Surgery Day!

My notes were made just over 12 hours post liposuction (one operation on inners, outers and knees).

I had a total of 1.9 litres of fat removed and the surgery took place over 5 hours including all the prep (taking photos, marking me up, infiltrating the tumescent fluid, waiting for it all to anaesthetise etc). The actual liposuction was apparently 1.5 hours but felt much quicker.

Scary equipment from infiltrating anaesthesia and the extracted fat in the front cannister

This morning Professor Schmeller was just fabulously caring, holding my hand as I had a little cry with nerves before we got going. He wanted to be sure I was really ok to proceed and made me feel it would have been ok to get up and leave (as I was not full of tumescent fluid!).

I felt he was so gentle as we discussed the needles and if any of them were hurting he would instantly move them to a new spot as I filled with fluid. He was so gracious and so patient as I was weeing at every pause (and making pauses so I could go!) and there was no irritation with that. We just agreed when it was best that I hopped off the table to go each time and any up coming points when it might be less easy. I felt all the timing was led by me in that respect and he was so thorough in explaining how it would go.

I will say initial infiltration was a little bit painful with the local injections. He warned me it would be, and I made some whimpers. They were brief ‘ow’ moments and he offered me painkillers through my hand cannula. I said no as I felt more comfortable to start fully awake and he and the nurse crouched down to my level and had a good talk about it, then were kind to stop and re visit when I made some noises in sore spots. No mention I was wrong or a nuisance. Just offers about how I could feel and so much time spent helping me feel in control.

He tried to encourage me to relax and imagine I was on holiday - I told him there were too many biting insects on this holiday and we referred to the anaesthetic needles as biting insects for the rest of the procedure. I liked that he had a sense of humour and could personalise my experience/was really paying attention to me.

After the infiltration I was left alone watching TV (the english channel was BBC news so I know other people have used their phone, maybe bring that down to the theatre with you, or something to read). They said I could have slept but I wasn't sleepy. I was cozy though as they left me under a special blanket with a hot air blower. It was very warm and snug!

The nurse held my hand and chatted to me during the lipo which was honestly a breeze (maybe midazolam during the earlier injections would have been more sensible!). I am so happy that already I look like I will have better hips and I hope to lose the pains I had before.

He had me hop to my feet for a review at the end and said any concerns or issues eg symmetry or just not looking right and he would have me hop back up for another quick go at those areas, so I felt he had the right concern for my ultimate appearance and well being,no matter how long we had been already.

The professor checked on me twice during the afternoon post surgery. I was impressed that he was with me on and off for 12 hours from start of surgery to his last night visit.

The nurses did 3 dressing changes by around 8pm (their schedule of regular checks) so I do think a night in Klinik is a good idea. So much support was freely available.  I had chats in pidgin German (mine, and because I wanted to) and their good English. There was no sense of rushing. I felt that if I wanted them to take time, everyone had time for me. The night nurse was just amazing. I couldn’t have felt more cared for and she was only a button away on my phone… actually a choice of two buttons ’emergency’ and ‘please come’.

I returned to my room after liposuction and did have some side pain which an ibuprofen tablet took away. The nurse was with me very quickly to check on me – I didn’t have to ring – checking my dressings, if I had pain etc and offering a choice of relief.

Weeing has been hard. The numb and tender inners plus my compression have been the wrong kind of hilarious. I have struggle to wee in a John Wayne sit and thought it was indeed a good idea I purchased a sheewee... shame I left it tt home as it was really hard to work out how to keep my garment fully dry.



Post surgery in compression full of absorbent padding!