Looks like it's Fleur de Lis for me! Any one else?

Hi everyone. Well my date is set for Aug 8 and it looks like my surgeon feels like the Fleur de Lis is the best approach for me.

I am down 163 pounds so far.
I have a bunch of loose skin above and below my belly button.
Plus alot hanging down on the sides of my body.

I know it is more scarring but I'm not too worried about that.
I just want to look better in my clothes.
I'm gonna be scarred no matter. Breasts and arms will be done a few months after my belly.

I would love to hear from anyone else that has had this done.
Any problems, regrets, cautionary tales??

Having the anchor tt tomorrow morning - psyching myself up for the pain to follow - but very excited to get it over with and be on the other side.  Really excited to get these muscles tightened - hopefully it will help with my lower back pain.

Excited for you!!
Sending good vibes to you.

I wanna hear aaaalllll about it!

Take good care.

Haven't had it yet, but I am having a belt lipectomy (circumferential) with Fleur De Lys on next Thursday, April 14. I am pumped!

I opted for this because it yields the best results, hands down.  I didn't want to not get one, only to be disappointed that my stomach couldnt get as flat at the top, and then pay MORE money to have it done later.

Since my surgery date is before yours, I'll keep you posted. I am going to blog about the whole process on my page.  Add me as a friend and you can check my page.

Good luck!

Awesome...thanks!
I'm looking at your loss numbers.
Are you having surgery before you get to goal?

I will be.

I'll tell ya...this last bit of stuff around my belly is not budgin!!

My surgeon feels it will be fine. I have to trust that he knows best.

Hi,

Correct. I am having surgery before I am at goal.  I have been steady for a while and honestly, most of this is just loose fat and skin that I could never lose on my own.  My doc expects to remove about 15-20lbs with my chestplasty and belt lipectomy alone. A lot of the fat is concentrated in my upper stomach (it seems segmented..like there are 2 tummys lol) and so with the fleur de lys it will be gone!
I will also get a thighplasty later, which may be another 10ish lbs. My thighs are HUGE and the reason that I have to get larger pants.  Once my waist is smaller, I'll get the thighplasty and then I should be fine.

When they say 'dont have plastics til you are at goal' they dont mean literally, but you should be within a certain range. It also varies by person because for example, I have A LOT of loose skin and fat in my thighs, which I could never lose on my own..while another person might not. So for me to have plastics at 204 makes sense, while someone else may want to drop about 20 more lbs before doing it, if they dont have the same problem.  Also, if i had say another...75 lbs to lose, I wouldnt be doing this because that would mean Id end up having to get a revision to the plastics (which would be a waste of money). so really, it all depends on where you are and where you want to be.  If you only have about 15% to lose, add that to what your surgeon thinks he will take off during surgery, and it will probably have you at goal.

Most people fail to realize that all plastic surgeons who do body contouring and have experience with massive weight loss patients tell you that you should NOT be completely at goal because if you have NO fat, there is nothing to shape or contour! My doc told me that I'll lose a lot of the weight I am fighting to get rid of with the plastics, and then after I should drop more as well.  So, Im hoping to lose about 30ish with the surgery (all together, Im doing 2 phases, and also getting a brachioplasty).  If I drop 30 there, then another 15, Id be right around 155 which would have me COMPLETELY SATISFIED!!!
Ahh I have only 4 days left!!!  I cant wait!!!  Hope this info helps.

Yup, I had it and I love it! That vertical scar has actually disappeared for about 1/3 of its length, and is fading much faster than my horizontal scars. There was no pain from it that I ever noticed (arms and just at the hip bones were noticeable).

When my surgeon's sent me photos of my initial consult, 2 weeks after the first round, and 1 week after my thigh lift, I couldn't believe the difference between the consult and the first round of surgery. There was NO further weight loss, but all of a sudden I not only had a flat tummy, I had a WAIST! It was like a miracle!

The only advice I have (other than get the vertical cut, whatever your surgeon calls it!), is to really hit the gym and work on getting your arms and legs into very good shape so that they can substitute for your core for a few weeks while you heal in helping you get up and down.

Thanks so much.

I can't imagine a waist...

I was already morbidly obese as a small child...never had a waist.

Thank you for the advice.
I am working on my core and bumping my protein up to 100 grams a day to ready myself.

Good for you!  125-150 was the recommendation of my surgeons... and since I'm one of the few whose body flings weight away too often at this point, my nut suggested adding another shake to my day (I'm at 4 meals and 3 shakes to lose only a pound a week), it was easy to bump the protein that extra 25 g.

See if you can fit it in - at least the couple weeks before and after for the extra healing.

 I also had it done and I LOVE my results. It was the right surgery for me. I have no regrets and my scars are very faded.