POSTED UNDER Body Lift Reviews
Tummy Tuck Outer Thigh Buttock Lift
UPDATED FROM Lola4032
1 year post
Tummy Tuck
Lola4032January 16, 2019
$13,000
I had Tummy Tuck buttock thigh lift 1year ago Dec 2018 my journey was very rough. But in the end it was worth it!! I had total 20lbs taken off. Everything went great until 3 days later and I was losing too much blood so they had to take me back to surgery to cauterize the bleeding. I then came home and 1 day later I felt horrible. I went to see the surgeon and she had to open my back do to abscess of the wound. I got home and ended back to the hospital in TCU for 6 days I had infection all over almost sepsis scary. I ended up with 3 wounds open 2 in the front and one in the back and these were huge! I got to come home Christmas Day only with antibiotics given to me around the clock and I had to have home health to come and change my dressings and give me antibiotics. Then I had to see a Infectious disease doctor and a wound care doctor and just about everyday seeing my surgeon. I had to be on a wound vac for 6 months. It was a very rough road. Here I am 1 year later and I am very Happy not carrying all that fat and skin! No I'm not perfect and my tummy is not flat but omg I am so much better than where I was last year! So worth it in the end!! Refer to my before pics and these are my after
UPDATED FROM Lola4032
30 days post
Tummy Tuck outer thigh buttock lift
Lola4032January 7, 2018
It's hard to believe my surgery is 4 wks post op already! Unfortunately I have had quite a handful of complications along the way! From having go back to surgery for blood loss lots and lots of antibiotics which happy to say is down to 1 right now. I am now on a wound vac praying this will help and speed up the recovery! I now have to see a wound doctor on a weekly basis and they do debridement which means scraping the wounds. Ouch thank God they try to numb me with lidocaine! I was having spells of almost passing out. Just found out I'm Anemic on top of everything else. But I am getting there it's going to be a long road ahead but we will get there!! This is my friend for a while my wound vac!! No fun to carry but it's going to get me better! Keep you posted Real Self peeps
Replies (3)
NakedAndAfraid123
January 8, 2018
I admire your spirit and strength and wish you all the best in healing this year.
Lola4032
January 9, 2018
Thank you it's rough but I am trying. What type of surgery did you have? Any complications?
January 8, 2018
Lola - the wound doc is what you need ...
You are in good hands now ...
At 4 weeks, I was still very week and tired. I totally missed the month of October with my surgery the end of September.
Just lie back and be a princess - nothing else to do but heal. Heck, at 4 weeks I still could lie in my bed. That didn't happen until week 7 (I think).
What I have learned is - healing takes a long time. So much longer than I would every imagine.
Hang in there Lola .... the results are worth it !!!
You are in good hands now ...
At 4 weeks, I was still very week and tired. I totally missed the month of October with my surgery the end of September.
Just lie back and be a princess - nothing else to do but heal. Heck, at 4 weeks I still could lie in my bed. That didn't happen until week 7 (I think).
What I have learned is - healing takes a long time. So much longer than I would every imagine.
Hang in there Lola .... the results are worth it !!!
January 9, 2018
Hi there my friend! I know believe me I am thankful to see a wound doctor even though it hurts! The debridement no fun but I know it has to be done.Its just really hard when you can't do anything. My house is driving me nuts and I want to clean. Ugh! I can't do much anyway soon as I am on my feet I feel like I am going to pass out. That's the Anemia I'm sure. I am taking Iron now. We're you on a wound vac or any complications? I had a meltdown my wound vac quit working last night and my friend that's been helping me was going to have to go home. I was freaking out! Because I can't do it. Anyway thank God it all worked out. I was hoping 6 wks for the wound vac they told me could be months! I'm trying to stay positive but it's not easy! How are you doing?
January 12, 2018
Hi Lola ...
You asked if I was on a wound vac or any complications?
Preface:
My doctor only put in 1 drain on the left side of my body at incision area - that went around to the middle of the front. Reasoning - I had 7" long scare from gallbladder surgery (1989).
My Lower Body Lift was a modified version because of this scar.
(Meaning - doc didn't take as much skin off in the front or the skin could die, in that area, after being pulled down in place) I went to 3 other plastic surgeons and they would not even do the surgery on me cause of this scar.
After surgery:
With only 1 drain, it was filling up all the time. At 3 weeks my body was rejecting the drain so doc removed it. It wasn't ready to come out based on output of fluids. 3 days after the drain was gone, the front part of my incision was like a dam bursting. The good news is it was only a few small pin holes - bad news the drainage lasted for 14 weeks in that area.
Where my 1 and only drain was placed in my side - the skin really tore more than normal from the compression garments - I am at 15 weeks now and it is still draining about ever 3 days. I know it is healing. I had my doc appointment yesterday - he said I can swim again now after 15 weeks - finally.
It has been hard on me to exercise since swimming and water exercise is my fun place. (I need right knee replacement surgery, so ortho doc only allows me to swim or ride a bike. Pain is too great with other activities. I should do the knee replacement surgery instead of getting rid of excess skin).
At 2 weeks post op:
Doc said I was twisting my torso too much and if I didn't stop the skin wouldn't re-attach correctly. I set myself back several weeks in healing per doc.
At 3 weeks post op:
My upper legs swelled so bad (lymphatic fluid issue). I took my measurements before surgery. My thighs gained 3" in each leg. It was so gross when I walked like 2 water balloons hitting each other. Now at 15 weeks, the measurement is still the same; but, I have gained 30 lbs since my surgery. Bad me - working on getting it off again. I need my swimming badly. All that sitting around, no exercises and eating comfort food wasn't good for me.
Good news:
As of last week (14 weeks), I am finally alive again to go none stop (my normal ADHD lifestyle). I am so surprised it has taken this long - never expected such a long recovery when I started this journey. I have had 7 other surgeries in my life and never ever has it taken this long to recover. I asked my PS if this was because of my age (63) - he said NO. Why do other bounce back faster - don't know - everybody is different ...
Future Surgery:
I am suppose to have an upper body lift at the end of this month. I cancelled it. I need some time to mentally recover, too. I will have it done at some point this year. First need to get the weight off again and maintain for a few months.
My complications and set backs are nothing compared to what you and others have/had to go through. I have read some really horrible stories on this web site of what others have had to go through cause of complications. Even puts your experience as a walk in the park. Not that you aren't going through crap right now - I am deeply sorry ... Lola, hang in there ... my thoughts are with you.
You asked if I was on a wound vac or any complications?
Preface:
My doctor only put in 1 drain on the left side of my body at incision area - that went around to the middle of the front. Reasoning - I had 7" long scare from gallbladder surgery (1989).
My Lower Body Lift was a modified version because of this scar.
(Meaning - doc didn't take as much skin off in the front or the skin could die, in that area, after being pulled down in place) I went to 3 other plastic surgeons and they would not even do the surgery on me cause of this scar.
After surgery:
With only 1 drain, it was filling up all the time. At 3 weeks my body was rejecting the drain so doc removed it. It wasn't ready to come out based on output of fluids. 3 days after the drain was gone, the front part of my incision was like a dam bursting. The good news is it was only a few small pin holes - bad news the drainage lasted for 14 weeks in that area.
Where my 1 and only drain was placed in my side - the skin really tore more than normal from the compression garments - I am at 15 weeks now and it is still draining about ever 3 days. I know it is healing. I had my doc appointment yesterday - he said I can swim again now after 15 weeks - finally.
It has been hard on me to exercise since swimming and water exercise is my fun place. (I need right knee replacement surgery, so ortho doc only allows me to swim or ride a bike. Pain is too great with other activities. I should do the knee replacement surgery instead of getting rid of excess skin).
At 2 weeks post op:
Doc said I was twisting my torso too much and if I didn't stop the skin wouldn't re-attach correctly. I set myself back several weeks in healing per doc.
At 3 weeks post op:
My upper legs swelled so bad (lymphatic fluid issue). I took my measurements before surgery. My thighs gained 3" in each leg. It was so gross when I walked like 2 water balloons hitting each other. Now at 15 weeks, the measurement is still the same; but, I have gained 30 lbs since my surgery. Bad me - working on getting it off again. I need my swimming badly. All that sitting around, no exercises and eating comfort food wasn't good for me.
Good news:
As of last week (14 weeks), I am finally alive again to go none stop (my normal ADHD lifestyle). I am so surprised it has taken this long - never expected such a long recovery when I started this journey. I have had 7 other surgeries in my life and never ever has it taken this long to recover. I asked my PS if this was because of my age (63) - he said NO. Why do other bounce back faster - don't know - everybody is different ...
Future Surgery:
I am suppose to have an upper body lift at the end of this month. I cancelled it. I need some time to mentally recover, too. I will have it done at some point this year. First need to get the weight off again and maintain for a few months.
My complications and set backs are nothing compared to what you and others have/had to go through. I have read some really horrible stories on this web site of what others have had to go through cause of complications. Even puts your experience as a walk in the park. Not that you aren't going through crap right now - I am deeply sorry ... Lola, hang in there ... my thoughts are with you.
January 18, 2018
Hi there so sorry I just seen this message? With everything going on im sure you understand? Girlfriend you have been through alot too! I'm glad you are getting better. I had no idea this would be so hard to recover! I have never been through so much! And still going through! Now they are suggesting I do a Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber to help heal the tissues. Problem is you have to be commited to 5 days a week and 2 hrs in this thing. Waiting to see if insurance will cover? Plus I still have the wound vac lord knows how long? I still get chills and I shake when I am on my feet. They said it is because all this being sucked out of me! Then my wound doc tells me to take my pain meds before I see him then he won't give me my pain meds. Tells me I have to get them from my surgeon she started it and she will finish it. So she told me she would be happy to give me my meds if they won't. So today I go see her she tells me she wants me to see pain management like I am some kind of druggie I am pissed!! I am not addicted or do I want to take pain meds but I can't handle the pain when they take the sponges out or mess with the wound vac it's painful!! Thank you for letting me vent!!!! If I had to do it over No way!!!!
January 8, 2018
keep plugging along--I'm on a similar wound healing journey. mine is sloooowly getting smaller-also it's on my backside where incision meets bum crack, of all places. talk about being a clean freak. baby wipes are my friend after doing business.-
thanks for posting your inspiring story..keep us updated.
thanks for posting your inspiring story..keep us updated.
January 9, 2018
Hi there thank you for sharing your journey. If you don't mind me asking how long were you on the wound vac? I thought maybe 6 wks my nurse informed me that it could be months because of the size of the wounds what type of surgery did you have and what happened? Thank you
January 9, 2018
I had 360 lower body lift w/ TT & lipo all over legs/trunk and fat put back into buttocks. My wound (which was very deep and became large to me) did NOT require a vac but I'm familiar w/ them for other reasons but it does take some time as wound is healing from INSIDE OUT and vac helps this by removing excess drainage/infection as you know and it helps circulation to area directly. If you dig around this web site, you'll find others who can tell you their timeline. If wound is getting smaller....that's a PLUS. I was told that it gets worse before it gets better. THAT'S FOR SURE!! Oh it was UUUUUGGGGGLLLLLYYYY!!!! More advise is to crank up the protein in diet to help healing. It's hard but I'm working on at least 125grams/day. powder/shake/bar.
January 19, 2018
Hi sorry just getting back with you alot going on. Oh trust me I know all about getting the protein in and it's not easy! I can't believe how long it takes for wound healing. I have been through so much and now they are talking to me about hyperbaric oxygen they said it will help the tissues heal. So not sure yet? You keep up the good work!!
Replies (0)