. Once the Doctor was ready for me, we took my photo's and began marking up the areas I wanted done. We talked about what kind of results I was looking for and once we were done, the anesthesiologist was there getting me prepped. After a bit of a struggle with my veins not cooperating, she got the tube to stick. I was brought to the operating room and the anesthesia was administered. I remember saying "will this make me say stupid things when I wake up" and then the next thing I knew I was being woke up to someone calling my name. Apparently 3 hours or so had passed, I was zipped up in my compression garment and wearing the baggy clothes I had brought over the garment. I was freezing! They keep the room cold and put warm blankets on me before and after surgery but I guess the shock to your body can make some people really really cold and their temp drops a little. Also, I was so thirsty! I hadn't drank in nearly 24 hours since I couldn't eat or drink anything so many hours before surgery.  Following surgery: I felt a little groggy at first and was fine in the evening. Able to eat food and laugh. Was making jokes with my fiance about how I looked with a diaper on! Lots of leaking of fluids from my open incisions (this was the worst part of the whole experience). Had to wear a diaper and extra maxi pads I had to put around the inside of the leg opening of my garments because the initial surgical pads were not holding enough and I put lots of pee pads and garbage bags on bed to keep fluids from ruining sheets. It looked like a murder scene in the hotel with all of the leaking (every time I pee'd the toiled had blood colored fluid around it). I did not have to take pain pills this not.  Day 1 after surgery: I was very very very tired and sore. I didn't remember much from the day before, gotta love anesthesia! My fiance drove us home from Seattle to Spokane. I slept most of the drive but was tender when hitting bumps or getting in and out of the car. I did take a shower this day. I was scared to take my garment off for fear of what I'd see. It felt weird to take the garment off, I couldn't wait to get it back on - it makes you feel secure even if it's annoying. I was very bruised but not as bad as I had though I'd be. I was still leaking quite a bit and had to put new incision pads as well as maxi pads over the areas where the open wounds were after my shower. Was still wearing a diaper too. I did not take pain pills but did take 3 Tylenol. Noticed swelling was already going down as garment was getting looser - had to call and ask the doctor to send me a smaller size. Also, fiance noticed results immediately saying stomach was way flatter - I noticed my thighs were smaller. But, skin was saggy on belly but tight on thighs at this point.  Day 2 after surgery: This day I was the most sore. Did go for a light and short walk down the street and back with dogs - that's was a little painful but bearable. So, sore and lots of leaking still happening. Only took Tylenol though as pain wasn't unbearable - just very very tender and sore feeling. Sleeping was the worst, every time I turned it was painful (though still not excruciating or unbearable). Day 3: Pretty sore this day - not much different than the previous day. I was way less tired and able to do a little more walking around. Was able to do a walk around neighborhood with dogs - was painful but bearable. Leaking is starting to subside although not completely. Tried taking a shower on my own and got really lightheaded - I think this was from not sitting for a little bit after taking off the compression garment. Still only taking Tylenol.  Day 4: Soreness is getting better. I was still sore and tender but able to vacuum and do house chores and walk around. The leaking is pretty much stopping with the exception of my lower ab incisions - they were leaking a little so I continued to wear a diaper this day. Still only taking Tylenol.  Day 5: No leaking this day. Had to fly from Spokane, WA to Atlanta, GA. It was rough wearing the compression garment under clothes (was quite warm as this was August). I made sure to go to the bathroom twice on each flight and took time to walk in place by the bathrooms to keep blood flowing. I was still pretty tender but noticeably better. I could also notice the swelling was going down quite a bit.  Day 6/7/8: Got new smaller compression garment which felt so much better as the other one was getting really loose. Was tender but getting much better. Was able to sit through hours of training and dinners and events with colleagues. Flight home was fine, drank lots of water and made sure to move around as much as possible. No leaking at all after day 4. Still taking Tylenol to help with tenderness. Started doing the massages on myself - this hurts at first but really does help with gets the bumps to go away (and after time it stops hurting and starts feeling good). Day 9 - 30 - Tenderness continued to subside day by day. Was still pretty tender under day 30 (little movements you could feel discomfort with). Swelling was reducing significantly every day. My second garment was too big after only a few days. Stopped taking Tylenol. Most bruising was gone by day 15. Legs and knees took the longest for the bruising to go away. Flew to England for work and then spent 1 week in France doing tons of walking - felt absolutely fine and had no issues. Drank lots of water though.  Day 30 - 60 - Tenderness is pretty minimal except for when I do hard massages. Also, when I run or jump, it feels like my skin is being pulled off my body unless I'm wearing something tight or holding my sides. I can clearly see my results though I can feel there is still some swelling in my lower back and knees. Incisions are healing up nicely but still very noticeable. My results are not drastic, most people would never know I had something done (which is ok with me). My clothes fit so much better, my pants are not so snug. At my 6 month check up I was down 9 pounds and I'm able to fit into my size 8 pants (was wearing a 10/12 prior to surgery). Comments: It will be painful for the first 10 day - expect to feel like you were beaten up. But to me, the pain wasn't anything unbearable and Tylenol was enough to take the edge off. There are stages of itching - even 2 months after I have these weird itching sensations (not too overwhelming and they go away quickly). Be prepared with adult diapers, maxi pads or adult pee pads, pee bed pads and I used vet tape to keep the maxi pads in place around my knees. Also, I took Arnica to help with the bruising and I think it worked great. I followed my doctors advice and had no alcohol 10 days prior to surgery and began eating a low carb diet as well. I continued with low card as much as possible even now - I eat carbs but just try to watch my intake and ensure I have a balanced healthy diet. I also made sure to walk just about every day to keep the blood flowing. I wore my garment for 4 weeks. My results so far a pretty good. I knew I'd have some saggy skin because of my weight loss a few years back. My stomach turned out better than I expected but I do notice the crepe like skin on my inner thighs were my stretch marks are - it's like this area of the skin looks bruised but it's the stretch marks. I can see where I will likely need a lift or tummy tuck in my older year but for now, this is exactly what I needed to feel confident in my clothes.  Dr. Lisa Precht and her staff were great. Dr. Precht gave me realistic and honest advice in our consultation and even encouraged me not to do liposuction on areas I had originally wanted to do as she didn't think I'd be happy with the results. I appreciated the candor and not feeling like I was being pushed to do more than I needed. Overall, it was a great experience.

Dr. Lisa Precht was wonderful. Due to weight loss through diet and exercise, my skin elasticity is not great. Dr. Precht was very honest and clear about the potential for saggy skin and crepe like skin by moving forward with liposuction. She advised me not to do areas I had originally wanted to do because of this. Overall, the results are better than we expected for skin retraction. The results are natural and exactly what I wanted. I appreciated Dr. Precht's honesty and professionalism. The staff are all very friendly and supportive along the way.