POSTED UNDER Thigh Lift Reviews
Thunder Thighs Get Some Help
UPDATED FROM Zaftig Visionary
5 months post
New Pics
While I am not happy with the thigh lift/reduction, after seeing these photos and doing the side by side before and after pics, I can see there is a change, just not nearly as dramatic as I'd hoped. The panniculectomy I had a few years ago was extremely dramatic, the upper arm reduction is very dramatic, the breast lift dramatic, the thighs in comparison are beyond subtle. These were just taken yesterday. I know some have asked for updated pics and luckily my accountant/friend/photographer stopped by yesterday for me to sign some papers, so while she was here, there was another "photo shoot." I asked her if I'm her only client she's seen naked and she laughed and said yes!
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UPDATED FROM Zaftig Visionary
3 months post
I Haven't Got Time For the Pain
I wanted to share an experience with my followers here, not to elicit sympathy, but to let them know if they themselves have someone at home to support and help them after their own surgeries how truly lucky they are. Last night, 6 full days after my surgery, ok to move about at home, but not much more, I had to make an expected trip to the vet's with one of my cats.
I live with my mom, but she's in a wheelchair, so really of no help whatsoever to me in any capacity. I know that's not her fault, it's just how it is. So my one boy had not been looking or acting well for around 36 hrs and I felt he should get in to be seen. I live upstairs and he weighs around 20 lbs. I nearly fell down the stairs carrying him in one arm but thankfully did not by grabbing onto the rail, but I came very close to falling from the top of the stairs. I got him in the carrier, the cab driver carried him to the car and off we went.
I'd called ahead and told them all I was in bad shape, so please allow for me walking like a crab and looking like the wrath of God himself, they were all understanding and very kind, as I'm a long term client there. I was out there for two hours waiting for his blood tests with a dripping right leg. When it was all over, the techs carried the carrier to the cab home, the cab driver to the door, and me nearly dragging myself up the sixteen steps back upstairs. Thank goodness I took him, since he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and needed several meds immediately. He's perked up to nearly normal already. Going there was one of the hardest things I've had to do physically. My mom is my only family, and we are both solitary people, so there are no friends to help. I wouldn't send him up by cab alone, so I literally had no options.
People, if you have surgery of any kind and have someone helping you, helping you bathe, get out of bed, do laundry, put away groceries that are delivered, help you change bandages, change litter boxes, care for pets, all of it, realize how lucky you really are. Some of us are in it alone, and must do things alone or they simply will not get done.
I never dreamed I'd be leaving the house until nearly spring, let alone a two hour harrowing trip to the vets alone less than a week after being cut up. Be grateful to your helpers, some of us do not have them. Now God willing, no one else will need any care for several months. I was grateful it didn't happen the night I came home, it could always have been worse I guess.
I live with my mom, but she's in a wheelchair, so really of no help whatsoever to me in any capacity. I know that's not her fault, it's just how it is. So my one boy had not been looking or acting well for around 36 hrs and I felt he should get in to be seen. I live upstairs and he weighs around 20 lbs. I nearly fell down the stairs carrying him in one arm but thankfully did not by grabbing onto the rail, but I came very close to falling from the top of the stairs. I got him in the carrier, the cab driver carried him to the car and off we went.
I'd called ahead and told them all I was in bad shape, so please allow for me walking like a crab and looking like the wrath of God himself, they were all understanding and very kind, as I'm a long term client there. I was out there for two hours waiting for his blood tests with a dripping right leg. When it was all over, the techs carried the carrier to the cab home, the cab driver to the door, and me nearly dragging myself up the sixteen steps back upstairs. Thank goodness I took him, since he was diagnosed with pancreatitis and needed several meds immediately. He's perked up to nearly normal already. Going there was one of the hardest things I've had to do physically. My mom is my only family, and we are both solitary people, so there are no friends to help. I wouldn't send him up by cab alone, so I literally had no options.
People, if you have surgery of any kind and have someone helping you, helping you bathe, get out of bed, do laundry, put away groceries that are delivered, help you change bandages, change litter boxes, care for pets, all of it, realize how lucky you really are. Some of us are in it alone, and must do things alone or they simply will not get done.
I never dreamed I'd be leaving the house until nearly spring, let alone a two hour harrowing trip to the vets alone less than a week after being cut up. Be grateful to your helpers, some of us do not have them. Now God willing, no one else will need any care for several months. I was grateful it didn't happen the night I came home, it could always have been worse I guess.
Replies (5)
I wish that I was near you to have helped u out....that truly had to suck
It was really hard, I will tell you. Sometimes I've thought it might be nice to come from a big family, but the ones I've known, everyone lived hundreds of miles apart anyway, so they weren't even in the same city. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. I know I am a strong person, I've had to be. Hopefully now I'm in until my next dental cleaning in Feb. I work from home as it is, so that makes things a lot easier. Unexpected things come up for sure.
I feel for you hun. I couldn't imagine not having the help I did, I was so grateful to my best friend and fiancé for everything they did for me. Please take it easy and be careful as much as you can!
My heartaches for you after reading this. I felt alone in much of my recovery . I am 3 weeks out. I had breast reduction/lift , extended arm lift and dye fed tummy tuck. I flew from Arizona to Miami and I was alone . When I got to Miami I met an awesome lady who I had met online to stay with for recovery . She became such a good friend. I paid her for her help and hospitality but if I am being honest she deserves way more , if it wasn't for her support I am not sure I could have made it through the first two weeks. Flying home I was alone and made me miss my friend and her kindness. Being home I have children ( single mama) and it's not been easy . I can't imagine doing what you did alone . Ok mean I am 3 weeks out and showering takes all my energy so doing the extra like you mentioned is a huge task now . Laundry, making dinner , cleaning up, all that takes 5 times the effort it did in the past . You did what you had to do for your cat and that speaks volumes about you. You're strong , amazing and this will pass . One day at a time and rest as best as you can ! You're a warrior .
Thank you ladies for your kind words. Yes, you do what you have to. I'm a single mom to my cats, lol. No one to help, my mom would if she could, but since her stroke over 6 yrs ago, physically she can't do it. Hopefully no one will need any more attn for a good while. Kitty is continuing to improve on his meds, he gets his every 6 hrs when I get mine, so not hard to dole out the meds all at once for us both. I deaperately want to shower for sure, washing the critical bits daily helps of course, but a nice, full body shower, I can't wait for these drains to be out.
I have one out of four drains left . I can't wait to remove it . It gets easier without them ! Glad the kitty is doing better :: hugs!
UPDATED FROM Zaftig Visionary
3 months post
After - Not Much Improvement at All
Here's some after pics, inner thigh fat balls still there. Still look like a hot cross bun from the back. I am certainly the least pleased after this procedure than any other, as the difference is so minimal. Wasn't worth the money at at, bye bye 10k!
Replies (5)
Oh I see a huge difference!!! Just u wait girlie!!! Your arms look fantastic too....congrats on getting to the other side of this surgery....can't wait to see boobs
You are too kind, and perhaps too optimistic! The tops of the thighs he lipoed, yes, they are smooth, no lumps and bumps there, but it was the inner thigh fat balls that most bothered me, not the cottage cheese on the tops. I can't press my luck and demand too much, considering this doctor is pretty much my only hope, I will not bad mouth him. That tummy tuck he did was a life changing surgery, and I only wish I'd been that happy with all the procedures he's done. I really hope the last one, the neck revision this coming Feb. will be it, the turkey neck was taken care of, just too much left on the jaws, which seems a fairly straightforward fix. I feel these procedures have been my Herculean Tasks in my life, and I'm almost at the finish line.
I do agree that your results could have been better, but your thighs were a huge job for one surgery I think. I think your surgeon could have been more upfront about it with your expectations too. I'm seven weeks into the recovery on my thigh lift (check out my review if you'd like) and trust me when I say your legs with change A LOT even within the first week or two after surgery, try to not focus too much on your current results. I'll be requesting a revision surgery at my follow up appointment this afternoon, and I do think you should consider a revision as well after you've healed up. I think he likely did a lot more than you feel he did, but with thighs it can be difficult because the swelling starts the moment they cut, and it can be difficult to determine how much they need to take/leave. Personally I'm always happier they err on the side of caution, it's easier to take out more if necessary but near impossible to put things back!
I hope your spirits pick up, this is only part of the journey so far, and you will see a lot of improvement moving forward.
I hope your spirits pick up, this is only part of the journey so far, and you will see a lot of improvement moving forward.
Yes, I try and keep the swelling in mind. I just think he'd be angry or mad to have needed to do a revision on every single procedure he's done on me accept the first one, the tummy tuck. If in reality it turns out to be two surgeries, that certainly cuts down on his profits. The price is for one, not two. I won't see him again until late Feb. when the neck revision will be done, which I think is fairly minor and in his clinic, not the hospital. That's a good three months down the road, I will certainly see most leg swelling gone by that point and can assess more accurately then. Thank you for your encouraging words.
From what I've noticed, plastic surgery is so much tits and tummies that it doesn't surprise me that your surgeon got the tummy right the first time. He's probably done infinitely more of those. I definitely think you'll be happier in time, but I do think you'll require a revision. There's a huge difference in your thighs, but I can also see exactly where your concerns are. I spoke with my surgeon, and I have a smaller, similar "lumpy chonk" on my upper thigh still and he immediately understood and agree it needs some adjusting. I hope your doctor is just as understanding.
One thing I did notice about my recovery, is that I fixated on my thighs A LOT. Literally no choice but to sit and look at them, and I couldn't really see a difference in them at first. Some days I honestly still can't tell they are different. Try to avoid looking at them while sitting, thighs tend to pool out when you sit, making them look vastly bigger than they are. And as you said, keep the swelling in mind, some days at 7 weeks out, my thighs are still so swollen, especially in the lower portions towards the knees. Today the doctor said we'll reassess the revision in February (that will be 5 months post op) because it's too early yet and too swollen to be sure what's needed. The process is hard and takes patience, but you are one step closer than you were a few days ago. Be gentle on yourself.
I looked at your page, I'd have been so happy to have had your "before" thighs, you are lucky to be a slim lady. I won't even mention it to him until I see him in Feb. Everyone has their patience limits, and I don't want to anger him by saying yet again, this isn't finished yet. I'd think most swelling will be gone at the three month point, so we will know by then, I just hope he doesn't ever dismiss me as a patient, since as I said, there's no one else that's going to help me. I must be made of strong stuff, one of the nurses the day I was discharged said she couldn't believe how good I looked and how well I was getting around after such a surgery a couple of days after. Another even remarked how I wasn't using my morphine self doses pain pump you can click every seven minutes, they wondered why I wasn't doing it more often. I guess I just have a high pain tolerance. I will absolutely keep all my posts updated with pics and any new developments. It's nice there is a site like this where fellow patients can give encouragement to others in the first place. I have zero support from my mom, who I live with, she thinks it's all absurd and unnecessary, dangerous and a waste of money, and she has no clue what anything has cost. Before my first procedure, the tummy tuck, every time I mentioned it she told me I'd die if I went through with it. Obviously I didn't, so she never played that card again, but no shortage of how unnecessary and foolish it all is.
I definitely wasn't always slim, this is the lightest I've been since I was 14 years old. I was lucky enough to hit my breaking point and take control of my health before things went out of control. I've heard from a few that they'd kill for my before thighs, and I realize how great they looked compared to some others before photos, but they have been always been that aspect of my body I fixated on and hated, especially as the loose skin mounted. I'm very hard on myself and my expectations of myself and for my body these days, that's what I'm currently working on, all that head stuff.
I do think it's a good idea to think over the revision and your next steps, if you bring it up now, I agree that it may get you slapped down and told to "wait it out", be patient, heal etc. But I do think that if he's worth anything, he'll see why a further revision is necessary, you aren't being nit picky over a bit of fat or something, your concerns are valid and reasonable. Also, why do you say he's your only option? I'm sorry if I missed that part of your story!
I found the pain of the thigh lift to be... weird. I only had one dose of morphine post op, and was released same day from the surgical suite, I never felt what I would call pain except right after waking up post op, but I definitely mentally deteriorated if I didn't keep on top of the tramacet that first week home.
Your mom sounds a lot like my mom, I didn't even tell my mom I had surgery because I anticipated similar comments. I'm sorry she's not being supportive of this for you, but it's your body and your choice and it's important to be happy!
Also I see what you mean. I can't help but notice you speak about not upsetting him or getting him angry. You are the customer - a paying customer - and deserve to get what you paid for. Yes these procedures don't come with guarantees since everyone is different but if you are not happy you have the right to respectfully discuss this with him.
Replies (5)
I am almost 100% sure that you have lipedema. I have it, too. It’s a genetic swelling issue where the lymphatic system can’t drain well, and that’s why you have areas on your body and legs (it’s mostly lower body in the beginning) where things hang. It’s hormonally driven, so puberty and other hormonal triggers turn on those genes and also make it worse. It’s an inability of your body to be able to pump and drain your lymphatic system and that fluid sitting around literally turns to fat. That is why your legs had the least improvement. I do see a difference for sure, but you really need to be wearing a custom- made compression garment to ensure things don’t get worse. There are many doctors that specialize in lipedema treatments in the US, but no one diagnoses it here in Canada that I know of. It’s ridiculous that we have to travel to the States for this! If you don’t get it done by someone who knows about how to treat lipedema properly, you can end up with lymphedema and that’s not curable. I travelled to LA to have my three surgeries done. It’s been life- changing but very expensive, that’s for sure. I was treated by Dr. David Amron. Dr. Gutowski in Chicago also treats lipedema, and they both have a lot of experience and specialize in lipedema. There are other doctors, too, but you have to do your own research. (In Europe they also treat lipedema as well.) Why not Canada???
You are very brave and determined. I wish you all the best in your healing journey!! :)