Hi guys.
Most of you know that I'm having my reconstructive, post-weight loss plastic surgery next month. It's coming up quickly and I'm both beyond excited and terrified. It's a massive surgery with a long recovery time and living alone, will come with many challenges.
Since I’ve lost significant weight several times in the past, I already knew how my body would look once I hit my goal. I’ve always known that I’d need at least a tummy tuck, arm lift and breast lift after permanent weight loss to feel confident in my skin. After my weight loss surgery, I knew this is now my time. With the confidence in my new tool, I started my research into plastic surgeons in late spring. After a few weeks of reviewing credentials, before and after pics, speaking with former patients online, I had my “short-list” of 5 surgeons who specialize in post-bariatric weight loss patients. I learned quickly that our skin post weight loss is much different than say a typical “mommy-makeover”. I wanted someone with a ton of surgical experience with bodies like mine.
I had virtual consultations with 4 surgeons (the 5th was retiring before I would have surgery) and they all suggested the same procedures for me. More work than I’d initially anticipated but hearing the artistry and technique behind a lower body lift verses a tummy tuck, sold me 100%. I’m going to describe the procedures a little so if you get queasy easily, you may want to stop reading here.
A lower body lift begins with an incision at hip/pubic level as a tummy tuck would except it goes 360 degrees, all the way around my body. First, my surgeon will separate my belly button from the skin/tissue to be removed. He then lifts the stomach tissue so he can repair my stomach muscles underneath for a nice flat tummy and a tighter, slimmer waist using permanent sutures. Next, the damaged skin/tissue is pulled down/removed and the nice smooth skin (from the ribcage area) is pulled down to become my new tummy. My belly button is reinserted through this new skin. On my back side, the same pulling and cutting of the skin is done for my hips and lower-back to get rid of any “muffin top”.
Then the focus moves to the areas below the incision. My rear and thighs are lifted and all that extra lumpy-bumpy, cellulite ridden skin is pulled up and removed. Everything is smoothed out and tightened. Essentially in this lower body lift, everything above the incision is pulled down and everything below the incision, pulled up.
I’m combining this with an arm lift with a breast lift which, when done together, my surgeon calls an upper body lift. It also includes that area under the arm on the side of the ribcage where many women have the “bra-overhang” issue (I certainly do!).
He’ll start the first incision at my armpit and continue down the underside (more hidden side) of my arm to the elbow. He’ll remove all extra skin and tissue and leave me with the slender, natural size of my arms (my surgeon is known for his arm-work so I can’t wait!). From there, he’ll continue the incision from my armpit down that side ribcage/bra-line area. He’ll pull that tight and remove the extra skin/tissue. Then he’ll continue the incision under my breast where he’ll "push up" everything for the breast lift. My nipples will not need to be relocated but my areolas may need to be resized to be aesthetically proportional with smaller breasts. Then obviously he’ll repeat on the other side.
So yeah, this is quite the surgery I’m in for. I’m going in knowing that recovery is painful, long and difficult. Won't be able to use my core or arms for at least a month. Because it’s so extensive, minor complications such as infections are high. I’ve also read quite a few times that in the first few days, I will likely regret it. But in the hundreds, maybe thousands of posts I've read, and chats I’ve had with patients, everyone says they’d do it again without question.
It is more expensive than any car I’ve ever owned but we only get one body. And I value mine more today than I ever have. It’s also an insurance policy of sorts. As I’m writing the check each month, I’m certainly going to think back on how I’ve cared for my body that month and consider if I could have done better.
And if you’ve encountered peoples’ negative opinions about weight loss surgery… damn you should see how they react to
this! But I’ll save that for another thread. Thanks for reading guys.
