Hi friends. 2.5 weeks ago I had plastic surgery and wow have I learned a lot over the last couple of weeks on what you need. This surgery is no joke and these items are truly game changers. Yall have been asking for a list so here you go. These are my MOMMY MAKEOVER must haves and some extra tips!
First let me start by saying these are must haves for the procedures I had. I have no idea what you need for a nose job, face lift etc. . .if you are having a tummy tuck, fat transfer to your butt (BBL: Brazillian Butt Lift), mommy makeover or anything like that, you need these items before your procedure. You can thank me later!
If you are having a mommy makeover, tummy tuck or BBL be sure to pin the photo below or mommy makeover must haves for a reference!
MOMMY MAKEOVER MUST HAVES
1. LIFT CHAIR: Yall, this lift chair is a life saver and the price is super reasonable! It is on sale for only $299. After your tummy tuck you will want/need to sleep in a recliner. It puts you at the perfect angle and you are able to get comfortable. The LIFT PART is key! YOU NEED THE LIFT PART. . .not just the recliner part. The first 2 weeks it is very difficult to bend and get out of things. This chair lifts you off the ground to an almost standing position and allows you to ease into the chair when you try to sit back down. It is a life saver!! Trust me on this one. . .BUY THIS CHAIR! I sit in it all day long and you can sleep in it each night for recover. If you have had a BBL or fat transfer I will give you an additional option for sleeping below. I plan on using mine during recovery and then selling it. I was looking on resale sites before my surgery and used ones sell super fast for around $250! For the extra $50 I wanted a new one, especially when I can sell it and get most of my $ back! This chair reclines and lifts! It is faux leather so it can easily be cleaned if you spill on it or (so gross, but bleed or anything on it. This didn’t happen to me, but it is possible and I would never want a fabric one due to this reason). It has cup holders, storage pocket on the side and overall isn’t terrible looking. I feel like my husband will want to keep it after my surgery. It arrived a few weeks early and he and the kids loved sitting in it. It also has a massager that they liked however, I would not be using the massager at this point after surgery (ouch!).
2. WOMENS URINAL “SHE-NIS”: I seriously don’t think I could survive this surgery without one of these things. They are amazing and wow, men have it easy! It is literally a funnel that allows you to stand and go to the bathroom like a man would. . .hence the word “she-nis” :). When you have your surgery it is soooo hard and painful to sit! Even worse to stand back up. Your core muscles are so sore and it is amazing how much you use them for everything! Also if you have a BBL you want to sit on your butt as little as possible so you don’t mess up any of the new shape. . .with this, you can stand. Also, the garments you have on are very tight and tedious to remove. I hardly ever remove mine. There is a hole cut out at the bottom so you can go #1 without taking it off. You can put this urinal right in the hole. . .super convenient. I am still using it now, even though I can sit much easier. These were originally designed for women when they go camping, so you can reuse when you heal and go camping if you are into that sort of thing :). I myself am more of a glamper so I will toss mine after, but they are only $7.99. There are lots of brands out there, but I loved this one! It is designed perfectly so there is no spillage if you know what I mean. Very clean, helpful device!
3. LANYARD: Most of the time when you have any one of these procedures you have drains. These drains are no fun and they hang down awkwardly. Mine were safety pinned to my garment when I left the hospital, but when I had to get undressed and shower I needed something to hang my drains on so they didn’t pull out! (YIKES!!). Grab a simple lanyard. Put it around your neck and clip or pin your drains to it. You will need this!
NEXT 2 ITEMS ARE A MUST IF YOU HAVE A BBL/FAT TRANSFER TO YOUR BUTT.
4. BUTT PILLOW: When you have fat transferred to your butt you are not able to sit directly on it or you can mess up all the work you just had done. Pressure on your bottom can mess up the shape or kill the fat. Having this procedure done adds a whole other level to your recovery. This butt pillow is something you just have to have! You place it under your thighs and it allows you to sit in a chair without putting pressure on your butt. It is a little awkward at first, but you sit on it and then put a pillow behind your back to stabilize you. I use this in the lift chair I mentioned above, in the car, in a dining type of chair when I eat, on the sofa if I am hanging out with the family, etc. You have to keep pressure off your butt for 6 weeks with the exception of going #2 so you will need this pillow!
5. AVOCADO POOL FLOAT: Ok, this one is kinda funny, but let me tell you. . .it is my new best friend. I slept in my lift chair for the first 2 weeks, but it is not super comfortable when you have had work done to your booty, because you have to be on that butt pillow. The butt pillow is great during the day when you are sitting up, but at night when you are trying to lie down so you can sleep, your bottom kind of shifts and it is probably not doing the best job keeping pressure off your butt. The first 2 weeks you need to be in the recliner because you need the lift part (there is NO WAY I could have bent down to the floor at that point) and you have to get up to walk a lot, but after that sleep is important and I was getting very little sleep in the chair. The avacado pool float has a circle cut out that is perfect for your bottom. I am able to lie down and keep my booty in the hole so there is no pressure on my bottom. I cannot even explain how much better my sleep is. After 2 weeks you don’t have to wake up and walk around so you can get comfortable and get good rest. I cover the float in a large blanket, put a blanket under my lower back (in the hole) so that the pressure is on my back and not my bottom and then a pillow behind my head. I also elevate my legs when I sleep. It is a total game changer! My husband helps me get in it and all set up at night and I am so comfortable. I never in my life would have thought I would be sleeping in an avocado pool float, but here I am.
ITEMS I’M GLAD I HAD, BUT NOT MUST HAVES
6. WALKER: I used this the first week I was home. It was very hard to stand up and walk, but you need too so you don’t get blood clots. After the first week, I got stopped using this so I didn’t rely on it too much. It helps you stand up straighter when you get rid of the walker. Really glad I had it the first week, but not necessary. I linked to it here, but you can probably find one on a Facebook resale group or something. I liked the one I linked too because it is inexpensive and it folds. I will be selling mine soon.
7. SHOWER CHAIR: This is another thing you don’t have to have, but I am glad I have. It is amazing how tired you get after surgery. You may thing you are feeling great, etc and nothing like a shower to take all your energy out of you. I have enjoyed leaning on this in the shower for support if I get tired or light headed. Again, I will sell this once I am healed.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED THAT DOCTOR WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
**These things were all on my pre-op list. I just linked the ones I bought in 1 spot so it might be helpful for you and you don’t have to shop around. These are the exact items I ordered off Amazon. Obviously see what your doctor recommends, but I think most items are the same**
4X4 GAUZE: This gauze is 4×4 and has a sticky border. This is what you wrap around your drains to keep infection out.
WATER PROOF DRESSING: These are wrapped around your incisions and drain holes when you shower to keep everything dry.
HIBICLEANS: This is the soap you use before and after surgery to kill all germs. It doesn’t suds at all so you need a large bottle because you use a lot. My doctor had me was with it the night before surgery including my hair and the morning of surgery. I am also supposed to use it when I wash now (thankfully I can use normal shampoo now though).
BACITRIN: Apply this to the incision sites after surgery when instructed.
BROMELAIN: I take these after surgery to help with inflammation and bruising.
DISPOSABLE PADS: I didn’t end up needing these, but it is very common to ooze (yuck) after surgery. There are these Penrose drains that many surgeons use to help with inflammation (my doctor didn’t end up using any), but these pads help keep everything clean
PROTEIN DRINKS: You need lots of protein to heal after surgery. You also won’t be very hungry at first. These drinks are a great way to get your protein in. They have 30 g of protein and combined with the vital protein below you get 39 g per drink! I drink these daily for the last 15 years.
VITAL PROTEIN: After surgery you need lots of protein to heal. These also contain collagen which is great for skin and hair. Anyway, I add a scoop of this to my protein drinks I mentioned above for an extra 9 grams of protein. It has no flavor and it really helps get your protein in.
MIRALAX: You will need this. I will discuss more below, but going #2 will be difficult and this will save your life. I was instructed to take it 4 times a day the first week. I mixed it in orange juice.
STOOL SOFTENERS: Trust me. . .take these. I will talk about this more below, but all the pain meds you take from your surgery mess dehydrate you and make everything hard and difficult. These will help!
TIPS FOR YOUR SURGERY THAT WILL HELP YOU
COUGHING|SNEEZING|LAUGHING: These all HURT after surgery. Like, hurt BADLY!! The first time I coughed I literally burst into tears. It was excruciating. Your entire core is so painful and a cough, sneeze, laugh shakes that area and is awful! A little tip I learned. If you feel one of these things coming on push in on your stomach with a pillow. If you don’t have time to get a pillow push in with your hands. While it will still hurt, this will make it sooo much better. You add pressure so your stomach cannot move as much and it really helps. I so wish I new this trick when I had to cough the first time. To date it was one of the most painful things that happened to me. Also, these cough drops are the best. Sometimes when I lay down at night I get a tickle in my throat (I am sure this is from having a tube down my throat during surgery) and I start to panic that I will go into a coughing fit. These cough drops help a lot. I keep them by my bed and pop one in immediately.
LIFT CHAIR/BUTT PILLOW: I layer 2 12×16 pillows under my butt pillow on my lift chair to make sure my bottom is up high and not resting on anything. I then put a pillow behind my lower back. I don’t want to mess up anything from my procedure. Here is a photo of what it looks like.
CONSTIPATION: You do not want this to happen to you. You are already so sore in your core, you cannot push, you cannot really feel anything in this area, etc. Adding constipation to this would be awful and it is a HUGE side effect to this surgery. Pain meds make you super constipated and you will be on lots of them. My doctor recommended taking Miralax 4 times a day after surgery for the first week and 2 stool softeners. I did this plus I started Miralax once a day the week before surgery. I have had zero constipation issues thank goodness. I will tell you, this is something that really scared me before surgery. It is hard to explain, but when you sit down to go to the bathroom the first week you cannot really tell what your body is doing. You are numb. You need this to happen on its own very easily. I don’t want to be too gross in this area, but I want to also be super helpful. You will be so glad you did this! I mixed my Miralax in orange juice 4x a day. It wasn’t bad.
COMFORT: I am basically living in my compression garments that the doctor sent me home in. My doctor won’t let me wear anything with a waist band for 6 weeks. Any pressure on your stomach can mess up results. When I need to get up and walk around or see anyone I a living in my Barefoot dreams cardigan. it is so cozy and long to cover everything up. Your garments have a hole in the crotch so you want something long to cover all that. This is the one I have and it is on sale. LOVE IT!! This one is also great and on sale!
BOREDOM: You will get bored. It is about a 4-6 week recovery. Get lots of books, magazines, etc to keep you entertained. Also, save up some great shows on Netflix to watch.
Ok, I hope you found this post helpful. I tried to put everything in 1 spot so you can reference it. I seriously couldn’t have lived without these mommy makeover must haves and wish I had known these tips before my surgery. It has taken 2.5 weeks of trial and error. If you know anyone thinking about this surgery or having this surgery send them this page. They will thank you. If you are having this surgery, BUY THESE ITEMS! 1-3 are a MUST for everyone!! This surgery is painful, but it is manageable and these items will make it so much better. Good luck! If you have had this surgery and have additional tips, please put them in the comments below!
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