searching for prior BIG Hipped sisters willing to share

I am 2 & 1/2 years post op down 160 + pounds but my hips just wont surrender. I am yold I need a debulking lipo & then a lower body lift. Anyone done this & willing to share stories & pics. I just dont have the money to waste if its a waste of time. My expectations are great. Please dont tell me I am asking too much. I figure if Im gonna mortgage my house why can I expect the best!!! Diana RNY 9/17/03 360/199/180

Hi Diana, some of my friends have recently had ps and found the OH plastic surgery forum a valuable source of info and encouragement. Mary

Hi Diana, I literally lost eight inches off my hips immediately with my lower body lift. It was a totally dramatic change. I don't have pics of my naked body, but you can see from the pics on my picturetrail that I now don't have hips. I didn't have lipo before the lift. I really don't think it will be a waste of time for you. Just be sure that your plastic surgeon has lots of experience with wls patients.....the results will speak for themselves. Do take a look at the plastic surgery forum, many of them have before and after PS pics. Best of luck to you. It was totally worth it all for me. Hugs, Connie -147# post LBL post UBL post face/neck lift (need to update my pics)

I am hippy also, our figures are somewhat the same. I am preparing for a LBL & TT, The LBL will lift and shrink the hips. The lipo will help even further, I have a friend who completed these procedures last year and looks great.... Best wishes.

I had all my weight in my tummy and hips . I was 423 and am now 158. I just had round 2 of plastics done. The First round when I went in I was a size 26. I had a extended panniculectomy with anchor cut done, A HIP REDUCTION, and hernia's fixed. When I came out of surgery 4 hours later I was a size 14!! Yes 12 sizes! I just went in last week and had a massive revision done. All my photos are documented in my profile. I hope this helps. Also come over to the plastic surgery board. There are all shapes over there and we share alot of pictures! Lisa

Oh my God you look totally awesome...I am a "hippy" gal too went from 364 to 165-170 and still have the butt to prove it! I wear a size 12 so I guess I shouldn't complain (some 14's if they aren't stretch) but would love to be a 10 - I need a tummy tuck, an arm job (don't know what that's called) and would like to get something done with my thighs and my butt...if you look at me in the mirror with no clothes on, you can see these two butt cheeks swinging back and forth, literally...it all takes money, though, so only time will tell what and when I can have it done....til then I have to learn to be happy with where I am today - I AM happy with where I am today but am not confident in HOW I look (without clothes) and want so much more...but then, don't we all!?! Thanks for sharing...you are beautiful!

Diana, your hips look great. Lower body fat is not as harmful as upper body/belly fat. I think that our shapes are not as common (we do have some big hipped WLS sisters out there though) and so you are not going to get the the most accurate responses. What your doc is telling you about debulking with lipo sounds absolutely correct. I personally would never want to change my shape, I think it is pretty and quite sexy - Jessica Rabbit like . To tighten and get toned up which I believe your doc can do as lipo can be used to sculpt the body. If you are going to do it, go all the way but order exactly what you want and have your doc show you a picture of what to expect to look like after surgery and healing. Doesn't he have photos of patients in his office? Go for it Diana. How could it be a waste of time and money, it is an "investment" in you! Best, Leila

Checked your pics and your before pic looks just like mine - carried SO much of my weight down below and so little up top! Now, I'm pretty thin up top (give for the bat wings that fly away) yet still carry a bit of baggage below, including two butt cheeks that drive me crazy...one day I would like to have the arms done, the thighs, the butt and the tummy but time and money will dictate when and if that happens. I feel for you though as I have the same problem. I think though that we need to try and look at the positive which is where we have come from and the life we now lead! Hard to do at times, I know but worth it...one wish I've always had is to be able to wear the cute summer tops they have out now with the cute little short sleeves and until I get rid of the bat wings, that is not an option for this gal! Then, the legs/thighs...they are really huge with LOTS of excess fat to remove. I can only dream what it would be like to get rid of it and feel totally "normal" at last...dreams do come true so don't give up and good luck to you!

I think we might be twins But you sure look alot smaller than I do...Maybe they can give us a "family" deal on plastics...hehehe worth a try anyway You look fabulous!!! Diana