Tomorrow I will be 1 month post op. My hip has decreased by a tiny bit, but other than that my measurements are the same. I still am massaging the lump near my left hip-bone, but sometimes it feels as though its smaller, but I am not sure. The right hand side from above my waist to my hip-bone still has a few bumps running down vertically and this side is also still much more tender to touch than anywhere else. Lately even though my stomach is much, much flatter than it was I still feel that a bit more fat could have been removed but I guess I should hold judgement until a bit more time has past. Was out for a few hours today and as its hot here, the pressure garment because just too unbearable. It was chafing my waist and underneath from sweating became red and irritated. My ps said I could stop using it from tomorrow so I am sure a day earlier wont make any difference so as soon as I got home I took it off. What a relief. My flanks are still quite numb but I was told that this could take a while to get back to normal and it doesn't bother me so I wont stress about it.
16 Nov...........19 Nov.........30 Nov
87cm 34in..85cm 33in....85cm 33 in..Waist
97cm 38cm..95.5cm 37.5in.94.5 37.2in..Hip
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Binder
Its now 3 weeks post op and I am feeling great. I still have to wear the pressure garment for another week, so although I want to go back to gym I have no inclination to do so with the garment on so I will stick it out for another week. There are still some tender areas and I am still massaging the lump near my left hip bone which I don't think has gotten any smaller yet.
When I had the pressure garment made, at the plastic surgeons instructions I also had to have a binder made. Its very similar to one I bought many years ago.
At that time, when my stomach looked a bit larger than normal I would massage on firming gels and creams and wrap the area (abdomen upper) in plastic wrap (gladrap or saran wrap) and over the wrap I would put on the binder and pull it quite tight and sleep with it on.
In the morning when I awoke and took it off, the area would be wet from sweating and would be tighter and firmer and the skin texture would be really nice.
The binder could be worn over the pressure garment on either the upper abdomen, lower abdomen or even hips. So even if your pressure garment becomes a bit large, putting the binder over the garment does the job of keeping the area tightly bound very well. It has velcro strips on it so it can be easily adjusted to fit either a smaller area or a larger one.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
3 week post op visit Q&A
Tomorrow I will actually be exactly 3 week post op, but I saw my ps today. For those of you from the MMH forum, who wanted to know about tanning and lumps I will answer them here.
Q: What are the lumps and will they go away? There are some bumps in a few places, but I have one lump on my hip bone which is quite prominent.
A: The lumps you feel are scar tissue. The bumps will disappear with time, but the lump which is on the hip bone which is closer to the surface of the skin I should massage as follows.
Grip the lump between two fingers and massage it. This should help break down the scar tissue. (I will keep on doing this until the lump has disappeared.
Q: Can I tan now or should I wait and if so how much longer?
A: He recommends that I wait at least another month before tanning and to definitely use a sunblock when I do so. He says the dangers of tanning too soon is that my skin could develop pigmentation marks which is something that he says I definitely would not want.
Q: Will my flanks and tummy still go down some more?
A: There is definitely still swelling in my flanks, hips and on my thigh area and this will definitely improve over the coming months. (My saddle bag area looks so good already I had no idea it was still a bit swollen)
Q: How much longer do I need to wear my garment for (its been 3 weeks )
A: Wear it for another week which will make it 4 weeks all in all. (If I feel I need to use the garment at times I can do so )
Q: When can I exercise and do weights etc without having to restrict myself.
A: You can go back to normal exercising as of now. (My body will obviously tell me if I have had enough)
Q: What are the lumps and will they go away? There are some bumps in a few places, but I have one lump on my hip bone which is quite prominent.
A: The lumps you feel are scar tissue. The bumps will disappear with time, but the lump which is on the hip bone which is closer to the surface of the skin I should massage as follows.
Grip the lump between two fingers and massage it. This should help break down the scar tissue. (I will keep on doing this until the lump has disappeared.
Q: Can I tan now or should I wait and if so how much longer?
A: He recommends that I wait at least another month before tanning and to definitely use a sunblock when I do so. He says the dangers of tanning too soon is that my skin could develop pigmentation marks which is something that he says I definitely would not want.
Q: Will my flanks and tummy still go down some more?
A: There is definitely still swelling in my flanks, hips and on my thigh area and this will definitely improve over the coming months. (My saddle bag area looks so good already I had no idea it was still a bit swollen)
Q: How much longer do I need to wear my garment for (its been 3 weeks )
A: Wear it for another week which will make it 4 weeks all in all. (If I feel I need to use the garment at times I can do so )
Q: When can I exercise and do weights etc without having to restrict myself.
A: You can go back to normal exercising as of now. (My body will obviously tell me if I have had enough)
Monday, November 20, 2006
Side view
My upper abdomen is flatter but the lower is swollen and still slightly hard and also feeling bloated today. The bruising has almost disappeared.
My progress seems to have gone backward
After the heat yesterday and last night, I seem to have regressed. I feel swollen and bloated this morning and after taking this pic I can see that I look it too. Even though I read that swelling etc is normal in the first 6 months or so, its still a bitter pill to swallow.
Miserable night
Yesterday was very hot here. I could not go to the pool or beach so sweltered in my hot bedroom. Last night I tossed and turned and for the first time I really hurt on my right hand side and on my thighs. It felt as though the garment was too tight and continuously throughout the night I unzipped it for a few minutes then zipped it up again. This morning I look swollen again and this darn pressure garment is driving me crazy. I think its because of the heat and I am sweating so badly under the garment.
My advice to those of you who want to undergo liposuction is to have it done during the autumn or winter months.
My advice to those of you who want to undergo liposuction is to have it done during the autumn or winter months.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Measurements
My Mom told me last night that I looked thinner. I freaked as I want to look slim, but not thin as I had been thin all my life and used to live on weight gain shakes etc to try and put on weight. She had to re-assure me that I look good and not thin. Took my measurement this morning after the massage and its improving.
16 Nov.............19 Nov
87cm 34in.......85cm 33in..........Waist
97cm 38cm......95.5cm 37.5in....Hip
Yippee!!!!!
16 Nov.............19 Nov
87cm 34in.......85cm 33in..........Waist
97cm 38cm......95.5cm 37.5in....Hip
Yippee!!!!!
Massage
I still have lumpy areas and have been massaging a couple of times a day. The right side waist running down to my hip bone is the worst. This area hurts when I massage it, so as long as I rub from my hip in an upward direction then its fine. Any other way and it seems as if something is pulling inside so this is the only area where I need to be more gentle. After waking, I loosen my garment and before even getting out of bed, I grab the tissue oil and give my stomach and hips a good massage. I only do my thighs about once a day as I have no problems there.
I have a theory about that. The area where I used to have saddle bags was very firm and hard from gym. I had a small area on either side (saddle bag) which was not very big. You could not grab any skin or fat in this area because overall it was firm with just the small problem and if you prodded the area other the small pocket of fat, the muscles were hard and firm. I think because of this the ps took his time and had to be careful as there was not much fat and also he could see better how he was progressing as it was a firm area to begin with so was more in control. I think maybe if you lose weight and firm up as much as possible before the lipo then the result is better and apparent sooner. (Easier said than done though)
I may be totally wrong, but those are my assumptions.
I have a theory about that. The area where I used to have saddle bags was very firm and hard from gym. I had a small area on either side (saddle bag) which was not very big. You could not grab any skin or fat in this area because overall it was firm with just the small problem and if you prodded the area other the small pocket of fat, the muscles were hard and firm. I think because of this the ps took his time and had to be careful as there was not much fat and also he could see better how he was progressing as it was a firm area to begin with so was more in control. I think maybe if you lose weight and firm up as much as possible before the lipo then the result is better and apparent sooner. (Easier said than done though)
I may be totally wrong, but those are my assumptions.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
So far so good
The forum MMH has been invaluable to me. Its difficult having problems occur and you cannot call your ps for every small concern, so its been great being able to post and ask questions about things that bother you and to hear from people who are either "lipo veterans" or had undergone lipo around about the same time as myself. A special thanks to "skier girl" and "iwantashape" Skier girl went for her 2 week post op yesterday and was told that the lumps are normal and that it is either scar tissue or fluid filled. She was told that massaging the area and wearing of the compression garment is important. I see my ps next week Thursday so will ask if it "definitely" will go away (lumps) and if its doesn't then what then. Other than that I am healing well, the only discomfort really is my saddle bag area. Cannot sit with my full weight on the toilet. Hurts too much, but sitting on chair etc is fine. Sometimes when I stretch over whilst lying down to get something on the other side of the bed, I get a sharp stinging, burning sensation and sort of pulling sensation in my flank. I think my flanks are still swollen and taking longer to get back to normal that the rest of the areas, but as I am only 2 weeks post op, its to be expected. Its still early days.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Side view before and now
I had thought that my side view did not look that great as my stomach still is not completely flat and it would have been nice to look like that again, but after taking this picture today and looking at my pic from a week ago I can see a slight change so hopefully it will still go down a bit more.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Comparison of back view
The left hand pic was taken 7 days post op and the right hand side 12 days post op. Most of the bruising has disappeared,but my left hand side flanks seems more swollen than day 7. Both flanks still feel puffy and swollen and are still very tender.Took my measurements today and below is the comparison:
8th November..........16th November
89cm 35in................87cm 34in...WAIST
99.5cm 39in............97cm 38cm...HIP
The waist measurement was taken around the navel area. Its not very much but at least its starting to going down.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Numb and Itchy
Its been 12 days since my lipo. Flanks and saddle bag area remains extremely tender and my flank area is still extremely numb. So far I have found 7 lumps in my abdomen and on my flank. Have been massaging the area 3 times a day, but not sure if I am using the right method or not. My right flank is itching terribly and both flanks seem very puffy as though they have water inside (according to my Mum) I suppose this is still swelling. From the back I think I still don't look very good (was better a few days ago) but from the front I can see the difference in my shape. I decided to put my belly ring back in, but struggled to do so as it seemed that the hole had started to close. Took a while but eventually had to force it through the skin. It hurt for a while after that, but applied Bactroban to help prevent infection and it seems fine right now.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Day 11 post op
Called my ps today as I seem to have developed some more small bumps under the skin. At my waistline running horizontally it feels like a rope with a couple of knots in it. He said that its normal for this to happen and not to worry and he will be seeing me next week on Thursday for my 3 week post op check up. My flanks are the most sensitive area now and also when I sit on a hard surface like the toilet then my thigh area hurts, but other than that all is well. Bruising is disappearing too. I can see that my stomach does not have those huge rolls anymore, but its not as flat as I would like it to be, but definitely much better than pre-op and it most probably will still go down a bit more.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Two photos
Picture on left taken on Nov 10th and the one on the right taken Nov 13th. You can see the lumpiness on the waistline of the Nov 13th pic which I have circled.Have found some more lumps this afternoon. I massaged all the areas as I read on a liposuction forum that this helps to get rid of the lumps. I had intended to call my psurgeon and ask about the lumps, but after reading that many people do get these lumps, decided to wait a few days and see if the massage helps at all. I am waiting for my doctor to send me the before pics he took as I did not take any and I want to see how much difference there is between the before and after pics.
The tape I had over the welts from the garment had made my skin underneath red and irritated so I took it off, but yesterday the welts were quite bad again so decided to use it again. Will just take it off for a day or two when it gets too irritated.
I know I have to wait quite a bit longer before I see results, but my stomach still looked big on a photo I took today and I cannot imagine that it really is going to get flatter so am feeling a bit despondent, but as its only 10days post op I most probably am expecting too much.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Lumps
Woke up this morning and in addition to the lump on my stomach, found one on my side of my waist. If you go back and look at Day 4s front view pic http://mylipostory.blogspot.com/2006/11/day-4-front-view.html you will most probably be able to notice on the left hand side waist that there is a tiny bulge. I saw that at the time, but since its no longer visible I did not worry about it, but since feeling this lump, I realise now its the same one. I have read on a forum that this happens and that one should just continue massaging the area which I am now going to do more often.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
bad day at the movies
Went to a movie today and regretted it 10 minutes into the movie. I was terribly uncomfortable and sat on one butt cheek and then the other but could not get comfortable. I cannot explain the feeling, but its a sort of numb dull hurt...not exactly an ache. It feels something like when your hand has been touching snow and it gets that ache inside. Its like that. I could not wait to get home. I guess I should still not overdo things for the next few days.
My lower stomach has a lump the size of a small marble in it. It does not hurt, just feels strange. Went to an online forum on lipo and some people say that this happens, but mostly goes away with massage and the binder.
Well I started massaging this and the rest of the lipo area with Healing tissue oil my plastic surgery gave me on Thursday. I hope it goes away.
My lower stomach has a lump the size of a small marble in it. It does not hurt, just feels strange. Went to an online forum on lipo and some people say that this happens, but mostly goes away with massage and the binder.
Well I started massaging this and the rest of the lipo area with Healing tissue oil my plastic surgery gave me on Thursday. I hope it goes away.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Rear view
I am quite happy with how it looks from the rear so far. Hopefully there is still swelling in my flanks as well and it looks even better a few weeks down the line.
Day 7 post op
The sides where my pressure garment leaves welts is covered with special tape and then I saturate the tape in Natural Healing Tissue Oil obtained from my PS.
The bruising is most severe down the sides of my legs and my stomach is still quite swollen.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Day 6 consultation
Saw my PS today. Had the stitches removed and the areas where the pressure garment had left welts and the stitches were taped with micropore (I think) and they told me to apply tissue oil which they gave me directly onto this tape and to also massage the tissue oil into the areas which were lipo'd. After returning home I realised that they missed one stitch so removed it myself.
He said that I look much slimmer already to which I replied "I wish". Felt like such a fool afterwards for making that comment, but anyway he said that I am still swollen and that this would still go down over the coming weeks.
The nurse told me that sometimes it keeps on improving until the 6 months mark. I asked when I could resume going to gym. Not that I am ready yet, my treated areas still feels a bit too sore to move around too vigorously. She said I should wear my pressure garment for 6 weeks. I thought I only needed to wear it for 3 weeks, so was disappointed as its going into summer here and obviously I want to go to the beach and don't feel like living in this tight garment for so long and I told her so. She reluctantly said that minimum then would be 4 weeks and that when I resume going to gym I should not really work the areas where I was lipo'd and to begin with slow walking and that upper body weights were okay but to take it easy with lower body.
Feeling very tired today so will forgo taking pics and posting them. Maybe tomorrow.
He said that I look much slimmer already to which I replied "I wish". Felt like such a fool afterwards for making that comment, but anyway he said that I am still swollen and that this would still go down over the coming weeks.
The nurse told me that sometimes it keeps on improving until the 6 months mark. I asked when I could resume going to gym. Not that I am ready yet, my treated areas still feels a bit too sore to move around too vigorously. She said I should wear my pressure garment for 6 weeks. I thought I only needed to wear it for 3 weeks, so was disappointed as its going into summer here and obviously I want to go to the beach and don't feel like living in this tight garment for so long and I told her so. She reluctantly said that minimum then would be 4 weeks and that when I resume going to gym I should not really work the areas where I was lipo'd and to begin with slow walking and that upper body weights were okay but to take it easy with lower body.
Feeling very tired today so will forgo taking pics and posting them. Maybe tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Day 5
I woke this morning feeling as though I did not sleep too well. The welts at my sides (from the garment) really bother me. When I woke this morning I zipped down both sides of the garment and rubbed the welts lightly. This felt so good.
My flanks are still quite numb and tender, stomach is tender but not too bad and my saddle bag area seems a bit more tender than yesterday. I took my waist and hip measurement to compare later to see if when the swelling goes down there is any change.
Waist: 89cm 35inches
Hip: 99.5cm 39 inches
As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I put on weight from July to September this year and prior to that my hips were 92cm 36 inches. If I lose weight my bust if going to be soft and small and saggy again, but I think my hip measurement just prior to the procedure which was 99cm 38.9inches is a bit too much for me. I already feel like my bust is a tiny bit smaller and soft. However having gone through the lipo I really think I should try and reduce my measurements. I will try the gym route first and take it from there. I read up on the net that a person with apple shape with weight on the stomach is more likely to end up with health problems that those with a pear shape with the weight distributed on the hips. My above waist measurement I took at the spot where my navel is as the person who measured me for my pressure garment said that was my waist measurement. However I am not sure if that is where I should take the measurement. Anyone who knows exactly where the waist measurement should be taken, please leave a comment for me.
Below is a link to a site where they have a calculator to determine whether you have a healthy waist to hip ratio.
http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/waist_hip.asp
Mine at the above post op measurement is a health risk. However they say one should take the measurement above the navel. Will re calculate when I take my garment off to bath later.
Apparently if you were high risk pre lipo and after lipo you waist measurement is within the normal range, it does not mean your risk is now less. If you were high risk prior to the liposuction you should follow a health eating plan and exercise on a regular basis to reduce your risk.
My flanks are still quite numb and tender, stomach is tender but not too bad and my saddle bag area seems a bit more tender than yesterday. I took my waist and hip measurement to compare later to see if when the swelling goes down there is any change.
Waist: 89cm 35inches
Hip: 99.5cm 39 inches
As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I put on weight from July to September this year and prior to that my hips were 92cm 36 inches. If I lose weight my bust if going to be soft and small and saggy again, but I think my hip measurement just prior to the procedure which was 99cm 38.9inches is a bit too much for me. I already feel like my bust is a tiny bit smaller and soft. However having gone through the lipo I really think I should try and reduce my measurements. I will try the gym route first and take it from there. I read up on the net that a person with apple shape with weight on the stomach is more likely to end up with health problems that those with a pear shape with the weight distributed on the hips. My above waist measurement I took at the spot where my navel is as the person who measured me for my pressure garment said that was my waist measurement. However I am not sure if that is where I should take the measurement. Anyone who knows exactly where the waist measurement should be taken, please leave a comment for me.
Below is a link to a site where they have a calculator to determine whether you have a healthy waist to hip ratio.
http://www.healthcalculators.org/calculators/waist_hip.asp
Mine at the above post op measurement is a health risk. However they say one should take the measurement above the navel. Will re calculate when I take my garment off to bath later.
Apparently if you were high risk pre lipo and after lipo you waist measurement is within the normal range, it does not mean your risk is now less. If you were high risk prior to the liposuction you should follow a health eating plan and exercise on a regular basis to reduce your risk.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Day 4 post op
Last night I could actually sleep on my side for the first time since the liposuction. I normally sleep on my side, but could not do so as it hurt too much after the procedure. I could also get out of bed by myself with ease. My stomach doesn't hurt as much when I get up so I guess that is a sign that I am healing. Pity the swelling doesn't seem to have gone down much yet and the bruising down the side of my legs are very bad today. The saddle bags were not that big and only a small area was worked on yet the bruising goes right down the leg to almost the knees. When I drove the kids to school it was difficult to twist my waist to look over my shoulder when changing lanes etc but it does not hurt as much as yesterday so I am expecting each day to get better from now on. Maybe if I stay off my feet a lot more over the next couple of days it might help to heal sooner. I am wearing track pants, but the elastic waist hurts if I pull it down and it rests on my flanks. My hips look so big that I wonder if I am really going to look slimmer when all this swelling goes down. Maybe I need to lose a kilo or two (about 4 pounds) just to look more in proportion. Once all the swelling is almost gone I will take a lot more photos and try and decide then if I need to lost a little weight or not. I really hope that my stomach is going to be flat. I cannot imagine it being flat as its so swollen now. (At least I hope its only swelling)
day 3 post op and welts
Woke up this morning and still have same difficulty getting up, but I do not have pain as such. Its more like tenderness of the area and when getting up in the morning I cannot walk straight until a few minutes later. Once I am up and about everything is fine. Called my doctor and he said not to worry about the welts and just to make sure that the foam strip inside the pressure garment is not bunched up and is laying flat against my skin. I will be seeing him on Thursday 9th Nov.
It was a nice hot day here today so it was not very nice having to wear this tight garment, so when it was time to bathe instead of my usual 15 minutes I think I stayed about 25 minutes in the bath and kept on adding hot water as it felt so good. BIG MISTAKE.
When I got out and went to put on a fresh pressure garment, I struggle terribly to get into the garment. I think my stomach had swelled even more. Guess I wont be doing that again. Its going to be hot all week so I its not going to be comfortable at all. If the swelling would just go down a bit it would make all the difference.
garment inside view
The side strips you see are protecting the skin from the zip and is a sort of a soft foam. Due to my swelling this strip is actually causings marks on my sides. 
Day 2 post op
I am feeling okay today. The only problems I have is when I have to get up from a sitting or lying down position. I could do it on my own with time, but call for help when I need to get up. When I end up moaning and groaning when trying to get up, my son asks me whether I think it was still worth having the liposuction done. I cannot really see s difference in my lower abdomen yet as there is quite a lot of swelling, but my the area where my saddle bags were are flat and smooth. It wasn't that bad to begin with but now that its gone I can really see how much better I look from the back. I really am pleased.
The other problem I have is that due to the swelling, the sides of the garment where the zip and inside padded strip is leaves a long line down from my waist to my thigh and is causing a welt. this area is very uncomfortable. My doctor called me this morning to find out how I was doing and because it was a Sunday morning and so unexpected I completely forgot to ask about the marks from the pressure garment. He said the procedure went very well. I mailed his secretary with pics of the welts and will call him in the morning and ask him whether it could cause any irregularities or not. I bathed this afternoon and how wonderful it was to lie in water without the garment on, but I was told not to leave the garment off for more than 15 minutes when I bathe so could not lie for ages in the water which would have been so soothing.
The other problem I have is that due to the swelling, the sides of the garment where the zip and inside padded strip is leaves a long line down from my waist to my thigh and is causing a welt. this area is very uncomfortable. My doctor called me this morning to find out how I was doing and because it was a Sunday morning and so unexpected I completely forgot to ask about the marks from the pressure garment. He said the procedure went very well. I mailed his secretary with pics of the welts and will call him in the morning and ask him whether it could cause any irregularities or not. I bathed this afternoon and how wonderful it was to lie in water without the garment on, but I was told not to leave the garment off for more than 15 minutes when I bathe so could not lie for ages in the water which would have been so soothing.
Photo of first day post op
The marks on the sides are from the pressure garment I am wearing. I think I am quite swollen so its very tight.Day of lipo - post op
I have absolutely no recollection of getting dressed and exactly how I got home. There are bits and pieces of memory here and there, but for the most part I was totally out of it. I have some recollection of lifting my head on the operating table and telling my doc that it was a bit painful, but that the area he was doing at the time is not so bad. Whether this in actual fact happened or not I do not know. On the photographs they took for me a lot of the time my eyes were open, but I do not have any memory of the actual procedure. I arrived back home around about 4 on the day of the op. I cannot remember if I had a lot of pain or not and I slept on and off till 3am the following morning. I drained quite a bit and had to change my garment 6 times from the time I came home until 3am the following morning. When the garment came off it had to be washed and dried with a hair-dryer to ensure that I would be able to change. Bedding had to be changed and we did not have enough linen savers so the family cut up large plastic bags and had to position it under the mattress cover, on top of the cover and under the sheet as well.
At 3am when I awoke, I had to struggle to get out of bed as all the areas which had been lipo'd were tight and hurt when I tried to sit up or get out of bed.
I desperately needed the toilet and not to pee, so I had to try and make sure the garment was positioned correctly so that I don't mess on it (not an easy task when you are trying to balance so as not to sit down properly on the toilet because the top legs (at the back - saddle bags)hurt)
Eventually managed to get back to bed and felt suprisingly okay and was now wide awake so watched tv for 2-3 hours before going back to sleep.
Although it hurt when I moved, the pain was not severe enough to warrant taking pain killers.
I sat and wondered how I actually managed to direct the nurse to my home and if I managed to get inside without any of the neighbours seeing me as I do remember hanging on this nurses arm when climbing the steps to my apartment. I did not tell anyone but my children and my mother about the liposuction and I do not want anyone else to know.
My Mom was very anti me having this done and she was worried about what could happen to me under sedation, so now that its over she at least is not nagging about me having done this. When I told her that I was having this procedure done she was upset and told me that I shouldn't and that I am the type of person who once starts will want to keep on doing more and more.
This is most probably because I like watching the extreme makeover shows on reality tv and she sees me looking at before and after pics on the net of face lifts and lipo.
She obviously doesn't really know me at all. She doesn't realise how terrified I was of the sedation and possible complications as well, but I just said that I am not afraid in order not to panic her even more than she already was. There are other parts of my body which I dislike as well, but can live with. For instance since a teen my nose always bothered me and since then I always thought it would be nice if I could have a nose job, but I have honestly never seriously considered having one.
Once you reach a certain age it seems that fat gets put on in certain areas in some people and if you don't start exercising and watching your diet when it starts, then it gets out of hand and its not easy getting rid of certain stubborn areas of fat as one cannot predict where weight will be lost when going on a diet.
I definitely intend having a face lift next. My face resembles my grandmother now and I cannot bear looking in the mirror and seeing the jowls and how unhappy I look because of the sagging. I asked my surgeon to look at my face and tell me what HE would do if asked and he said he would do my lids (blepharoplasty) neck lipo and muscle tightening and the face lift. When I pinch my lids the excess skin stays like that for a bit so I guess that is what he means.
I would just be happy if my skin was not so hangy on my face.
People always comment that I do not look my age and that I look younger. Sometimes when I see people my age I agree with that, but that is no consulation for me. I could look 20 yrs younger than people my age, but if I have the saggy face it would still make me unhappy.
In my opinion I was never pretty, but when made up I looked okay and felt confident. I don't anymore. So even though my nose, bust need doing as well, I definitely will not do those areas for the simple fact that I am okay with how it is now even though it is not that great unless its possible to lift a bust and it would look nice without implants as I do not want to have those and the breast lift pics I have seen always seem to be done on people with large bust or tiny bust with hangy skin, but then an implant is put in as well so it looks good. The bust lift on small bust I had managed to find pics of don't look as good as the ones with implants. I WILL have my face done eventually though.
My mother asks me why I bother to have the lipo done as its not as though I have much of a social life (I do not have a boyfriend either) and all I do is stay at home and possibly put on weight on my tummy again.
After spending so much money (well a lot in my eyes anyway) I definitely will feel better and be more motivated at gym to improve the rest of my body with exercise. Also I did it and will do the face-lift eventually to make ME happy and so that I can feel good about myself. If I had done the procedure to please a man I think THAT would be an indicator that something is wrong with having surgery.
I believe that one should have plastic surgery if one wants, but only for yourself and not to please a boyfriend or husband.
I know that I for one will walk tall again and feel confident about my body once again even though I should have a paper bag on my head as in my mind my head and body do not match, but I will live with my face as it is for now and maybe within the next year will do something about it.
At 3am when I awoke, I had to struggle to get out of bed as all the areas which had been lipo'd were tight and hurt when I tried to sit up or get out of bed.
I desperately needed the toilet and not to pee, so I had to try and make sure the garment was positioned correctly so that I don't mess on it (not an easy task when you are trying to balance so as not to sit down properly on the toilet because the top legs (at the back - saddle bags)hurt)
Eventually managed to get back to bed and felt suprisingly okay and was now wide awake so watched tv for 2-3 hours before going back to sleep.
Although it hurt when I moved, the pain was not severe enough to warrant taking pain killers.
I sat and wondered how I actually managed to direct the nurse to my home and if I managed to get inside without any of the neighbours seeing me as I do remember hanging on this nurses arm when climbing the steps to my apartment. I did not tell anyone but my children and my mother about the liposuction and I do not want anyone else to know.
My Mom was very anti me having this done and she was worried about what could happen to me under sedation, so now that its over she at least is not nagging about me having done this. When I told her that I was having this procedure done she was upset and told me that I shouldn't and that I am the type of person who once starts will want to keep on doing more and more.
This is most probably because I like watching the extreme makeover shows on reality tv and she sees me looking at before and after pics on the net of face lifts and lipo.
She obviously doesn't really know me at all. She doesn't realise how terrified I was of the sedation and possible complications as well, but I just said that I am not afraid in order not to panic her even more than she already was. There are other parts of my body which I dislike as well, but can live with. For instance since a teen my nose always bothered me and since then I always thought it would be nice if I could have a nose job, but I have honestly never seriously considered having one.
Once you reach a certain age it seems that fat gets put on in certain areas in some people and if you don't start exercising and watching your diet when it starts, then it gets out of hand and its not easy getting rid of certain stubborn areas of fat as one cannot predict where weight will be lost when going on a diet.
I definitely intend having a face lift next. My face resembles my grandmother now and I cannot bear looking in the mirror and seeing the jowls and how unhappy I look because of the sagging. I asked my surgeon to look at my face and tell me what HE would do if asked and he said he would do my lids (blepharoplasty) neck lipo and muscle tightening and the face lift. When I pinch my lids the excess skin stays like that for a bit so I guess that is what he means.
I would just be happy if my skin was not so hangy on my face.
People always comment that I do not look my age and that I look younger. Sometimes when I see people my age I agree with that, but that is no consulation for me. I could look 20 yrs younger than people my age, but if I have the saggy face it would still make me unhappy.
In my opinion I was never pretty, but when made up I looked okay and felt confident. I don't anymore. So even though my nose, bust need doing as well, I definitely will not do those areas for the simple fact that I am okay with how it is now even though it is not that great unless its possible to lift a bust and it would look nice without implants as I do not want to have those and the breast lift pics I have seen always seem to be done on people with large bust or tiny bust with hangy skin, but then an implant is put in as well so it looks good. The bust lift on small bust I had managed to find pics of don't look as good as the ones with implants. I WILL have my face done eventually though.
My mother asks me why I bother to have the lipo done as its not as though I have much of a social life (I do not have a boyfriend either) and all I do is stay at home and possibly put on weight on my tummy again.
After spending so much money (well a lot in my eyes anyway) I definitely will feel better and be more motivated at gym to improve the rest of my body with exercise. Also I did it and will do the face-lift eventually to make ME happy and so that I can feel good about myself. If I had done the procedure to please a man I think THAT would be an indicator that something is wrong with having surgery.
I believe that one should have plastic surgery if one wants, but only for yourself and not to please a boyfriend or husband.
I know that I for one will walk tall again and feel confident about my body once again even though I should have a paper bag on my head as in my mind my head and body do not match, but I will live with my face as it is for now and maybe within the next year will do something about it.
Monday, November 06, 2006
A bit about me
I have always been skinny and have tried all my life to put on weight. From about 10 years ago at the age of 40 I started putting on some weight and weighed about 57-59kgs (120-130 pounds) Unfortunately even though I put on some weight, I still had the skinny lower legs and arms.
In the past 2 years I weighed just under 62kgs (136 pounds) and was happy with my weight.
From July to September this year I was quite sedentary and had a constant craving for chocolate and seeing that it was winter, stayed indoors and pigged out. In September when out with my daughter, I was quite miserable as my stomach was hanging over my jeans and it was tight and it hurt and could not wait to get back home.
I realised then that I needed to do something about my stomach, but did not really want to lose weight as now having put on some weight my bust looked better than before. (Not great, still saggy but at least a bit bigger)
I joined the gym and started working out to try and lose the stomach but not all the weight. I have a back problem so had to be careful, could not do normal crunches but worked out 3 times a week for 2hrs.
I walked on the treadmill at a brisk pace first for 20 - 40 minutes and then did weights.
I was quite shocked when weighing myself at the gym when I joined to find that I now weighed 66kgs (145 pounds)
I think its a bit too much as I am now going to turn 50 and it seems like the weight just wants to stick on my waist, abdomen and flanks.
6 weeks of gym did nothing to decrease my stomach, but I was developing firmer butt, legs and arms and was quite happy with this.
I realised now that if I lose weight I am going to most probably have my flat stomach back, but I will lose the bust I now have and go back to the ugly, floppy poor excuse I have for a bust.
I had always been interested in looking at makeover programs and finally decided that I should rather have liposuction of my abdomen instead of losing weight and still not being happy with the skinny lower legs and almost flat chest.
In the past 2 years I weighed just under 62kgs (136 pounds) and was happy with my weight.
From July to September this year I was quite sedentary and had a constant craving for chocolate and seeing that it was winter, stayed indoors and pigged out. In September when out with my daughter, I was quite miserable as my stomach was hanging over my jeans and it was tight and it hurt and could not wait to get back home.
I realised then that I needed to do something about my stomach, but did not really want to lose weight as now having put on some weight my bust looked better than before. (Not great, still saggy but at least a bit bigger)
I joined the gym and started working out to try and lose the stomach but not all the weight. I have a back problem so had to be careful, could not do normal crunches but worked out 3 times a week for 2hrs.
I walked on the treadmill at a brisk pace first for 20 - 40 minutes and then did weights.
I was quite shocked when weighing myself at the gym when I joined to find that I now weighed 66kgs (145 pounds)
I think its a bit too much as I am now going to turn 50 and it seems like the weight just wants to stick on my waist, abdomen and flanks.
6 weeks of gym did nothing to decrease my stomach, but I was developing firmer butt, legs and arms and was quite happy with this.
I realised now that if I lose weight I am going to most probably have my flat stomach back, but I will lose the bust I now have and go back to the ugly, floppy poor excuse I have for a bust.
I had always been interested in looking at makeover programs and finally decided that I should rather have liposuction of my abdomen instead of losing weight and still not being happy with the skinny lower legs and almost flat chest.
I had wanted to try and get all the photos that were taken posted today, but I think I was on my feet too much today and I took a quick bath at about 4pm as my PS told me not to leave the pressure garment off for longer than 15 minutes.
It is quite hot here today and it felt so good being out of the garment and in the water that I must have been without the garment for about 25 minutes and when I finished bathing and had to put on a clean garment, it seemed as though I had become even more swollen than before and struggled to get the garment on. It is so tight now that it feels awful and I think I should get off my feet and lie down in order for the swelling to settle done somewhat.
I will try and post more about the happenings directly after the lipo 3 days ago and post more pictures post op as well.
It is quite hot here today and it felt so good being out of the garment and in the water that I must have been without the garment for about 25 minutes and when I finished bathing and had to put on a clean garment, it seemed as though I had become even more swollen than before and struggled to get the garment on. It is so tight now that it feels awful and I think I should get off my feet and lie down in order for the swelling to settle done somewhat.
I will try and post more about the happenings directly after the lipo 3 days ago and post more pictures post op as well.
Fat removed
I am not sure how much fat exactly was removed. When I see my plastic surgeon this week I will ask him how much he removed all in all. This is a photograph taken at almost the end of the lipo so I think that is basically all that was taken out.
photo lipo saddlebag
I wasn't intending to do my saddlebags, but decided that I might as well do it at the same time as my abdomen. If I did not do it at this time, I most probably would never have it done as I do not intend to do any more lipo after this.
on operating table
I think this was taken just before the lipo began. My PS said he would start with me on my stomach and finish off with my abdomen.
D Day
I arrived at my doctors rooms at 10.30am. I was so nervous that I actually felt ill. He breezed in said HI and how are you. I said fine which was quite stupid as I was far from fine.They called me in, told me to undress and I will be cleaned for marking. His nursing sister cleaned the areas to be lipsuctioned and he came in an did his markings. The anaethetist came in and did a pre-op consult and off I went into his theatre.They told me to lay face down and then the anaethetist put in a port for him to use and gave me a few cc's of something. A minute or two later another few cc's and by then I started calming down and was feeling quite fine. Obviously whatever he was giving me (sedation) was calming me. I think by the third lot he injected I was sedated and the procedure started.
pressure garment
Having made the appointment for 3rd November his receptionist mailed me details of the person I was to go see to have a pressure garment made up.
I did this the following week and started panicking about the lipo. I started worrying about what would happen to my children if something should happen to me during surgery. I worried about deep vein thrombosis or fat embolism.
The more I worried, the more I look up what could go wrong during the procedure.
A week prior to my surgery I had to see my surgeon and told him of my concerns. He really was great and listened to me and explained to me what could happen, but that severe complications rarely happen and that I was not to worry. Easier said than done.
Both he and his receptionist were really nice and when he heard that I intended to take a taxi home after the procedure he was not happy with this and called and arranged a nurse to take me home and settle me and be with me for an hour or two after the procedure.
Back home I continued to worry and panic. Sleepless night continued. I have migraines and had a continuous migraine from 5th October until the 3rd November the day of my procedure. Of course having been suffering with this until the day of my lipo I was worried that something could happen to me because of this, but my doctor assured me that I would be fine
I did this the following week and started panicking about the lipo. I started worrying about what would happen to my children if something should happen to me during surgery. I worried about deep vein thrombosis or fat embolism.
The more I worried, the more I look up what could go wrong during the procedure.
A week prior to my surgery I had to see my surgeon and told him of my concerns. He really was great and listened to me and explained to me what could happen, but that severe complications rarely happen and that I was not to worry. Easier said than done.
Both he and his receptionist were really nice and when he heard that I intended to take a taxi home after the procedure he was not happy with this and called and arranged a nurse to take me home and settle me and be with me for an hour or two after the procedure.
Back home I continued to worry and panic. Sleepless night continued. I have migraines and had a continuous migraine from 5th October until the 3rd November the day of my procedure. Of course having been suffering with this until the day of my lipo I was worried that something could happen to me because of this, but my doctor assured me that I would be fine
The Consultation
In October I finally had an appointment with a plastic surgeon. He seems quite well known amongst people I know and I saw comments he made in Aesthetic Surgery magazine. I firstly looked up his website and read through all the procedures.
He used to have photos on his website but apparently now in South Africa plastic surgeons may not display photos. I guess here we are not allowed to advertise. Makes no sense to me, but anyway made an appointment and finally went to see him.
I told him what I was unhappy with ie. my abdomen and actually face as well although I cannot afford both at this time, my fat middle body was what I wanted to do something about first.
I found out during the consultation that he is a friend of my GP who is a musician as well and has some CDs out. When he had a look at my stomach I asked him what he thought of my saddle bags and if he had to give me an opinion on what to do whether he would suggest this done as well. They are not all that large, but if I should wear tight jeans to tight workout pants, you would see the slight bump. He looked and said yes we could take a bit out of both sides and showed me what he meant. I intended going for tummy and flanks only, but thought what the hell, I might as well do the saddlebags at the same time.
He said I could think about it and make an appointment for the procedure if I wanted to go ahead, but I decided then and there and managed to get an appointment for 3 weeks later.
He used to have photos on his website but apparently now in South Africa plastic surgeons may not display photos. I guess here we are not allowed to advertise. Makes no sense to me, but anyway made an appointment and finally went to see him.
I told him what I was unhappy with ie. my abdomen and actually face as well although I cannot afford both at this time, my fat middle body was what I wanted to do something about first.
I found out during the consultation that he is a friend of my GP who is a musician as well and has some CDs out. When he had a look at my stomach I asked him what he thought of my saddle bags and if he had to give me an opinion on what to do whether he would suggest this done as well. They are not all that large, but if I should wear tight jeans to tight workout pants, you would see the slight bump. He looked and said yes we could take a bit out of both sides and showed me what he meant. I intended going for tummy and flanks only, but thought what the hell, I might as well do the saddlebags at the same time.
He said I could think about it and make an appointment for the procedure if I wanted to go ahead, but I decided then and there and managed to get an appointment for 3 weeks later.
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