Question:
Did you have lipo first

I have had consultations with 2 different plastic surgeons and of course what they wanted to do was diferent. For example for the stomach, one said basically the anchor incision and the other said just the hip to hip. I think the anchor would help me more. For my arms and legs one said he thinks that first he should lipo the arms and knee area(my thighs fell to my knees and I have pockets of fat and skin hanging at my knee area). He said that by using lipo on the arms first the incision could be smaller. The other Dr. said no to the lipo on the arms--just use the incision and for the legs he just wants to cut a section of fat and skin out in the knee area. How do we know which one is best? Has anyone else used lipo first on their arms?    — jan M. (posted on January 24, 2003)

January 24, 2003
I am not a doctor but I think the cutting is the way to go. I haven't seen your body, but since you have lost so much weight I think your primary problem can be summed up by having too much "skin" left over. It's not about fat removal... it's about getting rid of the excess skin. The skin, even with lipo, probably won't go back. Where as if they resect it, it's gone forever! Maybe you should get a third opinion? Try to find a doctor who has done other PS for WLS patients. Good luck to you!
   — Kym L.

January 25, 2003
My doctor told me that lipo isn't the plan for hanging skin, it just makes it worse. Exactly what Kym said below.
   — ZZ S.

January 25, 2003
I think you're saying he wants to lipo first and then do the armlift. Right? I tried looking through the library with no luck. Months back someone answered a question and mentioned having her surgeries done in steps and I think she said something about lipo then the arm lift later. I couldn't find it so I am hoping she's still around and will pipe in. I haven't had my arm lift done but last May when I had my tummmy removed they did some lipo on my upper arms. They have terrible hanging skin now and totally need an arm lift done. So if he ONLY wants to do lipo - thats totally wrong. It sucks. I think you really need to look at some before & afters of patients with your same situation & stats. I'd look for someone who has experience with others like you and who can show a lot of really great before & afters that way you have a reasonable expectation. Remember, plastic surgeons are like artists and you have to find one whose work you like. And the first poster is right. You might want to seek out a plastic surgeon with experience with post op WLS patients in particular.
   — Shelly S.

January 26, 2003
I'm the original poster--the plastic surgeon was not planning on doing just lipo. He just said to lipo first and then do the brachioplasty. He said by doing the lipo first the incision would not have to be so severe--it could be shorter, I guess.
   — jan M.

January 28, 2003
I was the poster who is having my arms done in 2 stages. I had the lipo done in August and hope to have the excess skin cut off in March. The doctor sucked out approximately a can of pop of fat out of each arm. I had ace bandages on them for a couple of months to help shrink them even further. They are now normal size for my body. When they cut off the excess skin the incision will be in the armpit so I won't have a huge scar running down the length of my arm. I feel this is a MUCH better way to go.
   — Patty H.

January 29, 2003
I am sitting here only 5 days out from a lower body lift and abdominoplasty. I carried a tremendous amount of weight in my thighs, particularly the front of my thighs. The body lift did pull up a lot of hanging skin on my thighs, but while he had me open, he did do a little lipo on the front of the thighs. There was a "heaviness" there - that's how he kept referring to it - that would still be there even if the skin were tightened a little. Whereas the rest of what was being taken care of on me was, primarily, just hanging skin. Your surgeon should be able to identify best if the problem you are concerned with is casued by fat deposits, or skin. Lipo may help contour you a little better. But, if,as you say on the problem with your thighs is that they fell to your knees...it sounds to me like hanging skin. As far as the arm...that I have no experience with...sorry. I did not have an anchor incsion and OMG and I am glad. I had more than a hip to hip - in fact, mine goes all the way around because of the body lift. But, I am a little displeased with my resuls. I still have what appears to be some skin hanging off of my original RNY scar. He says that it "may settle differently" and if not "he will be able to fix it". Although, I am curious now if maybe an anchor incision would have made me tighter. But, man oh man...I don't think I could handle the pain from an even bigger incision. Good Luck!
   — PaulaM

January 29, 2003
I am sitting here only 5 days out from a lower body lift and abdominoplasty. I carried a tremendous amount of weight in my thighs, particularly the front of my thighs. The body lift did pull up a lot of hanging skin on my thighs, but while he had me open, he did do a little lipo on the front of the thighs. There was a "heaviness" there - that's how he kept referring to it - that would still be there even if the skin were tightened a little. Whereas the rest of what was being taken care of on me was, primarily, just hanging skin. Your surgeon should be able to identify best if the problem you are concerned with is casued by fat deposits, or skin. Lipo may help contour you a little better. But, if,as you say on the problem with your thighs is that they fell to your knees...it sounds to me like hanging skin. As far as the arm...that I have no experience with...sorry. I did not have an anchor incsion and OMG and I am glad. I had more than a hip to hip - in fact, mine goes all the way around because of the body lift. But, I am a little displeased with my resuls. I still have what appears to be some skin hanging off of my original RNY scar. He says that it "may settle differently" and if not "he will be able to fix it". Although, I am curious now if maybe an anchor incision would have made me tighter. But, man oh man...I don't think I could handle the pain from an even bigger incision. Good Luck!
   — PaulaM