Saddlebags finally gone - I am totally stoked

I'm in bed writing this about 24 hours after having smart lipo on my outer thighs. Each thigh from above my knee to my hip is wrapped in a tight ace bandage with gauze at my incision points--lower thigh and hip--four in all--with a compression garment over all that to keep everything in place. the results are 100% noticeable which makes me so happy even though my skin is not yet smooth and even. the way the ace bandage wraps, it sort of leaves some areas packed in and others a little puffy. there is still tumescent numbing liquid in there, leaking out slowly as it is supposed to do.

Before the surgery i was sent a folder with a packet detailing every possible healing complication, plus a checklist of what supplements to buy and what prescriptions would be headed my way. and covid testing information. it was all incredibly organized. i ordered the vitamedica kit and was taking those as per the instructions, but not as consistently as i would have because i did have a hospital visit for an obstructed bowel while preparing for lipo, which pushed my surgery date back a week. that was a little nightmare adventure i wouldn't wish on anyone. but back to the story...

My biggest fears regarding lipo were complications, recovery pain, and results. so far my fears have been all but eradicated. i have a follow up appointment on friday september 17. i am supposed to wear the ace bandage for two days. then just band aids over the sutures, plus the compression garment, which is a Marena pair of high waisted crops with a cut out to go to the bathroom. it is hard for my body to trust that it can pee while wearing a compression girdle, but it works.

I was given a script for four medications: oxy, valium, an antibiotic and an anti-nausea drug. i don't feel the need for the narcotics at the moment. Even though i am sore, the pain is bearable. the nurses told me that i did well in surgery and that others before me have cried or complained during the procedure. i felt like a champ.

There were about four nurses in the OR with Dr. Claytor and they were all incredibly kind and friendly and helped to calm my nerves. one of the nurses was scheduled to have some tummy lipo done by the doctor later that day which really reassured me that this would be okay. in the exam room before my surgery i was given an oxycodone, a valium and an anti-nausea pill.

The most painful part of the procedure was the pinching feeling of getting the tumescent numbing. i asked for an additional oxytocin's during that time and was given it. first there are surface injections which didn't bother me too much. that needle is very thin, 30g if i remember correctly. the pain of the actual surgery was minimal. i was awake and the nurses procured a sheet in front of my face so i wouldn't be able to see the operation but i could hear the machines whirring and we were all talking and listening to music.

I requested Sia which was a nice break from the country Dr. Claytor prefers. We talked about my jobs a personal trainer, I told them how surreal this all felt after wanting lipo ever since i read about it in Elle magazine, when i was fifteen, which was 37 years ago. they pointed out the container of fat, which i was definitely interested in. 1300ccs were taken in all. some of the fat was on me and the table when it was over. little orange beads of my outer thigh fat. they cleaned me and the table up very well.

They sent me home with an additional set of gauze pads and ace bandages, plus pee-pee pads for my bed which i don't seem to need. i have to sleep on my back and not on my side. i have a big pillow propped under my knees and and behind my back. like an adjustable hospital bed but more comfortable. i'm sleeping a good amount and getting up and walking around as per the doctor's instructions. i've walked my dogs twice. not all the way around the block, but up and down the block.

The most painful times are getting in and out of bed. the first few steps of walking around are uncomfortable but then it gets easier. i take the stairs with minimal discomfort but slowly. i filled the dishwasher, took a shower, rewrapped myself and though they told me not to, i am inspecting myself in the mirror. despite the initial weird contours due to swelling and numbing fluid, i am totally stoked.

In the past i did sculpsure a number of times with definite but very minimal results. i was sick of paying what became thousands of dollars and still not getting the saddlebag free look i was after so i saved up for the procedure and am so glad i did. My husband was majorly supportive considering he was pretty against me doing this. this is definitely one of the reasons i waited so long to get it done. but i saved my money and he came around.