Got approved for Belt lipectomy and Medial Thigh Lift - ThinnerTimes

michelleJC · 11-07-2007, 12:08 PM

Hey guys,
Remember me? I have been gone for a long time but doing really well. My weight had stabilized for the last 8 months with a total of about 140 lbs lost so I went for the plastics consult. My insurance approved the Belt Lipectomy and the Medial Thigh lift. Now all of a sudden, I am freaking. These surgeries seem so drastic but I know that I have to have it done. Has anyone had them done? What was the pain like? What was your recovery time? I read a few of the threads in the search but nobody really talked directly about these 2 procedures. I need someone to tell me what to expect exactly if possible.
thanks for the help!!!

Cinerbelle · 11-07-2007, 12:18 PM

Congratulations! I can't answer any of your questions, but had one of my own...what insurance do you have??!!!!

michelleJC · 11-07-2007, 12:21 PM

I have Humana. My plastic surgeon told me that he has never had a patient get the full belt covered and only had one patient that got the thigh lift and it was because she had lost over 300 lbs and the skin on her thighs was literally hanging to her ankles. I feel very lucky. I wasn't mentally prepared to do this surgery this soon but my authorization only lasts for 90 days so it's now or never. I don't want to risk someone else reviewing it and turning me down.

Dave T in SD · 11-07-2007, 01:10 PM

We've missed you! (At least I have)

Glad to see things are going good for you!

Good luck on the surgery!!

veroniquetalk · 11-07-2007, 01:48 PM

I have had a belt lipectomy and an inner thigh lift. My inner thigh lift wasn't the kind where you have the scar down the inside of your thigh it was the kind where they lift your thighs and your scar is in your groin. I am very happy with my results. I had my surgery done in stages, however. First I had an extended tummy tuck - that was a very hard recovery for me. Then the dr continued it around my body so it was a belt lift and at the same time did the thigh lift. The recovery was pretty hard.

LisaBoston · 11-07-2007, 04:47 PM

Congrats...its a scary thing to go under the knife again, but most are pretty happy with the results, even with some complications. I didn't have your procedure, but did have an anchor cut tummy tuck....and even with my complications, I am happy that I had it done....now.

Wishing you the best and congrats on your successful weight loss.

Zenomia · 11-07-2007, 04:53 PM

I had the belt, and that surgery alone was 10 hrs. I can't imagine adding the thigh lift to it...that is another 2-4 hrs...(for the groin incisions). Best of luck to you, I can only tell you the Belt recovery was difficult and painful...I can't begin to imagine the amount of tubes you will have with those two together!! Goodness....I don't know whether to be nervous for you, or Jealous that your getting your thighs done and I didn't. LOL!!

Congrats on having insurance cover it too!!! That is no easy feat!

Gina in NY · 11-07-2007, 08:53 PM

I think it has a lot to do with how you feel about pain and what kind of shape you're in when you get in there. I really didn't have much trouble with the belt, but I was at a pretty high level of fitness when I went in there. It was a 7 hour surgery for me, but I didn't do the thigh lift. John did though. I think the thigh lift it is harder on men frankly, as they have a lot to get...well...there is more down there, hanging around, you know? Anyway, I had very little pain with my belt and breast lift - mostly just when I accidentally pulled on a drain.

And you know, those drains SUCK like crazy, but then they come out and you feel human again. Just don't forget to have a lanyard to hook your pins/drains to when you change clothes or shower or such. That was a lifesaver. I did sleep on the recliner for a couple weeks, couldn't lay flat for quite a while but it is totally worth it.

You know how it is though. Pain is temporary (usually) and a flat tummy is forever!

porshh951 · 11-07-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veroniquetalk

I have had a belt lipectomy and an inner thigh lift. My inner thigh lift wasn't the kind where you have the scar down the inside of your thigh it was the kind where they lift your thighs and your scar is in your groin. I am very happy with my results.

I had the exact same thing. Im also very happy with the results. Honestly the recovery time wasn't bad at all. It was just more of a pain than anything dressing yourself around your drains and stuff. best of luck to you. Im now 3 1/2 months out from my TT and thigh lift and im pretty happy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gina in NY

I think it has a lot to do with how you feel about pain and what kind of shape you're in when you get in there. I really didn't have much trouble with the belt, but I was at a pretty high level of fitness when I went in there. It was a 7 hour surgery for me, but I didn't do the thigh lift. John did though. I think the thigh lift it is harder on men frankly, as they have a lot to get...well...there is more down there, hanging around, you know? Anyway, I had very little pain with my belt and breast lift - mostly just when I accidentally pulled on a drain.

And you know, those drains SUCK like crazy, but then they come out and you feel human again. Just don't forget to have a lanyard to hook your pins/drains to when you change clothes or shower or such. That was a lifesaver. I did sleep on the recliner for a couple weeks, couldn't lay flat for quite a while but it is totally worth it.

You know how it is though. Pain is temporary (usually) and a flat tummy is forever!

Yeah its a little more rough for us guys since our groin tissue is extremely sensitive but, overall not bad. Gina is 100% right about what kind of shape you are in pre-op. I believe it makes a HUGE difference. Everyone including my surgeon told me that two surgeries I was having and the types of cutting she was gonna be doing. She said i'd be down in a major way having lots of pain for 3-4 weeks and still dealing with stuff 6-7weeks out.

The reality was I was up within hours of surgery walking laps around the hospital like nothing. Went home the next day and was getting around just fine. It didn't really hurt. It was just more of a pain in the butt to deal with. I think the fact that I was mentally/physically very strong though had alot to do with it.

If you have time spend time working out and pushing your body. Help it get used to that sort of thing. It will help you bounce back much much quicker. I recoverd from plastics a hellva lot better than I did my GBS and I attribute it all to level of fitness.