Shopping List for Liposuction for Lipoedema

This list is a starting point for things you might want when you are having liposuction for lipoedema. It is designed for you to print it out and amend it.

I based this list on some of my pre-surgery preparation posts and created it for the Facebook community at MY LIPOEDEMA  JOURNEY - FOR LADIES GLOBALLY.  I thought it would be good to post it here too, so that it is an open resource. Please tell me any feedback you have so I can improve my list.  

  The Facebook group I have referenced above contains details of surgery experiences from a range of international ladies and is the home of the comprehensive international list of Lipoedema Liposuction Doctors.  I am a frequent user of that group, not the owner of it!  

Item you might need	Why I recommend it/advice
Waterproof bed sheet.	A great one is Gokart from Ikea (you can order from Ikea or on eBay).  This one is comfortable to sleep on as it has a fabric top over the plastic.   You can also put “puppy pads” or other absorbent bed pads in your bed, but they can move as they are loose, so the waterproof sheet is more reassuring.
Puppy Pads/stay dry bed pads (absorbent pads)	These are large items (not sanitary towels) which you can put on a bed or chair.  You may be given some of these by your clinic.  I used them to stand on after a shower in the first day or two to avoid dripping red tinged fluid on the bathmat.  Used for either reassurance or absorption.  Pack of around 20 for £10 on Amazon
Extra dressings/plasters	These are larger than household plasters (plasters is a UK word).  For example 6cm x 7cm.  They are an absorbent pad covered with medical tape that is breathable and soft on skin.  Brands like Mepore are available for around £7 for 60 dressings on Amazon, or you can get them in a local chemist for around £0.20 each.  You will want to use something like this until your incisions are healed dry.  If you shower every day you will need to change them every day to get the wet pad off your skin as they are not waterproof.
Vinyl gloves	If a friend or partner is helping you change your dressings, until your incisions are closed it is good hygiene to have them wear gloves.
Medical tape	If you do leak quite a bit you may need to tape gauze or puppy pads over the outside of your dressings.  Some clinics will give you tape and gauze, so check before you buy.  If you buy tape, something like Durapore is around £2 a roll and is nicer than Micropore as it sticks well but comes off gently too. If you are sensitive to plasters then try the tape first before you go!
Shewee/Go girl/funnel	If you are having your thighs done then you may find it tender to sit on the loo.  You can use a funnel with open crotch compression to wee standing up without taking your garment down (or with pulling your compression down a bit).  From £1 to £10.
Rubber toilet seat ring.	Again inner thighs – an option for using on the loo instead of a funnel or for when you are not having a wee.  An air filled ring is still hard to sit on so I personally didn’t use it much as it was a core muscle workout and a bit distracting from going to the toilet! One that needs inflating with air (check if you need an adaptor – probably works with a bicycle pump as mine did)£10 on Amazon)
Painkillers	You may be given some from your clinic.  You will generally not need anything stronger than the ones that are sold without needing a Dr to give you a prescription.  In the UK purchasing a cheap packet of paracetamol and one of ibuprofen would be fine.  You may want to take painkillers 20 minutes before showering or changing your compression in the first few days after surgery.
Other tablets/products	You may like to take arnica tablets or other vitamins.  Check with your Dr before the surgery if you should start or stop taking anything like this.  Some people find they get itching as their skin heals.  A product like Piriton which is sold for allergies in the chemist may be helpful.   http://www.boots.com/en/Piriton-Allergy-Tablets-30-Tablets_11235/ around £4.
Moisturiser/skin care products	Wearing compression makes your skin dry, so you will want to moisturise.  Avoid the incisions until they are totally healed
Scar healing products	The incisions will leave most of us with small scars.  Once they are healed closed you can treat them.  Popular products are Gel to rub in: KeloCote is around £20 and Contractubex is around £8.  You can order them on eBay.  Some people use BioOil.  Contractubex is most popular in our group.  Contractubex also make overnight healing patches which you use at night (gel in the day only then).  These are not sold in the UK so you may want to ask your clinic to help you with a local pharmacy who can order them in for you if you have surgery overseas.  Or ask an EU group member to help you by posting them to you.
Rubber gloves with grip or gloves with silicone dots on them	You'll need to adjust your compression garment and I find these gloves from Lakeland (also available on Amazon) look cute and are helpful for grabbing wrinkles and pulling up or smoothing out bunching.  I always use gloves with my compression.  Light gardening gloves are also a good option.  Around £2-5
Flip flops/crocs/large slippers	Surgery on upper or lower legs means you can drip fluid on your feet.  Shoes you can slip on and off and rinse clean are great.  You will likely go to the operating theatre in your own footwear but their clothing so think about something easy to get on to walk back to your room/recovery area.  If you are having lower leg surgery you will usually need footwear around 1 size bigger than normal for your journey home/early days.  That will allow for your swelling and the compression and extra bandages etc.  If you need socks (especially if you had lower leg surgery!) get ones with very soft elastic at the top – often labelled as suitable for diabetics/diabetic socks.
Clothing	Loose tops, thick socks and baggy trousers.  Needed for coming home from the clinic and for lounging around at home.