Pure joy and validation for all the hard work I did

Dr. Tholen did my belt lipectomy on July 6, 2022 after I lost 100 lbs in one year with the help of bariatric surgery. At the 24-hour check in appointment I got to see my incisions, and they were amazing! Smooth, completely shut, very mild bruising, and perfect positioning. Nothing scary-looking about them, which is incredible considering my skin is usually very fragile and prone to severe bruising. For my fellow individuals with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or other connective tissue disorders, Dr. Tholen knows what he’s doing, and he knows how to take care of you. Don’t be scared to go to him for your cosmetic surgery.

The best part was actually seeing my body without the extra fat and loose skin for the first time in my life—truly the first time in my life. I was so happy I cried a bit. Dr. Tholen has given me something I’ve never had: my actual figure. Even with my drains and my compression garment on, I feel beautiful and I finally feel like me.

It looks like this procedure definitely lifted my thighs, my buttocks, and especially my pubic area. Dr. Tholen’s amazing job with my belt lipectomy may save me from a thigh lift in the future. I just could not believe that was actually my body in the mirror. It was pure joy and validation for all the hard work I did. I am SO glad I took it upon myself to find my own surgeon, and I am SO glad I found Dr. Tholen.

The rest of the staff at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery are also 5/5 stars. The way everyone handled me before the surgery and the day of the surgery made me feel very confident in them, and I did not have a single question left unanswered. The surgery day very calm, considering what I was about to undergo, thanks to everyone there being calm and confident in their process for the surgery. Amazing anesthesiologist, too.

I’d had a mild waking event during my bariatric surgery a year ago, and that surgery was 45 minutes at the most; this surgery at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery was about 4 1/2 - 5 hours under anesthesia and I did not have a single second of inappropriate waking. I went to sleep on the table and woke up in recovery just as I should’ve, and I’m so grateful for their anesthesiologist and their anesthesia delivery method. Zero nausea upon waking or afterward, too.

I had awful nausea a year ago after my bariatric surgery, but I had absolutely none after this surgery. They are truly the absolute best at Minneapolis Plastic Surgery in every aspect. I am beyond grateful for all the wonderful front desk staff members, the techs, the nurses, the anesthesiologist, and of course, Dr. Tholen. All wonderful, caring, helpful, highly skilled people. I 100% recommend them above any other clinic or hospital.

I was doped up on pain medication during my last review, so I was a bit gushy and probably jumping the gun on the thigh lift thought—having a good laugh now at my gushy review, though. However, I still see what I saw at the time of my first review, and I still stand by my recommendation of Dr. Tholen for anyone.

Back then I was insanely swollen and I couldn’t yet stand upright, but I could easily imagine my real figure under the swelling and stiffness. As the swelling continued to go down, what I could imagine was under the swelling became real. Now I’m wearing size 4 jeans, and small or extra small sizes for other clothing. I’ve never had that before. I actually feel like myself, and I don’t feel like I’m trapped by all that loose skin I had. It’s so much easier to move around without all that heavy extra skin—I think it was 8.2 lbs. It’s still incredible to actually see ME. I feel beautiful and transformed. I am so thankful. I do notice that my thighs are lifted a bit, too.

The only thing that bugs me a bit is that my butt crack appears longer. However, after a busy day I do still have very noticeable swelling in my lower back, buttocks, and thighs, so I am optimistic that over time things won’t always be so squished together from swelling and creating a long crack. In the photos I’m attaching you can see a bit of the swelling in those areas, but not nearly as much as it still gets.