How did you feel immediatly after the procedure? How did you feel the first few days/week? Was it a painful recovery? Is there alot of bruising? How is the final result? Serious answers only please! They will be appreciated! (I am seriously thinking about getting it done in the future.)
124328
Most people don't have the experience I did, but I think it is important to know that things can go wrong.  I felt OK immediately after the procedure, except for the effects of the anesthesia.  Three days post-op, I began having a fever, nausea and vomiting.  I went to the emergency room because my surgeon was out of town and didn't have anyone covering for him. I was diagnosed with a staph infection that went systemic.  I was in the hospital for 2 weeks on IV antibiotics.  Not fun.  After that I was fine.  I had the procedure done on my hips and went down 3 pants sizes.  The only drawback I would tell you about is when they remove the fats cells from one place on your body, they are gone forever and you will never have fat in that area again.  When I gain weight, I used to gain it in my hips.  Now if I gain weight, it all gets packed onto my stomach, which I never had before. After the above experience, I would never have it done again, or have any elective surgery again.  I would only have surgery if my life was threatened.
413601
I have had 2 cysts removed-both felt like marbles.\nCould not have been harder! Get to Dr. & if they have to do a needle biopsey it does not hurt! I swear!!
499663
I haven't had a spenectomy, but I also have ITP and the tendancy to clot.  I am on an aspirin regiment now, but during my pregnancies (3, two successful pregnancies, 2 c-sections), I was on lovenox.  I did well, but got tired of injecting myself twice daily.  \n\nIs a splenectomy your last option?  I mean, when I was diagnosed, my platelets were at 1000, I was bleeding heavily and bruising all over.   My hematologist never even brought up that subject.  \n\nAnyways, I know how your are feeling, just take care, everything will go well!
548069
I have had this done.When you go in they will show you a movie about Dysphlasia { not sure if I spelled it rite but you know what i mean}and how they remove it. What will happen if they do not get it all or it comes back.I know that you are scared.I was terrified.But remeber they caught it early which means chances are they will get it all the first time. As for the Leep it's self honestly it's not fun.But they do freeze the effected area before they do it.What I found more uncomfortable was having the freezing needles put in.I had some  cramping after that lasted about 3 days.I just took Motrin for it. I had to go back every 6 month for 2 years to have Biopsies taken just to be sure it did not come back. I now make sure that I never miss my pap.Good Luck if you need to talk feel free to e-mail me. Hope this helps some.
467589
I didn't know I'd had surgery until afterwards (I was unconscious when I got to the hospital) and the doctors kept me out for a few days to let my body recover. \n\nI can remember a lot of bits of things but not really a whole story. The first thing that sticks in my mind was how bright the room looked when I woke up (I think I'd had my eyes closed for a little under a week so that might explain it) and that my throat hurt a lot as I'd had a tube down there. \n\nThe doctor said something to me but I'm still not really sure what. I knew he was speaking but the words didn't make any sense. In any case, I was so exhausted I just really wanted to get more comfortable and go back to sleep... But, there were two things that stopped me... First, it hurt more than you could ever possibly imagine to move. Second, my body felt strange and weak as though my muscles had disappeared (a week of laying without moving does that to you). \n\nI vaguely remember the doctor telling me to keep still because of the tubes and such and I just lay there completely terrified of even wiggling my fingers until I fell back asleep. \n\nThings went pretty much the same way when I woke up a few hours later!
425632
nothing to be scared of, they put a mask over your face,  they might even let you hold it if you tell them you want to, you can't really smell anything, they tell you to count backwards from 100...(you probably won't even get to 90)  then you don't even know it and you're asleep. You won't feel anything, you won't know what they're doing, it's like the time doesn't even pass, you won't wake up during surgery, The weird part for me was waking up in a different place than where I went to sleep, I was like "how did they get me in here, they had to pick me up and move me.....wow"  but it was no biggie at all. And it was an hour later than I remembered. But it's ok, you feel no pain at all and you WILL wake up. It's no different than being really tired and relaxed, and just falling to sleep. I had no after effects, from the anesthesia, but was sore from the surgery itself. Don't be scared, it's really fine.
83673
You should start feeling better real soon. I had mine done a few years ago. It took about 5 days to feel better. But call your doctor if you have concerns.
455518
I did it 3 yrs ago this December.  Scars look different, depends on how large you are and what you go down to. I was told I'd probably be a C (small, average or full C, but a C), but I'm a small D.  But I was a 36G or larger on a size 6 or 8 size body, that is a lot.  I had back pain, shoulder pain, etc.  Mine was covered by medical ins.   It was day surgery (8 hrs in and out total) and they took off a total of about 3.5 lbs of tissue between the two.  Scarring is inevitable and I scar easily. So I couldn't fairly say what it is like. They had to do the most comprehensive reduction because of my size so my incisions go pretty far onto the side of my torso.  I had a friend who had it done and she showed me her scars 5 yrs after so I could have an idea and I could **barely** see them, her incision scars were much smaller and shorter. Another friend did it and the incisions were far less than what I had, hers looked way better one week after she had it done(she showed me).  I'd do it again in a heartbeat for the confidence I finally have and "feeling within the realm of normal" for a woman's figure.  It's life altering.  I feel attractive now, not googled at by men. and scowled at by women.    What size are you now?
592587
I'm sorry to hear that you had to go back for revisions!  I had a reduction two weeks ago, so I'm not sure how my scars will turn out yet.  However, they are hardly noticeable at this point and they don't "stick up" at all, meaning to say that they are fairly smooth.  So I'm pretty sure they are going to turn out well, considering how great they look right now.  I can see how you'd have more pain this time around, as they were tearing through that original scar tissue and remodeling it, so to speak.  I hope that your corrective surgery turned out well and that you'll be much happier with them now.
475407
I've just had my 5th procedure,  I noticed it working after about a month.  There is always some swelling and a little bruising the first 2-3 days afterward, but I take Tylenol for the pain and use Anica for the bruising. \n But everybody is different, the only reason I noticed it was working is because I've had an appendix scar on my stomach since I was six.  It was always somewhat indented in my skin, now it's almost completely smooth.  Other people are starting to notice now too,  so it definitely takes time.
364213
Why is everybody making it sounds really horrible? It really isn't that bad. I was also scared the first time I had to go in, but the most I would describe it is 'a little unpleasant'. \n\nBtw, I didn't have to stand there buck naked, in fact, I got to keep my shirt on and there was a sheet covering my lower regions. Then the gynae inserted her fingers in for the internal exam. Afterwards came the duck lips thingy, but it didn't hurt as they had the lubricants on and I barely felt the swabbing. Some people will have light bleedings afterwards, but thank God I didn't.\n\nMaybe everyone has it differently, but trust me, if you can live through penetrative sex, then you can most definitely survive the gynae exam. \n\nAnyway, you can tell your gynae beforehand that this is your first time and let them know if you feel uncomfortable during the procedure. I'm sure they will try to make it as painless as possible. Hope this help.
419704
Hi Matthew!\n\nYou emailed me before, and I was just about to respond to your email (I never took it out of my in-box!  I didn't forget you!), but I just logged on to Yahoo! Answers (after a few months of being away) and saw your question here! So, I thought I would answer it here so others could see it too!\n\nYes, it hurts / "burns" a little, but it is so quick, it's like ripping off a band-aid.  AND YOU WILL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AFTER THEY ARE OUT, that you will forget the pain within a minute.  \n\nMy drains were about 5 to 6 inches long....they were plastic....and they kinda looked like a plastic straw with a little "fanned shape" thing on the end.  I think there were holes both on the straw part and the fan part.  What makes them so uncomfortable is the fact that you basically have an inflexible piece of plastic sticking across your abs!\n\nDo not worry about the drains being removed....it is quick.  Good luck with your surgery....I hope your experience is as good as mine was!!!
316579
hello I had to have my gallbladder taken out. it wasn't bad at all. I only hurt for about 2-3 days and was back to a regular routine and the scars are not very big at all. They are relativly small. You will do fine. Its really not as bad as it sounds! Good luck
296059
I didn't have mine done on my shoulder (i have one on my ankle) and I worried about the pain factor too.  It really didn't "hurt" alot, it just felt weird, and a little uncomfortable.  The closest thing that I can compare it to is a burning sensation, like when someone burns you with a cigarette. It felt like that being dragged on my ankle.  I actually got used to the feeling after a few minutes.  But also if you are that concerned they also have a topical anethesia you can get.  Talk to the artist doing it.  If they do not have it contact a local waxing or hair lasering place to see if they sell it.  Good luck.
160949
Depends what you do for work. If it is a desk job probably a week to a week 1/2. \nMy surgury hurt like hell for about 4 days but then subsided pretty quickly after that. When I woke up from the anestecia I was in so much pain I wished I didn't get it done but in the long run it is definately worth it. I got mine done at Mass. General in Boston, my dr. wanted me to stay the night, I said no before my surgery but when I woke up I told them I wanted to stay so I could keep getting my morphine shots but they already gave my room away.\nAlso, I got my implants put in through my armpits and maybe that is more painfull because you can't really move your arms at all rather than if I got them put in through my ariola or under my breast.\nGOOD LUCK.\n- no matter what, it is so worth it.
616553
I had one done a few yrs ago and the scarring is minimal cuz its all underneath the nipple.  The nipples do temporarily lose feeling but I was lucky enough to regain mine after about 5 wks.  The recovery is painful and messy(bleeding and blistering) but then again no pain no gain, right?  Good luck!  Go to American Board of Plastic Surgeons website and schedule a consultation with several drs. b4 choosing 1, also look at photos of their past work(good and bad).  Any reputable dr would have a photo book documenting his/her prior work!
480584
My honest opinion for you is that it is going to suck for a bit.  You will have discomfort at first usually well controlled with pain medications.  You will also have to be wired shut for a few weeks (usually for about 6 weeks) where you will have to consume mostly a liquid diet.  Afterward, your muscles will be sore and tight. BUT, I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END!!!!!  I have seen and been part of a few of these cases and actually had a friend who had it done about a year ago and everyone that I have asked, would do it again in a heartbeat!  Hope that this proves helpful, good luck with it!