BethinPA

I honestly don't know what the right answer is, but I had a traditional abdominoplasty and lower body lift 1/9/15. I've been struggling since then with a seroma, and it has stretched out my skin, so I have a smaller pannus again, which will require a revision in the future. I think our skin has stretched out so much due to obesity, that it stretches back out again really easily.

Glad things are going well!

That is great news!!

Thanks for sharing, AvaFern, - this is helpful to me, because I think I'm getting to that point. At about how many weeks were you when you went the alcohol route? And that was it, about a week later you were seroma free?

I'm glad you are doing well! Please take this time to take it easy and to heal!!

I asked my surgeon about them as well, and he is not a fan. He supports moisture and massaging the scars with lotion three times daily.

Thank you, CGJ!!

Yes, I agree. I saved for a year, and I also had to dip into my emergency fund, which I am now replenishing. If you borrow against your retirement, and later decide to leave the company, you may have to pay back in full what you have borrowed then and there, so I would definitely check out the fine print before going that route.

You have way more fortitude than I do! I'm still waiting for my area of dehiscence to heal completely (I'm down to scabs), and I will have to get a revision at some point since the seroma stretched me out. I had planned to get a breast lift in the near future, but now I don't even want to deal with any more surgery for a long while. My surgeon asked me how I was feeling emotionally when I was about a month out, and acknowledged that lots of patients feel depressed initially after this surgery. I appreciated that he brought it up, since most surgeons I know wouldn't ever want to bring such a thing up. I hope we are both up and about very soon!

I stopped a long time ago, my surgeon's meetings were never that great to begin with. I also found that there were certain people who just really needed attention, and tended to monopolize the time. They just weren't managed well, so I stopped going.

It was a weird day! I went through all of the steps, including some sedation, but the interventional radiologist couldn't find the seroma, and so didn't put the drain in. Best I can figure is that the fluid followed gravity and was towards my back, since I was laying down. I'm always standing up when the plastic surgeon sticks me and pulls the fluid out, so gravity helps to put the fluid where he can tap it. So I still feel the seroma, but I prefer not having the drain. I'm just hopeful that my body calms itself down soon! Thank you for asking!!

The silver lining is that I had my taxes done today, and since I spent so much on medical expenses for my surgery, my return was higher!

Oh my! I am upset about having to get a drain, I would be soooo upset if I had to get a wound vac! Are you working from home? I've been going to the doctor's office and getting my seroma drained 1-2x per week for about 6 weeks now, and the doctor has been waiting for me to get tired of coming in for appts and go ahead with the drain, but truthfully, I don't care how many times he sticks me, I don't want an opening into my abdominal cavity. But I finally agreed, and am getting the drain tomorrow. I just really want this to resolve quickly!!

How long did it take to resolve? I too am basically lazy after work to try to get this to go away, and I miss exercising!

What do folks know about seromas? Mine is still present at week 9, and I have to get a drain put back in because of it. How long can these things last?! Thanks in advance for any light you can shed…

It's gonna be great! Good luck!

Lots of good advice listed - I would add resigning yourself to doing next to nothing for weeks to allow yourself to heal. I'm still dealing with a seroma 8 weeks out and counting, because I was too active immediately post op. Do less in the beginning, so that you will be able to do more, later!

I wanted to do my lower body lift and breasts at the same time, but was told I couldn't because I would have to be under anesthesia for too long. I was under for 6 hours for the LBL itself. I will definitely wait a good long time before I will be ready to go under the knife again!

Tomorrow makes 7 weeks out from my lower body lift, and I still have a seroma - I've been going to the doctor for the past three weeks to get it repeatedly drained. If it is still there next week I will have to get a drain put back in for a while. I keep telling myself to take the long view, but this has been a real drag!

Just last week I got, "you lost so much weight! You look so good, you are sure to find somebody now!" I just kind of stared, slack jawed.

I think you look fantastic, and I would never know to look at you just how much blood sweat and tears went into achieving that healthy body. I would just think you had been blessed. Now it's time to simply enjoy it for all the happy experiences you can experience within it! Congratulations!!

Best of luck, and safe travels!!

Wow - at this point I can't imagine having the emotional fortitude for all of those surgeries essentially back to back! My surgeon said I could do my breast lift in a few months after my lower body lift, but no way will I jump back in - I know I need a good long break before scheduling anything else. Or else go the benzo route! ????

I too have thought about addressing my upper eyes - I think it makes a big difference regarding achieving a more youthful look. I would definitely like to consider it someday. But I would really have to trust the surgeon implicitly!

I have never been able to relax into meditation and reiki, but I know it is helpful for lots of people. I don't know anything about tuning forks and such. I need to look into other outlets for stress reduction. I'm glad it was a good experience!