Recovery from Plastics....UGH!

Aug 09, 2010


I certainly have had a long journey.  I am 5 days out of surgery.  I had a paniculectomy (I think I posted the wrong term earlier) and dual brachioplasty.  The doctor estimated pre-op that he would be able to remove about 4 pounds of skin and tissue between both arms and my tummy.  He ended up removing one half of a pound from each arm and 7 pounds from my tummy!  He said he couldn't even believe it. 

Do this math though....I arrived at the hospital for surgery and weighed in at 164.  I had 8 pounds surgically removed from me and two days later at home I weigh 169!  I guess the numbers are all a game even in the end.  I have lots of swelling yet to go down and I feel like I have been hit by a truck.  This is a very difficult recovery, but an essential part of my journey for me.  I still have my lovely sagging boobs to deal with, but one surgery at a time.  I will have to think about how important that is in the end.  

I have some of this covered by insurance, but honesty, I was fully prepared to pay for everything because I needed this.  My stomach, although certainly still very swollen, is flat.  I cannot ever remember having a flat stomach.  I will fit clothes correctly now.  My arms are pained a lot.  I have to keep them wrapped from my wrist to my armpits for three weeks.  I am a healthy person overall, so I feel I have done well with the recovery. 

I can't wait for the recovery process to lighten up a bit and go shopping for sleeveless tops and dresses!  I would have never even had thoughts like that, and now I can.  I had regrets at first, wondering what in the hell I did to my body as I lay in the hospital not even able to toilet myself.  I am now starting to see the outcome and it will be worth it! 

Glad I am as far as I am.  

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About Me
Superior, WI
Location
37.6
BMI
Surgery
02/27/2007
Surgery Date
Nov 03, 2006
Member Since

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