Question:
Has anyone had surgery to remove the excess skin from their back (love handles)?
I am over two years postop from wls and 3 months postop from my tummy tuck. I have severe excess skin on my back (love handles) that my PS said would have to be done in a separate surgery next year. He told me that if I lost the last 20 lbs. I wanted to lose it might help this area otherwise I would need surgery to fix this area. I don't think he has preformed a surgery like this, so I definately would like to meet with other PS to get their opinions.<p> Has anyone had this specific area operated on? I was told a breast reduction and lift might help also. I am trying to find out what my options are before I make a decision on what to do. This is the only thing that really bothers me now that my sagging belly is gone. <p>I am assuming that my insurance won't cover this and surgery really isn't in the budget so I am trying to find out if there is a low cost alternative. If you did have surgery, what did it cost? Any input would be appreciated. — ckreh (posted on November 14, 2004)
November 14, 2004
That area might be done 'seperate' but it also depends on your surgeon. I
had a Breast lift and my surgeon 'specially' said he was going to get rid
of the sides and did for (free) removed the side love handles. so if your
getting your breasts done... do a second maybe your 'new' one will throw
that in...
— star .
November 14, 2004
The love handles are usually addressed as part of an extended
abdominoplasty. If the excess goes way around then a belt lipectomy will
get rid of this excess. It may require some lipo also for contouring.
Since the TT is already done, basically you need the back portion of a BL.
However, you may find that the new surgeon, in doing a BL may end up
opening you up all around, along the old incision to get everything pulled
correctly. Or at least part way around the front, is more likely. If you
just stop both procedures right at the sides you are likely to have dog
ears and you don't want that either. A lot depends on exactly how things
look. It definitely is possible to still do this area. Like the other
person said if you are definitely planning on any more PS then it does make
sense to do this work as a 2nd procedure, because even if the surgeon
doesn't throw it in for free it will be greatly reduced from having two
separate surgeries. You definitely want to use a surgeon who is
comfortable doing a BL. A BL is typically and lower body lift but without
the lateral thigh work. It would lift your butt also if needed. I had the
LBL and then the equivalent of an upper torso lift to take care of the
stuff left abvoe the waist after the LBL. Strange anatomy prevented the
doc from getting it all in 1 procedure. I just had a medial thigh lift
last Wed and some revisions to the upper torso lift. Everythings tight
now, that's for sure. Can't wait for all the swelling to go down so I can
see the end results. So far I like what I see with the legs and I have the
hourglass shape back that was there after the 2nd surgery. I just hope
that the skin I have left is quality enough to stay taut from now on. 35+
years of large stretch marks didn't leave my surgeon with the best possible
skin to work with, that's for sure.
<p>You definitely want to find a surgeon that you have total
confidence can do the job and will do it well. I changed PS's after I had
my insurance approval for the full extended abdominoplasty as he just kept
waffling at the results I could expect from the LBL I was having. I paid
for the lateral thigh portion. I'm so glad I changed as I ended up with a
surgeon who exudes confidence but is not arrogant. He spent a lot of time
with me and figuring out how he would do it, based on my anatomy etc. and
the results have been amazing. I now say I have "Body By
Dierberg", instead of Body By Jake. LOL I also figured out, a few
months after the LBL when the original PS was talking at our support group,
that he and I were not talking the same procedure. By BL he was not going
to touch the lateral thighs at all, which was a huge issue since I carried
so much weight in the saddlebag area. He never planned to do a LBL, but
because of the interchange of terms these doc use, it wasn't apparant to me
at the time. I'm just glad I went with my gut instinct and kept looking
for the right guy. It wasn't a problem to change docs either. I just had
to let insurance know I wanted to do it. Good Luck and I'm glad the TT
turned out so well. I'm sure any more work you have done will be just as
wonderful. PS is a heck of a way to get to a normal body is all I can say.
There should be a magic button we can push once the weight is off and then
the skin just shrinks up. I can dream! LOL
— zoedogcbr
November 14, 2004
I had the same concern and had a LBL done to address them. Also had lipo to
the back and bra area to help. Even 2 weeks post op I am thrilled with the
results even still swollen. Maybe just lipo would work? My LBL was totally
out of pocket so I was not settling for less then all my areas fixed at
once. My isurance just won't cover PS at all, no exceptions.
Wendy
— Wendy H.
November 15, 2004
I had the fat and skin on my sides and back removed through my belt
lipectomy, which also took off the fat and skin from my stomach. I had an
incision going all the way around me! I had everything done at one time.
You will be happy with the results.
— raye
November 17, 2004
I think the best plan is to just do a body lift and do an incision all the
way around and lift the bottom, get rid of skin on the front, back, and
sides! The newest innovation (I have done 3 so far) involves saving that
back roll, removing its skin and placing that excess to fill the buttocks
back up at the time of LBL. Looks great!
— DrL
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