Found out last month that both @rs and I had Arm Lifts scheduled for the same week, just two days apart. @rs got the deed done yesterday, and I'm heading in for it tomorrow morning. We thought it would be fun/interesting/just-something-to-do to start a thread where we both could post to document our progress for a one-stop view of two different experiences of the same procedure.

So here we go!

@rs @ms.sss

10 hours ago, rs said:

I just keep it on 24/7 until it's gross then I replace it.

Ah, ok. The one I have is re-usable in the sense that it is washable and then can be reapplied for up to 3 weeks.

On 1/17/2020 at 11:04 AM, sillykitty said:

Week after next I'm going to stuff myself into compression gear for some meetings. I'm curious if that is going to hurt or help.

I honestly don't know if the compression gear helps with the swelling. I have a (non-verifiable) suspicion it just moves the swelling to another part of the body.

With that said, I think I may have developed a sort of masochistic affection for my compression gear. I'm finding I prefer to have them on than not, despite the pain/discomfort they give me.

13 hours ago, ms.sss said:

I think I may have developed a sort of masochistic affection for my compression gear

Heehee this made me giggle

* Light Bulb Moment * :

I think I've found a reason for the increasing number of areas that are feeling soreness when there wasn't before:

Its the effing sutures. The areas where they start protruding through the skin are the areas where these new pains are coming from.

I'm feeling these aches and pains in both my armpits now, as well as my left boob & nipple, and both my side boobs. ARRRRRGGGGG.

On the bright side (if I HAD to see a bright side), I feel nothing along my TT incision, and I suspect this is because I feel very little (if anything) along the line due to numbness. I only have sensation around like half a cm above and below it, but not along it.

7 hours ago, ms.sss said:

* Light Bulb Moment * :

I think I've found a reason for the increasing number of areas that are feeling soreness when there wasn't before:

Its the effing sutures. The areas where they start protruding through the skin are the areas where these new pains are coming from.

I'm feeling these aches and pains in both my armpits now, as well as my left boob & nipple, and both my side boobs. ARRRRRGGGGG.

On the bright side (if I HAD to see a bright side), I feel nothing along my TT incision, and I suspect this is because I feel very little (if anything) along the line due to numbness. I only have sensation around like half a cm above and below it, but not along it.

could be - or it could be that he used surgical glue there (???). It's the internal sutures that are doing that - the ones that look like fishing wire. Or you're right - it could just be that those incisions are numb. My guy used surgical glue on my LBL (and sutures elsewhere). I never had problems with spitting sutures along my TT line - they were on my arms and boobs.

On 1/17/2020 at 9:51 AM, ms.sss said:

...and @catwoman7 : how far along were you when your swelling completely went away? Did you also notice any thigh changes?

whoops - sorry - I was in the middle of something when I saw this come through and intended to respond later, but of course, I just now remembered it!

no thigh changes for me..

I actually still swell occasionally - if I eat too much salt or after an intense workout (my procedures were 10 months and 17 months ago) - but mostly the swelling was done after about six months or so, I think. The first 2-3 months are the worst, though. After that it wasn't every day and it wasn't as intense.

12 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

could be - or it could be that he used surgical glue there (???).

No, he didn't use glue. If I run my hands along my TT line, I can feel the fishing wire bits sticking out at the ends of my TT line, and a teeny tiny bit sticking out above my pubes...but I can't actually any pain from them like my arms and boobs (again, prob because of the numbness )

12 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

but mostly the swelling was done after about six months or so

I know everyone heals differently, but: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! ?????

@rs, should've just followed your lead a week ago!

I put the silicone tape on tonite and my achiness/soreness on my incisions seems to have gotten exponentially better. I feel soooooo much better all taped up again.

I'm going to have to go out and buy more of this stuff in bulk now. I want to wear them forever.

[mention=334772]rs[/mention], should've just followed your lead a week ago!
I put the silicone tape on tonite and my achiness/soreness on my incisions seems to have gotten exponentially better. I feel soooooo much better all taped up again.
I'm going to have to go out and buy more of this stuff in bulk now. I want to wear them forever.

So glad you feel better. I really like having it on too.

Yes life for me was better taped and compressed. Except that thigh lift... still 8 months later have lower leg swelling Getting better Glad all of you are healing. ??????

2 hours ago, Stella S said:

Yes life for me was better taped and compressed. Except that thigh lift... still 8 months later have lower leg swelling Getting better Glad all of you are healing. ??????

@Stella S ...been wondering about the thigh lift...are your scars visible when you are standing "normally"? How about when you cross your legs?

Update: Since putting on the scar tape, a lot of the achiness & soreness in my armpits & boobs had lessened significantly. However, last night both my boobs started aching in the underboob areas.

So...Mr. suggested I get some compression going across my chest. Since my sports bras are just not tight enough, I fashioned a vest with some ace bandages.

OMG my under-boob pain went from like a 6 to a 3 almost immediately. AND for some reason, I have ZERO armpit soreness now (dont know if its related or just a coincidence)

I heart compression.

Here is my new look (arm garment + sports bra + ace bandages + abdominal binder). I'm calling it mummy-chic.

Now I want to get some leg compression socks...

16 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

Update: Since putting on the scar tape, a lot of the achiness & soreness in my armpits & boobs had lessened significantly. However, last night both my boobs started aching in the underboob areas.

So...Mr. suggested I get some compression going across my chest. Since my sports bras are just not tight enough, I fashioned a vest with some ace bandages.

OMG my under-boob pain went from like a 6 to a 3 almost immediately. AND for some reason, I have ZERO armpit soreness now (dont know if its related or just a coincidence)

I heart compression.

Here is my new look (arm garment + sports bra + ace bandages + abdominal binder). I'm calling it mummy-chic.

Now I want to get some leg compression socks...

you're really stylin' now!

I wish I had your waistline. I've got this ginormous 35" one. I look like a rectangle - 36-35-38. All three plastic surgeons I did consults with said there wasn't much they could do about my waist - it's the way I'm built. Boo. At least I'm in good company - I read Kate Middleton is a "rectangle" shape as well!

9 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

At least I'm in good company - I read Kate Middleton is a "rectangle" shape as well!

...and so is Gwyneth Paltrow and Gwen Stefani!

Edited January 23, 20206 yr by ms.sss

7 minutes ago, ms.sss said:

...and so is Gwyneth Paltrow and Gwen Stefani!

whew! More good news!