Consultation with Karidis today and surgery booked for 4th July!

[g3579]

OK, so I'd emailed Nicola at Dr. Karidis' office last night regarding when would be a good time to shower today and she very kindly replied very early this morning saying no specific guidelines... so I got up, started to remove the compression vest, sticky plasters, padding and compression belt.  I think I left the incision site plasters until I was actually in the shower.

Here's a photo of the blood-stained materials...

[g3579]

First glance!  This is immediately after the removal of the above blood-stained padding and compression garments.  I have to say, I am glad I shaved all my hair off my torso and armpits as it would have been excruciating otherwise.  I did get a slight OMFG dizzy feeling and had to sit on the loo (I was in my downstairs bathroom so not near a bed to flop on to).  That feeling passed quickly though.

[g3579]

More first glance

(btw this forum is so annoying with its low file size limit!), thus meaning I have to down-res every photo and still have to upload them 1 by 1!)

[g3579]

More first glance

[g3579]

More first glance

[g3579]

So as you may be able to see from above, when I first removed the garments I was quite lumpy and indented, I am assuming from where all that padding was sticky-taped on to me and then covered by the compression garments.  Most noticeable was the left pec had a massive indentation where the blue padding had been and the stomach looked all lumpy, but that is where the compression belt had been I guess.  It is kind of 'ribbed' in 3 parts.

Here's a good example of what I mean about the stomach lumpiness....

[g3579]

So I've now had a shower and removed the incision site plasters with help of the running water... the lower abs ones and the nipple ones were the most bloody.  The others not so much.  And OMG, what would the nipples look like!!!?!?!?!?!!?  Well I am very happy to say those hideous protruding eyesores are gone!!!  And I love what's in their place - a nice flush pair of nipples    And I am so slim!!!  Now my torso is in keeping with the rest of my body, and face... slim.  Now I will actually be able to see the benefits all of the gym/exercise classes I do.

This photo is post shower so I've been out of the garments for about 30-40 mins now (showering took a while).  As you can see, the lumpiness and indentation I mentioned before has already settled down somewhat (sure it will be like that again tomorrow though once I remove the garments again).

[g3579]

A different view

[g3579]

Back in my new compression belt and vest.  Nice to feel clean and not like I am wearing bloody items.

I forgot to take a photo of me with new clean plasters on the incision sites... I have to say though, I had to get my camera out and look at where some of the bloody plasters were on the photos I'd taken earlier, as I had trouble spotting 3 of the incision sites - they are that small!!

[g3579]

Nice £10 loose-ish Primark shirt and a pair of shorts and flip-flops and I am ready for the day

FEELING GREAT AND OVER THE MOON!    Best £8k I've ever spent.


(oops, don't know why that one's gone sideways)

[g3579]

I've also just got off the phone with Dr. Karidis' nurse who called to check in on me.  I have booked the follow-up for 14th August.  I asked her about sleeping upright and she said that your head just needs to be higher than your heart.... so no 45 degree angle or sitting upright all night.

Right, I think these are all the updates I can give today.  I just want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to everyone who's posted their stories and updates previously.  It's a massively important thing to do as it helps in making the decision with which surgeon to go with, pre-warns you about some of the feelings you may experience pre- and post-op, and provides a support network of people to chat to.  I hope my updates are also of use to some people, and please don't hesitate to ask me any questions.  I know I'm one of the few who've had upper and lower abs and flanks as well as the usual chest operation, and I've had my nipples trimmed right back too - I'm not sure how common that is either.  So yeah, any questions, just holler.

I'm going to go out for a nice stroll in the 25 degree heat.  More updates tomorrow.

[g3579]

Just thought I'd quickly make one of these for a laugh... my god, what a difference!!!

[g3579]

So I am now 2 days post-op.  The spare compression vest I was given was soooo much tighter than the one they put me in when I was in hospital... it was such a relief to take it off for 45 mins this lunchtime.  I nipped out to Boots to buy some new plasters this morning, then came back, removed the vest and also the waist binder, and just lay on my bed for 10 mins enjoying the freedom, before having a shower and strapping myself back in.

[g3579]

I am far less lumpy and indented today than I was yesterday, and I noticed I can do my shorts up a bit tighter, so the swelling must be going down (?)

Dr. Karidis did tell me that the bruising from the lower abs would 'go south'... well let me tell you that it has indeed gone south and half my 'little guy' is black and blue, as are my balls...!  It doesn't hurt at all but it is a bit of a weird sight!!  I would be totally freaking out if he and his nurse hadn't forewarned me.  I will not be posting a photo of this, don't worry 

[Era]

Well done on having the surgery mate. I personally don't think you needed your abs or flanks doing tbh. Anyone can have a flat stomach if they get there body fat percentage into single digits. You look about 16-18% or something in your before pics.