Just Had Thigh Lift 7/17/18

It is very likely that he had to make a decision about where to place the incisions based on a number of factors, including the quality of the skin. MANY plastic surgeons won't do thigh lifts at all on WLS patients because the skin is in such poor condition, which creates two major issues (in addition to some minor ones and the most general issue of it just not looking natural):

1) the chances of the incision breaking down (and potentially also turning necrotic because of very poor blood supply to the very thin skin) are much higher on the things of someone who has been MO or SMO, not to mention someone who is older. So you have a double whammy in this respect.

2) surgeons cannot pull the skin at all tight on the thighs because of the issues mentioned above. The more tension placed on the incision, the more likely it is to open up (and that's even if you could just lay in bed all day until the incisions healed. Moving around pulls at those incisions a great deal, so the surgeon HAD to leave more skin to give you even half a chance at decent looking scars (when the open up, you end up with wide scars -- or even hole shaped scars -- and if the incision turns necrotic, that means having to have the dead tissue cut out and results in scars that look like burns. If that happens it also takes MONTHS for the body to heal, and you would end up with scars that would still prevent you from wearing shorts above the knee (depending on how large the necrotic area and scarring is).

My tummy tuck incision turned necrotic and I ended up with a large sort of T-shaped crater from just above my waist all the way up to right under my breasts. The deepest part of it, you could see the muscle fascia. It took almost six months for it to heal up and I now look like my stomach was burned and the skin right where my breast starts is still VERY thin and tears easily. Every time I have a mammogram, I go through several weeks of bleeding and healing.

I don't mean to be harsh, but it sounds like perhaps you didn't do enough research (and get enough education from your surgeon) about the thigh surgery prior to having it done. These are well documented issues, and it is something he should have told you about before you decided to have it done. My thighs are hideous (no swim suits without knee length shorts on in the pool for me!) and I really wanted to get them done, but after I did some reading, looked at some sample pictures, and considered what I went through with my tummy tuck (I cannot imagine having large nectoric holes between my legs for many months!) I decided I would just enjoy my "wingless" arms and my flat tummy and continue to hide my thighs just as I have done my entire adult life.(I am 55, had my RNY in 2007, had a panniculectomy in 2008 , and had my arms and tummy done (separately) in 2009.

Lora

Hi, Lora

Sorry you had such a bad time with your tummy tuck. You never know what is going to happen, no matter how much research you do. Yes, I did research, which is why it took me 10 years to make the decision to do it after all of the other surgeries. But I just got sick of the one thing I didn't do after all of that work. I pray that the redo goes well and will accept a certain level of his being conservative.

Regarding your mammograms, I would try to find a solution to the problem you have each time you get one. There must be another way so you don't go through the tearing and bleeding. Please speak to your surgeon. Maybe they can get the same information with a sonogram and/or an MRI? I wish you luck!

Marla

Sometimes the surgeons exercise caution with skin removal because of the amount of blood loss that occurs during the surgery. To my understanding, revisions are not uncommon in the leg and theighs. Sounds like you are overall satisfied and things will work out well. Remain positive and look forward to and envision the results you desire.

Sorry- did not edit

"thighs" "on" "legs"

Perfect advice. It is what it is, and I have to go from here. So as soon as I'm physically in shape for a revision (hopefully Christmas break), I will have it taken care of and bite the bullet. It will be over and I'll have much of what I want. Thank you for your reply, Mentor!

Marla

You're welcome. People do not talk much about revisions, but definitely a common occurrence with plastic surgery. I have had a few revisions and am pleased with the results.

Take care!

I read through some of your older posts. It seems you do experience skin openings as a fairly regular consequence of surgeries. I would imagine that these are not only painful, but dangerous and susceptible to infections.

While I recognize that you are disappointed in the results, it would not seem worth the risk to fix the isssue. We are our own worst critic and everyone has flaws. But trying to fix yours could very well result in more damage. From the information you provided, it doesn't seem as if the risk is worth the reward in this case.

Thank you for looking into my past posts. I sincerely appreciate it!

If the amount left was a small amount, I would agree that enough is enough, but there are at least 6-8 inches left of hanging skin going down each thigh (no fat) that he could remove much of and still not be tight. If he was being conservative, he was ultra-ultra-ultra conservative. The scars down the thighs are totally fine and healing almost invisibly. It is at the 4-way intersections near the groin that opened. I don't think he even needs to go near there to fix the problem. It would be from maybe 3-4" down from the groin to just above the knee. My dread is the incredible discomfort again. There has been NO stress on the incisions down the thigh. Just pain.

I'm not crazy -- I've worked on my body for 13 years. I'm moving to Florida after I retire next June and I want to be able to wear shorts and skirts and not walk around still embarrassed. My arms, 12 years later, are hanging like an older person's arms would hang, and I don't care. I had them done when they were bat wings, and now I'm older and it is natural. I'm not being unreasonable, needing to be perfect. My calves are very wrinkled and so be it. I could use a facelift, but not happening anytime soon. But these thighs just horrify me and I have to have one more chance to feel better walking around after all this. Thank you everyone for listening and understanding and caring enough to give me pause.

Marla

6-8 inches per thigh is a lot! Best of luck to you in whatever you decide.

Jen, thank you for hearing me out. I appreciate all of your thoughtfulness. And thank you or your good wishes.

Marla