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WHAT
to EXPECT
Significant discomfort. Bruising and swelling.
ANESTHESIA
- General
DURATION
of OPERATION -Three to six hours - varies with area
and amount of tissue.
DAY of SURGERY
- Wear comfortable clothing that is easy to put on and remove.
After surgery you will go to the recovery room for one to
two hours then post-op for 2-3 hours until you are ready to
leave the surgical facility. You must have someone you to
drive to and from the surgical facility. You must have someone
stay with you the first night or stay at an overnight facility.
DAY ONE AND TWO - You will
have significant soreness usually a five on a ten scale. Drainage
will be moderate to significant into the drainage bulbs -
50 cc to 200 cc per day per drain. Walk around the bedroom
several times a day to help blood flow.
IMPORTANT - It is better
to stand or lay down. Sitting, especially at a 90 degree angle
is very hard on the sutire line.
DAY THREE TO SIX - Pain
subsides gradually. Drainage amount decreases. Brusing and
swelling starts to resolve. You should be walking around the
house four to five times a day. Drain will remain in place
8-14 days.
RETURN TO WORK - Ten to fourteen
days.
RETURN TO FULL EXERCISE
- Four weeks.
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RISKS
BLEEDING
- Bleeding can occur following any surgery. If bleeding occurs
it will usually require going to operating room to correct.
INFECTION
- Uncommon. We use antibiotics pre- and post- operatively.
PULMONARY
EMBOLISM - Walking early will decrease potential.
SKIN PROBLEMS
- Sitting at 90 degrees at hips increases the chance of wound
separation. You could have skin loss at suture line.
SCARRING
- Usually fairly fine line, but can spread into areas of stretch
or increased tension. They can thicken and be painful.
CONTOUR
- Usually improved significantly but will not remove all line
of laxity or cellulite.
SYMMETRY
- You are not symmetrical now and will not be perfectly symmetrical
after the surgery. Look very closely in the mirror prior to
surgery to identify asymmetry.
EMOTION
- You may have a period of mild depression after surgery.
This is caused by the stress of the surgery and anesthesia.
It will pass as you recover.
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WHAT LOWER
BODY LIFT WILL DO
- Improve contour
of thighs and buttocks.
- Reduce volume
of buttock and thigh.
- Improve skin
line laxity and cellulite.
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WHAT LOWER BODY LIFT WILL NOT DO
- Remove all signs
of cellulite and laxity.
- Will not give
absolute symmetry.
- Will not lift
without some visible scar.
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WHAT IF
REVISIONS ARE NEEDED
You are responsible
for anesthesia and facility charges.
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HOW LONG WILL RESULTS LAST
This is a very difficult question to answer. Longevity of
the procedure depends on your skin elasticity, heredity, previous
sun exposure and post-operatively, stress, smoking and elastic
fibers in your skin. If you are a good candidate with good
skin qualities and don't smoke, you can expect a good appearance
for 4-10 years. Remember gravity pulls and aging continues
from the moment I finish your operation. I wish I could guarantee
the duration of the results but it is impossible.
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