Well, finally the process done on the 23rd of December. deepest apologies for the late posting, but have been up and about since doing holiday stuff. Yes, I am totally up and about!!!
Op day was interesting. Went in there an hour early to get the necessary jabs first. Mainly antibiotics... Took a few pre op photos, then chilled out for about 30 mins before i had to change into a robe in preparation for the op.
The op itself isnt as painless as described in other post. And honestly, I was on the brink of freaking out a few times. Mainly from the noise and the "pressure" - Pressure here can be described as Exceptional discomfort.
But all in all, it was bearable. I strongly recommend an Ipod or some form of noise entertainment be used during the op. I had brought an ipod which sat comfortably in my back pack as the op was underway! I wil never forget that part of my personal pre op prep again!!!
The mediate cosmetic differences are dramatic, before the swelling sets in, you get a good picture of what the final result will look like. Besides the 5 holes that were made, 2 along the belt line, 2 mid tummy, and 1 thru the belly button, the results I saw made the op more then worth the trouble, discomfort and pain.
Day 1-post op.
The swelling set in in a big way... Al of a sudden, i looked no different from what I looked like pre op. But that was okay with me, I kind of like the idea that most people would have no idea that I had gone for Lipo and after a few weeks/months, I would look a whole lot better. Well, that was the thinking at least... The compression garment was irritating. The tightness was okay but the inability to get out of bed, get out of a chair easily was exceptionally irritating. To illustrate the inconvenience of wearing the garment, please try wiping your ass after a dump, but all the while maintaining a perfectly vertical spine, with ZERO bending to the front or sides... Yes, wiping my ass was a chore all on its own. Taking on and off the diaper I was wearing was a whole world of frustration on its own, coupled with the garment, I was dreading taking dumps: pre dump, mid dump and post dump....
Day 2...
Went back to the doctors to have them look at the entry holes as well change my dressings. wounds on most entry points had healed up rather well. With the exception of the belly button and one along the belt line, most wounds were closed already. But yet, removing the securing stitches wasn't an option as yet. Ah well, liking with the stitches is far easier then living with the holes. When they removed 1 of the dressings from the belt line, I was shocked to see a tube sticking out from my lower tummy. I was informed that that was the source of the bloody (literally) liquid that was running down my upper thigh, down the front of my groin, and pooling in the diaper I was wearing... A soggy diaper is really no fun. Explains why kids cry when their diapers are dirty.. Seriously not the best feeling.
After many attempts at kindness to get the nurses to remove the tube. I finally managed to get them to say NO, again for the hundredth time. It was to stay in for a week... or 5 days... I believe that the difference between getting them to get the tube out on day 5 or day 7 would very much depend on my begging skills.
The following days were uneventful. With visits to the doctors every other day for post op review. It was at one of these visits that the tube was removed, which I cant remember. And the following visit I had the stitches removed.
Its been about 2 weeks since the op. And honestly, life is back to normal. I still have to wear the compression garment the doctor provided me, every night. And when I am at work or the gym, I wear an abdominal compression support.. Doctor doesn't recommend this, but I find it makes the swelling more manageable and increases my mobility some what as well. And yes, i am lifting heavy again.
The first week after the op was definitely not the best week in my life, But now, a few days after, there isn't much I can't do. And the times I get a glimpse of the results (when I take off the compression garments) I am really happy I decided to take the chance and do the op. If you can manage the swelling, don't mind the short term inconveniences and are okay with not being able to do some stuff. I recommend going for it.
In terms of what really got to me about my last two weeks post op; rank from most irritating to least, it would be: Diaper, dripping from the drainage tube, inability to take a dump easily, having to walk around looking like a puffed up lump/swelling, pain/discomfort bending.. Cant think of anything else.. Thinking back, it wasn't really all that bad. But then again hind sight always makes things a bed of roses..
For those that are thinking about doing vaser hi-def. I am lying in bed now writing this and playing with the lines in my 6 pack (or what I can feel of them now), its worth it... But immediate results, aren't as immediate once the swelling sets in. Apparently, it may take 3 months before all the swelling subsides. I will try t post as often as I can about how the recovery is going, but if the last week is anything to go by.. I will be gyming, walking and jogging more, I might not have the time to post, given that I have been trully inspired to really get back in shape