Well, I'm 6 days out from a breast lift/augmentation and bilateral medial thigh lift (with the long inner thigh incision). I had abdominplasty, butt lift and bilateral brachioplasty last August. The swelling from the first surgery in August was just starting to go down, and now it's back in full force! I'm up about 15 pounds from my lowest weight, and I have to say, it's the swelling that is miserable! And, the Water weight went directly to my arms and abdomen and hips, as well as the thighs and breasts. Basically, everything that I've worked on is a magnet for Fluid retention. I feel like a stuffed sausage.

However, this second surgery is much easier to recover from that the first - night and day difference! Even with two large drains still in my groin, I'm not feeling too bad!

One of the reasons I decided to do this it to feel "finished". I hate it when I can't complete something I set out to do, and I just felt so incomplete with all the loose skin. While I'll never have a perfect body, that was never my goal. I think my surgeon got me closer than I even hoped. I also believe that it will help me maintain my weight loss. While it's no guarantee, I do think that it might help, but I guess only time will tell.

For anyone considering plastics, there is a lot to think about. I had some open wounds from the first surgery that took nearly 4 months to heal, but I still think it was worth it. I have swelling that I find miserable, but even if it lasts a year, it's temporary, and it's way better than loose skin. And I do have a lot of scars, but they are fading, and will continue to do so. That loose, flabby skin was never going to tighten on it's own. I feel much better in my skin now, even with the swell hell I'm in.

So, while I thought I'd come here to complain about it, I also have to say I don't regret it! Things haven't settled into place yet, but even still, I look way better than before. Even though it's a difficult surgery to recover from, I'd do it again (but thank goodness I don't have to, lol!) Thanks for listening!

They probably have contributed to it some, at least for my lower legs. But my abdomen and back are swollen the most, and that surgery was 5 months ago. I hope you don't have these issues, either. You probably won't.

Even with this, so far, I'd still do it again. This stuff is minor in the grand scheme of things. My legs are far less painful today, so I'm just hoping this is the end of it. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you! I did have the sewing of the abs - I've been calling abdominoplasty. And it really hurts. Mine were separated pretty wide, probably from pregnancy, she said. I'm sure morbid obesity didn't help any!

Why are you not going to have that done?

I skipped the abdominal plication because I felt like I had decent strength in my abs to support myself/posture and I didn't want to be held together with stitches and then scar tissue.

It was a very personal choice and my surgeon told me in all his years he'd only done one paniculectomy without the ab plication before. I chuckled and told him I'd always been an outlier.

I am thrilled beyond belief with my results. My stomach has never been this flat. At 5.5 weeks out the incisions are still pink but they're fading and the lines are so tiny/thin -once they're faded to skin-tone they'll all but disappear.

If I wanted to nit-pick, my left hip isn't as smooth a silhouette as my right but it's probably more from the alignment of my existing stretchmarks than anything else.

I skipped the abdominal plication because I felt like I had decent strength in my abs to support myself/posture and I didn't want to be held together with stitches and then scar tissue.

It was a very personal choice and my surgeon told me in all his years he'd only done one paniculectomy without the ab plication before. I chuckled and told him I'd always been an outlier.

I am thrilled beyond belief with my results. My stomach has never been this flat. At 5.5 weeks out the incisions are still pink but they're fading and the lines are so tiny/thin -once they're faded to skin-tone they'll all but disappear.

If I wanted to nit-pick, my left hip isn't as smooth a silhouette as my right but it's probably more from the alignment of my existing stretchmarks than anything else.

That's so great that you are happy with your results! I was surprised my muscles were separated - I already had a super flat belly, minus the extra skin on my lower belly. It's been 5 months and I'm still sore.

Your comment about nit-picking struck home with me - I always have to remind myself not to! Another thing I'm learning is that even with all that plastic surgery, most of us will never have perfect bodies. It's all about realistic expectations and remembering we were far from perfect before. Not sure why, but I don't think I had an expectation of perfect, but I'm almost more critical of my body than I was before.

Happy to hear all sides of plastics here. Thanks for all the practical advice. I'm gonna need it in march

My youngest son is getting married at the end of May. Hoping to have some results by 3 months out. ???

Sounds like we all do differently with these procedures

The first couple of weeks I actually looked heavier. I wasn't prepared for that at all. But after the first 6-8 weeks, I was looking pretty good. By three months, my belly and arms looked great.

Happy to hear all sides of plastics here. Thanks for all the practical advice. I'm gonna need it in march
My youngest son is getting married at the end of May. Hoping to have some results by 3 months out. ???
Sounds like we all do differently with these procedures

They probably have contributed to it some, at least for my lower legs. But my abdomen and back are swollen the most, and that surgery was 5 months ago. I hope you don't have these issues, either. You probably won't.

Even with this, so far, I'd still do it again. This stuff is minor in the grand scheme of things. My legs are far less painful today, so I'm just hoping this is the end of it. I'll keep you posted.

I don't know if I jinxed myself! Thursday the surgeon removed my stitches, and yesterday I was 3 weeks out from my surgery. Yesterday I went out to lunch with friends and then had a game night at my house afterwards. My incision opened up after lunch just above the gluteal fold, and by the time everyone left last night, I truly thought I was going to explode from the swelling. I don't know how I'm going to be able to work for 8 hours on Monday! How do people work and continue to heal with all his swelling? I'm worried.

I don't know if I jinxed myself! Thursday the surgeon removed my stitches, and yesterday I was 3 weeks out from my surgery. Yesterday I went out to lunch with friends and then had a game night at my house afterwards. My incision opened up after lunch just above the gluteal fold, and by the time everyone left last night, I truly thought I was going to explode from the swelling. I don't know how I'm going to be able to work for 8 hours on Monday! How do people work and continue to heal with all his swelling? I'm worried.

my first 1.5 weeks back to work was brutal. I am a hospital administrator, so I am in a lot of meetings. When I am in my office, I sit on a pillow and when I get home I rest. I had an incision split at Christmas and when back to work on 1/11. Be prepared for low energy and I swear my brain still isn't completely working like it did. I asked a neurologist who I know and she said that many hours under anesthesia takes a toll on short term memory but it will come back.

Keep the area clean and use it as a sign you may be doing too much too soon. My surgeon said skin that was obese does not heal the way other skin does and we are prone to those. Luckily I only had the one on my hip. It is completely healed and everything looks great now.

Hang in there!!!

Going back to work is challenging. I'm an RN, and I remember the days people were off 6 weeks or more for this type of surgery. I was off about 2 weeks post surgery, then worked remotely for a week, and was back in the office at about 4. Each time I felt like I could use a couple more weeks. I think we take this stuff a little lighter than we should, sometimes. I'm a director for information systems for a large health care corporation and just can't be away that long, but it was hard to go back. I know it contributes to the swelling.

After I had those seromas removed last week, I went back the next day, but in reality, should have probably worked remotely for a couple of days to stay off my feet and prevent recurrence. If they come back, I'm going to be upset!

I took 6 weeks off and needed it. I think we do underestimate the healing needed post lower body lift or tummy tuck. Hope everyone is healing up...if in doubt take it easier.

I took 6 weeks off and needed it. I think we do underestimate the healing needed post lower body lift or tummy tuck. Hope everyone is healing up...if in doubt take it easier.

Agreed! I ended up taking 7 weeks off and wish I would have gone 8. How long did you wear your compression garmets? I went from 5:30 this morning until about 7 without them on and my mons pubis is really swollen tonight. I put it back on for the night but now my skin feels tight and I'm 10 weeks out now.

my first 1.5 weeks back to work was brutal. I am a hospital administrator, so I am in a lot of meetings. When I am in my office, I sit on a pillow and when I get home I rest. I had an incision split at Christmas and when back to work on 1/11. Be prepared for low energy and I swear my brain still isn't completely working like it did. I asked a neurologist who I know and she said that many hours under anesthesia takes a toll on short term memory but it will come back.

Keep the area clean and use it as a sign you may be doing too much too soon. My surgeon said skin that was obese does not heal the way other skin does and we are prone to those. Luckily I only had the one on my hip. It is completely healed and everything looks great now.

Hang in there!!!

Amen sister! My brain isn't up to snuff either, and I too was thinking it could be anesthesia related. I do stupid little things like leaving the keys in the lock of the front door all day, and wishing people good morning at 8pm. Scares me a bit. I agree that I must be doing too much too soon. Interesting your comments regarding our skin! Thanks for your support and sharing your experiences- that is so helpful to me!

Going back to work is challenging. I'm an RN, and I remember the days people were off 6 weeks or more for this type of surgery. I was off about 2 weeks post surgery, then worked remotely for a week, and was back in the office at about 4. Each time I felt like I could use a couple more weeks. I think we take this stuff a little lighter than we should, sometimes. I'm a director for information systems for a large health care corporation and just can't be away that long, but it was hard to go back. I know it contributes to the swelling.

After I had those seromas removed last week, I went back the next day, but in reality, should have probably worked remotely for a couple of days to stay off my feet and prevent recurrence. If they come back, I'm going to be upset!

You make a good point - I spent a boatload of money on this surgery, I should be really careful to be sure I get good results for my investment. I thought I was by making sure I had plenty of Protein, but I think I have to adjust my thinking a bit also.

Agreed! I ended up taking 7 weeks off and wish I would have gone 8. How long did you wear your compression garmets? I went from 5:30 this morning until about 7 without them on and my mons pubis is really swollen tonight. I put it back on for the night but now my skin feels tight and I'm 10 weeks out now.

I know I'm far behind you at only 3 weeks, but my mons is really swollen, I would almost describe it as pendulous. I'm really hoping this is temporary.

I know I'm far behind you at only 3 weeks, but my mons is really swollen, I would almost describe it as pendulous. I'm really hoping this is temporary.

I imagine it's swelling, and will subside. It sure is hard to wait for the end result when we are looking at what appears to be less than perfect results. I decided I can't ever go out in public naked

I know I'm far behind you at only 3 weeks, but my mons is really swollen, I would almost describe it as pendulous. I'm really hoping this is temporary.

Mine almost is hard by the end of the day. I think it's all fluid but it does get better over night and returns to normal. I have been trying to only wear my compression garmets in the evenings and that helps with the swelling.