[lilybelle]

This was on Tuesday night. I got a good visualization of what a lower body lift entailed. It looked pretty rough. I think I'll keep my extra skin. The woman had lost 140 lbs. after a gastric bypass. She had 14 lbs. of skin removed with a tummy tuck. 6 weeks later she had a thigh and hip lift, this was the gruesome part. They said her lower limbs were now being held on with 400 stitches. I'm sure she'll look great when it all heals but imagine the misery. 6 weeks from now she is having her arms and breasts done. Total body lift. I encourage anyone to watch this if they are thinking about a total body lift.

[jtammy]

What network is it on?

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by lilybelle

This was on Tuesday night. I got a good visualization of what a lower body lift entailed. It looked pretty rough. I think I'll keep my extra skin. The woman had lost 140 lbs. after a gastric bypass. She had 14 lbs. of skin removed with a tummy tuck. 6 weeks later she had a thigh and hip lift, this was the gruesome part. They said her lower limbs were now being held on with 400 stitches. I'm sure she'll look great when it all heals but imagine the misery. 6 weeks from now she is having her arms and breasts done. Total body lift. I encourage anyone to watch this if they are thinking about a total body lift.

Lilybelle, I saw this too and the graphics were really too much for me. Yet because of my curiosity I couldn't not watch. After the program, I found myself really really concerned about extra skin and what I would do if I have too much. At first I said keep it.. the surgery is too major. Then I realized that if I had ever seen a tonsilictomy I would probably never have had mine done.

I don't think I can watch it again. It was just too much for me. But the information and experience is good. It is important to have a realistic view of what this type of surgery is.

[HandbagAficionado]

Wow! What channel was this on?

I really could use the total body lift, but I would be thrilled with tummy, breasts and arms. I have so much excess skin that at times I cry and wonder why I lost weight because I look awful naked. Sorry, just the truth with me. I think my abdomen is especially stretched out because in addition to the weight loss, I had twins that weighed 7 lbs each - lol.

I don't really know if I could handle watching it, but having the surgery I need is a dream come true.

Kelly

[Meg]

I don't think I've seen that show in particular, but have watched a lot of other, similar ones. I think those shows tend to be really overly dramatized and sensationalized, at least based on my personal experiences. There's always a voice of doom narrator, talking in a deep voice about how dangerous and painful the surgery is, gory and gruesome pictures and descriptions ... well, heck, no wonder people freak out!!

MY reality was a whole lot different. I had a lower body lift in January, 2003 and was back in the gym two weeks later, doing light cardio and lifting light weights. I only needed pain pills for five days and was completely back to my normal exercise routines in six weeks. I was never in pain, though things were tight and uncomfortable for a while. All in all, it was so much easier than I thought it would be!

I also had my arms and inner thighs done later that year. That recovery was non-eventful and easier than the lower body lift.

I have to say that it's ridiculous if the show said that the only thing holding the women's legs on was 400 stitches!! In skin removal surgery, they don't cut into your bone or muscles, so all your underlying body support - muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bone - are still intact. THAT'S what's holding your legs on! Geez, they try to make it sound so drastic and dramatic, like her poor legs were just dangling there.

Please don't get frightened by what you see on TV shows! They are NOT realistic - I think they could make an ingrown toenail into an Oscar-winning Night Of The Living Dead performance. Drama and horror and gore are what sells, regardless of whether or not it's accurate.

If you are bothered by excess skin, don't be afraid to consult with a plastic surgeon. All you're doing is finding out what your options are and some even do consultations for free. Ask him/her about surgery and recovery - forget the TV shows. And check out our Weight Loss and Skin FAQs - some of the 3FC members who have had skin removal surgery posted about their personal experiences. I think every one of us would say that we have no regrets, it was all 100% worthwhile, and we'd do it again in a heartbeat. I sure would!

[Jayde]

Kelly, I believe this was on WE, but I'd have to check to be sure. I was really touched by your post and can understand why someone might question loosing the weight at all. But I am sure that when you take in a deep breathe you know losing the weight is for the best.

Meg, even though the program was dramatic, I don't think they really played this one up. It was the graphic details of watching surgery that was too much for me. Actually the woman recovering from this body lift was in good spirits and recovered amazingly well. I read and reread the thread on excess weight in maintainers. I certainly learned a lot from that thread about excess skin. Until seeing that thread not only did I never think about excess skin, I hadn't even realized that it would be a problem for a formerly obese person. It just never dawned on me that it might be part of the journey for some.

Since then I've understood better what my mother says about not wanting to lose weight because of the skin that would hang off her. Frankly, I think she is using it as an excuse though part of her is probably concerned. I would hope that such a reason wouldn't keep someone from losing weight and reclaiming the rest of their life.

Hopefully this will not be a problem for me no matter how much I get in shape.. but if it is, you better believe I will go back and read that thread and then see a doctor about doing something about it. (In the meantime, perhaps I'll have forgotten some of the graphic details I saw on TV.)

[lilybelle]

Meg, as an RN who spent 7 yrs. working in surgery I was aware that the part they were saying about the 400 stitches holding her lower limbs on wasn't correct. But, can you imagine what many people who watched thought. The surgeries were gruesome and difficult even for me to watch.

[Meg]

Good thing I was asleep then. I tried watching a video before mine and really couldn't deal with it - but fortunately we've got surgeons to deal with that part of it. My part was the rest and recovery and I managed that pretty well.

I just get kind of indignant when things get overblown or sensationalized to make good TV. I'm glad this one wasn't, from what Jayde said. What to do about excess skin is a really personal decision and I'd hate to see someone afraid to investigate all their options just because of something on TV.

[HandbagAficionado]

Meg, I feel better reading your story because the plastic surgeon I consulted with told me I needed 3 days inpatient in the hospital and 6 weeks out of work (and I work a desk job) due to the surgery I need. She wouldn't be my first choice but I went to her because my insurance paid for the consult ... doesn't matter because they won't pay any further than that.

Jayde, thanks hon. You are totally correct in that I know I am better off now regardless, it is just extremely discouraging sometimes.

Kelly

[Mel]

Kelly,
Many surgeons do consults for free or for a fairly nominal charge ($50-75.00). If you are seriously considering this, get several opinions until you find a surgeon with whom you feel confortable and in whose hands you trust your life.

My surgery was not as extensive as the one on TV or what Meg had done, but I was off narcotic pain meds within 3 days, slowly walking around outside at 1 week, and back at the gym working and doing light workouts 2 weeks later. My surgeon was horrified when he found out, but he told me to do what I felt I could do...so I did

Mel

[lilybelle]

Thanks Meg and Mel, my problem area is my upper thighs and I would like info. on having this skin to look better. Such as, is the surgery less extensive if there is not that much extra skin? How big would the scars be? Are the scars very noticeable in a swimsuit? I am going to the skin FAQ on maintainers and see if any of these questions are answered.

[lilybelle]

Sorry, I guess my comment about wanting people to watch this before having the surgery was stupid. I have had many surgeries in the past and wouldn't have wanted to see them done on film before I had them done. DUH, laughing at myself.