No it is for a 360 degree tummy tuck.. It was difficult to make sure we were talking about the same thing; the local doc calls it a mini tummy tuck because there is no muscle involvement. But in the consult, I made sure he was thinking and planning to take up all the loose skin all the way around. I'm not really sure he would do the exact same thing Dr S would do, but I just don't know enough about medical terms to know exactly what he meant. He called it a 360 Abdominoplasty. There was one thing that I had some concern about; he said he didn't like to do liposuction in the area where he does a tummy tuck as it can cause healing problems; it bruises the tissue enough that is can hinder healing. When I asked about how the excess fat I have in a few areas would be handled, he said they just take it out with the skin... Not sure what that really means.

When I was talking to Sr S, he called it a lower body lift. And I am not sure what if any different there is between those two procedures.

You shouldn't need a skin graft. Mine was open about 2 inches wide at the top tapering to about 1/2 wide down my thigh about 8 inches on one thigh and 2 inches on the other. What kind of wound care does your surgeon have you doing? Mine had me using wet to dry dressings - gauze dipped in Dakin's Solution packed into the wounds and changed when dry twice a day. After the area had started to heal, he switched me to medicinal honey. It was not a fast process by any means (8 weeks I think) and my worst opening on my hip LBL incision just finally closed last week (my surgery for both was May 8th). But they all closed without any surgical intervention. As to how they look, the groin scars are ugly. The rest I think will improve with time.

I'm lucky enough that the groin area is the only place with the openings. The rest of the thighs are closed beautifully and almost invisible. Hopefully, when they are redone starting lower down than the groin, they will behave in the same manner as long as he remains conservative in what he removes. Have your wounds closed up at all since May? Mine, after almost a month, have not closed or grown any covering at all. I'm wondering if it will have to wait for a skin graft from when he is able to redo the thighs and use my own skin? I must sound like an idiot, as I have no idea how that kind of thing works... I'm not a doctor, I fantasize being one in my brain!

Marla

I don't have a senior citizen body and I had major wound dehiscence on both my thighs in the groin area with my thigh lift in May (and with my body lift) so I can commiserate. I can't do anything about it yet, but I imagine some scar revision is going to be necessary to look normal. I'm not looking forward to it.

Hi Chris,

The consult went OK today, my wife Barb wanted to go too and I encouraged her. She was thinking that if I had this done, my recovery would be like hers when she had a tummy tuck and some other work done. The dic explained to her that I have no need of muscle reconstruction I have plenty of abdominal muscles and they are not damaged from being pregnant.. LOL Her recovery was really difficult, much like mine was for the open DS I had done. Since for me the plastics would be only skin and fat removal, it would not be anywhere near as difficult to recover from. Add to that, I am in excellent shape so it should not be a big deal.. knock on wood!

I was shocked to get the quote from them; the total for everything including anesthesia and OR was $7440.00. I was expecting over $10k. Anyway, I was more impressed with Dr. S, but having it done locally has some definite advantages, I would go home after the surgery and the after surgery care would be available from the original surgeon. Barb is voting for the local guy, I'm still on the fence.

That's the latest.

Kerry