Hello beauties! So here's my story: I'm 54 years...
Hello beauties! So here's my story: I'm 54 years young and although I've never been overweight, I am in need of lower body lifting due to skin laxity, lumps and dimples. I tried some light lipo which made the laxity worse. Then I spent 7 grand on Cellulaze - total waste of my hard-earned money! In clothes I actually look great. I'm blessed with a nicely shaped figure. But naked...from the waist up I look taut and toned but from the waist down, total yuk! I haven't worn a swimsuit in years (which is sad since I live in Scottsdale, AZ with a lovely pool in our backyard). In dressing rooms, every time I catch a glimpse of my backside, I wince. It doesn't make me feel very sexy and I cover up in front of my husband because I'm ashamed of my deflating rear quarters.
For quite a while now, I've been interested in lower body lifting of some sort. I was reluctant because of the big, scary scars. But I've decided the trade off, in my case, will be worth it. I consulted with a local plastic surgeon who recommended a butt lift combined with a BBL. I don't have much excess meat on my slender frame, so I felt the BBL wouldn't work well for me. And the traditional butt lift won't address the laxity I have in my front thighs down to my knees. So I started researching specialists in lower body lifting and contouring and narrowed to two: Dr. Agha in Newport Beach and Dr. Fisher in San Antonio. I don't relish the idea of having such a complex procedure far from home, but I have to live with the scars forever so it's worth it to me to travel for a physician tops in this particular surgical specialty.
I had phone consults with both doctors and liked both of them very much. My positive first impression extends to their staff who are polite, professional and quick to respond. Dr. Agha is in Newport Beach which is a one hour flight from home. His Before and After pics are amazing. So are Dr. Fisher's. I think both of them are top notch. I hear good things about Dr. Katzen in Las Vegas, too, but have not consulted with him.
Dr. Agha's plan for me was a lower body lift combined with liposculpture to enhance an hourglass shape. Dr. Fisher's plan for me is an extended spiral thigh lift combined with liposculpture. So that's three different surgeons including the local doc I saw (Dr. Remus Repta), and three different recommendations! Just goes to show its worth it to consult with more than one doctor. I weighed pro's and con's and finally decided to go with Dr. Fisher. I'm planning on December 27th for my surgery date, but have to firm this up with Stephanie at Dr. Fisher's office on Monday.
I'm posting my "Before" photos and will continue to post throughout my lower-body rejuvenation journey! Stay tuned...
Spiral Thigh Lift Surgery Countdown 3 Days!
Hello Lovelies! My surgery with Dr. Fisher is this Thursday morning at 7 a.m.! I fly to San Antonio tomorrow night. Wednesday afternoon is my pre-op when I get marked up by Dr. Fisher. I'm excited to meet him in person! I'm not afraid (yet) - been too busy wrapping some things up and work since I won't be back to my office until the first week in January. My sister was supposed to accompany me and help with my aftercare, but that fell through so I am going solo! I am staying in the hospital for three nights so hopefully once I get back to my hotel I will be able to fend for myself. Wish me luck and I will be posting pics along the way!
Just had my pre-op for Spiral Thigh Lift with Dr. Fisher
Today was my pre-op appointment with Dr. Fisher - he examined me in person and marked me up for my extended spiral thigh lift surgery tomorrow morning. I've posted photos of my markings. Dr. Fisher is great! The first thing he said when he saw me was, "Wow, you look much younger than your actual age!" And then, "You're tiny - sometimes photos don't translate well." LOL so off to a good start...I mean ya gotta love a doctor who thinks you look young and thin, right?! He was candid and told me that when he performs this surgery on bariatric patients, the results are of course dramatic. In a situation like mine, where I'm not overweight and never have been, the results will be more subtle. BUT he said he can see why I want to do this and that I chose the correct procedure to address my problem areas. He also told me I have mild lipedema, which I never knew but totally makes sense...I could never figure out why my legs and knees were so thick in comparison to the rest of me, especially given that I'm a vegetarian and I exercise regularly. My half looks trim and toned but my bottom half is very dimpled and saggy-baggy, and has been, even when I was much younger. If I lose weight it only comes off my face and collarbone and makes me look gaunt. Lipedema explains why. I actually feel better knowing it's a genuine condition and not something I'm doing wrong with my diet and exercise habits. So in addition to the extended spiral thigh lift, Dr. Fisher is going to do some strategic light lipo on my knees, calves and ankles. The knees are tricky and may not improve by much. But worth a shot! I trust Dr. Fisher - you can tell he knows what he's doing when it comes to lower body work. He was very methodical and precise with his markings. When we were done he gave me a hug - very reassuring to know here's a doctor who genuinely cares.
One Day Post Surgery But Dr. Fisher Opted for a Different Surgical Plan for me...
Dr. Fisher told me he studied and studied my photos and that a spiral thigh lift was not going to give me enough benefit to justify the groin incision recovery and scar. He instead did a posterior lift - just my backside. In the front my main concern is my knees and there's only so much a thigh lift will do...not enough improvement. So he did some light lipo to my knees and then he worked on de-bulking my calves! So my recovery has been a lot faster. Dr. Fisher came to see me in the hospital this morning and instead of staying three days, I get released today! And instead of laying prone in a hotel room until 12/22, I get to fly home this Monday after my post-op appointment! The surgery itself was a breeze compared to what I anticipated. I liked Dr. Fisher's OR nurse, Ron, as well as his "Sandman" (anesthesiologist) who was actually Sandwoman. She exuded confidence which you most certainly want in the doc who puts you under for that long! The hospital overnight stay was good - my nurse Elizabeth was great. The only criticisms I have of my hospital experience: 1) A confusing registration experience (I arrived at 5:30 a.m. but didn't get processed for over a half an hour, and Pre-Op called me on my cell wondering where I was). and 2) A nurse who prepped me for surgery was sick with laryngitis! She could barely talk and there she was, leaning and breathing over me. I was not happy about that, nor was Dr. Fisher. When he admonished her she said, "Well I was swabbed and it's not strep." Gee how reassuring - it's not strep but she was still sick and should not have been allowed near patients. That was not Dr. Fisher's fault though. Like I said, he was not happy about it either. But the overnight nurses were very responsive and super sweet. I am waiting to be released and go back to my hotel. My bum feels very sore but not agonizing. I'm glad I bought a donut pillow for the flight home. Here are photos Dr. Fisher took during surgery...
One more photo...
Incision line precise and tidy! I scar well so it will fade in time and is low enough to conceal under a swimsuit.
2 Days Post-Surgery - Dr. Fisher nailed it!
Thighs are taut, belly flat, no lumps, bumps and dimples under my bum! Gravity will take its toll but hopefully I will maintain enough results that it will have been worth it in the long run.
4 Days Post-Op, awful case of nausea from the Cipro
Hi everyone, thanks again to all of you who have been checking to send well wishes! It really does help get you through. So yesterday (Day 3) I started to get extremely nauseous. Like the kind of nauseous you feel when you're about to puke. I actually wished I would throw up because it may have made me feel better. I had some stabbing pains in my stomach and it was making these really loud gurgling noises. Had some gas and some diarrhea, I knew right away it had to be from the Cipro. SO awful. The posterior lift incision is sore but tolerable. The nausea was so bad I wanted to die. I texted Dr. Fisher at 5:00 in the morning because today was supposed to be my post-op appointment but I was so sick there was no way I could get myself there. He came to my hotel room right away. Agreed it was a Cipro reaction and told me it's okay for me to stop taking it. He checked me for a fever but said I was okay. Told me to drink lots of water and eat some bread, so I ate some dry toast and started to feel better. He also checked my incision lines and they're doing fine. I was scheduled to fly home tonight but that's highly unlikely. The nausea isn't gone yet but it's much better. I hardly slept because I just felt so sick. And I voukdnt curl up into the fetal position, which I was dying to do, because of my incisions! I've been lying down in arecliner position, using a cushion I got on Amazon. Dr. Fisher said the cushion was ideal so as soon as I'm feeling up to it, I will post photos so you can see what it looks like. I really appreciate that Dr. Fisher came here straight-away.
5 Days Post-Op and had to go to the ER and be re-admitted to the hospital
Hi all, so I kept getting sicker and sicker from extreme nausea, diarrhea and stabbing pains in my gut. I knew something was seriously wrong and it turns out I have a Clostrium Difficile infection, which is referred to as C. Diff. Dr. Fisher told me that in 27 years of doing this surgery, I am the first one this has happened to. Let me just say that the surgery and the incision and the mobility from a posterior lift are a walk in the park compared to C. Diff. It is nasty, scary stuff. I'm fortunate that Dr. Fisher took me seriously and slapped me back into the hospital. I mean, for all he knew I could be a histrionic drama queen. But I'm so stoic, independent and not a complainer...but this C. Diff kicked my (beautiful new!) ass. It's a reminder to us all that even with a top surgeon, it's still surgery, you're still in a hospital, and all hospitals struggle with infection control. C. Diff is the most common of the infections to get exposed to. Being on the Cipro created a perfect storm and my gut just went haywire. Dr. Fisher had Joanne from his office come get me at the hotel and bring me to the hospital. She came with her husband - such nice people. Her husband, bless his heart, was trying to distract me from the pain I was in by pointing out good restaurants on the drive to the ER, and asking me questions about my hometown. Turns out he works in a hospital environment too. I knew what he was doing and it was very sweet. Back in the ER they took me immediately, thanks to Dr. Fisher, so I didn't have to wait in the admittance area while I was so sick. They ran the necessary tests and here I am...I'm on IV fluids, Flagyl for the infection and an anti-nausea med. Feeling better than yesterday,that's for sure, but a long way from feeling significantly better. At least the nausea has greatly subsided - that was the worst. Anyway, I will post again once I'm released and back in my hotel room.
6 Days Post-Op, released from hospital and back in hotel!
Hi everyone, I'm feeling better and thrilled to be out of the hospital and back in my hotel room. Took a long shower and am feeling pretty good. Dr. Fisher texted me last night to see how I was doing and came to visit me in the hospital this morning. I think so highly of him. Going through this has been scary but his genuine concern and personal attention has been reassuring. This is very important, girls, when deciding upon a plastic surgeon. You want someone who is a super-specialist in the kind of surgery you're having and who can give you a great result, but you also want someone with integrity who will see you through if and when complications arise. The C-Diff can recur so I have to be very careful. When I get back home I'm going to have my primary care doctor monitor me and run tests to ensure it's really gone. My stomach still rumbles but the nausea and stabbing pains are gone. I'm going to rest and take it easy and watch like a hawk for any sign of relapse. The last thing I want is to spend Christmas in the hospital. BTW my hospital caseworker and a few of the nurses marveled at my butt-lift results! They were saying, "Damn, girl! Your butt looks amazing!" And it does! It will be worth it in the long run.
A few necessary objects for posterior butt lift recovery...
A few must-have's for those of you who will be having this surgery...
* Wedge Pillow (loungedoctor.com or Amazon)
* Donut Pillow (I will be using mine for my 2-hour flight home tomorrow)
* Body Wipes (for the first couple of days post-op, since you can't shower)
* Face Wipes (for the first couple of days, when it's hard to lean over a sink)
* Toilet Riser (VERY helpful; I got mine for 14 bucks on Amazon)
One Week Post-Op Posterior Butt Lift w/Dr. Fisher
These pics are grainy (my hotel room is dark), but gives you an idea of my improved backside!
Six Weeks Post Posterior Lift - Overall Improvements but I'm going back for some revision tightening!
Hi girls, as promised I'm posting updated photos at the six week marker. Much improvement all the way around, BUT(T) (pun intended!) as my butt dropped into place, some of the rippling/dents came back. I reached out to Dr. Fisher to ask if he can excise more skin to smooth it back out and he said yes. He said I have to wait three more months though, because my butt might drop even more. He also said with revision work, the results can be even better and longer-lasting. I'm going to reach out to Stephanie this week to ask what kind of costs are involved. So for those of you considering this surgery, that's one more issue you should address with your surgeon: "What happens if I need to have revision work - do you charge for that?" So my lower body overhaul isn't complete just yet!
For those interested in knee lift surgery, here's an example...
I really want to do this, too! Sheesh, I'm going to have to work overtime to save enough $ for my complete lower body transformation...
Posterior Lift, Round 2! Revision date set for 3/9...
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21 Feb 2017
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2 months post
...and I cannot wait! This time around I will only need local anesthetic and the very best part is NO hospital necessary! Dr. Fisher will do it as Outpatient surgery. Yay. He says I can fly home the very next day. Which is a good thing because I have no more time off from work available. So my flights are booked and I'm counting down the days. So excited and will be sure to post photos of my post-op from Round 2.
Mission accomplished - Revision Surgery Posterior Lift w/Dr. Fisher in San Antonio
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10 Mar 2017
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3 months post
Hi girls! Well, I did it. Round 2 is over and done with. I'm very proud of myself because we did it with just local anesthesia this time, meaning I was fully awake and aware throughout the procedure. We started at noon and it was over by 2:00. No real pain, just bee sting sensations when the local anesthetic shots were administered, followed by sensations of pressure and pulling. I went back to my hotel almost immediately after and have been laying on my belly since. Haven't needed a single pain pill. I fly back to Phoenix in a few hours. That's the part I dread the most because trying to sit for a two hour flight will not be fun. Everything feels super tight and I don't want to pop a stitch. Here are some photos immediately before, with surgical markings, and immediately after.
"After" Photos - Revision of Posterior Lift
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10 Mar 2017
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3 months post
These were taken a few hours after my revision procedure. The lighting in the hotel is horrible, so the photos are grainy, but it's the best I can share for now. I will post again during the healing process. I think it's going to be great!
Horrible allergic reaction to the surgical tape!
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13 Mar 2017
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3 months post
Omg total nightmare. Intense itching worse than any poison ivy. Wheals, bumps, oozing blisters. Dr. Fisher called in a prescription for me, which gives relief from the itch. I will let the pictures speak for me...
Despite the set-backs, lookin' mighty good!
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13 Mar 2017
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3 months post
Even though I was unlucky enough to get a C-Diff infection and to erupt in hives from the surgical tape (both are unusual side effects), I'm trying to focus on how great my butt and thighs look! Everything will drop over the next few weeks and months, but hopefully not too much.
Infection at Incision Line at 2 1/2 Weeks Post-Op
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26 Mar 2017
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3 months post
So the past couple of days I noticed there was a particular area along the surgical incision line on my left butt cheek that was becoming painful and I felt a sensation like some stitches had torn open. Since it's hard for me to be able to see back there, I asked my husband to take a look and he immediately noticed pus and redness at one area. I texted a photo to Dr. Fisher and he said it's an infection and immediately called in an antibiotic. I also washed the area carefully with soap and water, and applied Neosporin. Here are photos so you can see what an infection looks like (I'm also including photos of the incision line on my right butt cheek, which is not infected). I think this may have happened because the area has been touched so much when applying the topical steroid to the contact dermatitis that surrounds the incision. I'm worried that the infected area will scar worse than the uninfected area.
Incision still on the mend...
Here are a couple of photos so you can see how the infected area of my incision line is healing. I sent the pics to Dr. Fisher and he says it's still infected; he can tell from the redness in the tissue. But he says I don't need another course of antibiotics because it should heal on its own since it's open? You can see how the stitches just in that one area tore open. It's like a gaping hole on my butt cheek. I am going to find a local doctor to stitch it back up since I don't have access to Dr. Fisher. But I have to wait a couple of weeks to do it, since the infection hasn't yet fully cleared. The contact dermatitis that I got from my allergic reaction to the surgical tape is much better, but it's still there. At least it no longer itches - that was miserable. I can't start the Embrace scar therapy yet so I'm a little worried my scar won't heal as nicely as the first one did. All I can do is be patient...
Now the right butt cheek is infected, too!
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10 Apr 2017
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4 months post
Hi girls, I'm writing this from the E.R. where I'm waiting to been seen by a doctor to culture my infected wounds. Hoping it's not staph. It's discouraging to go through but I keep reminding myself that this particular type of surgery is high-risk and that's what I signed on for. Any time you cut open the body... When summer arrives and I'm looking good in a bikini, I know I'll be so glad I did it. But right now I have anxiety - I just want the infection to clear. It's been a long road for me. Started on December 8th with initial surgery, continued through second surgery on March 8th, and now it's April 11th and here I am in a hospital again. Sigh. Before it was just the left butt cheek that got infected, but as of today the right side is infected too. I already did a course of Clindomyecin, but still infection is present. I've been dressing it twice daily with Dakin's Solution (recommended to me by another one of Dr. Fisher's patients). Keep you posted on what the doctor (and the culture) has to say.
2 Months Post Surgery, Posterior Lift Revision with Dr. Fisher
Hi everyone, thanks to all who have checked in to see how I'm doing since my last update! Things are healing slowly, but they are healing. The culture from my E.R. visit was indeed staph, but we got it under control. My E.R. doctor seemed far more concerned about my C-Diff history than about the staph. C-Diff is so dangerous, can recur and can be fatal. I take probiotics every day and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. But I have to be extremely careful about taking any antibiotic ever again...it can cause the C-Diff to come raging back. So far it hasn't but it's scary regardless. For the staph infection he prescribed an antibiotic ointment that I applied to the infected areas twice daily for ten days. He said it was far too dangerous to put me on antibiotic IV's or even oral antibiotics. I'm now wearing Embrace on the areas of my incision line that didn't get infected, leaving the other areas uncovered. I haven't been able to get the areas where the stitches split open re-stitched yet because the infection is still healing. So I will likely need some kind of scar revision, but I can deal with that. My results still look great! Things aren't as uber-tight as they were the first 3-4 weeks, but still a world of difference from where I started. I will take some photos soon so everyone can see. My backside looks awesome in skinny jeans, yay! And my calves are noticeably more slender (at least to me). Dr. Fisher remained in touch through my up's and down's. I still give him a major thumbs-up.
