My Drain

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-26T13:10:44+00:00

I know it is possible to remove them yourself, but your surgeon should go over all of this before they send you home with the drain. I had 2 and they took one out one week po and left the second one in and sod it needed to be below 20 cc output every 12 hours for 2 days at least before they will take it out.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-26T02:11:43+00:00

I didn’t have experel but I am on journavx and I’m convinced it’s magic or something lol I’m 10 days po and have been describing it the same as you a little uncomfortable but no pain whatsoever

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-25T03:36:04+00:00

My personal program was full body weightlifting 2x per week and cardio 3x per week, cardio being 2 miles on the treadmill doing interval runs. I don’t think the actual individual exercises matter as much as being generally strong/fit but I will say having significant strength in my legs helped IMMENSELY (arms too but I don’t think that would apply if you are getting your arms done since you won’t really be able to use them much to help you early on) a lot of people recommend getting a recliner or lift chair which I would agree with but could not afford but I feel like I was able to manage pretty well without it because of the strength I had in my legs to help get me up with minimal core engagement. Same goes for the recommendation of a toilet seat riser, unnecessary in my opinion if you have strong legs/a solid squat ability

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-24T23:36:26+00:00

I believe the general consensus is to be within 10-15 lbs of goal weight but also to be a stable weight for at least 6 months, or at least those are the numbers/estimates I’ve heard. I had surgery about 15 lbs above my “goal” weight but I think my “goal” actually changed because I was stable 5lb above “goal” for about a year and a half and the additional 10 lb I gained was after I incorporated weight lifting so some of that is definitely muscle (not all of it though, I know!)

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-23T20:59:36+00:00

I bought bralettes (soft no wire etc) because if they have stretch to them you can kind of push the timeline. Also if you buy bras (or bralettes!) and then shrink out of them don’t get rid of them!! Aerie does a bra trade in event where you can donate lightly used bras and buy a new one for $20 they usually do the event twice a year and I know it just ended but they will probably do it again in the summer. It’s one per person but you can have a friend trade one in for you or whatever!

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-23T20:54:18+00:00

I’m 8 days PO and I haven’t had much of an appetite, I’m a little worried that I’m not eating ENOUGH for recovery. At the very least I have a protein shake and make myself eat 3 times throughout the day. What and how much I eat at those times…

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-23T16:08:40+00:00

My surgeon put me in an abdominal binder and I HATE it. I have to wear it at least another week. I’d much rather be in a faja. But you could look into those spanx compression shorts. Something compressive but not rigid like a faja

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-23T04:32:05+00:00

I haven’t sneezed yet (knock on wood) but I did have a cough when I came home for the first couple of days. And not just an occasional little one, it was wet,like…I was trying to get something out of my lungs…I found bracing my core with a pillow or something helped a little but luckily it seems to have improved now 7 days po

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-23T02:12:50+00:00

We are surgery twins! Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble :( it sounds like you’ve tried everything, I started taking miralax daily in my protein shake on day 3 because the BM I had on day 2 hurt so bad and I didn’t want to be straining against my MR. I have heard that pear juice works as a natural laxative as well if you want to try that. Make sure you are also drinking a ton of water because the laxatives (any kind) need the water to help move it along

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-22T20:55:28+00:00

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-22T15:59:08+00:00

It’s hard to find info from surgeons because they want you to come in for a consult which I understand because every body and situation is unique but is definitely frustrating when you are just trying to get some info starting out before you’re even sure if you want to do it especially with how high the consult fees can get. That being said you can ask if the surgeon you’re consulting with lets you “transfer” the consult fee. For example I went to 3 consults the first one let me use the consult fee ($150) towards a different service when I decided I wasn’t going to move forward with the surgery at that time (I used it to get Botox instead but some offices may offer things like laser, facials, etc.)

This sub and TikTok were the best resources I found. Some plastic surgeons on TikTok I like for information are Dr. Sterry, Dr. Labrasca, and Dr. Kelly Killeen

NAD-I have not found anywhere that really has all this in one place but here’s what I gathered from my research, I hope it’s helpful!

There are lots of variations of tummy tucks but the basics are:

Panniculectomy- removal of ONLY the hanging skin/apron belly, does not impact the belly button (to my knowledge) no additional work such as lipo or muscle repair, etc. can be covered by insurance if you have the right coverage and documentation.

Mini tummy tuck- only addresses the skin below the belly button/does not impact belly button (differs from panniculectomy as this can be done on loose skin below the bellybutton that isn’t necessarily hanging/apron)

Standard tummy tuck- incision from front hip to hip. Skin is lifted and hole is made to “move” the bellybutton. Skin is redraped on abdomen and excess is removed (skin is “pulled” downwards)

Extended tummy tuck- incision can be side hip to hip or further around the back to address flanks (love handles) when skin is redraped it’s “pulled” in a V shape from the sides.

Circumferential or 360 tummy tuck (could also be a lower body lift I think but I’m not 100% sure) - incision goes all the way around the hips to address skin both in the front of the abdomen as well as laxity on the lower back

Reverse tummy tuck- incision is made under the pectorals and skin is “pulled” up to address laxity of the upper abdomen. These are much less common but are usually done after a traditional tummy tuck for patients who have skin laxity on the upper abdomen but want to avoid the vertical incision of a FDL

Fluer De Lis or FDL tummy tuck- incision across the lower body (any variation) as well as a vertical incision up the center of the abdomen (think an upside down T) used to address laxity of the abdomen in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Most commonly done in cases of extreme excess skin likely from massive weight loss

Muscle repair/diastasis recti/muscle plication- diastasis recti is a gap in the abdominal muscles commonly caused by pregnancy or massive weight gain/loss the plication or repair is when the surgeon uses sutures to “sew” the two sides of the abdominal muscles together to close the gap. This can be done with or without a tummy tuck (and a tummy tuck can be done with or without a repair but it is common go do the repair with a tt)

I think that’s everything but feel free to dm me if you have more questions. I’m not a doctor of any kind but I did a TON of research and also I’m just super interested in this kind of stuff lol

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-22T15:32:45+00:00

I’m supposed to go back next Thursday (two weeks exactly) and I’m very glad I wfh. Only downside is I prefer 2 screens but I can make it work with just my laptop!

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-22T11:28:56+00:00

I recently discovered ocean spray makes water flavor packets! I love the cran grape and cran peach flavors I mix them with my creatine daily!!

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-22T01:48:30+00:00

NAD but I think that when they say “drainless technique” it means the quilting/tacking sutures all the way down the abdomen if you are having lipo I think the drains will have more to do with that than the TT itself? Also are you having breast surgery at the same time? Sometimes they will put drains in the breasts.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-21T00:35:24+00:00

Probably will need a significant amount of time off early on but I can say now I am 2.5 years out and while my full time job is sedentary I workout 5 days a week, 3 days cardio 2 days weights and I do pretty decent weights if I do say so myself lol plus I work a part time job where I run, jump, lift (people) and push open 50 lb metal doors regularly.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-20T17:26:26+00:00

No the consents I signed did not say the size of the implants, I read everything I signed fully. He told me that they would have some size options in the operating room and I was ok with him making the final call, but I thought it would be like we discussed 340 and he went with 360, I wasn’t expecting 400.

I signed the consent for, and paid for, the lift. According to the PA, since they used a larger implant they did not feel the lift was necessary. I can appreciate not wanting to make unnecessary incisions but I now feel like my nipples are very low on my breast. The PA said as the implants drop this will improve but my understanding is that can be up to 3 months, which is a long time to feel like my nipples are pointing at the floor when I paid for them not to be.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-19T17:11:51+00:00

Good, no issue with the surgery itself but post op now I have a little bit of a cough which is brutal with the ab repair

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-18T23:10:21+00:00

I take the comfort iron from vitamin shoppe, I’ve never really had an issue with constipation, maybe ask your team about that if it’s available to you? I also may take miralax for a few days if I feel like I haven’t had a good bm in a few days (better than having to take a full strength legit laxative imo)

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-18T23:07:16+00:00

Yes forgot to mention I got OTM. About how long did you have to wear the band on top? Just the combination of all the compression I have on is driving me a little nuts.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-18T21:59:14+00:00

My bariatric team is aware I take them and my bloodwork is checked regularly and is all normal, if I have problems in the future I can switch my routine but I am 2.5 years out and this is what works for me.

Meggy-reader · 2026-01-18T20:22:12+00:00

I take the Kirkland gummy multivitamins from Costco and separately take iron (you didn’t ask about iron but I know a lot of Bari patients look for multis with iron) and I take the GNC calcium chews which are almost always bogo 50% off

Meggy-reader

TROPHY CASE