I'm a total pear! I've had heavy thighs since as long as I can remember (post-puberty). Even at my absolute thinnest, I will still have a lower bottom-half that is vastly out of proportion to the top. I do have stage 1/2 lipedema. My saddle-bags have bothered me the most, but I have chubby knees and inner thighs, too. Basically, my thighs are just large. I used to have breast implants to balance out the top, but last year I had them removed, and I don't miss them. (you can see my review by clicking on my profile). I love my small boobs, but now my bottom half looks bigger than ever!
I probably consulted with about 10 plastic surgeons for the lipo procedure! I just wasn't sold on anyone. At first, I didn't realize I had lipedema, and then I wanted to find a PS that had some experience with patients that have it and use a safer/gentler form of lipo (water or body-jet).
Anyway, it seemed like a ridiculous amount of consults, but once I had my consultation with Dr. Falcone, I knew she was the one. I had even created a spreadsheet to narrow down my favorites, with details including prices, etc. Haha! I am traveling to Philly (by train) from NYC to do the procedure. It will be my first time out of NY since the pandemic, so I'm not looking forward to the stress of travel, but it's only about a 1.5 hr train ride, so it's not terrible.
Looking forward to having lighter legs!
Updated on 20 Oct 2020:
This will be a more brief version of the update that I just wrote out but lost after trying to upload a photo.. (RealSelf Admin - please create auto-save drafts! I know this happens to others, and it takes a lot of time to write out a review and then have to re-write another one. Many probably don't care enough to do it twice.)
I had my lipo procedure last Thursday on the outer thighs/saddlebags, inner thighs and knee areas. It was fine - not particularly pleasant, but not intolerable. I felt some pain at times, but mostly I was uncomfortably freezing my booty off (literally and figuratively, I guess LOL) . They have to keep it cold in the room to reduce risk of infection, but I was shaking and trembling so hard. The nurses did their best to pile warm towels on my upper body. I had Water Assisted/Body jet lipo - so there was water spraying, and water all over the place doesn't help when you're cold!
Afterwards I felt okay, but was immediately disappointed to know that she only removed 1.5 liters of fat. I was thinking, "Hey, let's keep going, I know I have more!" I guess my disappointment comes in doing so much research and seeing others removing 3-4 liters for comparable area procedures.
The recovery was not terrible day of and day after. Then day 3, feeling rather cocky, I went to work. All was fine, until I needed to urgently use the bathroom. In trying to squat on my still somewhat shaky legs, I pulled or tore some ligament or tendon in my groin/inner hip area and a bolt of pain shot down my leg. I knew I did something bad, and the next day I woke up and couldn't put any weight on that left leg without extreme pain. It wasn't the lipo areas that hurt, it was whatever stupid injury that I created by having to take a poo.
Day 3 and 4 were spent frustratingly on Couch Island. Today, I am back at work where I had to hobble in on a cane. I realize that my leg already has quite a bit of inflammation from healing, and then adding this freak injury on top of it has just made it really angry. Right leg feels fine, bruised a lot, but not awful.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to being able to walk normally again. I'm still disappointed that more fat wasn't removed, too. For all the pain and hassle and recovery, I wanted a more dramatic result. Immediately after my lipo, I found myself obsessively searching "lipo-revision".
I know I have some body dysmorphia and I'm swollen, but these still look like the thunder thighs that I've hated my whole life. Better, but not slim. I guess I will likely go do this thing again in the future, once this has healed.
I will post some actual After photos very soon!
Updated on 22 Oct 2020:
I’m still hobbling around on a cane, but my left leg and hip are slowly feeling better and more mobility. You never realize how much you take your health and ability to move your body easily for granted until that changes. I sure won’t anymore!
Swelling and bruising are very present, and I’m still disappointed that my thighs aren’t smaller. The compression garment they gave me has zippers and hooks and they left stripe patterns in the bruise formation. So, I’m going to switch garments today.
I’m still disappointed my thighs aren’t smaller as a whole, but when I took these pics I could see more improvement than when I’m looking in the mirror. It’s weird , but when I look at them in person they look much larger!
I’m on the train to Philly for my one week follow up. My left hip and knee are throbbing. Despite these pains, the one week passed quickly.
Updated on 31 Oct 2020:
I don’t think anyone is really following his review (except you, sweet Eileen64!) So, I probably won’t be doing anymore updates.
Healing very well. But some of my incisions started to look worse this week. I think I had a reaction from a material in the band-aids. Swelling has reduced a little, and I feel less pain overall— except when getting out of bed in the morning.
Unfortunately all this lack of exercise is making me puffy all over, not just the thighs. I’m semi-happy with my procedure, but I will likely get further work done to drain the swamps of fat that are still disproportionately in my legs. Probably going to have that done by a lipedema Dr. in Europe, and get the upper arms done too.
Anyway, that’s it. Write comments if you’re interested in seeing future updates/pics. But right now, it feels like almost nobody’s following in this review.
Updated on 7 Nov 2020:
Feeling almost back to normal. I have started biking to/from work again (2hrs/day). Pain only sometimes upon getting up. I’m still wearing my garment, and one that is a bit lighter. My post op instructions were to wear it for 2 weeks, but I’ve read that people get better results by wearing it longer.
I do see improvement for sure, but I’m not 100% satisfied. my right and left thighs are very asymmetrical. And I do not see that changing because I’ve noticed it almost immediately. So, when I go for my follow up next week, I’m going to tell her I want to schedule a touch up. One leg I’m happy-ish with, but the other is still very curvy in the inner and outer thighs. That was my more painful side, too (naturally).
Also—why does the front look so much better than behind?! I hate that behind pic, but I’m gonna post anyway. It really shows that I store ALL my fat in my limbs and not in my torso. Ugh! Arm lipo is happening in the future for sure!
Updated on 26 May 2021:
I want to start off by saying that I really liked the Doctor....but, I just wish I was happier with my outcome. I had lipo to the upper thighs, specifically with the goal to eliminate my saddlebags, but they're still there. (And I have stayed exactly the same weight).I brought this up at my one month follow up, but was told that I was still swollen. 6 months later they look EXACTLY the same as then: Uneven, and the saddlebags are still bothersome and showing when I wear skinny jeans. I'm happier with my inner thighs - yet the right looks better than the left. I know asymmetry happens, but overall there's still just too much junk left in my trunk and I want it gone.