My thigh/calf lift experience

quakergirl · 01-15-2006, 02:02 PM

When I was 367 pounds, I carried most of the fat in my belly and legs, so you can imagine how flabby my legs were after losing about 150 pounds. I could grab big handfuls of loose skin on my thighs, they always slapped/rubbed together when I walked, and I worried about odors...I'm sure many of you can relate.

Fortunately, I found a great plastic surgeon who was willing to do a thigh and calf lift on me (my calves were also hugely out of proportion, albeit not as flabby as my thighs).
At the surgeon's advice, I FIRST had liposuction done on my legs last June. No skin was removed in this procedure. It was just meant to help loosen up the skin (especially on the calves) so more could be taken off later down the road.

Finally, about three weeks ago, I had the actual skin removed...a medial thigh/calf lift.
Even in those early days when my legs were bandaged and swollen, it was an instant improvement over what I had been living with before.
The incision runs from my inner groin down to abut three inches above my ankle. It healed up quite nicely except for pulling apart a bit at the knee (quite common, due to how much tension there is on the skin at the knee, but even that area has been healing...just a bit slower than the rest).

The swelling is starting to go down now, so I can appreciate the results even more now. While my legs are still not model-gorgeous, I wasn't aspiring to perfection...simply normalcy. They sure look a lot better now than they used to! It is much, much easier to walk now AND find pants that fit (before I had to wear draw string pants, because any pants small enough to fit my waist wouldn't fit over my huge legs).

In terms of pain, the surgery really wasn't that bad. The liposuction aspect was actually the most physically difficult part. For many weeks after the lipo, my legs were a bit sore and extensively bruised. It looked like I had been beaten with a baseball bat. Nonetheless, after both the lipo and thigh lift, I was able to walk even on the first day post-op, and could move around pretty easily within a week or so.

If you can spare the extra recovery time/money for it, *personally* I would recommend doing liposuction and the thigh lift as two separate procedures. I think that makes it easier to heal than doing them both at the same time. I have heard others talk about a thigh lift as being very painful to recover from, and having problems with healing...but, for me, the actual thigh lift recovery was a breeze. I attribute that to having gotten the bruising and swelling from the liposuction out of the way first. Of course, consult your doctor to help you decide what's right for you.

Anyway, I just thought I'd write a little about how it was for me in case anyone else is thinking about having this done. Best of luck to all of you!

**Alexandra** · 01-15-2006, 02:12 PM

How very interesting!! Thanks for sharing your story and all the details. Much appreciated!

**Iluvharleys** · 01-15-2006, 02:58 PM

Thanks for posting this! You have done a great job with your weight loss too!:)

I'llsucceed · 01-15-2006, 05:11 PM

Glad to hear your doing well. Very interesting procedure. I appreciate you sharing & am so happy to hear your quality of life is vastly improved!

FunnyDuddies · 01-15-2006, 08:54 PM

That is fascinating!! I have never heard of a calf lift. I am so happy that you found a procedure to make your life work!! My thighs definitely will need work after. Not looking forward to that.

Amy

Anwyn · 01-15-2006, 09:49 PM

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've been researching plastic surgery for the hopefully not too distant future and it's great to get a first hand account.

NewSho · 01-16-2006, 01:48 AM

Wow, interesting.
Well I have long accepted that I needed quite a few procedures to get my body where I hope it can be. So I have done substantial research on it.

I have always heard of The Thigh Lift being one of the most difficult surgeries to recover from (didn't know any Calf Lift patients, that I know of) and even some Plastic Surgeons say the Thigh Lift is one of the procedures where patients have the longest recovery and the least patient satisfaction.

So I after reading all those horror stories, I decided that what Lipo and Exercise couldn't do for my thighs, I was going to live with.

But your experience seems to reflect that you think it was worthwhile all in all.
Thanks for sharing your story.

Jessiebear · 01-16-2006, 02:21 AM

Thanks for sharing! I am so glad that you are happy with your results! WOW!! 150 lbs lost!! You did an awesome job! Congrats!

Victoriana · 01-16-2006, 02:26 AM

Great Job! I hope you can post some pics. Im proud of you. And this is great advice, separating out the lipo from the rest. Heres to your good health!

hoosiergirl57 · 01-16-2006, 03:05 AM

Thank you so much for posting this! Although I know I will need the usual plastic surgeries after my weightloss, I also am concerned with my huge legs! Unfortunately a family trait. You give me hope that possibly someday I can wear a dress up to my knees and feel comfortable. Can you possibly post any pics of your before/after if you feel comfortable doing that? Wishing you the best of a recovery!

Rhonda

princesstegan0 · 01-16-2006, 04:55 AM

I have not had my band done yet, however does everyone need a tummy tuck after they have lost a substantial amount of weight???

LAD · 01-16-2006, 08:44 AM

QuakerGirl, Where did you have your surgery done? Did insurance pay?

HarleyNana · 01-16-2006, 08:59 AM

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. The inner thigh is where I have loose skin, ERRR. I've thought often about having the surgery, but I was really a chicken, but now I may consider it.

I had a mini tummy tuck years ago, talk about a waste of good money, I needed a full tuck, so the doctor got me on that one. I even told him if the mini would not do the job, don't waste my money that I'd pay the difference. I guess he figured he's get the second time too, NOT. I also had lipro on the midriff, $800 alone, 15 years ago, also just below the waist on the sides, who was the dummy that said once you have it done the fat doesn't come back, WRONG. The worst part was wearing that girdle for 4-6 weeks. I'm allergic to lycra, I thought I'd itch to death.

Take care and don't over do it.

XX BeGone · 05-15-2008, 02:45 AM

Quaker girl,

Thanks for your post. I am doing research on this because I have straight thick calves and ankles. I won't wear shorts or dresses because of it.

Who was your surgeon who did this? Did you ever post pictures, and if not can you?

Thanks.

juliegeraci · 05-16-2008, 08:26 PM

You have really been through a lot. God Bless. I had a thigh lift but mine was around the top of the thigh. Not as much pain.