TT vs LBL

Hey all I posted this on the PS board but it doesn't get alot traffic.... and I thought who better to ask then my TMB peeps..... so anyway I have my first consult tomorrow with Dr. Gordley in the Woodlands and I'm wondering from those of you that have already had a TT or LBL...  what made you chose one over the other?????   Anyone had a TT and later wished they had the LBL?   Anything special I should be asking him???

I'm probably not your best source of info, seeing as I have not had any ps yet. Hopefully someone with actual experience will chime in too.

From my understanding, those procedures effect different areas and in different ways.

TT- removes excess skin in upper abdominal are (above waist, below boobs), plus the underlying muscles are pulled tight again.

LBL - basically the cut from like hip to hip and tighten excess skin, like pulling up your pants, only with skin.

I am planning on having both done. Eventually.

Oh, if you go LBL be sure and ask what he does about the mons area. I have heard that some surgeons don't do anything and other include it.

That's about all I know.

Paige, as I'm sure you know the TT cuts you from hip to hip and muscle tightening is done.  It will give you a very flat tummy but does nothing for the thighs, butt or mons area. 

A LBL is a circumfrential cut (meaning all the way around) and will "help" to tighten your thighs a little as well as give you some better shape to your butt.  It will also get rid of any hangy down skin on your backside.  If I had lost more weight, I would of gone with the LBL but since I only lost about 85 lbs, my doc recommended the TT and breast lift only.  He made the right choice for me.  He talked to me and explained the differences and actually showed me what each procedure would make me look like by gently pulling and tightening my skin.  No regets on my part.  I think any reputable surgeon will guide you in the right direction.

If you're interested, I have some "tips and suggestions" posted on my OH blog that might be helpful and a description of my whole experience from consult to finished product including pics.

Stephanie your pics are great!!!!   It gives my boobies new hope!!!  Mine look almost exactly like yours did preop.... and you only had a lift right?  I've lost 135lbs so far with 13 to go so my tummy is a little worse then your was.  I'm lucky in that my backside is pretty flat... hence why I think I'm just wanting a TT.  My outer thighs are fine... it's the inner thighs that look like a Sharpei!!!  Thanks for sharing your experience!

Yes, Paige, I only had a lift.  I'm still wearing a 38D and love it.  I keep saying I need to take recent pics since those were right after my plastics.  Trust me, I showed several people recently and they think they look great (not to mention hubby).

Do I look green with jealousy?? I want perky turkeys too!!! I just want 32c's so I can easily find bras! Try finding a 32DD in a store!! I should just buy a couple of slings so I can get them off my knees!
Meggie

Paige;

I had a TT and breast lift also. My PS does not do LBLs as he feels you cannot pull the entire body tightly around. If you're going to pull the tummy super tight (like they do in a TT), you have to leave some slack in the back for bending. My butt bugs me a little now, but I figure most of the time I can't see it and I really don't want to go through another PS recovery, so it's fine.

I did get a mini-thigh lift and mons lift with my TT. That's how tight he pulled me. And my TT incision is all but 9" across my back, so he really took as much skin as he could out. I'm thrilled with my results.

Good luck with your consult.

Thanks Jennifer!  Did you find recovery hard having 2 procedures done at once?

Well, since I've only ever had PS with having two procedures done, I don't have a point of reference to compare it to. PS is no walk in the park. It's a much longer recovery than RNY.

With my RNY, I was in the hospital 3 days, came home, worked a 1/2 day and then worked full-time from home until I went back to work at 13 days post-op and did fine.

With PS, I had surgery on a Thursday at a surgery center, so I was home 12 hours after I arrived. I slept all weekend and started working from home the following Monday. The first week after surgery, I worked 26 hours. The second week, I worked a full 40 and tried going to the office at 2 weeks post-op. I made it 5 hours and then came home and slept for 13. I started traveling again at 4 weeks post-PS, but it took me until after that trip to make it a full 5 day week in the office. It was 8-9 weeks for me to have my color and energy back to the normal level.

Paige...depending on how MO you were Prior to WLS....will depend on if they get all the excess skin with a LBL ( if that is how you choose to go ) as for me....I had a LBL.    I lost 140 lbs and I was HUGE  ALL MY LIFE !!!!   My stomach hung to my knees and my butt ...well...let's just say that they almost matched !!  LOL    As for what Steph said about the thighs....that isn't entirely true....it is only the outter thighs and it is mainly just smoothing them out...but at 2 yrs post op PS...my outter thighs have relaxed quite a bit.   LOL   Skin has memory and sometimes it goes back somewhat where it was before PS.   Trust me....I am NOT perfect since the LBL nor did my PS take enough skin off IMHO !!!   BUT I am so much better now than before my PS.   If you are on my friends list...you can view my before and after PS photos.   

Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian