Few questions!!

Hi Ladies, 

I am all booked in for a lift on the 10th Feb, so so excited but I have loads of questions which I hope some of you lovely ladies can help with!!

What is this pre op I keep hearing about?! What does it entail? 

Do I get info posted out in the post to me?

I have a tongue piercing and an intimate genital piercing, do I have to take them both out? If I do, can I wear another material type instead? 

Can I wear nail polish?! Sounds daft, but I'm sure I have read somewhere about the anesthetist wanting to be able to look at your nails!

How restricted will my movements be after the op? ie for hair brushing. 

Do I need to get button down tops for ease? I have already bought a button down nightie to wear! 

When will I be able to wash my hair? Or should I invest in some dry shampoo?!

When can I exercise again? I am really worried that my loss will pile on in a week if I can't exercise!! What about walking as exercise? Not power walking, just normal speed. 

What shall I bring with me as "essentials" for surgery? And post surgery? 

What bras shall I get? 

I am not concerned about the surgery, GA or scars, more the recovery. I have a very short attention span and get bored easily, so I am not looking forward to that at all, so if anyone can give me any tips I would love to hear them! 

Anything else anyone can think about, I would be soo grateful! And sorry for the barrage of questions! I have pen and paper by my bed as I keep waking up with random questions pinging into my head! 




Thank you so much
xx

The drinkeroftea wrote:What is this pre op I keep hearing about?! What does it entail?

not everyone will have a pre-op. In many clinics if you're in good health they simply don't bother with a pre-op. 

If if you do get asked to have a pre-op its nothing to worry about. You'll be asked your height (maybe measured) and your weight (maybe weighed) so the clinic can get your BMI. 

You may also have pre-op pictures taken.

youll be talked through the procedure and also given some pre-op instructions for you to follow. 

If if you've been an in-patient within the last six months or you work within a hospital environment you might be asked to have some MRSA swabs done. It's just like a large cotton bud that they swipe around the inner cheeks of your mouth, maybe your nose and also the groin area.  

If if your surgeon feels further tests might be necessary before surgery just for their own reassurance, then blood tests, heart monitors or any other test your surgery feels necessary will all be done when you go for a pre-op.

but please don't worry if you aren't called to do one. It's absolutely fine. Unless there's any medical condition you have that you haven't told your surgeon about, then you should call and explain the condition and they'll decide whether or not you should have a pre-op. 

Do I get info posted out in the post to me?

if you don't have a pre-op then  you should get the clinics pre-op information leaflet posted out to you for you to follow in the last few weeks before your surgery. If you haven't recieved anything like that by 3 weeks before your op then it would be best to give your clinic a call. 

I have a tongue piercing and an intimate genital piercing, do I have to take them both out? If I do, can I wear another material type instead?

youll have to remove them. If anything should go wrong during your surgery and they'd need to use a defibrillator which charges an electric current, the piercings could burn your skin. 

If if you really wanted to keep them in then you could discuss this with the anaesthetist and maybe sign a disclaimer if they were to agree. But there's no guarantee they'd agree to this. 

With just having the uplift this time you will only be away from your room for a couple of hours and most women just remove them just before surgery and then pop them back in right after. 

Can I wear nail polish?! Sounds daft, but I'm sure I have read somewhere about the anesthetist wanting to be able to look at your nails!

yes, your nail beds need to be exposed, so all polish will need to be removed. If you're wearing acrylics, some clinics do allow for these to stay on and use your toe nails to check the nail beds, but most will want them removed. They need to have access to your nail beds because they can see how your oxygen levels are getting on. If you're having problems the nail beds will turn blue. 

How restricted will my movements be after the op? ie for hair brushing.

your arms are going to feel really weak. Even flushing the loo is a task in itself. But you will be able to brush your hair and do things you want to do, it's just the weakness you'll find and how tired you'll get doing the simplest of things. 

stretching and and raising arms will be the hardest, so it's best to get anything you need post-op down to your reach level. 

Do I need to get button down tops for ease? I have already bought a button down nightie to wear!

anything that's comfortable and easy to get into is fine. Things like button or zip fronted clothing makes it very easy for you. Things you can step into like vest tops as well are great. The problem being your arms and the weakness we discussed in the above question, so making it easy for yourself just saves any further discomfort you might have from putting things over head ir having to pull on. 

When will I be able to wash my hair? Or should I invest in some dry shampoo?!

dry shampoo is fab. You might find it good to use through recovery, you might have no problem at al washing your hair. I had my daughter wash my hair for me. Some women also book the hairdressers for a wash n blow dry. If you use the local little hairdresser they're generally really cheap, so maybe use those until able to do it yourself. You'll be able to wash your hair as soon as you feel ready to do it. 

Id personally buy some dry shampoo to have in just incase you can't be bothered washing your hair at anytime. It's really cheap to buy, so why not just have to hand if you feel you need it. 

When can I exercise again? I am really worried that my loss will pile on in a week if I can't exercise!! What about walking as exercise? Not power walking, just normal speed.

regular walking is absolutely fine. If you eat sensibly and get yourself out walking as soon as you feel able, not only is it good for your healing, but it'll help keep your weight stable too rather than sitting like a couch potato watching the pounds pile on. 

Your surgein eon will instruct when you're able to get back to excercise. 

What shall I bring with me as "essentials" for surgery? And post surgery?

theres a thread [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] that might be helpful to you.

What bras shall I get?

the bras that are most favoured here are in the second link above I think. It's entirely up to yourself which you think you'd be most comfortable in.  

I am not concerned about the surgery, GA or scars, more the recovery. I have a very short attention span and get bored easily, so I am not looking forward to that at all, so if anyone can give me any tips I would love to hear them!

prepare! Get everything ready pre-op so you've nothing to worry about but yourself post-op. Plan healthy option meals. High protein meals are great because the protein helps promote good healing and take yourself out for walks a couple of times a day when you feel able. If you've prepared you'll als have entertainment to hand to help keep yourself busy too and of course, if you fancy a chat, we're always around to listen. 

Anything else anyone can think about, I would be soo grateful! And sorry for the barrage of questions! I have pen and paper by my bed as I keep waking up with random questions pinging into my head!

i think you've pretty much covered it...it's all about the preparation when you have this surgery that makes it so much easier afterwards. Xx

Heya,

Exciting for you...not long to go!

I think Mr Hassan works for THG if I'm correct.  If so, I'll base my answers on their practices, althoughh some answers will apply regardless!  I can't offer total expertise though, but someone will be along soon to answer more :)

What is this pre op I keep hearing about?! What does it entail? 
I just had a call from the nurse at the clinic going through some extra questions in addition to the questionnaire I filled out at consult.  They also needed to get my blood pressure reading which I emailed over to them.

Do I get info posted out in the post to me?
I didn't have anything posted out to me.  All my pre op info was given at the time of paying my deposit. I guess it depends whether you paid in  person or over the phone though!

I have a tongue piercing and an intimate genital piercing, do I have to take them both out? If I do, can I wear another material type instead? 
All piercings and jewellery had to be removed.  You may want to ask about the plastic temporary items though!

Can I wear nail polish?! Sounds daft, but I'm sure I have read somewhere about the anesthetist wanting to be able to look at your nails!
I had to ensure all mine was taken off...and they checked.  I believe it has something to do with being able to check the colour of your skin under your nails whilst under GA?

How restricted will my movements be after the op? ie for hair brushing. 
There is movement, but lifting arms is somewhat restricted.  This does differ between women though, and I guess also differs between overs and unders.  I had unders, and found my mobility progressively got more restrictive as the days went on.  I also struggled with flushing the loo (push down lever rather than modern button style), and ended up having to flush with my foot!  I also made sure I had unscrewed any juice bottles that I might want pre op so that I wasn't wrestling with them post op.

Do I need to get button down tops for ease? I have already bought a button down nightie to wear! 
I lift in vest tops for the first few days as I could step into them rather them over the head.  I could just baout get over head tops on day 4, but did need help getting them off, and I won't lie, it did take a lot out of me just getting dressed!  button down tops and nighties are definitely the way forward.  I wished I hadn't through out all my shirts that I used to wear whilst breastfeeding...but I was so glad to see the back of them after so long wearing 'practical' clothing haha.

When will I be able to wash my hair? Or should I invest in some dry shampoo?!
I managed to wash my own hair over the bath at 4 days post op.  This was out of necessity as no one was about to help.  It was manageable, and I also managed to blast my hair dry too, and whack it up in a clip.  I could have probably managed to straighten it too,, but I really couldn't be faffed.  I did find that although I could manage it, I would pay for it for the rest of the day in terms of feeling very tender.  Luckily it was the xmas period so lots of lazy days!!

When can I exercise again? I am really worried that my loss will pile on in a week if I can't exercise!! What about walking as exercise? Not power walking, just normal speed. 
Please please please don't exert yourself, even if you feel that you're able to !  There's lots of healing going on that you can't even see.  And to be prepared for the bloating!  I honestly looked 6/7 months pregnant between days 3 and 7, and even nbow at day 14 whilst the bloating has gone, the belly is still a bit bigger and my weight is approx half a stone heavier than pre op!  2lbs can be attributed to the implants, the other 5lb well I still think it's the side effects from surgery.  My appetite is significantly smaller than pre op even now 2 weeks post op, so I'm sure that once thinsg have settled down, weight will balance out.  Please don't get hung up on what your weight does post op though as that'll take time to settle too.

What shall I bring with me as "essentials" for surgery? And post surgery? 
I took a bag full of stuff.  What did I use?!  My toothbrush and slippers!  That was it haha!  I ended up sleeping in the gown, and going home in a vest top and pj bottoms!  I didn't read my book ( I was too tired).  Oh, do definitely take your phone charger!

Things that I took and didn't use:
book
makeup
deodorant
clothes
hairbrush
throat sweets

What bras shall I get? 
I initially bought a macom bra as you just need to know your band size.  I was wearing the wrong band size pre op though  so ended up with a bra not offering enough support.  There's a lot of ladies on here that recommend the twin pack m&s bras, and there have been lots of threads recently on sports bra recommendations so it's definitely worth a quick search on here :)
I am not concerned about the surgery, GA or scars, more the recovery. I have a very short attention span and get bored easily, so I am not looking forward to that at all, so if anyone can give me any tips I would love to hear them! 

Hope this helps!  If I think of anything else I'll say!

Oh, ice packs are good!  You can get them on amazon v cheap and help with the swelling and sunburn feeling post op!  

x

I think between the two above you're fully loaded! If I can add anything, its go for Aussie brand dry shampoo. Works a treat and doesn't turn your hair grey like Batiste does!

Thanks boobies2b thats helped me to x x

Thank you so much girls! 

Oooh yes ice packs! I had to look them up, as whenever I read about ice packs on here, I kept thinking of those rigid blue freezer blocks. I kept wondering how you lot kept them "balanced" on your boobs...doh!! 

Hmm, ill keep away from the scales I think, as I don't want the stress of that along with boob blues. 

I hope they will let me put the plasticy piercings instead. I've never taken either of them out myself, always got a piercer to do it.. eek! 

Hopefully I should cope with the weak arms, there has been a few times I have worked them too hard with weights and not been able to do anything the following day, not even brushed my hair (I'm so trampy!) so that will be fairly normal for me!

Thanks again girls, your help and advice is invaluable xx

Thanks for the tip Charlii! I would have gone for the Batiste one. Grey hair would have just completed my look of granny like  button down pjs, thick socks, grumpy face and trampy unbrushed unwashed hair!

Oooh another question!

When will I be ok to carry a bag? I take my lunch into work in one of those fabric shopping bags, so its not a hefty weight.

Thanks...again!!!

xx

drinkeroftea wrote:Oooh another question!

When will I be ok to carry a bag? I take my lunch into work in one of those fabric shopping bags, so its not a hefty weight.

Thanks...again!!!

xx

There's no problem at all carrying a bag as long as it isn't heavy. So unless you plan on filling your bag with enough food to feed the entire workforce....you should be fine to carry your lunch hun.    Xx

Haha, no chance of that!! 

I made some vegan brownies earlier with the intention of bringing them into work....then i thought no, I will keep them as a healthy treat for me to stop the snacking on cheese. and crackers. and chocolate. and after eight mints. 

Lol I've been doing the same all this week. I hate waste so rather then throw it out im munching my way through everything like a locust! 

I'll pay in pounds I know it, but they'll soon come off as quick as they went on once I get back to normal eating. 

You gotta relax over the Xmas period, although I do have to keep telling myself - ITS OVER NOW. Haha. Xx

Its all over now!! Apart from the Ritz crackers in the cupboard..