POSTED UNDER Thigh Lift REVIEWS
Big Scary Thigh Lift with Dr. Peter Fisher - MWL Plastics Specialist - San Antonio, TX
ORIGINAL POST
Through VSG, therapy, diet and exercise I have...
WORTH IT$7,900
Through VSG, therapy, diet and exercise I have managed to lose ~215 lbs. Of course, with this amount of weight loss on my resume, this left me looking like a deflated mess that nothing but surgery will fix. I get so tired of folks thinking you can fix all loose skin through diet and exercise and/or maybe some magical cocoa butter concoction! Just had these conversations recently…once on a FB board for weight loss and once with a personal trainer who promised he could take care of my loose skin through weight training (needless to say all of his credibility was for the most part lost at this point….). December 27th 2013, I had performed by Dr. Fisher a Lower Body Lift, Brachioplasty, and Whole leg liposuction (in part as a staging for the thigh lift). You can see my review and more pictures of my surgery by clicking hereI was pretty sure my LBL would turn out well as I have a fairly shapely upper part of my body…my legs on the other hand have always been very unfortunate (Even thin and in high school….) the stuff nightmares are made of….fat and tissue clear to my ankles. They are the biggest challenge to reconstruct out of all the procedures I am having/have had performed. Apologies to those of you who followed my body lift review for my tardiness in creating the new reviews; I just have not had a lot of time. I am truly enjoying my life in a lot of ways that was not possible prior to the body lift and brachio. Seriously - surgery has changed me and has changed my level of self-satisfaction and happiness. On July 29th, (yes Tuesday!) I am having several different procedures performed:
• Thigh Lift (Long + Spiral + Calf Skin excision)
• BA/BL - Anchor Incision, click here to read my review.
• Bletheroplasty (Eye-Lift) - upper and lower lids
• Minor revisions to Arm lift (little sag on the left near the elbow, little more skin off of the right)
• May have hips re-pulled a bit tighter - lateral thigh (this tissue naturally relaxes after LBL, especially with the compromised post massive weigh loss skin quality!)Whew! It makes me tired thinking about it and I am the one who gets to sleep though it! But seriously…this is maybe 6 feet of NEW incisions and I know from my first “go” recovery is just not fun, but hey…the other thing I realized from the first surgery is that it was entirely worth it! ENTIRELY WORTH IT!Sooooooo …the thigh lift…. (aka, “Big Scary Thigh Lift”) I am getting the “works” ….the “mac-daddy” correction….the super-duper deluxe model of a thigh lift. Seriously I have never EVER heard of anyone getting done what I am having done (much less at one go), but I trust my surgeon implicitly to balance what is safe, to only do what will provide benefit for the cost of the procedure and scar, and also provide maximum correction. My thigh lift will be:
• An extended “short” thigh lift procedure that has been modified for MWL patients called the “spiral” thigh lift - it basically is a longer groin incision that allows the surgeon to remove more skin (a larger “wedge” of skin than on someone who has less skin to remove - typically NOT MWL) - the incision will extend to meet with my existing LBL scar in the front and extend to under the butt cheeks.
• A long thigh lift incision on the thighs going past the knee caps
• (Drum Roll please….) an incision that extends all the way onto my calves and almost to my Ankles!Wow that is a lot of incisions but most folks don’t have legs quite like mine. I carried my weight throughout my whole leg and this has left loose skin all the way down.A few mussings on thigh lifts and different surgeon approaches:Liposuction as a staging procedure: While investigating the thigh lift procedure, I spoke with many surgeons - many who, if you have bulk left to your legs after weight loss, will do liposuction prior to thigh lift surgery - but not all. I spoke to one MWL specialist that was very against doing Liposuction prior to the thigh lift and preferred to do it at the time of the thigh lift (his results were amazing - so this technique apparently works for him). Dr. Fisher seems to prefer to do this as a pre- thigh lift staging procedure. With how oversized my legs were compared to the rest of me, it just “made sense” to do a de-bulking first, let the lipo “settle down”, and then tackle the thigh lift procedure. Indeed when I saw Dr. Fisher for my consult in June, he was very pleased with the results of the lipo as this meant he could concentrate on the skin removal for this go (and as you can see, I am having a rather complex thigh lift performed). I am pleased with the results of my liposuction but never posted as review on it as it was never intended to be an “end stage” procedure (and lets face facts…my legs would impress no one after lipo alone). I Also had lower leg lipo at the same time ….and the contour (excepting of course the loose skin) is VERY good actually….I see many calf/ankle lipo results that look less than natural - and I do think Dr. Fisher did an excellent job in this hard to contour area. I don’t have “great” legs and most likely never will, but….given where I started? Even with the excess skin, these are the most normal legs I have ever owned! Incision going onto Calves:
I have loose skin on my calves from the weight loss, and somewhat exacerbated by the lower leg liposuction (trust me, I have no regrets and knew additional loose skin was a consequence). I had inquired some online about calf skin removal and the vast majority of docs will NOT do this (seriously….i asked a question on RealSelf and one guy called it a “Charles Procedure!” The other MWL surgeon I talked to would do it, but sort of expressed gravity about it - would only do it as a third stage operative seeting. Dr. Fisher has done skin excision on calves before and seems entirely comfortable with the procedure. It is a lot to think about accepting a scar that goes clean onto your calves! But, when I consulted with Dr. Fisher this last in person consult, he seemed to think the benefit warrants the procedure and I do trust him to only do what is warranted in a Cost/Risk benefit analysis. Spiral Thigh lift:
A newer technique known as spiral thighplasty reshapes the front, back, inner, and outer areas of your thigh. During the spiral thighplasty procedure, an incision is made below your buttocks, extending to your groin crease where your thigh and pubic area meet. This plastic surgery procedure may be beneficial for those who have lost massive amounts weight.
My tip of the day for MWL patients seeking plastics - if your surgeon during the consult does NOT know this term, this indicates they are not familiar with the published techniques on “our kind” - granted this is coined term from Dr. Agha - but if you are at ALL familiar with MWL plastics, your surgeon should know this term and hopefully the techniques. When I went to the ONLY plastic surgeon in the vast metropolis of Atlanta who I was considering for my LBL and Brachio (remember with this amount of weight loss, I consider myself ‘extra special’ in the amount/type of reconstruction needed) - she was unfamiliar with the term and was dismissive of it. I think for me it was the “nail in the coffin” for the consult as I ONLY wanted a surgeon who specialized in MWL procedures. At this point I knew I would be traveling for surgery. Other Surgeon Approaches: The one MWL surgeon I consulted with wanted to do the Spiral and long and skin excision from Calves during THREE different operative setting (Trust me …I was close to using this person too.) Dr. Fisher will be doing all at ONCE…pretty wildly ambitious in my book…and I certainly would not go this route with just any doctor… Combining all three:
Well this is one “Big Scary Thigh Lift” and it is coming up faster than I can fathom. Will keep everyone posted on results!Note on pics - had markup today (pics also above), but something went wrong with posting my review (which I wrote two days ago)…hopefully tomorrow while I am in surgery you will be reading this!! :-)
• Thigh Lift (Long + Spiral + Calf Skin excision)
• BA/BL - Anchor Incision, click here to read my review.
• Bletheroplasty (Eye-Lift) - upper and lower lids
• Minor revisions to Arm lift (little sag on the left near the elbow, little more skin off of the right)
• May have hips re-pulled a bit tighter - lateral thigh (this tissue naturally relaxes after LBL, especially with the compromised post massive weigh loss skin quality!)Whew! It makes me tired thinking about it and I am the one who gets to sleep though it! But seriously…this is maybe 6 feet of NEW incisions and I know from my first “go” recovery is just not fun, but hey…the other thing I realized from the first surgery is that it was entirely worth it! ENTIRELY WORTH IT!Sooooooo …the thigh lift…. (aka, “Big Scary Thigh Lift”) I am getting the “works” ….the “mac-daddy” correction….the super-duper deluxe model of a thigh lift. Seriously I have never EVER heard of anyone getting done what I am having done (much less at one go), but I trust my surgeon implicitly to balance what is safe, to only do what will provide benefit for the cost of the procedure and scar, and also provide maximum correction. My thigh lift will be:
• An extended “short” thigh lift procedure that has been modified for MWL patients called the “spiral” thigh lift - it basically is a longer groin incision that allows the surgeon to remove more skin (a larger “wedge” of skin than on someone who has less skin to remove - typically NOT MWL) - the incision will extend to meet with my existing LBL scar in the front and extend to under the butt cheeks.
• A long thigh lift incision on the thighs going past the knee caps
• (Drum Roll please….) an incision that extends all the way onto my calves and almost to my Ankles!Wow that is a lot of incisions but most folks don’t have legs quite like mine. I carried my weight throughout my whole leg and this has left loose skin all the way down.A few mussings on thigh lifts and different surgeon approaches:Liposuction as a staging procedure: While investigating the thigh lift procedure, I spoke with many surgeons - many who, if you have bulk left to your legs after weight loss, will do liposuction prior to thigh lift surgery - but not all. I spoke to one MWL specialist that was very against doing Liposuction prior to the thigh lift and preferred to do it at the time of the thigh lift (his results were amazing - so this technique apparently works for him). Dr. Fisher seems to prefer to do this as a pre- thigh lift staging procedure. With how oversized my legs were compared to the rest of me, it just “made sense” to do a de-bulking first, let the lipo “settle down”, and then tackle the thigh lift procedure. Indeed when I saw Dr. Fisher for my consult in June, he was very pleased with the results of the lipo as this meant he could concentrate on the skin removal for this go (and as you can see, I am having a rather complex thigh lift performed). I am pleased with the results of my liposuction but never posted as review on it as it was never intended to be an “end stage” procedure (and lets face facts…my legs would impress no one after lipo alone). I Also had lower leg lipo at the same time ….and the contour (excepting of course the loose skin) is VERY good actually….I see many calf/ankle lipo results that look less than natural - and I do think Dr. Fisher did an excellent job in this hard to contour area. I don’t have “great” legs and most likely never will, but….given where I started? Even with the excess skin, these are the most normal legs I have ever owned! Incision going onto Calves:
I have loose skin on my calves from the weight loss, and somewhat exacerbated by the lower leg liposuction (trust me, I have no regrets and knew additional loose skin was a consequence). I had inquired some online about calf skin removal and the vast majority of docs will NOT do this (seriously….i asked a question on RealSelf and one guy called it a “Charles Procedure!” The other MWL surgeon I talked to would do it, but sort of expressed gravity about it - would only do it as a third stage operative seeting. Dr. Fisher has done skin excision on calves before and seems entirely comfortable with the procedure. It is a lot to think about accepting a scar that goes clean onto your calves! But, when I consulted with Dr. Fisher this last in person consult, he seemed to think the benefit warrants the procedure and I do trust him to only do what is warranted in a Cost/Risk benefit analysis. Spiral Thigh lift:
A newer technique known as spiral thighplasty reshapes the front, back, inner, and outer areas of your thigh. During the spiral thighplasty procedure, an incision is made below your buttocks, extending to your groin crease where your thigh and pubic area meet. This plastic surgery procedure may be beneficial for those who have lost massive amounts weight.
My tip of the day for MWL patients seeking plastics - if your surgeon during the consult does NOT know this term, this indicates they are not familiar with the published techniques on “our kind” - granted this is coined term from Dr. Agha - but if you are at ALL familiar with MWL plastics, your surgeon should know this term and hopefully the techniques. When I went to the ONLY plastic surgeon in the vast metropolis of Atlanta who I was considering for my LBL and Brachio (remember with this amount of weight loss, I consider myself ‘extra special’ in the amount/type of reconstruction needed) - she was unfamiliar with the term and was dismissive of it. I think for me it was the “nail in the coffin” for the consult as I ONLY wanted a surgeon who specialized in MWL procedures. At this point I knew I would be traveling for surgery. Other Surgeon Approaches: The one MWL surgeon I consulted with wanted to do the Spiral and long and skin excision from Calves during THREE different operative setting (Trust me …I was close to using this person too.) Dr. Fisher will be doing all at ONCE…pretty wildly ambitious in my book…and I certainly would not go this route with just any doctor… Combining all three:
Well this is one “Big Scary Thigh Lift” and it is coming up faster than I can fathom. Will keep everyone posted on results!Note on pics - had markup today (pics also above), but something went wrong with posting my review (which I wrote two days ago)…hopefully tomorrow while I am in surgery you will be reading this!! :-)
onedimsim's provider
UPDATED FROM onedimsim
2 days post
Easiest day 1 in the HISTORY of post op day 1's....
Surgery was 12 hours! Doing more than great! Like blowing the curve great......no pain, just an uncomfortable booty (butt incisions). Thighs look AMAZING .....like miracles attached to my body ....so emotional when I look at them.....so many years of hating my legs....feeling like they are deformed.....and to see them now ....really really reverent and grateful. And cannot believe how good I feel! Pain well under control with morphine pump....like 3mg very hour or so. Post more details later!
UPDATED FROM onedimsim
2 days post
Day 2 post op pics
Thighs are looking pretty amazing! Took a few snaps during dressing changes!
Replies (24)
July 31, 2014
my question was going to be how's the butt? Are you sleeping on your side or what? Your legs look great, (I hate you) so skinny!!! and I know there is swelling. Your incisions look wonderful all the way down.
August 6, 2014
thanks Dee! I think i answered the sleeping question above - flat on back - it is sitting that is difficult!! if the incisions don't migrate anywhere ill be so very happy with them!
July 31, 2014
Wow! You are looking so wonderful and only 2 days out!!! Thank you so much for posting pics, amazing!
July 31, 2014
I am so happy for you and the amazing success it seems you are having with your surgeon and his work! I speak as someone who knows what it's like to have a second chance at a new life - a "rebirth," if you will - through multiple surgeries after major weight loss. I lost 200lbs, then suffered in silence with the extra skin that remained for 14 years until beginning the surgeries to remove the skin. I have had 7 operations, with countless procedures in each operation. Total over 48hrs GA , with two surgeries being 10+hrs each. I have had 6 mastopexies ( first with implants - a necessity); extended abdominoplasty; outer thigh lift; inner thigh lift (then a serious revision to correct it); at least 2 brachioplasties; and z-plasties with extended incisions to remove extra skin and tissue in my armpits and under them to the bottom of the breasts. 13 lineal feet of scars, including one that goes all the way around like yours. Judging solely from the pics you posted, it seems like you probably did not start your procedures with as much extra skin as I had when I started. That's good, because it likely means you'll have better results. As for the inner thigh lift, I struggled with the decision to proceed with the first procedure because of the sheer length of the scar. I had a conversation with my surgeon where I told him that the worst thing would be that I ended up still having a lot of extra skin, but also then had a huge scar on top of that. Today, years later, I can tell you that I don't necessarily regret doing that surgery, but it did not make the difference I'd hoped it would, and now I also have the scars. My surgeon didn't extend the scar to the calf. It ends on the inside lower part of each knee. I do have huge calves, and I wonder if the calf procedure would be worth it in my case. Now, I can wear a 24" skirt, and when I cross my legs I can still keep the scars hidden, for the most part. If I had it to do all over again, I would have replaced my surgeon early into it. Instead, I remained too loyal when my results were disappointing. Even after 6 mastopexies, it's as if it's made no difference. Now, I fear it will be difficult for me to find a surgeon who is willing to touch me and perform a 7th to fix me. Makes my eyes well up just writing that. Anyway ... I was compelled to write after reading about your thigh lift. It does look like your surgeon is much more aggressive than mine in the sense that he is willing to take more skin in a single procedure. Here is my advice, for what it's worth. I now know how incredibly important it was to keep the legs in compression garments for a long, long time after surgery. Please try to do that. I followed Dr's orders, for the most part, but looking back on it now, I still should've kept the skin on the legs tightly compressed much longer. Now, I have leg swelling when I'm on my feet for long periods - especially in heels. It's uncomfortable and looks unnatural. I would imagine that it can't be corrected, and in fact, further surgery in that area may make it worse, but I am not sure. Tubie grips (8 weeks or longer if you can handle it) and NewGel helped tremendously with the second brachioplasty. I hope in some way you can use my experience to your advantage. I wish you the best of luck with your healing ... and with your new "you." It is a wonderful feeling to finally be able to shed the past, and it makes the pain of surgery almost insignificant.
August 6, 2014
Thank you for the long and interesting post! I have been blessed to find this **amazing** post MWL PS who is also so incredibly personable and egoless. Wow I am so sorry you have had to have so many revisions! Six mastopexies? There has to be a story there….same surgeon you say? I am so hoping this is my last surgery prior to my 51st birthday facelift :-). If you had more extra skin than me, then we are both in an extra special category in my book - given that, my thighs were not really correctable with just one type of thigh lift - and yes - my surgeon was more aggressive in the corrections (for which I dearly love him) and did exactly what needed to be done to my very deformed legs to fix them. I trust him in judgment and skill set implicitly, so it was an easy decision for me. Not many people need thigh lifts this extensive - (sounds like you may also be in my category)- mine is the most extensive I have seen really - but I feel absolutely blessed to have found the right PS for the job! I hear you on the compression - the whole leg lipo in December 2013 was sheer hell, and my legs out of compression were still swelling - most days I was still wearing compression right up until this surgery. I figure I will be in leg compression through the end of 2014 - it is fine - I just pray I do not have any permanent edema from all of this leg trauma. But honestly? I will not be shocked if I do have mild edema without compression for a long time if not forever. This was a lot to put my legs, especially lower legs through.
August 1, 2014
How long do you have to be off your feet?
August 1, 2014
I'm up and walking actually! But then back to recliner... I'll probably not go back to work for about five weeks....
August 1, 2014
You look fabulous! Those legs are going to be long and sexy. Question: how tall are you? And what was your starting weight when beginning your initial procedure?
Happy healing!
August 1, 2014
I am 5'6.5". Start weight prior to body lift was 171. The surgery maybe took 10-11 lbs between the lipo and the panniculus.
August 1, 2014
I've been following your story and I just have to add that you look fabulous. I'm having a lower body lift, upper body lift, medial tight lift, arm lift, breat augmentation with implants on September 30. Your story has helped me more than you'll ever know. Thank you so much.
August 1, 2014
All this time I thought we were the same height. I am 5'9" You most likely will weigh around 140 with all that skin gone. I can't wait to see the updated photos as time goes on. So happy you are feeling so good. I know the hubby must be so relieved!!! We really do put our poor hubbies though so much, not to mention using their sports car fund to fund our surgeries!
August 6, 2014
LOL! in his case this poor guy has not been on a proper vacation in awhile because all of my time for 2013 or 2014 has been either weight loss or surgery.
Replies (22)