I'm starting to begin the process of looking into plastic surgery. I started at a high weight of 470 pounds and am down to 248. I really haven't set a goal weight. My surgeon says 210 so I guess that's as good as any. I imagine I got close to 20 pounds in loose skin so with that removed I'm pretty close to goal. I have no idea how to get the process started and when I should? Under my arms is pretty bad. I would also like to do my chest, stomach and thighs/butt. I have a lot of bulges in my thighs from veins. Could those be removed? What is the recovery time and how bad was it? Do they do everything at once? What about insurance coverage? I know it's mostly women in this forum but hopefully some guys can chip in too.

Doctor says it can be removed when fluid levels reach 30 cc over a 24 hour period. I'm still averaging at least 70-80 cc over 24 hours. Doctor says a seroma can develop if it's removed early.

Wow! My requirement was the same 30cc and my drains came out five days post op.

36 minutes ago, jess9395 said:

Wow! My requirement was the same 30cc and my drains came out five days post op.

Part of the problem I believe is I lost a drain. I had two for the front and two for the rear. The remaining one is in the rear. Only 24 hours after the surgery, my one drain in the rear fell out so I basically have had one drain doing the work of two. It's three weeks though now and likely will be four weeks at the earliest before I get it out.

We are all different! I only ever had two to begin with, but I also didn't have a LBL, I had a tummy tuck, breast lift/aug and my arms done.

I had a drain for 24 hours with my surgery. It worked though the pain was intense for better than 10 days.

I had a drain for 24 hours with my surgery. It worked though the pain was intense for better than 10 days.

I may have an issue. I noticed a lump now along my incision line near my hip right above where my drain is inserted. It's about the size of a tennis ball. It's different than the other swelling. It protrudes out like a ball.

I may have an issue. I noticed a lump now along my incision line near my hip right above where my drain is inserted. It's about the size of a tennis ball. It's different than the other swelling. It protrudes out like a ball.

Call your surgeon. I'm sure they have an ok call situation.

If you don't have a fever it's likely not an infection but it could be a seroma.

14 minutes ago, jess9395 said:

Call your surgeon. I'm sure they have an ok call situation.

If you don't have a fever it's likely not an infection but it could be a seroma.

That is what I'm thinking. The office is closed on the weekend. I'll call Monday if it doesn't get worse.

There will be a Dr on call that can be contacted by the answering service. Go ahead and call today if you are concerned.

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I have the doctor's cell phone number. Not really concerned that it is an emergency.

The lump is gone now. I placed my binder nice and tight over the lump and I really pumped out a lot of fluid. 190 cc in the past 24 hours. I'm guessing it was a buildup of fluid that I forced out.

The lump is gone now. I placed my binder nice and tight over the lump and I really pumped out a lot of fluid. 190 cc in the past 24 hours. I'm guessing it was a buildup of fluid that I forced out.

Wow! Glad that worked for you!

After 3.5 hours, I needed to empty the drain again. 60 cc in 3.5 hours. It does seem to have slowed down some. It's now a yellowish/clear fluid so I think I'm getting near the end.

I am still churning out a lot of fluid. More than ever before. I'm wondering if I should ask my doctor about this?

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