LEXUS86985

I had mine done November 13th and I just had the drains removed last Tuesday.... January 7th I believe. One drain produced more than the other but he left them in together. They were both under 15 per day. It makes more sense to leave them in rather than needle aspiration.

Do you "milk" the drains?? The blood clots in the tubing and you need to hold the tubing and squeeze and pull the crap down into the drain. I did that a lot to keep them flowing properly.

Well I'm actually not working right now and I can tell you that I'm quite glad!!! I can't imagine having pressure to get back to work having had this done. (Which is why I chose to do it now) it's been 7 weeks since my surgery and literally the last week maybe 2 I've felt well enough to consider myself normal.

I would wait for the summer to be honest. The compression garment isn't the material you may be thinking of. It's quite airy really. I was told to get a Veronique garment. It has bra hooks up and down both sides as well as zippers. Its compression for your whole core section not just the stomach. It's quite comfortable really.

The first week I think I had a reaction to the anesthesia because I had a wicked itchy rash!!! I was miserable but fortunately it went away!!

I certainly wasn't thin but I had such a huge piece of fat and skin hanging down that I needed to so something about it. My dr removed 14 lbs of skin and fat. You need to garment to set the flap in place and keep the swelling down. It helps keep the gauze and wound care bandages in place as well.

I had a Tummy Tuck on November 13th and I just had the drains removed today!!! The one on the left could have been removed sooner but my surgeon didn't want to remove it then have a pocket of Fluid build up. I was supposed to see him before Christmas but he wanted the drainage to be under 30 per day and being it was still over 100 I spoke to him and we decided to save myself a trip into the city.

Removing the drain even after 7 weeks.... Didn't feel a thing at all!!!! I was worried it would hurt and I was thankful it didn't!!

This procedure really knocked me on my ass!! I normally bounce back and feel good quickly. This was not the case!! I can't really say I was in Pain.... Just general discomfort. My muscles felt like someone stabbed me with a hot knife a few times until I stopped trying to move so much!! I guess feeling dizzy and exhausted kept me from doing damage.

Your period will affect the band too. Fluids... Swelling etc. I never had a fill when my period was due. Try hot tea no milk.... Seemed to relax the band. As the day goes on it seems to relax a bit. Just go with the flow.... You will become accustomed and lose weight ????

It honestly may just be that you need to get used to the band. It's a foreign situation. I had an endoscopy done and was told I didn't have any restriction in the band yet I FELT every little thing. I just ate very very small bites and eventually got used to it. That's the point.... You feel restricted when you eat. Even liquids need to be sipped. It's an adjustment but you won't feel like you did before the band.

There will come a time when eating those things in front of you won't even phase you. If I don't want it then I don't care. It feels good to be able to say I don't want any!! But it's nice to have support!!!

It is true that there are soooo many people who have had this surgery and NOT lost weight. It is a tool and all decisions are our own. I always tell people about the band for one reason.... It WORKS!!! So many people struggle with losing weight and if there is something that can help like it helped me then I want to promote it!! :-)

Yea I'm a little over three weeks post op and there are days I am absolutely miserable!!! I still have the drains and to be honest.... Taking a shower is exhausting!!!! I am not working right now which is why I did this!!!! I cannot imagine having to get up get dressed and go to work!! Not to mention I have not been cleared to drive!!! I may have had more work done than a standard Tummy Tuck. I have incisions from hip to hip... He tightened the underlying abdominal muscles and had to go lower to smooth out the fat pad over the pubic bone. He said I won't really feel better for a few more weeks!!! He always said 6 weeks but I handle pain well and heal quickly so it's been a rude awakening that I haven't bounced back!!!

Nassau co here!!! ????

I love to cook and I love to eat!!! I've lost 130lbs with the lap band and just 3 weeks ago had a panniculectomy. Huge procedure and it's been a rough recovery!!

When thinking about what I wanted in a partner.... I wanted someone that loves to eat!! Let me tell you.... I found her!!! Having the lap band before I met her.... She just always knew I ate slowly and much less. She also eats VERY fast... Soooooo she has to sit there while I eat!!! Hahaaaa .... I order what works best for me. I don't feel bad about it. I still cook amazing good and I love to feed people. I eat everything but don't stuff myself!!! I have the best of both worlds!!!

If you feel something is stuck.... Sip on pineapple juice. That will break down anything that may be stuck. I've also tried meat tenderizer with Water. Vitamin Shoppe sells papaya enzyme.... Same thing as meat tenderizer. It will break down anything stuck. They work great for anyone as a digestive aide!!

How long did it take you to feel "better"??? I'm almost 3 weeks out and I have to say I don't feel good at all!!! I have a high pain tolerance. I would not say I'm in PAIN.... But the only time I feel normal is laying down!!! I'm getting like cramp shocks in my lower abs. I see the dr tomorrow.... I just feel I should feel better by now!!! Frustrating!!!

I don't know where everyone lives but the cheaper places by me are Burlington coat factory, tj maxx; Marshall's ... Basically they buy leftovers of name brands and sell for less. I usually don't spend more than $10 for dress pants. They have all sorts but you have to go through .... Not all laid out like expensive stores.

What about the bandages??? We kind of were last minute with that because my friend works for a dr and was supposed to get them for me. She did but it wasn't until a few days later. I had to change the bandages twice a day. Drains have to be emptied. Do you have someone to do that??

Awwww I'm sorry about your mom!!! My mom had the same situation a little over four years ago. Pain in the knee that turned out to be lung cancer that metastasized to her femur. Luckily it was caught in enough time to put a rod in her leg to keep her walking. That surgery actually isn't that bad!! Maybe a week between the hospital and rehab and she was home. Obviously she had stage IV cancer and she passed away 6 months later but for the moment I think you should go ahead with your surgery and later on you can be there for her!!

Believe it or not it's more comfortable to stay in the garment. My doc told me not to take it off for 72 hours. I kept it on for 6 days until I saw him for follow up. At that point he said I could shower so when I got home I took it off and showered. It was washed but took a day to dry. I had another garment I bought at kohls but it sucked!!! I guess once the bandages are done and stitches heal I can get something different. I have a Veronique garment style #853..... It unzips down both sides. It's a size 4x so it cost $150. When they measured me before the surgery I was a 5x but since I was having actually tissue removed the dr wanted the smaller garment. Fits perfectly!!!

Do you have everything prepared for after??

What all did you have done with your plastics? How cool that you're at goal and done with PS too!

I'm actually not near my goal weight. I lost 130 lbs and kept it off the past 2 years. When I asked my pcp for the referral I told him I just wanted a consult to see how much more I would have to lose. He told me it's not about a number it's when I was ready. Maintaining my weight loss was key. He felt I was ready and I will feel much better having it done. I expected the dr to tell me I needed to lose more weight. He never said that.... Instead congratulated me for losing weight and saying how proud he was of me!!!

I was banded 4 years ago and had a TON of clothes to donate!!! Some items I still haven't parted with! I just had plastic surgery and have 2 more bags ready to go!! I also have a bin of clothes I need to try on once the swelling goes down!!! It's all a part of the journey!! Everyone knows to get me visa gift cards for Christmas this year!!! :-)

I'm only at 8 days post op.... The thought of having to work.... Right now I couldn't. I had a pretty significant amount removed... 14lbs. My incision goes from hip to hip!!! I can't even change the dressings myself.

The first two days are horrible!!!! Take the pain meds round the clock!!! I chose to go on liquids to cleanse my system before the surgery. I stayed on liquids after ... To be honest I didn't want to deal with pooping. Lol I'm take less pain meds but still need them!!!

If you can afford two compression garments go ahead and get an extra!! It takes a while for the garment to air dry and you need to stay in it!!

Get lots of pillows... For your back and under your legs!! A cup with a tight lid and straw is perfect for drinking in that position. Ginger ale and crackers for the ride home!!

I have a wicked red rash basically everywhere from the garment.... Benedryl cream helps a bit!!!

Good luck!!! Just be prepared!!

I really didn't tell anyone until I actually scheduled the surgery. Everyone has been very supportive!! If there is anyone negative in your life they are jelous!!! Yes we lost weight but this is NOT cosmetic surgery!!! It's reconstructive!! I still had a lot of fat along with the skin... Huge panniculous!! So it's obvious that I had something done even with all the swelling.

My doc and I have planned three separate procedures.... I could do without the "Barbie" comments but F- them!!! I do what I see fit!! :-)

Hey all!! I had a panniculectomy done on November 11th. I have to agree, the first 2 days are HORRIBLE!!! I live in Long Island but my amazing doctor is in New York City!! So I was feeling better each day.... Then had my first follow up visit on Tuesday. While we drove in, I still had to walk to his office. Almost passed out while he was checking the incisions. (Just got crazy hot and I was light headed lol) I was so beat yesterday!!! I'm trying to wean off the pain meds but they really help!! My biggest issue right now is the RASH!!!! OMG!!! This garment is literally ruining my skin!! Anyone else have skin issues?!?!?

He took off 14lbs of skin and fat!!!!! My wonderful friends took pictures!!! ???? this recovery sucks but I think in the end it will be worth it!!

Thank you for those codes. I actually need codes that a surgical center would bill. We are only billing for the panniculectomy as a surgical procedure.... So I need codes we can bill for the surgical center. I know nothing at all about the facility side. I used to work for an insurance company and we would enter the authorization with the doctors procedures then just add the surgical center. The surgical center never added codes to the auth they just billed their own codes after the procedure. I've never seen what the surgical center billed for... Ex: supplies? Time in the room? I know so many people in the medical billing industry but so far no one has been able to help. Anyone out there have connections at a surgical center??? :-) HELP!!! Thanks everyone!!

Thank you so much!! This seems to be a unique situation. My sister in law works for my pcp and they referred me to this plastic surgeon. He doesn't normally do reconstructive work. But he's super nice and considers me family because of who referred me. His secretary knows nothing about coding at all.... He has a surgical suite in the office and usually doesn't bill for facility charges. I have to pay up front but he is trying everything possible so I get all my money back. I have so many people trying to get codes but it's been two weeks so far. I guess I'm just anxious.... All I need are the facility codes so we can submit for auth. I appreciate your help!!!! :-) I hope you're feeling well!!

Does anyone have experience with the procedure codes?? I'm having the panniculectomy procedure 15830. The dr does not normally bill for facility codes but wants to bill as much as possible in order for me to get all of my money back from the insurance company. I have experience with procedures but I've never billed facility fees. I've asked a few people to help but so far they've been no help. Does anyone know what he can bill for in addition to the actual procedure??? I'm getting anxious because I'm waiting for these codes before we request the authorization!! Help?!?! Much thanks in advance!!

Raise your arms over your head up and down almost like flapping wings slowly.... That should help the air move out!! That's the worst of it! :-)

Fluoroscopy makes alllll the difference!!! There was one point where my dr tried to do the adjustment in the office to save us time.... Thank god he couldn't do it. When he watched me drink under fluoroscopy he saw the band was too tight and liquids were backing up causing the pouch to expand!!! So I always get adjusted with fluoroscopy!!! Congrats for sticking with it!! If we don't fight the process it works so much better! :-)