POSTED UNDER Body Lift REVIEWS
Belt-lipectomy without muscle plication + scar revision and flank lipo (one year PO) on an athletic male - Boston, MA
ORIGINAL POST
I'm a little over a month away from my surgery...
WORTH IT
I'm a little over a month away from my surgery date! I've lost a total of 160 pounds over the past five years, have spent the past two years going to the gym regularly and have successfully maintained my current weight for nearly two years! I've put on a decent amount of muscle but am plagued by a lax lower back - pronounced love handles that are mostly a fair amount of loose skin - and most apparent to me whenever I'm faced with a mirror is a minor, albeit absolutely debilitating roll of loose skin. I've been dreaming of having a body lift done for the past three years and the time has nearly come! I've found an incredible PS who I've met with, who put me at ease, and am now counting down the weeks! I'm in fairly athletic shape with a strong core, and won't be needing muscle plication. I'd be happy to hear about the recovery process from people who've had a TT/Body Lift without the muscular component. I've been told the recovery is going to be easier - but I'd love a more detail review (perhaps someone can point me in direction of another review ...)
In any case! Photos to come! This is just the beginning.
In any case! Photos to come! This is just the beginning.
caterpillar88's provider
Replies (7)
November 21, 2015
I think you already look great, so in about a year, you're going to look amazing. Don't let the swelling you experience with this surgery discourage you. It's gross and makes you look super fat and lasts a long time. Just do what your doctor says and it'll turn out great.
November 22, 2015
Thanks for this! I'll keep you (all) updated as the date arrives / PO.
November 25, 2015
I look about like you - only in a female version. I am scheduled a month after you are scheduled. I also have no muscle work required so I am excited to hear how you feel the pain is and the trade off with the scars for the losing of the skin. My stomach looks like yours and then so does my outer thighs and my rear end. I have not had massive weight loss - never weighing more than 15 pounds from my low weight. I have however always just had too much skin! I would be very grateful if you would share your experience with your pain level and recovery and I will be praying all is easy and goes well for you!
UPDATED FROM caterpillar88
21 days pre
Three weeks to my surgery
I've been in touch with a couple of people who have also had a belt lipectomy done WITHOUT muscle plication and have only heard encouraging things. I don't think recovery will be as grueling as it would have been with it, and, as a pretty athletic, muscular, and strong guy, I should be able to bounce back to normal sooner than otherwise. That being said here are some useful things I wouldn't have known!
One! The ideal recovery position will be in bed flat and straight as a pencil - this is because of the 360 incision and lack of additional frontal muscular tension.
Two comes back to the idea of being strong ... I've read it in other reviews on here, but! Going the gym, even if it's simply for the month before a TT or 360 lift will help immensely with recovery in that it becomes easier to get up and down and move around.
I'm attaching pictures! I forgot to mention that my PS is also doing an areolar reduction on me in conjunction with the BL.
I'm nervous, but so unbelievably excited to finally have this done - I've been particularly more self-conscious about my body in knowing that there's a set date when my issue is going to be addressed.
I've cut-out salt from my diet, have been hydrating like a mad man and have lost a good 5 pounds in the past couple weeks - I retain water like a mad man, and it's been great to flush my system out. I was told by my other BL friends that they both pushed to lose as much fat as possible before the procedure and think it helped with recovery ... In any case - there isn't much fat to lose in the front, and I think it won't hurt.
I'd love some direction as far as tried and true scar therapies / regimens, etcetera. I want to do all that's possible. As of now I was thinking silicone sheets and either a silicone gel or Mederma. Any advice is always welcome!!! Thanks to the sweet and thoughtful comment with the pre-op checklist! AMAZING!
One! The ideal recovery position will be in bed flat and straight as a pencil - this is because of the 360 incision and lack of additional frontal muscular tension.
Two comes back to the idea of being strong ... I've read it in other reviews on here, but! Going the gym, even if it's simply for the month before a TT or 360 lift will help immensely with recovery in that it becomes easier to get up and down and move around.
I'm attaching pictures! I forgot to mention that my PS is also doing an areolar reduction on me in conjunction with the BL.
I'm nervous, but so unbelievably excited to finally have this done - I've been particularly more self-conscious about my body in knowing that there's a set date when my issue is going to be addressed.
I've cut-out salt from my diet, have been hydrating like a mad man and have lost a good 5 pounds in the past couple weeks - I retain water like a mad man, and it's been great to flush my system out. I was told by my other BL friends that they both pushed to lose as much fat as possible before the procedure and think it helped with recovery ... In any case - there isn't much fat to lose in the front, and I think it won't hurt.
I'd love some direction as far as tried and true scar therapies / regimens, etcetera. I want to do all that's possible. As of now I was thinking silicone sheets and either a silicone gel or Mederma. Any advice is always welcome!!! Thanks to the sweet and thoughtful comment with the pre-op checklist! AMAZING!
Replies (2)
November 10, 2015
Im going for pretty much the same procedure. Im not sure the whole losing as much weight as possible go into the surgery is the greatest idea going into surgery. You will rebound that weight pretty quickly. Ive stabilized my calories and I know while recovering you need to be eating 20% more calories than your normal burn rate. Your body is burning calories to recover. My doc did his residency with burn patients. They needed over 5000 calories to recover while just lying in bed. My weight is stable at 2700 calories at 150 to 170 g of protein, 55 g of fat and what is left over goes to carbs. Im not going to just add the 20% to the protein, ill more than likely eat 180 g of protein and 70 g of fat. Fat regulates a lot hormones. The rest ill eat as carbs. Eating under your burn is going to put your body at a disadvantage in recovery rate and probably eat muscle. I wouldnt worry too much about adding 2% body fat while you recover for a month. Carbs will only make you hold water, not fat. So in the long run, its just water... you just pee it out or sweat it out. Its not fat, its just a poor number on the scale.
November 11, 2015
Thanks for your consideration - I completely agree with this and appreciate your knowledge.
The weight I've been losing has been almost entirely been water weight - a detox of sorts. I have been eating at which has always been my "lean bulk" caloric level - for me, a 6'3, and 205 pound guy amounts to 325 protein, 195/130 carbs (depending on workout day - this is simple carb cycling), and 58/87 fat (also variable with workout day). I've had great success in slowly adding muscle, maintaining my strength, and seeing my fat % go down.
I'm going to be getting most of my calories during my recovery from protein and possibly even adding 8 does of 5mg BCAAs daily to ensure I don't lose any additional muscle mass - I know I'll be getting them from my protein, however, a supplement can't hurt. I plan on eating at maintenance + during my recovery for the reasons you described above.
I know that giving my PS a lean canvas WILL undoubtedly help him with scar placement, etc. Plus - it may be hard to see, but I really don't have much fat anyways - we're talking a 2-3 pounds weight-loss here that I think will improve MY results dramatically.
UPDATED FROM caterpillar88
18 days pre
18 days out!
I'm more excited than ever. I'm also quite nervous - mostly about scar placement, but also about how I'm going to handle the anesthesia. The last procedure I had done years ago resulted with me taking hours to wake-up. It was very scary for my family, naturally, and I don't want a repeat ... I told my PS about it and he made a note. I'm not meeting with my anesthesiologist until the day of surgery, but feel secure with my PS's confidence in him/her.
I'm also nervous about ensuring I'm completely hair free for my procedure. My PS wants me to use a depilatory cream to ensure I'm smooth as a baby. I'm a very hairy guy and actually trimmed my body today as a pre-prep for the big event. I have tons of time but wanted to be a better peak at what my PS will be looking at in the pre-op marking session / on the table. It's amazing how much more defined one looks after removing all body hair. It's gotten me much more excited about the results ...
I'm also nervous about ensuring I'm completely hair free for my procedure. My PS wants me to use a depilatory cream to ensure I'm smooth as a baby. I'm a very hairy guy and actually trimmed my body today as a pre-prep for the big event. I have tons of time but wanted to be a better peak at what my PS will be looking at in the pre-op marking session / on the table. It's amazing how much more defined one looks after removing all body hair. It's gotten me much more excited about the results ...
Replies (5)
November 13, 2015
I'd also like to add that the more dramatic component of the surgery is going to be the back-lift portion. It's been hard to photograph, but I have a big handful of skin when I grab my love-handles - I think I held a lot of my weight in my back, honestly.
November 22, 2015
I lost about 140 myself, also did not have muscle repair. My only suggestion would be to not have any auto augmentation in the back. I did and I am likely going to have them removed, I don't think guys need them, just looks a bit odd when you get to a lower body fat.
November 25, 2015
Thanks for this! I had considered it at a point but shelved it a while ago. Good to know!
November 22, 2015
Im 4 days post op on the same procedure. The first 2 days were really bad... but honestly if my drains were out I could go back to my desk job Monday. Having no muscle repair makes the recovery much easier. You just feel the first couple of days that you might rip your body apart. Im swollen and it looks like I still have love handles, but I have a belly button like ive never had before.
Rent a lift chair recliner. It will save your life, worth every penny.
Rent a lift chair recliner. It will save your life, worth every penny.
November 26, 2015
I was nervous about the anesthesia as well but he explained to me that my reaction would be much different as a thin person and he was right. Best of luck to you - you look great. Oh, I second the gym to prepare. I did squats and really focused on my core and I think that helped me tremendously in recovery getting up and down. I used a traditional recliner with a handle and was fine.
Congrats to you on taking the first step in your journey and just know that we'll all be here rooting for you. Looking forward to your updates, with pics, and if you need a list of things to have on hand before your procedure, here's a helpful checklist.
http://www.realself.com/forum/checklist-for-before-your-surgery