hope4change2012
90 Days Post Op - Happy Girl!
Feb 20, 2013
I am so happy with how I look. I'm so happy I did this. I can't believe that it's already 90 days. I'm back to workouts of all sorts. A recap:
1. I still wear neck lift gear. Dr. S says 6 months. Other sites suggest not that long, but I don't mind it, so I wear it. I'm still numb in front and in back of my ear. My scar under my chin is invisible and I have full feeling there. I still have a slight bruise on one check, but the others that concerned me have gone done. FYI... post op face work, be sure to elevate. When I was having concerns that a seroma might be forming, I did a warm compress on and off gently for a day and started to sleep at an angle again, and daily massage, a few times a day. My neck lift/lower face lift looks amazing. It's subtle and like others sometimes think that I'd like to have more pulled, but I don;t want to get greedy. I think Dr. S did just the right amount. I don't look any different other than people commenting on how much weight I've lost and they notice it in my face. I haven't lost any more weight, it's the face surgery. The eyes have healed nicely and same thing, wish he'd taken a bit more, but that's greedy too. I look good and I have noticed that the healing continues. You can't see the scar and I have full feeling. It's weird being numb, but you get used to it and it hasn't bothered me. I am careful to always wear a sunscreen make up (dermablend) so that the scar on my eyes and face are protected.
2. I still wear the LBL garment too. I think in 90 days I've gone w/o it, but had a shapewear garment on, for a total of 3 days. I find it comfortable. I live where it's cold, so it's just fine. I believe it helped me. I still wear paper tape all the time. There are other posts on that, but basically after surgery you keep it moist (I used aquaphor). Then when the scabs heal, I taped with paper and leave it on for 5-10 days, as long as it wants to stay. When it's off I moisturize. My scar is flat and fading and never opened up. It did go from the perfect round shape to drop a bit on the sides where my thighs are. My thighs are heavy and they pulled it down. It still looks symmetrical and I am happy.
3. I love my breast lift! I loved them at first, then about 30 days out felt like they were too flat on top and the nipples were puckering. That resolved with massage and time as Dr. S said they would. If you upper pole fullness, get implants. I'm a nice full C, with a cute shape and am happy I don't have implants. Dr. S will be honest with you. He could have taken me for more $$ for implants and didn't. He suggested what he felt would be best and I believe this is best. They really are so darn cute and a drastic improvement. This has helped my self esteem so much. And for me personally, I'm glad that I don't have the "she paid for those" comments behind my back. Although you know how people are, I'm sure there are some out there.
4. Tummy - I have a rockin set of abs! I read somewhere that: Dr. S does a great tummy. I was hoping that would be my story and it is my story. I am really working to not gain weight. I can tell, as I had read from other posters, that when I start to gain a little weight, it goes to the upper ab region. It's real incentive for me to keep the weigh off.
5. Outer thights - Dr. S took off 1 litre on each thigh. At first with the swelling it didn't seem like much improvement. Now I can really really tell. I'm grateful.
6. Weight at surgery - well, this is a mixed sentiment for me. I'm still about 162. I've been this for a year now and I had wanted to get to 135 or even 150 for surgery and never made it. Now I think it's a good thing because that is pretty much where I am. If I can ever get lower, drastically, and maintain it, guess what? I'd go back for an updated LBL with Dr. S. I know, crazy, right? But I think he could really pull some more up IF I lost more weight. I still struggle with accepting my ugly thighs, but my awesome abs and chest make up for it. Also, I think I'll be happy if I can get to 150. I don't think it will affect my surgery. But as Dr. S warns, DO NOT go in the other direction. Weigh gain really messes with the results.
7. Healing - it's a long process, but be kind to yourself. Pre op I did the vitamins and protein and post op, same thing. I drastically cut salt and haven't gone back. I didn't push myself in workouts too soon. I just kept visualizing 5 layers of stitches trying to heal and wanted them to adhere. I used silicone tape on my breasts for about 30-45 days because paper made them itch. I still use Kelo-cote when I remember. On LBL, paper tape as I mentioned, but also Kelo-cote too. And, I added pure aloe to soak in from time to time. Massage has been a big part of my heaing too. I have a therapist that loves massaging scars. It sort of hurt, poked, but we'd spend 1 1/2 hours working on all of them and they seem to flatten. it's worth the money if you get someone who knows how to do it and enjoys it, as mine does. She likes seeing the improvement. Oh, and the face scars...she worked on those too.
8. Grateful - I'm grateful, so very grateful.
