Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!
$99 Yearly Supply Alert! 🎉 "1 per Day!" Bariatric Multivitamins

Enterprise01's Brachioplasty with Liposuction

enterprise01

Recommended Posts

JulieNYC    4

JulieNYC
Posted

I called my mom right away and she's flying in from Atlanta on Nov 26 and will stay with me for about 10 days. Julie, if you are reading this, do you think 10 days is enough or should I ask my mom to stay longer? Also, do you have any advice on things to beware, things you didn't expect, or things you wish you had thought of before the surgery? I bought a pillow for under my knees because I figure I'll have to sleep on my back for at least 2 weeks. I'm a side sleeper, so that will be tough for me. Should I buy some shirts that button up the front or will I be able to pull shirts over my head without any problem? How did you do with the drains? Dr. Heller said that the drains could be in for 2 days or 2 weeks. Will I be able to hide the drains sufficiently with a cardigan sweater? Any advice would be appreciated.

10 days will be more than plenty. I'm only 10 days out now and I've been fully functional for 4 days, even with the leg surgery at the same time. I seriously think 4 days would be plenty, so you'll have a good visit wiht your Mom.

I'm a side sleeper too. I slept on my side for the first time last night. I had to sleep on my back until last night when I could finally make it work.

I wore a zip up sweatshirt home from the hospital. Once I was home I was comfortable stretching in and out of a sleeveless men's t-shirt (what I would call a "wife beater" -- I don't know what the real term for them is!).

I had pinrose drains that stayed in 2 days (or maybe it was 3). They were easily covered by a sweater -- they're under the bandages. If you have full drains (Jackson Pratt) -- which I don't think is done, but I'm not absolutely sure -- the wouldn't be covered in a sweater, you'd just have to wear something loose and deal with it until they're gone. They would have fit in a sweatshirt but not a sweater. I feel sure you'll have pinrose drains that will fit in a sweater and are no big deal at all.

The arms really don't hurt, in my experience. They sting if I stretch them in the wrong way, but they really don't hurt. As for the size, even with the bandages, they're smaller than they were with the skin, so all my clothes fit. Even my size 4P Ann Taylor jackets fit, bandages and all :) Nothing to worry about.

I predict it will go much easier than you fear. Are you having heavy sedation or full-blown general anesthesia? Dad does it under sedation if all he's doing is arms. That would make it an even easier recovery, if you're a candidate to avoid general!

Best of luck.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

enterprise01    0

enterprise01
Posted

10 days will be more than plenty. I'm only 10 days out now and I've been fully functional for 4 days, even with the leg surgery at the same time. I seriously think 4 days would be plenty, so you'll have a good visit with your Mom.

Good, maybe we can get some shopping done while she's here. I don't get to see her often, so I'm hoping we'll have plenty of quality time.

I'm a side sleeper too. I slept on my side for the first time last night. I had to sleep on my back until last night when I could finally make it work.

This is going to be tough for me. sleeping on my back is also uncomfortable because it seems to invite my 4 cats to sleep on top of me. And the 20 lb cat almost crushes me when she sits on my chest. I need to get some Ambien.

....As for the size, even with the bandages, they're smaller than they were with the skin, so all my clothes fit. Even my size 4P Ann Taylor jackets fit, bandages and all :) Nothing to worry about.

That's what I was hoping. I'll have to go into the office within a couple of days and don't want everyone to notice.

I predict it will go much easier than you fear. Are you having heavy sedation or full-blown general anesthesia? Dad does it under sedation if all he's doing is arms. That would make it an even easier recovery, if you're a candidate to avoid general!

Best of luck.

I think they are planning on general anesthesia, but I'm going to ask about heavy sedation. I had Lipo on my thighs and surgery on both feet done under a local without sedation and handled both of those procedures just fine. I think docs prefer the general because they're afraid patients will freak out if they hear what's going on.

I pre-registered at the hospital today and it took 5 hours! Five hours to register for a 2 hour procedure! Well, I won't complain since it's a free surgery. I still don't have a firm date and time and am starting to get anxious about it. Let's hope I hear something soon.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

enterprise01    0

enterprise01
Posted

It's only 8 hours until my brachioplasty. I'm absolutely panicked trying to get caught up on work. I have to get up at 4:30 a.m. and I usually go to bed around 2 or 3 a.m., so that's going to be rough for me. At least I can go back to sleep really soon after that. :D

I'll try to post on Thursday to give you all an update and hopefully some pictures, too. Thanks to everyone for the support. I feel very lucky to have so many friends wishing me well.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Tulip    0

Tulip
Posted

It's only 8 hours until my brachioplasty. I'm absolutely panicked trying to get caught up on work. I have to get up at 4:30 a.m. and I usually go to bed around 2 or 3 a.m., so that's going to be rough for me. At least I can go back to sleep really soon after that. :D

I'll try to post on Thursday to give you all an update and hopefully some pictures, too. Thanks to everyone for the support. I feel very lucky to have so many friends wishing me well.

Enterprise, didn't know your surgery was this soon! I'll be thinking of you and looking for news from you. Try your best to get some sleep, and let us know how you are doing.

The outcome will be well worth it!

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

TheGh0st    9

TheGh0st
Posted

I hope you are in bed by now and trying to get at least a couple hours sleep before your surgery. I'll be saying a prayer for you. Bring us updates as soon as your up to it.

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

JulieNYC    4

JulieNYC
Posted

I can't wait to hear all about it, Enterprise! Feel better soon and I'm so glad "mom" is coming to take care of you....

Share this post

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Go To Topic Listing Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 1 reply
      1. Selina333

        Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    Bariatric Forums

    For Patients

    Health Professionals

    Search Surgeons

    Bariatric Surgeons: Want to research a weight loss surgery surgeon? Enter their last name below to start!

    ×