Spiceyfrog

Hello all, I have learned a ton from everyone's reviews on this site, so am hoping I can do the same for something else. I had a T tummy tuck and full upper inner thigh lift along with a hernia repair on December 29th. The surgery was six hours and the doctor removed five pounds of skin. The surgery went great. The day after surgery my hemoglobin became low, which required a blood transfusion. For that reason, I stayed two nights in the hospital. I live nearly two hours from the hospital, but took medication just before leaving and do not remember much of the ride home. A couple things that have been life savers for me are; I rented a reclining lift chair and purchased a toilet seat riser. The incisions from my thigh lift go around the back of my leg, under by butt cheek, which makes it very difficult to sit on ANYTHING, therefore I use the bathroom holding myself up on the handles on the seat riser. I purchased a shower chair but becuase I cannot sit have not used it and also purchase a walker, but have not needed that. I feel fortunate from what I have seen on other posts because I can walk standing perfectly straight. Don't get me wrong, it takes me a minute to get stretched out when I stand up, but not bad at all. I have stayed on top of medication, taking pain medication every fours hours, along with Vitamins, Iron, laxitive, etc. I had my first bowl movement today, not as bad as I expected, but I sure am glad it's over with. I have five drains and was able to take my first shower yesterday, which was amazing! I have been recording the drain output three times a day and they are doing great. I have to call tomorrow to schedule my post-op appointment. They all take place on Saturdays, so I am planning to go down December 7th to have some of the drains removed. I am prepared to keep a couple, but based on the minimal drainage, it would be amazing if he removed them all. My insurance paid for the hernia repair and most of the tummy tuck. My out of pocket expense was $11,300. I am attaching a couple pictures for reference and would be happy to answer any questions I can.

Hi there - I had a brachioplasty in December 2015 and still do not have complete feeling in my upper arms. They are not numb, but almost a little painful at time when I hit them on something or someone touches them. I had a inner thigh lift and TT in December 2016 and my inner legs are very sensitive when I shave and my tummy is still pretty numb.

My incision was never infected. That was just a good decision for me personally. I "could" have gone back to work after four, but I was more comfortable with six. I am still wearing yoga pants for the flexibility because of the groin incisions not being 100% healed. Typical "work pants/polyester" don't have much give when sitting, etc., so I have played it safe. I am going to try on my work pants this weekend around the house and hopefully resume normal attire on Monday. Yoga pants are comfortable and all, but you start to feel frumpy after a while. My stomach incisions were never really sore. There was a pulling sensation, but never hurt. Now, don't get me wrong, they were and still are a little bit tender.

Hi there - just checking in with a quick update. It's been a hectic month. My husband left January 28th to work in Saudi Arabia for a bit, so I have been on the go! I ended up taking a total of six weeks off work and it was the best decision ever. I am 12 weeks post-op now and about 95% back to normal. At my last appointment, which was at nine weeks I was released to resume light exercise, 15 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on the elliptical. As you know, I had some really SLOW healing groin incisions. As you will see from todays pictures, I am down to about a one inch spot that I think will be fully healed in the next week or so. At this point, my tummy tuck was 100% work it, I would have paid a million bucks for it. I have mixed emotions about my thigh lift. I am glad my inner thighs no longer sag, but I chose the full incision (almost down to my knees), in hopes that my entire upper leg would have been tighter. I am going to talk to the doctor about a revision at my next appointment in April. Based on how long my groin incisions took to heal, I would never have those redone. The scars are going to be thick, but the placement could not have been much better.

Has anyone heard from or seen posts from Djmohr ? I am concerned that I have not heard from her since her surgery and hope she is doing okay!

The most valuable items I had were a reclining lift chair, I rented it for two months, slept in it for about two weeks and still use it during the day just because i still have it. A toilet seat riser, I had incisions half way under each butt cheek and could not sit, with the seat riser you can hold yourself up w the handles. Lastly, a lanyard to hold your drains while in the shower, to free up your hands. I like many other have been getting around 90 grams of Protein. If you are going to have groin incisions, plan on sitting around with your legs wide open for weeks. I had initially taken four weeks off work, I am now in my sixth, it such a dry moist area, they are just hard to get to heal. Best of luck to you!

@@Kaylamh I had brachioplasty and a breast lift/augmentation and this recovery has been by far much worse. I took two weeks off for that procedure and the thing I could not do was lift my hands over my head for three weeks. I am four weeks postop and was supposed to go back to work tomorrow, but am taking another week. I know that I have expressed a lot of concern about my groin incisions, but they are not getting any worse so I truly believe they just take a LONG time to heal. I see the doc again next saturday, so I am very anxious for that appointment.

@@Raymia I am feeling pretty good. I was supposed to go back to work tomorrow, but I took one more week, in hopes of my groin incisions healing up some more. There is no possible way I could wear pants for 8 hours at this point. My tummy and inner thighs are looking great, just those darn groin incisions!

@TheRealMeIsHere! That's the weird thing, it's not pus, it is completely dry.?.?

Well, I am just over three weeks postop and things are going average. My stomach incision are looking good and I am finally able to sneeze without feeling like I am going to die. My groin incisions on the other hand are taking their sweet time. I was a bit concerned, so called my surgeon late last week. I ended up emailing him pictures and he said not to worry, just continue keeping them dry. Well, as anyone who has had this done knows, that is much easier said than done. I am currently blow drying after each bathroom use and after each shower. He said no powder, so other than sitting her with my legs wide open, I am at a loss. So, anyone who has been through this and has tricks of the trade, they would be appreciated. These incisions feel like they are on fire when I walk too much (which is very little). I am scheduled to be off work two more weeks, but have no idea what I am going to do when I go back. I guess I'll take my blow dryer and go to the bathroom every hour :-)

@@JamieLogical, that is cute and a great memory! It's crazy, the impact it has on lifting. I made a huge pan of lasagna earlier in the week and could not out it in the oven!

@@bikerchick519 The reason mine was covered was because I had lost 100 pounds after having bariatric surgery. It was the simplest process ever, no questions, no paperwork, no pictures, etc. They must have a great billing department :-) An update in general - I had my two week postop appointment last Saturday and the doctor took out the last two drains. It is unbelievable how much easier it is to get around. I can walk faster because those dumb things are not pulling. I can take a shower faster because I don't have to wash around them and best of all, I have not had any swelling since he pulled them. I was only getting around 7.5ml from each drain, so I guess that's not surprising. Doc said to continue wearing my abdominal garment until all of my scabbing is gone, then I can transfer to the full body (cannot wait....lol). He answered a few minor questions I had and wants to see me again in three weeks. I had planned on going back to work in two weeks, but looks like it will be three, which is okay. I still cannot drive for another week, which again is okay because I do not physically feel like I should be driving, just don't think my response time would be appropriate. Other than that, I feel about 75% right now. My husband and I have gone to lunch/dinner a couple times and grocery shopping, so nothing serious but I felt good afterwards. Hope everyone else is doing well!

@@PrettyThick1 I was thinking exactly that. I never in my life would have thought of a tattoo on my stomach because I hated looking at it, but it's going o be so different.

@melunruh@melunruh My last appointment went well. He said everything looked good and took three drains out. I go back this Saturday to get the other out - cannot wait! I am exactly two weeks today and feeling better each day!

That's exactly why I did it. I also have an aunt who had a tummy tuck and still has a muffin top - no thank you!

The only before picture I have, is the one that I am wearing jeans in. I may have an unrelated one, I will take a look. The behind photos were not great because you cannot see my leg incisions from behind. I took some new ones today, with each leg up and you can see the leg incision and the end of the incision under my butt cheek. I also included a behind view of the tummy incision. Don't mind my saggy butt, that will be next...lol As I was uploading I found the last picture of me in a bra, that was this time last year before my brachioplasty and augmentation/lift, that shows most of my stomach.

I initially lost 105, but have maintained 95.

That is an expensive belly button. Did you take out an insurance policy on it? I know and right now it's not even pretty!!

The incisions go around my back a couple inches, they do not meet. I am not positive as for the thigh lift. Pre-op, we had talked about if I just wanted the groin incision of the full inner upper thigh incision. I decided, for maximum results, I could live with the full upper length scar. The scar actually does not go all the way to my knee, so I am happy about that, you will never see it with Bermuda shorts on. As far is going around under my butt cheek, I did not expect that, so added bonus for me. It goes about half way across, under my butt cheek.

He said, now the nurses are going to give you some instructions about walking, but as long as you are comfortable, just walk as normal as you feel comfortable. Now, I haven't been getting crazy and bending backwards and don't get me wrong, it takes a minute to straighten up when I've been sitting or sleeping, but I just walk normal, I do not consciously tell myself to stay bent over. I'm counting on your luck on the 7th, they don't hurt, they are just annoying.

Dr. Vincent DiNick, in Ypsilanti, MI, he was fabulous!

Yes, because that is the type of tummy tuck I opted for (the incision was not related to the hernia). If it is too invasive for you, by all means you can just have the horizontal incision. I figured I was paying $11,000, I was opting for the best possible results and for me that included curves on my sides. My other thought aside from the cost, was I did not want to not be unsatisfied with the results and have to go through the pain and healing again.

My insurance paid for a complete tummy tuck, with the exception of the reconstruction of my belly button because that was not considered medically necessary, so I paid $2,200 for a belly button :-)

Hello there - I am only four days post op, but at this point the reclining lift chair, toilet seat riser and lanyard have been lifesavers. I had a hernia repair, tummy tuck and inner thigh lift. The incisions from my thigh lift go around the back of my leg, under my butt, so at this point it's hard for me to sit on nearly anything. I literally hold myself up on the handles of the toilet sear riser. My only other recommendations would be to stay on top of your pain medication. Best of luck to you!

What is the best (based on personal experience) compression garment for a tummy tuck and thigh lift? I ordered a Salome 0520 Liposuction Compression Garments Post Surgery Girdle Faja Colombiana Black M from Amazon. It said in the reviews that it ran small, so I ordered a Med and it fit fine in the legs, but I could not even get it clasped around my stomach. I debated on keeping it because my stomach will of course be much smaller, but wondered with all the swelling in the beginning, if I would be able to get it done up. Do you typically have to order one size for right after surgery, then another once the swelling goes down? Thank you all in advance!