Body Lift Recovery

 I am just 4 days out from my Lower Body Lift.  The recovery is much greater than I had anticipated.  The results are fantastic and I am really pleased with how the whole thing looks but right now I am so focused on recovery I do not have the capacity to enjoy the results.  My back is so tight. i wonder if I will every be able to reach my toes again. Right now I can't reach down at all. My pain is mostly in my back. I am getting little bed soars on my back from sitting in one place so long.  Has anyone been through this stage any tips you can share to getting through it?

I just want to give you a hug and congratulate you on getting your surgery done. I am not there yet. Just wanted to give my support.

Hugs and blessings.

Lynn

I know exactly how you feel. Most post-ops have used recliners for their 1st couple of weeks. I did not, but did very well with lots of pillows everywhere you can imagine. used them on chairs, couches and especially in bed. Had 4 at my back, 1 propped at the lower back, 1 under my knees and 1 one my right side where I could eventually tilt to that side. sometimes even had one on my belly to grip onto when I needed to move.
The first couple of weeks I didn't think my back would ever get better, but it does get perfectly back to normal. Try to put soft pillows where some of your pressure points are and do watch those sores for infection. Bending is just not possible right away. I was amazed how much I pick up with my toes - LOL. It's hard but accept help from others. It is something you need. You will improve with every couple of days. Just hang inthere and try to get lots of rest. Give in to the tiredness and eat well! Hugs, Pat

Thank you so much for your post, I am in the "freaking out about recovery" stage with surgery in 10 days, your post helped a lot. I am so glad your recovery is going well. Wish I could answer your questions, but I can't. All the best.

I'm post-op from a lower-body lift a little over two weeks ago.  It gets better, it won't always be like this!! 

The first few days were difficult, I needed help with moving and I simply slept alot. Now as my drains are coming out I get around much better. I can go out to eat or to the store but I get tired pretty quick.

I would suggest moving every few hours or so that you don't get bedsores though.

I still can't touch the floor either. Well, I can if I squat instead of bend. So I'm glad that I was pretty strong as a runner going into this. I had to rely on my arms a lot too.

Sleeping has gotten so much easier too!! I still can not lay flat on my back, but I can slepp on both sides pretty comfortably and its easier to turn over than it once was. I do sleep with lots of pillows and during the day I spend time in a recliner (I just can't sleep in it though, its not comfortable to me)

My back was sore the first week or 2 but it did get better.  I know it's hard to imagine not ever bending over, but you will!  I remember when I first started to reach over to lift something off the floor I would bend slightly and lift one of my legs up towards the back so I wouldn't have to stretch too much.  Worked great.  I also used a grabber thingie a lot that first week because I was always dropping the remote or my cell or something on the floor.  I have little dogs so if I dropped a tissue or something they would shred it to pieces so I used it more to keep them from getting to it before I did! 

I also stayed in my recliner for almost 2 weeks and I just had to move from side to side to give part of my back or butt cheesk a break.  I got up to walk around  just to keep from sitting still so long as well.  Seems like the more I walked the more it helped to walk straighter as well.

Hang in there!
Melissa

I am in the Minneapolis area also.  I am just starting to look into plastics.  Where did you have yours done and are  you pleased?  Any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!