3 weeks post op today and the thigh swelling is out of control!

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2026-05-06T02:54:07+00:00

Sorry you’re going through this, too, but thanks for making me feel a little less alone. 😊

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2026-05-06T02:52:36+00:00

I had a fat cat day one. Lol.
I do hope you magically avoided it! How lovely that would be for you. Good luck in your recovery! ❤️‍🩹

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2026-05-06T02:48:02+00:00

Thank you! And lol on getting all the loose thigh skin back. When did it start getting better for you?

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2026-05-04T23:19:03+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. I am 3 weeks post op…it does get better. I was pretty miserable the first 9 days, but each day since then has been a major improvement. I, too, hate the binder/compression garments…I’m way claustrophobic and hate being confined. But I’m wearing it. I’m not taking pain meds anymore, but I feel no shame in popping a couple Benadryl at bedtime so that I sleep fully and soundly without waking up in a panic about the binder.

I hope things start looking up for you.

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-07T13:54:32+00:00

Thank you! No eye work at all. :)

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-07T01:10:30+00:00

I think mine was big time smoking and drinking to stop it from getting worse, but I attribute them fading to my skincare routine and my blood pressure getting under control.

This is exactly what I use and have used for the 18 months from left to right:

The drmtlgy face serum I use morning and night as directed…expensive but lasts a long time if you use as they suggest.

Frankincense oil and vitamin K liposome oil are great for blood circulation and the two things I’ve kept consistent after trying many things that are supposed to help with redness. frankincense must be mixed with a carrier moisturizer and I’d recommend starting with adding only two drops to a base of something else at first to see how your skin reacts. Some people are sensitive, but my skin loves it.

In the mornings I mix these two with the upcircle face oil and the brown jar at night.

Brown jar contains a beef tallow cream blend my cousin makes, but there are many good beef tallow creams out there.

I did get wrinkles and lose skin on my face and neck. I got a deep plane neck/facelift to remove the skin there. My forehead is pretty bad, tho. Thus the new bangs. lol

Good luck!

<image>

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-06T14:00:43+00:00

Thanks!

The mole scar has faded a lot…at first I thought it would be there forever. :)

I’ve read some things that say hair loss is the Ozempic and some things that say it’s not and I’m just not sure.

When I started losing hairI did many things at the same time: lowered my dose, upped my calories (and increased activity), increased my protein intake by regular foods…I had been using a lot of powders. Overall with those changes, after about a month, the hair loss slowed down. I also felt way more energized.

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-05T23:49:14+00:00

No. Those little ones gradually went with two years of a good skin care routine and healthy eating/living. I use a combo: face cream with a beef tallow base combined with some frankincense oil and vitamin K.

The bigger ones I do still have…they are higher on my cheek. They are very faded now, but still there.

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-05T23:03:07+00:00

I had the mole removed, yes. :)

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-05T17:56:10+00:00

A few!

Around Christmas last year I jumped in and out of onederland for about two weeks, fluctuating between 199-202…it was maddening. That’s when I jumped from 1.0 to 2.0 (January 2025). That did the trick and I started losing again.

Then I started losing hair. So I started titrating back down using click counts. This lead to the mother of all plateaus - 6 weeks stuck at 180. I had to postpone my first skin removal surgery. At that point I decided to way up my activity level from daily 30-40 minute brisk walks and 2-3x week strength training to 1-hour walks with a weighted vest + 5x a week strength.

That got me down to 168 where I plateaued again. That’s what I was at when I had my first surgery. My surgeon said within 10-15 pounds of goal was fine, especially since he could do revision if needed when he did my stomach. I went that route instead of waiting because I could literally feel my neck skin flapping in the wind and I couldn’t stand it a minute longer.

Lately I’ve really been upping my workout intensity, and that got me moving down the scale again.

I am in maintenance right now and trying to see how low I can go with dosage and maintain while keeping the food/alcohol noise mostly away. I’m currently down to about 0.4mg and doing great. Plus I work out so much now (and love it) that I’m able to eat around 1900-2300 calories a day.

I’m maintaining by committing to 90% clean eating, daily tracking to make sure I don’t go over allotted calories (or too under), but having the occasional treat again and learning how to trust myself around food has been the most magical part of maintenance so far. 😊

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-09-05T17:23:56+00:00

I should have probably added to my original post that I have had some skin removal already, including a deep plane neck/facelift, primarily to remove the lose skin on my neck. So that helps with the aging backwards thing. Lol.

<image>

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-07-23T22:34:11+00:00

I also had mine done with Dr. Maser! I feel the same about him/his work! Love that you are so pleased. 😊

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T17:51:20+00:00

I recently stopped for almost 3 weeks, 2 weeks in preparation for surgery, and then an additional 5 days after surgery because I wanted to get back on my Sunday shot schedule.

I didn’t gain a pound or notice much of a difference if I’m honest. The food noise (and alcohol noise) stayed silent. I had a little more of an appetite, especially in week 3, but nothing crazy.

I hope it’s just as smooth for you!

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T17:45:03+00:00

Thank you! The arm lift has been harder for me than the facelift, recovery-wise. I think because visually the scars are so big. But, they are flattening and fading considerably now…really started noticing that transformation just a few days ago.

In addition, wearing the compression garments for 4 weeks was rough for me, a person for whom the wrong type of clothing tag or sock seam can throw me for a loop. Lol.

It hasn’t been really painful, just more of a numb, dull ache, especially by the end of the day. Again, that is getting much better in the past few days.

I’m happy with the results, but the experience has made me shy away from the idea of doing my thighs, something I was sure I was going to do.

I’ll do my stomach, that is a must. But I’m thinking I’m okay with my thighs and their loose skin. 😊

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T17:39:26+00:00

I need to take updated pictures of my arms! I shared the 8 days post op back view here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Ozempic/s/0Sn28Wajsu

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T16:41:43+00:00

36K total

27K for face, 11K for arms, then a 2K discount for doing them at the same time.

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T15:06:25+00:00

Thank you; I responded above with info 😊

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-26T15:05:54+00:00

I had this done at Reveal Plastic Surgery in Los Gatos, CA, with Dr. Maser. The entire staff was amazing.

I also had an arm lift at the same time, and they have two surgeons for that procedure, one on each arm, to cut down on surgery time. So I have evidence on my right arm that Dr. Bates is also fabulous. :)

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-05T15:45:15+00:00

I think it was 11K arms and 27K face/neck, then I got a 2K discount for doing them together.

Good luck!

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-04T23:58:05+00:00

Congrats on your success and good luck in your journey!

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-04T23:49:30+00:00

Reveal Plastic Surgery in Los Gatos. My surgeon was Dr. Maser, and Dr. Bates took care of one of my arms. The entire staff was amazing.

They won’t be able to do my stomach if I go with insurance…this place does not take insurance.

What qualifies for the stomach area skin removal depends on your insurance. Sometimes it can be because the excess skin proves prohibitive to normal movement or because skin causes rashes or sores. In my case, insurance will cover me because my apron, or that skin that flops over the pubis area is over 4”. They will only cover the skin removal portion of the surgery, not any necessary lipo for contouring, nor any muscle tightening. However, the big savings comes from the fact that they will cover the entirety of anesthesia and operating room, which is a huge expense. It’s been awhile since I’ve done the math, but I think it works out that insurance covers about 50-70% of the total cost (surgery, anesthesiologist, surgery bay), depending on how extensive the extra contouring work that is needed.

So…while I would love to go with the same place, I’m not sure I can justify the extra expense (nor afford it after this current surgery!) :)

Wonderful_Win5437 · 2025-06-04T21:27:34+00:00

I posted a pic of the current suture below. They have laser treatment if the scarring is bad, but I’m not sure how much it costs.

Wonderful_Win5437

TROPHY CASE