Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.
How it works
- Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
- This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
- Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
- Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.
If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.
Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary
Hello all, I'm a 32 year old male, at the end of...
Hello all,
I'm a 32 year old male, at the end of a long journey spanning the past 5 years. I've always been overweight my whole life starting as a small child and continuing well into my adulthood however I was never unhappy or suffered any medical concerns and as such I made no efforts to change.
On my 27th Birthday I decided I was tired of my job and wanted a change, I'd decided to apply to a career I'd always wanted but knew with my size at the time some 25 stone I was in no way fit enough to do it. I decided to make a change and use the new career as my goal. I signed up to a gym and began attending 7 days a week doing an hour work out a day, I also changed my eating habit and ironically ate more then I ever had just different kinds of foods.
Within a year of hard graft in the gym doing a mixture of cardio and weight lifting I had dropped half my body weight and weighed in at 12 stone. I was immensely proud of myself for doing this without any medical intervention and overjoyed for the first time in my life to be slim and athletic... During this time I had become a father to my daughter and I felt like this was beginning of something new!
I applied to the career and passed my assessments and entered training, everything was going exactly to plan! However i wasn't happy... The reason? My massive weight loss in such a short period of time had left me with masses of excess skin hanging from my thighs, chest and stomach... I was suffering with depression and my self image had never been lower despite this change, I'd worked myself to the extreme and began achieving my goals but felt that it was all for nout as I was now less comfortable with myself then I'd ever been!
I began to realize I wouldn't be happy taking my daughter swimming, sunbathing on holiday with the family or with changing in the locker rooms at work due to my physical oddity after the loss of so much weight. I did some research online and found the cost of this procedure was massive, way beyond my means and not available on the NHS unless certain circumstances applied. This excess skin had been leaving me with sores and rashes which I had been using medicated steroid creams on to no avail. I discussed the possibility of surgery with my doctor who felt i was a suitable candidate and put me forward for the procedure, Amazingly I was granted the funding and I began my journey.
I met with Dr Mark Soldin at St George's Hospital in WANDSWORTH, UK and discussed my concerns, Dr Soldin was extremely sympathetic and did not make me feel like I was on display at some freak show or give any judgment for what I had done, Contrary to this he was supportive and praised my achievements without the intervention of surgery in the form of gastric bands or any other such and felt that I was the perfect candidate that should be rewarded for my efforts and to show that it can be done no matter how much people say they can't, You just need the right mental attitude and the fire in you to say I AM DOING THIS!
Dr Soldin and his team explained the procedures in full to me and although the prospect for me someone who had never had surgery or even been in a hospital was daunting, I looked online and did all I could to find information and results for this type of procedure and all I could find was horror stories or pictures of procedures that had gone wrong and I was concerned if this was the right decision, Would I make matters worse for myself??
I finally decided to take the plunge long being a fan of the SAS motto "He who dares, wins" and agreed to the procedures, It was done in 2 phases the first being a full lower body lift (trunk lift) which was done in SEPTEMBER 2014... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't painful... Honestly I was in surgery for 6 hours (not that I remember it) and I spent the next 3 days in bed barely able to stand... I found the most painful was the surgical drains which had to be inserted to drain excess fluid and swelling the actual area itself didn't feel that bad. After the 3rd day I began to be able to stand up on my own from the bed, and walk very slowly short distances like to the toilet or into the shower and it went from strength to strength from there. I was discharged after a week and back home which I personally feel made ALL the difference to my recovery.
I was off work for about 3 months (due to the physical nature and dangers of my job obviously this was a longer period, for an office job you could probably be back after a month), Once I returned to work I was back to my old self literally felt like nothing had changed except of course my hanging apron of a stomach was gone!
I felt amazing about the results it had healed really well the scar line was under my trouser line and i no longer felt the pain of my jeans squashing skin against me and the rash completely faded and cleared. The only issue now was how much more the chain and thigh areas were bothering me! I had to wait a year before I had the chance for these to be addressed.
Once again I met with Mr Soldin and his team, again nothing but praise and support for me from them all and by this point I'd become comfortable with being naked in front of them because this had become a regular occurrence after all the post surgical follow ups etc. We discussed the procedure and what to expect once again and although again I could find little to no information online I KNEW this time I was doing it regardless of doubts.
I went under the knife in NOVEMBER 2015 for a chest and thigh lift, again surgery was about 5 hours and again i would be lying to you if I said the pain wasn't extreme, However i felt very sick from morphine the last time around so decided this time to refuse it which may have not helped my case... The chest lift was probably the most painful part it felt like someone had put a very tight shirt on me and if I bent at all i felt like i was tearing myself open (i wasn't it just felt like it) the thigh lift was no picnic either I assure you, however despite this its all very manageable pain.
This time I was up and walking by the second day and I discharged by the 4th day, Again the surgical drains were definitely the most uncomfortable part of my aftercare once they are removed (which is massively painful in itself but only lasts a second) everything felt so much better. This time I was only off work for 3 weeks and went back on light duties for a month before being back to myself completely.
Post surgery complication wise my right knee developed a seroma (Fluid under the incision) which had formed a small lump on my knee, this had to be drained 4-5 times before Dr Soldin decided it was not going to be removed unless a further small procedure was conducted, This was done in less then an hour in a day surgery unit and post op it was completely gone, Both my nipples had been grafted back on post the chest lift and my left one unfortunately went necrotic resulting it not completely taking however this was nothing major for me, There were options to fix it/improve it but i was happy enough to live with it and Dr Soldin discussed these options with me
The care I was given in ST GEORGE'S HOSPITAL from the nursing staff was good, As with any hospital it could've been better but with so few nurses and so many patients I understand why it isn't, Plus I was a young man who didn't need so much attention and care that when I asked I probably wasn't seen a priority... Unfortunately this did result in some frustration and my having to do things like empty my catheter bag myself a couple of occasions. Overall though I cannot fault them!
As for Dr Soldin and his team, they have completely changed my life! I now live the life I always dreamed of and worked so hard for, I've since been able to take my daughter swimming in public and not even remotely feel conscious, gone are the painful sores and rashes I had suffered, gone are clothes that don't fit properly and either make me look like I'm wearing a tent or have one stuffed under my shirt!!
I've now been my new career for 3 years and have a son, My confidence has beyond exploded and I finally feel like I live! I don't ever regret how I was or look back and think how disgusting I was, I was happy at the time and it made me who I am today.
At my biggest I was around 25 stone, with a 52 inch waist, I'm now 13 stone with a 34 inch waist.
My advice to anyone considering this kind of procedure is to do your research on your surgeon and if you want it, Do it! Its not an easy process and you will have days you are down and wonder if this was worth the pain and recovery... Believe me, it is. I've never been happier, I know I'll never have the body of Ryan Reynolds but who cares? I look normal and don't have to hide my body away anymore that's enough for me.
Be realistic about your expectations and you can't go wrong.
I'm a 32 year old male, at the end of a long journey spanning the past 5 years. I've always been overweight my whole life starting as a small child and continuing well into my adulthood however I was never unhappy or suffered any medical concerns and as such I made no efforts to change.
On my 27th Birthday I decided I was tired of my job and wanted a change, I'd decided to apply to a career I'd always wanted but knew with my size at the time some 25 stone I was in no way fit enough to do it. I decided to make a change and use the new career as my goal. I signed up to a gym and began attending 7 days a week doing an hour work out a day, I also changed my eating habit and ironically ate more then I ever had just different kinds of foods.
Within a year of hard graft in the gym doing a mixture of cardio and weight lifting I had dropped half my body weight and weighed in at 12 stone. I was immensely proud of myself for doing this without any medical intervention and overjoyed for the first time in my life to be slim and athletic... During this time I had become a father to my daughter and I felt like this was beginning of something new!
I applied to the career and passed my assessments and entered training, everything was going exactly to plan! However i wasn't happy... The reason? My massive weight loss in such a short period of time had left me with masses of excess skin hanging from my thighs, chest and stomach... I was suffering with depression and my self image had never been lower despite this change, I'd worked myself to the extreme and began achieving my goals but felt that it was all for nout as I was now less comfortable with myself then I'd ever been!
I began to realize I wouldn't be happy taking my daughter swimming, sunbathing on holiday with the family or with changing in the locker rooms at work due to my physical oddity after the loss of so much weight. I did some research online and found the cost of this procedure was massive, way beyond my means and not available on the NHS unless certain circumstances applied. This excess skin had been leaving me with sores and rashes which I had been using medicated steroid creams on to no avail. I discussed the possibility of surgery with my doctor who felt i was a suitable candidate and put me forward for the procedure, Amazingly I was granted the funding and I began my journey.
I met with Dr Mark Soldin at St George's Hospital in WANDSWORTH, UK and discussed my concerns, Dr Soldin was extremely sympathetic and did not make me feel like I was on display at some freak show or give any judgment for what I had done, Contrary to this he was supportive and praised my achievements without the intervention of surgery in the form of gastric bands or any other such and felt that I was the perfect candidate that should be rewarded for my efforts and to show that it can be done no matter how much people say they can't, You just need the right mental attitude and the fire in you to say I AM DOING THIS!
Dr Soldin and his team explained the procedures in full to me and although the prospect for me someone who had never had surgery or even been in a hospital was daunting, I looked online and did all I could to find information and results for this type of procedure and all I could find was horror stories or pictures of procedures that had gone wrong and I was concerned if this was the right decision, Would I make matters worse for myself??
I finally decided to take the plunge long being a fan of the SAS motto "He who dares, wins" and agreed to the procedures, It was done in 2 phases the first being a full lower body lift (trunk lift) which was done in SEPTEMBER 2014... I'd be lying if I said it wasn't painful... Honestly I was in surgery for 6 hours (not that I remember it) and I spent the next 3 days in bed barely able to stand... I found the most painful was the surgical drains which had to be inserted to drain excess fluid and swelling the actual area itself didn't feel that bad. After the 3rd day I began to be able to stand up on my own from the bed, and walk very slowly short distances like to the toilet or into the shower and it went from strength to strength from there. I was discharged after a week and back home which I personally feel made ALL the difference to my recovery.
I was off work for about 3 months (due to the physical nature and dangers of my job obviously this was a longer period, for an office job you could probably be back after a month), Once I returned to work I was back to my old self literally felt like nothing had changed except of course my hanging apron of a stomach was gone!
I felt amazing about the results it had healed really well the scar line was under my trouser line and i no longer felt the pain of my jeans squashing skin against me and the rash completely faded and cleared. The only issue now was how much more the chain and thigh areas were bothering me! I had to wait a year before I had the chance for these to be addressed.
Once again I met with Mr Soldin and his team, again nothing but praise and support for me from them all and by this point I'd become comfortable with being naked in front of them because this had become a regular occurrence after all the post surgical follow ups etc. We discussed the procedure and what to expect once again and although again I could find little to no information online I KNEW this time I was doing it regardless of doubts.
I went under the knife in NOVEMBER 2015 for a chest and thigh lift, again surgery was about 5 hours and again i would be lying to you if I said the pain wasn't extreme, However i felt very sick from morphine the last time around so decided this time to refuse it which may have not helped my case... The chest lift was probably the most painful part it felt like someone had put a very tight shirt on me and if I bent at all i felt like i was tearing myself open (i wasn't it just felt like it) the thigh lift was no picnic either I assure you, however despite this its all very manageable pain.
This time I was up and walking by the second day and I discharged by the 4th day, Again the surgical drains were definitely the most uncomfortable part of my aftercare once they are removed (which is massively painful in itself but only lasts a second) everything felt so much better. This time I was only off work for 3 weeks and went back on light duties for a month before being back to myself completely.
Post surgery complication wise my right knee developed a seroma (Fluid under the incision) which had formed a small lump on my knee, this had to be drained 4-5 times before Dr Soldin decided it was not going to be removed unless a further small procedure was conducted, This was done in less then an hour in a day surgery unit and post op it was completely gone, Both my nipples had been grafted back on post the chest lift and my left one unfortunately went necrotic resulting it not completely taking however this was nothing major for me, There were options to fix it/improve it but i was happy enough to live with it and Dr Soldin discussed these options with me
The care I was given in ST GEORGE'S HOSPITAL from the nursing staff was good, As with any hospital it could've been better but with so few nurses and so many patients I understand why it isn't, Plus I was a young man who didn't need so much attention and care that when I asked I probably wasn't seen a priority... Unfortunately this did result in some frustration and my having to do things like empty my catheter bag myself a couple of occasions. Overall though I cannot fault them!
As for Dr Soldin and his team, they have completely changed my life! I now live the life I always dreamed of and worked so hard for, I've since been able to take my daughter swimming in public and not even remotely feel conscious, gone are the painful sores and rashes I had suffered, gone are clothes that don't fit properly and either make me look like I'm wearing a tent or have one stuffed under my shirt!!
I've now been my new career for 3 years and have a son, My confidence has beyond exploded and I finally feel like I live! I don't ever regret how I was or look back and think how disgusting I was, I was happy at the time and it made me who I am today.
At my biggest I was around 25 stone, with a 52 inch waist, I'm now 13 stone with a 34 inch waist.
My advice to anyone considering this kind of procedure is to do your research on your surgeon and if you want it, Do it! Its not an easy process and you will have days you are down and wonder if this was worth the pain and recovery... Believe me, it is. I've never been happier, I know I'll never have the body of Ryan Reynolds but who cares? I look normal and don't have to hide my body away anymore that's enough for me.
Be realistic about your expectations and you can't go wrong.
Provider Review
Dr Mark Soldin was professional, supportive, informative and at all stages just a decent human being. His team and Dr Soldin were hugely supportive throughout my procedure didn't rush me to make any decisions and kept me informed at all times what to expect, what complications could arise and the realistic results possible for my procedure. I could not recommend them enough to anyone considering this type or procedure.