Hopefully I get all of my drains out on Friday. With my drains removed, I hope to get back to the gym for some moderate exercise. My only concern is the swelling factor. I have read on several threads that swelling increased when folks over did it. I am terribly swollen as is. The last thing I want to do is make the swelling worse. Any advice? Thanks.

May I ask what you had done? I think the best advice to be given is to follow what your surgeon says. They are the most experienced in the field. Good luck.

Mimi

Hi:

I had my tummy tucked on 5/14 and I'm still on limited physical activities. I can walk alot, but not much more than that, per plastic surgeon's orders. I don't have much of an issue with swelling except for if I try to stretch my day too long. Still wearing a the binder or a spanx-type high waisted panty helps alot, and frankly I'm now more comfortable with it on than off.

Please ask your surgeon before you overdo it. You don't want to damage that pretty body that you just went through so much pain and expense for.

Take care.

Sue

How many weeks post op are you? I wasn't allowed to do any strenuous exercise until I reached 6 weeks post op. Before that, I was walking. I always wear my binder when exercising but I still seem to swell. It's not horrible and it does go away quickly, but this is the only time I seem to swell.

Got 3 of 4 drains out. Although I wanted them all out, 3 is certainly better than nothing.

Ten days ago, I had a breast reduction and circumferential abdominoplasty with vertical incision and a little lipo. The dr. took over 30 lbs. It wasn't really by design, but when he laid me out, I had more body surface than he expected. I expected the swelling as, per my research, heavier people tend to swell more and I am heavier than most of the ladies on this board who've had these procedures. The procedures were done to assist in mobility, not really for aesthetics. However, I'm impressed by what I see hiding behind all the swelling.

I really need to get the swelling down a bit. Again not so much for aesthetics as for sheer comfort. I'm so swollen that it is QUITE uncomfortable. In addition to the obvious issues, the swelling is confusing my band into thinking that I've eaten way too much, when I haven't eaten anything. I'm having a ton of neck and shoulder pain (the kind I get when I eat too much or too fast) and of course the most lady-like burping you could imagine. Walking seems to help a bit (at 1am, 2am, 3am....) but I can't really do any significant walking because it so incredibly hot outside. Sadly, I'm not Jachut who seems to thrive by running through the Outback with a 50lb pack at the height of summer.

I got permission from the dr to use my recumbent bike. Hopefully that will do the trick and I will be able to sleep for more than 30 minutes (if I'm lucky) at a time. Thanks for the well wishes and I will keep you posted.

Hi:

Did you get your band unfilled prior to your cosmetic surgery? I did before mine and then I had it filled back two weeks after plastic surgery. The primary reason why I got unfilled is because I have nausea issues with anesthesia. I wasn't able to get it filled quite all the way back but I have some restriction now. If you weren't unfilled prior to plastic surgery you might want to consider doing it until your swelling subsides.

I hope your swelling goes away soon so that you feel better.

I love my band and my new flat tummy!

Sue

No, I asked the surgeon and he said I didn't need to unfill. I was quite thrilled. It wasn't the eating concern but the financial and logistical issues. My fills are $100. Also because they damaged my port once during a fill and had to replace it, I am required to do my fills under flouro. They only do flouro fills once a week and those appts. fill up quick. It will often take me 3 or 4 weeks to get an appt. These are also the reasons I've been hesitant to call now. The good news is that I'm seeing a decrease in the worst aspects of the swelling. I actually have human instead of Hobbit feet. Hopefully I can get an appt. with the ps tomorrow to remove the last drain. That way I can actually exercise comfortably. Although he gave me permission to ride my recumbent bike, the drain makes it very uncomfortable. Thanks for the advice and the kind words.