Question:
Help.....anyone who is post op from TT/or Lower Body lift?

I went to see the plastic surgeon today expecting to get an abdominoplasty(insurance will cover this). She said that I will not get the desired effect from only having that done and that I need a lower body lift(I will have to self pay to have my backside done). She said I will end up with (dog ears) aka (flaps of skin on my sides) if she does not go all the way around. Please help do any of you who just had the abdominoplasty have a problem like this????? Do I have to get a lower body lift to be happy?????? I am 13 months post op from WLS and I have lost 150lbs. Thanks for any help you can provide.....Wendi** email me anytime [email protected]    — lovemonterey (posted on October 31, 2003)

October 31, 2003
Wendi, Have you gotten a 2nd opinion?? I would if it was me. I had and 'extended abdomnioplasty' cause of all the fatrolls I had. He almost went completely around me (have about a 5" gap before the scars would meet). Most of my rolls are gone except for the one under my bra but that went down a little. It did pull up my butt and thighs a little bit too. I've very happy with it. Email me at [email protected] if you want to see my before and after pics.
   — Kris T.

October 31, 2003
I lost about 125 pounds and I didn't need a lower body lift. A hip to hip incision abdominoplasty worked great on me. Now, my PS did tell me that all of the walking I did for 7 months helped in toning up the butt and thigh area. I still need an inner thigh lift but he says my outer thighs are great. I agree about getting a 2nd and 3rd opinion. All PS's are different in how they handle cases. I got a second opinion and am VERY thankful I did. It made the world of difference in the small amount of scars that I now have. My PS is my own version of God!! He's wonderful and I let him know it EVERYTIME I see him!! He takes special care of me and tells me I'm his work in progress. He's also very honest and tells me what too realistically expect. He's been right on the money with each surgery.
   — Patty H.

October 31, 2003
Hi Wendy, She's right. It was true for me. I had hernia repair/abdominoplasty at 10 months post-op due to an increasingly symptomatic ventral hernia - they ended up taking off about 8 lbs with the abdominoplasty, too. The results were great - for about 2 months, then I dropped another 30 lbs - and I still have about another 50 to go to get to goal - and they said, "Well, that's okay - this time out isn't cosmetic - look at those dog ears! We'll do the LBL next time." I've known a couple of post-ops who have had the LBL and they've had some pretty phenomenal results! When I'm all done losing my weight I'll have lost 235 lbs - and honestly, if I can bring myself to stomach the thought of having another surgery, I may just agree to that one. Not 100% sure of it tho! The last one out was pretty rough! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 1, 2003
I personally did not have a lower body lift but I did have the tummy tuck. I don't have a problem with dog ears. My butt is a bit saggy but nothing I can't live with.
   — rinnchris

November 3, 2003
I had a tummy tuck. You can see photos on my website - password is plastic. I don't have dog ears and they didn't go all the way around. I had the abdominoplasty.
   — Goldilauxx B.