My goal for these surgeries was to de-bulk my body of lipedema tissue that was weighing me down (literally and figuratively) decrease chronic pain and improve gait issues caused by the size of my thighs. I did not have any skin removed or cosmetic work done. The intention of these surgeries was purely to improve mobility and slow down progression
Surgery One: Lower legs (below the knee)
8/20/2020 4.5 liters removed from calves
I remember feeling like I was hallucinating during the first part of this procedure. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, everything was white, and everyone was speaking Russian. When I came-to, near the end of surgery, Dr. Byrd was still working on me, and while I could feel stinging and pinching, it wasn’t bad. I was coherent and sang along with the music that was playing while she finished up and her nurse close my incisions.
Recovery was both easier and harder than I expected, as with all of my surgeries. I didn’t have any issues with passing out or dehydration, which are both common, especially with the “lowers” and I was able to walk around without much pain within 30 seconds of standing, the day after surgery.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the night of surgery and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I resumed normal activities three days post-op (stay at home mom) and worked out 7 days post-op. I was able to jog down my driveway 4 weeks post-op—the day before my second surgery.
Surgery Two: Front of Thighs and Knees
9/17/2020 9.4 liters removed from front of thighs/knees
Same weird hallucinating about a roller coaster during the first part of this procedure, everything was still white again, but no one was speaking Russian. When I came-to near the end and was singing along with the music that was playing in the operating room. This time it was Bon Jovi and I remember telling them how much I love Guns-n-Roses while they were stitching me up.
When I went for my follow up the next day, I was dehydrated and required two bags of fluids.
Recovery for this surgery was the worst and most painful, mostly due to taking down, and pulling up, the compression to go to the bathroom and shower. I also wasn’t able to let my boys sit on my lap, and my dog’s wagging tail hitting my legs nearly crippled me.
The physical pain itself wasn’t that bad, except during those isolated events (going to the bathroom and being greeted by my dog) but the emotional drain was very difficult. It took everything I had to make myself go to the bathroom, and I missed holding my boys on my lap more than anything.
I remember turning to my husband about one week post op and saying, “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this.” Meaning, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to tolerate four more surgeries like that one. He, of course, said, “You’ve got this.” And, of course, he was right.
I wasn’t actually going to quit anyway, but that’s when it hit me that it was going to be much harder than I thought. I knew it was only temporary, but in the moment, it was really hard.
After 2.5 weeks, the majority of the pain was gone, my boys were able to sit on my lap again, and going to the bathroom was no longer a challenge. I was ready for round three.
Just like the first surgery, I didn’t have any issues with passing out or dehydration, and I was able to walk around without much pain within 30 seconds of standing, the day after surgery.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the first night, post-op, and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I resumed normal activities three days post-op (stay at home mom) but did not resume exercise.
Surgery Three: Back of Thighs
10/15/2020 8.5 liters removed from back of thighs
For this surgery, and the following three surgeries, I put some lavender oil on my mask and the hallucinating stopped. Not sure how much the aroma therapy helped vs the fact that I was also more relaxed because I had already had two pleasant experiences so I didn’t feel anxious or stressed, but I recommend it to anyone else having surgery with local anesthesia, just in case it wasn’t coincidence.
The initial recovery from this surgery was the worst. I was totally out of it throughout the entire surgery and don’t even remember putting on the post-op compression.
When I got in the car I felt numb, and like my legs weren’t attached to my body; something I hadn’t experienced with the first two surgeries. We drove to the hotel, I ate some food, took one Tylenol with Codeine and laid down in bed. I was in so much pain and couldn’t understand why. When I got up around 1am to go to the bathroom and realized the compression pants were bunched up at the top of my thighs and knees. Once I fixed them I was pain-free and slept like a log.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the first night, post-op, and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I resumed normal activities three days post-op (stay at home mom) and even took my boys on a 2 mile hike five days post-op.
Again, the worst part of this recovery was going to the bathroom. I seriously needed to psych myself up to pee, every time, for two weeks.
Surgery Four: Abdomen
11/5/2020 3 liters removed from abdomen
In an effort to get all of my surgeries completed before the end of the year, my last four surgeries were scheduled three weeks apart which is unusual, but my hemoglobin levels remained normal, I didn’t have any infections, and I was recovering quickly between each surgery.
This was the easiest of my surgeries, for sure. There isn’t really anything notable to share about the challenges with recovery, as I barely noticed it at all.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the first night, post-op, and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I resumed normal activities three days post-op (stay at home mom) and ran a 5k 2.5 weeks post-op, on November 22nd.
Surgery Five: Butt/Hips
11/24/2020 5 liters removed from butt and hips
In an effort to get all of my surgeries completed before the end of the year, my last four surgeries were scheduled three weeks apart which is unusual, but my hemoglobin levels remained normal, I didn’t have any infections, and I was recovering quickly between each surgery.
This surgery was also exceptionally easy, or at least easier than I expected. Going to the bathroom was a bit of a challenge, but once the compression was below my butt, it wasn’t bad. Surprisingly sitting, even on the toilet, was less painful with this surgery than the back of my legs.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the first night, post-op, and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I cooked Thanksgiving dinner two days post-op and resumed normal activities (stay-at-home-mom) on Monday.
Surgery Six: Arms
12/17/2020 2 liters removed from arms
I really had to force myself to do this surgery. I was tired of recovering and wanted to be done.
It was a week before Christmas and I felt like I was going in a million different directions, and did not want to take the time to drive down to GA (a 5 hour trip) and stay in a small hotel room with my husband, two year old and four year old, and then drive back and deal with recovery for Christmas.
But I also knew that it was the LAST and that I was SO close to being done. SO. CLOSE.
I had heard that arms were the easiest of all the areas, so I kept telling myself it would be a piece of cake and to just suck it up and get it over with—which I did, of course.
I took the prescribed Tylenol with Codeine the first night, post-op, and then regular Extra Strength Tylenol the next day. After that, I didn’t need any pain medication.
I resumed normal activities three days post-op (stay at home mom) but it was not as easy as I thought. Sleeping was the most uncomfortable with this surgery, and the swelling seemed more noticeable than I remembered with the others, I guess because I use my arms all the time, even when sitting down.
I had no problem lifting things as long as what I was lifting had hand-holds, and didn’t bang my arms on anything—easier said than done, especially when you’re trying to move an uncooperative toddler. But I didn’t realize that I wouldn’t be able to hug my boys for two weeks. That was really hard! It did get me out of diaper changes for a couple of weeks though, so maybe it was a fair trade off? Ha!
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I hope you find the information in this series of posts helpful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.
<3 Andrea
Andrea Matthes
Body Image and Healthy Lifestyle Coach
Founder of I’mperfect Life, LLC.
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All content found this website, including: text and images, were created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in this document.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor, go to the emergency department, or call 911 immediately. Andrea Matthes does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in this document. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk.
Dr. Byrd/Lipedema Surgery Center https://lipedemaliposuctioncenter.com/
11050 Crabapple Road
Building B
Roswell, Georgia 30075
Telephone: 770.587.1711
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