It hurts! But not where you'd think.

As you may recollect, the lower body lift is a removal of a "belt" of skin that encircles the waist. My belt ended up weighting 10lbs with the removal of another 2lbs by liposuction. (Brenda's husband, Eric, called it a body circumcision LOL). Not a small amount of tissue loss by any stretch of the imagination.

I really thought that the incision that encircled my body would be the thing that hurt the most, but I am here to swear to you that I don't even notice it. What is killing me is a combination of couching stitching and a deep cough that I have developed. Let me back track.

When they remove the belt of skin they liposuction away the extra fat that is between the skin and the muscle on the upper abdominal wall so that the new “tummy” lays flat. However, in order to make sure that the tummy stays flat (and to reduce the area in which fluids can build up between the muscle and the fat), the surgeon places hundreds of stitches holding the two layers together (kind of like when you see a pillow with a button holding both sides together). Now that alone doesn't really hurt either, and let's just say, I freely use my pain medication. The problem is that I have a dog allergy and the recovery centre has three dogs. I did not not know about the dogs until I got here (and really, it has been years since this particular allergy has caused me a problem). Anyway, my allergies kicked in; the itchy eyes, itchy throat, itchy ear canals, a runny nose and a deep, deep phlegmy cough. This cough is the killer because I am using the low abdominal muscles jut above the pubis that is all stitched to the underside of my skin! Let's see, on a scale of 1 – 10, when I cough I hit a nine.

I have started taking allergy pills and codeine (which is a natural cough suppressant) in efforts to control the coughing. I must say that this has been working. However, the other concern to me is not just the coughing. Because I am so sedentary and I have all this fluid in my lungs, I run the risk of phenomena, So I am trying to make sure that I cough, but in a more controlled way that doesn't cause so much pain. I will be seeing the doctor on Friday to confirm that all is going well.

In all honesty, I can say, to date, that this has been the most uncomfortable thing I have had to deal with. Count you blessings when the come, I say. It could have been a lost worst.

Alive

We are alive, and speaking in coherent sentences. However, we are also falling asleep about every 30 minutes or so. The care here has been great and we both don't how we would have done this at home even with the help of loving families and friends.

Keep us in your thoughts and I will update you as soon as I can stay zzzzzzzz.

Reconstructive Surgery ~ Part 2" (Belt Lipectomy).

If you have been following this blog, you are well aware that "Reconstructive Surgery ~ Part 1 ~ Breast Reduction" is now complete. Let us now move to "Reconstructive Surgery ~ Part 2 ~ Lower Body Lift”

The Belt Lipectomy, more commonly referred to as the Lower Body Lift, offers the most dramatic transformation of the mid and lower body. It is truly a resculpting of the abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks. Broken into its components, the lower body lift includes a tummy tuck, a thigh lift, and a buttock lift. The body lift procedure is performed on post bariatric patients, like me, as well as patients who have not had weight loss. The body lift transforms patients that have experienced massive weight loss and have excess skin. The body lift has the advantage that it can be done in one surgical session, or in stages, depending on the patients needs. I will be doing the procedure all in one go.

What is involved in the lower body lift?

A lower body lift usually requires between 6 to 8 hours of surgery. I will be marked on the standing position just before the surgery. The excess skin is grasped at the level of the flanks with both hands trying to join each other, putting an important amount of tension. The horizontal lines of resection and the final incision placement are marked. These incisions are continued both anteriorly from hip bone to hip bone and posteriorly until they join with the markings of the contra lateral side. At this time areas that need to be sculpted with liposuction are also marked. These markings will guide us at the time of surgery and will make operative times quicker.

This surgery is carried out under general anesthesia and I will be placed on the operating bed on one side first and then on the other side. Incisions are made following the previously marked lines. The removal of excess skin and fat is performed at this time. There is a moderate undermining of the tissues inferiorly. Once this is done, liposuction is performed at the level of the upper lateral thigh, flanks, posterior trunk and/or other areas previously chosen. Then, the incision is continued at the abdominal area just above the pubic area, running from hipbone to hipbone and a second incision is made around the navel to loosen it from the surrounding tissue. After separating the skin from the abdominal wall up to the sternum and ribs, the separated muscles (rectus abdominus) will be pulled together and sutured from pubis to sternum. The apron of excess skin and fat in this area is removed and the navel will be repositioned. The tissues are approximated placing the highest-tension on the wound closure laterally at the level of the flanks, and less medially. Two to four drains are placed alone the incision lines to evacuate any old blood and prevent fluid accumulation. The incisions are sutured and a dressing is applied.

Anybody else nervous?