Question:
My plastic surgeon says I need lipo before reconstruction has anyone else had this?

I have a huge amount of excess skin on my legs with two pockest of fat(true saddlebags)that won't bulge,the plastic sugeron say I have to have lipo first, has anyone had this ? Did your insurance pay for it? if so please tell me how you got them to approve. thanks    — Sharron J. (posted on June 23, 2003)

June 23, 2003
It really depends on how much fat needs to come out. My plastic surgeon says that if there is any extra fat, it makes leg surgery more difficult for you on the healing process because it would cause your incision to open up. I would find out what he wants to remove, maybe you should talk to another PS.
   — bbjnay

June 23, 2003
I requested a thigh lift because of my sagging skin but was concerned about the excess fat in the thighs that I can't seem to exercise off. My plastic surgeon recommended lipo first followed by the thigh lift once the swelling went down. I'm glad I had the lipo (although it was painful); my thighs are really sagging now. My surgeon feels I'll get a much better result with more skin removal and less chance of scar "drift" because of the reduced pockets of fat. I am self pay.
   — LLinderman

June 23, 2003
I bet that your plastic surgeon is saying lipo first because it will take out the fat and then it will shrink the skin. After 3 or 4 months when the skin is shrunk completely, they will go in and remove the excess skin. This will then make your legs much smaller. They did the same thing to my upper arms and trust me, lipo then skin removal is the way to go. You will have much smaller legs.
   — Patty H.