So I am scheduled for a panniculectomy and breast reduction in 2 weeks from tomorrow and I am super nervous. So my question for everyone that has been where I am...what do you wish you had known before hand? What could you not have made it through without at the hospital or after you went home? I need to know all the ins and out for what I am going to be going through....i have researched the hell out of everything I possibly can about these surgeries but now I need to know the extras....and go....

A comfy place to sleep sitting up for 1-2 weeks. I sat up on the couch and kind of leaned to the side on a pillow. Sounds awful, but was actually very comfy!

A long strip of gauze or cloth. Make a loop, put it over your neck to pin the drains to, while you shower.

Other than that, recovery was so much easier than I expected. I expected to be incapacitated, instead, I was doing all of my normal stuff from day one, just slower and walking like Quasimodo, lol! And, of course, no lifting.

I'm going to follow this, as these are the two exact surgeries, I'm expecting to do in about a year out. Please continue to post how it goes @@ramsmommy

Is insurance covering any of this for you?

I have not had my TT and Breast lift done yet but I did have my Brachioplasty 8 weeks ago so take this for what it is worth.

Ice packs! Ice packs and more ice packs. LOL.

I think the biggest thing I learned was how badly your body reacts to plastics. With swelling you get burning pain. Your lymphatic system is definitely effected and even though I had my arms done, my feet, hands and even stomach was swelling. The major swelling went down after about 5 days but even now my arms swell every day.

In talking with my surgeon who was phenomenal she told me I can expect my tummy to swell as well.

But let me tell you, it is all worth it and I cannot wait for my TT and Breast Lift. The difference for me was unbelievable. I am including some pics.

Before

After

I should also say that my after pic is only 3 weeks post op and still shows swelling but you see what a crazy great result I got. For the first 3 weeks I had my arms buried in ice packs. LOL.

Oh yes!! I swelled A LOT as well. Had minimal pain, more of just discomfort and getting used to tight tummy muscles. Did have to wear larger clothes for a while. Stretchy pants, at first, then as I healed, i could do real pants, but larger than my normal size. I'm a size 00-0 and had to borrow my sis' size 4's, made her feel like they were fat pants, lol

Trecker954 yes my insurance is covering them and I have a secondary that is covering my copay.

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I wish I had known that my Fibromyalgia would make my "nerve pain" increase ten fold.

WLS recovery pain was NOTHING compared to the nerve pain I had for the first two weeks.

I've had a total knee replacement and even that pain did not come close.

I just wish I had known, so I could have mentally prepared myself.

Nice. Wishing you all the best! Hoping you'll share pics as I'm thinking my insurance will cover those exact procedures as well!!

Nice. Wishing you all the best! Hoping you'll share pics as I'm thinking my insurance will cover those exact procedures as well!!

I will definitely post updates...here are some current photos. My specs are I am 5' 4'' and 196 lbs. I was 350 lbs as of feb 2015 and had the vsg on June 10th of last year. I really needed to get this extra skin off...I can't exercise any better than I already do with all this extra skin on my belly and boobs...can't believe I am putting myself out there like this posting the skin photo. But heck who cares it's all going away in 13 days any way. I am so terrified but exited at the same time. Now I am just worried about what I need to pack since I won't be admitted to the hospital but I live 4 hrs from the hospital and so have to stay a few days in a hotel nearby.

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Funnily enough - It was no actual THING I could live without as - Luckily for me - I had very little pain - But...

As you said - Researching the hell out of everything - I put the fear of God in myself - That I was gonna die - I re-did my will - Made sure everything was ready for my demise etc...

But - One person on here - She gave me the thing I needed to get me through it all - FOCUS.

She said to me these words ''Keep your eyes on the prize''

I told all my family members to repeat these words to me whenever I was having a 'wobbly moment' I had quite a few wobbly moments pre-surgery - Worrying about the what 'might' happen and freaking myself out - And they did... It really helped me through.

The things I did not know at surgery1 that I did by surgery 3 - Was = Keep that paper tape on the incisions for 12 weeks - No matter what that Dr says! - The paper tape (Micropore tape) supports the incisions as they heal and stops them stretching so much - My No1 scar is so much different to the no 3/4/5 scars as they are finer and look much better and are not stretched out - Bar one... On one leg (For testing reasons unknown on myself) On my left leg I used the drug stores paper tape on my right leg I used Micropore tape paper tape. - And now - 5yrs on - My left leg scar is still alot different to look at than the nice fine scar of right leg... (That was of inner thigh lift) - So I would say to anyone at the start of the journey of PS - Use the paper tape - Keep wearing your compression garments to support that tape - Even if it takes 12 weeks - After all - You can only do this once, and what's a few weeks in compression garments extra to a lifetime of a great result? :-)

Everyones pain is different - And the only pain I had was when I had the inner thigh lift - The first time I stood up - It was a shocker as in Op1 and 2 I had had very little discomfort - But - The moment I was in my compression garments all that pain left (Design Veronique are fantastic garments - They are not the cheapest - But - I felt like they were my protection from the world... A comfort blanket maybe in some ways lol - I wore them for 10-12 weeks, mostly 12 weeks. Which held the tape in place and made sure that I did not get swelling problems which could stretch the scars...

Good luck on your journey - This site is great for giving you anything from - A helping word - To the best advice you will get :-)

Edited September 14, 201610 yr by Scamp

Thank you SO much for sharing your pics. I cannot wait to follow the rest of your journey!

Thank you SO much for sharing your pics. I cannot wait to follow the rest of your journey!

No problem...I will post pictures as soon as I am feeling up to it after my surgery next Monday

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1. A walker for support when walking around bent over

A mattress pad to protect where you are sleeping from any seeping blood from incision or drains

A shower chair

• A walker for support when walking around bent over
• A mattress pad to protect where you are sleeping from any seeping blood from incision or drains
• A shower chair

Thank you I do have a waterproof mattress topper since my mattress is under warranty lol

My shower has built in seats but I hadn't thought of a walker. When did you have your surgery?

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Thank you I do have a waterproof mattress topper since my mattress is under warranty lol

My shower has built in seats but I hadn't thought of a walker. When did you have your surgery?

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I had mine in 2008. I had tummy tuck with muscle tightening. I was sore for about a week. Best thing to do is rest as much as possible until the drains are out. I had no swelling post op but many people do. The best place for information is a website http://www.makemeheal.com

Breast reduction hurts like hell for 2 weeks, but I would do it again in a heart beat. So get enough strong meds from your dr.

You can't wear underwire bras while you are healing, so nice soft sportbras are the best. Use period pads against the wounds, they double as padding and take care of any bleeding.

Good luck!

Nilla