Hip Talk Forum About Hip Resurfacing

People have been asking what the normal incision size is.  It varies from doctor to doctor.  I thought a poll would be interesting to see what the most normal size is.

Hopefully people will participate after their surgery so we can find an answer.

Pat

thanks Pat.  I will submit my reply on 5/6ish (day after surgery)

I am told my scar is a little longer than the usual 8" scar since I had a "difficult" hip.  At almost 6 months out it is healing nicely.

coskater
www.youtube.com/bouldersk8r

Mine is not quite 6 inches and a bit crinkly. Wonder if it has anything to do with that "cellulite" that appears to have taken up residence on my thighs... ;D
I actually don't look at it very often. I'm so happy to be mobile again - it wouldn't matter if it were 12" long!

  Hi Pat Im new to this site and have been spending time looking around. You have done a excellent job. I had my surgery 2 years ago and had no externial stitches or staples. My incision scare is the width of a pencil line and almost invisible.
  Keep up the great work.

Hi Mr. Tille

Thank you for the kind words.

I had my surgery a little over 2 years ago also.  My scar is still a little pink in spots because my skins heals in an unusual way, but it is dissapearing more each day.

I am glad all went well for you.

If you have a story you have written or photos or videos, I am always happy to post them on the main website.

Good Luck.

Pat

I am almost 5 weeks post op.  My scar is 4 inches long.  My doctor used glue instead of staples.  I've been very surprised at how good the scar looks at only 5 weeks out.  I was expecting a lot worse.

Hi Pat,

My incision is 7" long and stiches were used.  My surgery was June 16th and the incision appears to be healing nicely!

Hi everyone--Big Bill here---9 days post-op and decided to measure my incision. The wife maintains it is a "male thing" ...but I informed her that the ladies measure ,too ! My incision is 5" on the dot. I had the anterior approach and it was glued with Dermabond. It looks good to me! I am more concerned what transpired under the scar. It is amazing how good I feel and how well I am doing. Went from 1 crutch Charlie to the "Master of the Cane" today! Well ...not really master yet...but that is what I am giong to call it ! Going to the Dr. on Monday for my first post-op visit. They said they made a DVD for me with all of my old x-rays over the last few years and the final one showing the resurfacing ! Way cool....or "HIP" as we say here! 
       Talk to you all soon,
                           
                                  Big Bill, Cormet Anterior Surface Hippy (aka) C.A.S.H.

     

Big Bill,

You r sooo cool. I picture you as a big husky 6'5" dude with cowboy boots and a 10 gallon hat....I disagree with the misses on measuring is a man thing, some of us women want to wear bikinis!!!!! No matter what you wear you incision will never be seen by anyone but the misses. I have a story planned out already. I live 3 miles from the ocean so I am going to tell anyone that asks that I was attacked by a shark while surfing....hehehehehe.....

I feel great too and HATE my cane............UGH..

U go Big Bill!!!!!!!!!!!!!
take care..........Lisa

Lisa  ---as you can tell ...I do not like only to excercise my hip, but excercise a little humor !  Glad you have a good sense of humor, too! I am 6' 5", but kinda lean, wear boots sometimes and a hat to the rodeo. You ever see the guy that plays guitar in the streets of New York City, that only wears a speedo ,boots and hat ???  Well .....that is NOT me!  ;D  LOL

  Big Bill , C.A.S.H.   

THE NAKED COWBOY!!!!! YUM!
I haven't lived in NY in 10 yrs and miss the City but love love love living in Da South. Now I will always think of the Naked Cowboy when I think of you..I have read talk about all us hippies getting together and hope some day that happens.

Mike - I know you read all the posts so if the HIPPY convention is in Texas maybe we can car pool..

Later Guys -
Lisa - incemented/biomet/Gross 6-23-08

What are u drinking girl? It's "uncemented" not "incemented". LOL

Mike

I was attacked by a GIANT SHARK. He got my whole behind in his mouth and left a bite mark on both sides!!!

Mike

Bilateral
Dr. Gross
Left 6/23/08 Right 6/25/08

You are hilarious Mike - And by the way it's Pinot Noir (red wine but not as dry as merlot)

Uncemented Incemented what the difference after 2 glasses...lol

Artificial uncementation? Sorry, I don't think we all know each other that well :o
PS - Started driving yesterday!
- Tom
RBHR 7/1/08

Mine is 5" long and the shortest my surgeon has ever done and he has done over 170 bhrs.

Hi Pat,

My incision size/s are 12"+ and 3" which was for the removal of the alignment pin that was kindly left behind...

Maybe this is a record? but I had 42 staples in the main incision, how does this compare to others?

Dressing at the top is covering what the nurses called a "sluffy" area - a small area of surface infection, this will hopefully be removed asap, (about 4 1/2 weeks post op).

I hope that this doesn't put people off, I still think that the BHR is fantastic

James

Hi James

A picture is worth a thousand words!  I am sorry you had to have the extra incision!

No matter what the incision looks like after the surgery, they all eventually heal up and start to be much less obvious.

Women with De Smet only get stitches.  I had the self metling ones. We had waterproof bandages on our incisions and could go in the water immediately.  Mine looked very good right after surgery since I only had the stitches. I am glad I had that since I have very sensitive skin that scars easily.

Anyone worried about how their incision is going to be closed should talk with their doctors.  If you have problem skin like I do, be sure to discuss that with our doctor.

Pat

Hi Pat,

Thanks for your reply. This tasteful pic was taken about 2 weeks post op, in the last 10 days or so the scar has flattened a lot, it looks a lot less like my legs got its own zipper! and the surrounding area has recovered from the bruising.

I have read that among other things lavender oil on/around the araea has good skin healing properties, does anyone have any exerience of this?

As I always like to say to others "It's all good".

James

husband's is about 8 inches. Our doctor told us the leaner you are, the smaller incision he can make.

I can kill that myth. I've never been called "lean". One of my incisions is 4" inches and the other is slightly under 4". One other discovery I've made is that when the incision is on you, a 4" incision looks like 24" ! LOL

I'm still achy, but I managed to walk 9 (hilly) holes of golf today with a carry bag. It was tough, but I made it.  Pass the Tylenol please.

Mike
Bilateral
Dr. Gross\ Uncemented
L 6/23  R 6/25

Geez - after re-reading this post I never put my incision size lol.... I have a very clean 4 inch incision and you are right Mike it  does look 24 inches to me. lol. I'd add a picture like creakykhips but I am not as computer savy as I thought. These past posts are a hoot when you read back...

Take care guys,
"SHARK GIRL"

James... I have to ask this, but what did your doctor say when he told you that they found that alignment pin in your thigh?  I mean that is almost like leaving the drain plug off of your oil pan when you change your oil.

I would have been furious.   


Chuck

Quote from: Creakyhips on August 11, 2008, 04:32:30 AM
Hi Pat,

My incision size/s are 12"+ and 3" which was for the removal of the alignment pin that was kindly left behind...

Maybe this is a record? but I had 42 staples in the main incision, how does this compare to others?

Dressing at the top is covering what the nurses called a "sluffy" area - a small area of surface infection, this will hopefully be removed asap, (about 4 1/2 weeks post op).

I hope that this doesn't put people off, I still think that the BHR is fantastic

James

Hi Chuck,

This was not my happiest day! I had prepared myself that the day after my op was day 1 and that I would be home in about 2-3 days. When I saw the x-ray which you can see on my blog www.creakyhips.com (http://www.creakyhips.com) I was gutted, the consultant put his hands up and told me it was a "total system failure" which didn't make me feel any happier but I couldn't do anything about it. But what really p'eed me off was that I had to lie in bed not able to really move until monday morning, when this pin was found on the friday! not cool.

I hope that this hasn't or wont happen to any other Surface Hippies, on the up side I am 38, if this had happened to a senior, it would have been even worse.

Keep smiling,

James

I asked the resident from Nigeria how large my incision was after my surgery (he was the one who sewed me up).  He didn't know inches but he said it was about 10 cm which converts to 4".  Turns out he didn't know cm either because it turned out to be 8".  There goes my Speedo wearing days ;D Ha, Ha, Ha.

I had 21 staples that were taken out 12 days after surgery.  They were replaced by adhesive strips that have almost all fallen out.  Bill

4-1/2 weeks out.  Dr. Brooks, Cleveland Clinic

Hey guys, what's happened? It's been a couple of months and i've heard nothing. Where's Big Bill, Mike and Lis'? I was just gettin into all this banter between yourselves.
(Big G the Limey!)

Big Bill is alive and kickin' .... :o  ....just got hit by Hurricane Ike here in Houston, Texas !!  Good thing I did alot of rehab for my CHR. Been on ladder,the roof ,building fences...etc... no issues with the hip   ;D! Since this is the topic area for incision size ...To all interested...I 've been putting a scar remedy called Maderma on my  5" incision AFTER It was totally healed. Being Caucasion, it has went from a purple color to a light pinkish shade in a short time. You are not supposed to get direct Sun (FYI) on a recent incision. Me having an anterior incision, I would have to sunbathe nude to get the Sun on mine! It is getting better,still a scar ....but it was ALL worth the great results !!  8) .

          Big Bill   C.A.S.H.  7/09/08    8)  Hip Stories  Dr. Kreuzer

I don't know where Lisa has been. I composed a lenghty response to Triatloner" the other night and, somehow, hit the wrong key and lost it. I'm such a poor typist, I just sent a personal email and invited her to email me directly or call me.

I modified a few of Dr. Gross' exercises and I believe they helped me recovery faster. I'm about 12 weeks post op and doing well. I'm still aprehensive about getting into certiain positions. I always wonder if the bones have grown to the metal joint sufficiently.

If any one ever has questions about Dr. Gross or Bilateral, please email me directly at mraycox@aol.com. I'll never be able to repay the people that contacted me, by email and phone, prior to my surgery. God bless them and this web site.

Mike

Dude - I'm right here....I've been busy at good ole UPS, now that I'm getting around like normal.....Still get a bit stiff after sitting for a while and when I am dumb and wear heels to work I pay for it by the afternoon into the night by limping around. Lately it's a struggle to get any computer time around here since out desktop got a virus. My husband, son and myself fight for the laptop..lol....Mike I am apprehensive at times too about sudden movements but have actually sat with my legs crossed a few times with little discomfort. I emailed BIG BILL when IKE was closing in and glad that it did not hit him too hard....Take care and say hi to the your better half for me..lol......

SHARKGIRL
Lisa
Uncemented/Biomet/Gross/6-23-08

Alittle over 10"  and 40 staples
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z263/kelley124_photos/TEQUILLAORTURTLES088.jpg)


Chicks dig scars !!  But the J-Lo booty has gotta go.....hopefully the swelling goes away soon  ;D

I was told in Chennai by Dr. Bose that my incision was 4-5" long. When I got home, my wife, the RN, took off the bandage and said it was more like 7" and I 'corrected' my posting. Then I saw this post and actually measured it - exactly 4.5". Like others have said, when you're looking down and around at yourself, it seems a lot longer.

At one month the scar is only a trace line that shows all the earmarks of virtually vanishing.

My incision is six inches, wait I have two does that make 12 inches or 2 x 6 = 12 or 1 x 6 = 6 plus 1 x 6 = 6 plus two. I don't know I'm confuuuuuuuuuuused. Someone help me. Hey BILL you might have the J-LO booty but I have the french hips.Very curvy I might add.

                                                    Wayne-0

I've not yet had my surgery, but in Canada, they're not yet doing "minimally invasive" surgery.  I'm told my incision will be 12 to 15 inches.  That's huge and I'm terrified.  Any thoughts?

Okay I posted and I'm a good 8" over here in Orange County, CA but sitting on it nicely thank you!  The PA also commented how nice and curved the incision in vs. an inverted L or a 7 mine is more of a curved graceful line, oh boy!  With all my cellulite it should compliment my thigh nicely!  Casey  RHR Conserve+, Amstutz, 11/20/08

8" or so and the shape of a boomerang! Staples...coming out next Wednesday. Can't wait! I'm going to soak in the shower for hours after that. Sponge baths for two weeks...worst part of the whole surgery. This morning I had my husband put make a water-proof patch with Glad Cling Wrap and clear packing tape to cover my incision. That allowed me to take an advanced sponge bath by sitting on a bath bench in the bath tub and splashing soap and water on myself. Yes, I was desperate! I feel like a new woman!

Arthritis pain is gone...I don't really care what size my scar is!

PrairieGirl
Dr. Scott Cook, K.C., 11/26/08

I was expecting an 8" incision, but ended up with one closer to 14".  My doctor said I had large muscles (ex-football and raquetball player) and it took more room to get in and move stuff aside to perform the work.  I was a bit freaked at first, but after seeing the video of the surgery on this site, my incision looks about the same.

Warning, open at your own risk.  Soft porn and it could be hazardous to your eyes.

--> Incision image (http://wmrogers.smugmug.com/photos/440543253_NNgYZ-L-3.jpg) <--

If you are now blind, blame no one butt yourself...  ;D

Wow,(Mudpro link)

that pic was anything butt butt...lol, and with my morning coffee.  Then I saw B.I.L.L. and again nuthin butt ..awe u get it...butt it does make my 9inches look small, and I was bragging about mine...lol

We all hippies should make a postcard of all our shown off sides of us together, would sell!

Eric

My incision is about 5".

Here in Los Angeles, Dr. Amstutz likes them BIG...i am 5'1 and 110 pounds and i had a 10" incision which, now is
a barely visible slightly curved line ....my surgery date was 8/29/06.  Had dissolvable stitches and the gal, Debbie who
is Dr. Amstutz's assistant, is incredible at making your Butt look Beautiful....smile   Karen

HI Pat,

Mine is 14".  47 y.o. hockey player's butt and thighs.

-John Calvert

5 1/2 inches from stem to stern.


Chuck

I am 14 days post-op and just measured them each at 4".   The method Dr. Gross uses does not have any staples or stitches to be removed which is nice.  Now I have 4" parentheses (   ).   

Hi Landaq007 ...wow you are a bilateral!

Awesome.....it takes a special kind of person to be able to do both hips at the same time  ;)

As for scar...I should have had a 4 inch, but because I have a scar starting at the top of the leg (starting on the side) all the way down about a couple of inches before hitting the knee area (from previous 3 surgeries), Dr. Gross didn't want to give me a new scar that was offset from the old one. So he continued the cut from the top of my scar and then curved it like normal near the tushie area. So I probably have all of you beat  ;)    ;)

(And while he was at it, he revised my old scar to make it thinner and cleaner....he said he only offers that to the ladies) ;)

Karen
Karen

Quote from: karenj_m on February 18, 2009, 07:55:18 PM
Hi Landaq007 ...wow you are a bilateral!

Awesome.....it takes a special kind of person to be able to do both hips at the same time  ;)

As for scar...I should have had a 4 inch, but because I have a scar starting at the top of the leg (starting on the side) all the way down about a couple of inches before hitting the knee area (from previous 3 surgeries), Dr. Gross didn't want to give me a new scar that was offset from the old one. So he continued the cut from the top of my scar and then curved it like normal near the tushie area. So I probably have all of you beat  ;)    ;)

(And while he was at it, he revised my old scar to make it thinner and cleaner....he said he only offers that to the ladies) ;)

Karen
Karen

Thanks Karen!  I feel like I am special - specially crazy sometimes, however I was thinking the bilateral was going to be a lot more difficult than it has proven to be.  I was preparing myself for a lot longer recovery and have been very surprised with the fast recovery.

.. .. And the scars (27 days post op) are about fully healed for the most part - most of the scabs are gone and the scars are pretty thin now that the puffiness about gone.  I have put on Neosporin after each shower and I think that has helped them heal up smoothly.   

Mine is 4" with Dr. Gross's minimum invasive surgery technique.

 ;D Hi rick here 6days post op feeling good  i am 5f 9 in 325lbs had a resurfacing and my incision is 9in still trying to master exercice and my walker but feeling great    thanks rick

Just a little over 7 inches, 2 months post op tomorrow and feeling great ! :)

One is 6" and one is 7".  Ted Roberts Bi-Lat  Dr. Nelson

My incision is about 5 inches.  I voted 4 inches because there was no 5" option.

Hi

I added 5" and you can change your vote.   ;D

Pat

Thanks, Pat! :D

6", glued and looking good.

Hello all...

My incision is just over 7 inches.  I have the Adept device by Finsbury installed by Dr. John Antoniou in Montreal, Canada on March 11, 2011.

The scar probably does not matter much if the result is good.  I wonder if there is a difference with the type of procedure.

Do you have a poll that distinguishes if it is a trochanteric flip, a posterior, or anterior approach in surgery?

I had trochanteric flip (also extended recovery time) and I have a 10 inch scar.  I thought it was 13 so i incorrectly entered 12 on your other survey.

Hi

No there is not a category for which type of surgery you had.  There are only a few folks having the trochanteric flip, so I would not have a category for that. 

I have been reading and learning about hip resurfacing since 2005.  I had my BHR in 2006 and can hardly ever remember people having this type of surgical approach.  As I have been told, it is a rather old fashioned approach which very, very few surgeons using it.  I am glad it worked well for you, but I don't want the new people to think it is something new.  Almost all hip resurfacing surgery is done with the posterior approach.  I know a handful of surgeons that are doing resurfacing with the anterior approach like Dr. Matta in CA and Dr. Kreutzer in TX.  I have met them and listened to their presentations at the lastest hip resurfacing course in Baltimore in August.  Some use a special table while others don't.  There is always a lot of discussion between the few that use it and the majority that use the posterior approach.  The discussion always ends up that each surgeon should use the approach that they are most comfortable with Several surgeons gave presentations that they did start to use the anterior approach and it took them a long time to learn to do it.  They told how they sweated and how diffiuclt it was to learn, but once they had learned, they prefered it.  So some surgeons use the anterior approach, but they are in the minority. The majority still use the posterior approach since it gives excellent results and has an excellent retention rate.

Pat

8 inches. Very dramatic. It's healing nicely and I suppose if I were still dancing on table tops for a living I'd have it made more gorgeous by plastic surgery...but alas my current days are spent researching,writing, and working at a desk.  ;D

I do wonder what people who are models etc. do when they acquire scars like these?
Luanna

My scar/incision was 5 inches.  Don't really worry too much about it, heck, even I don't want to see my fanny anymore!! 

My right hip is 4" and my left is 5".  I vote 4" since I can't vote twice.

Both of mine are 4".

Your surgeon had to use two incisions?  So your total incision is 8"?   ;D  ;D  ;D

Haha, very funny!  But you are quite correct, my surgeon did have to make two incisions, one for each hip.  And if I add them together, it's a total of 8".  Should I change my poll number from 4" to 8"?

I had Anniee's...but only one so far, so its 4.  Curt

Mine Is pretty big at around 12" but then my legs are not normal size legs so lots of muscle to go through!

Mine is 8 inches and is glued shut.  Only 9 days so st ll hard to see behind the strips.

But the nurses told me it looks good.   Hopefully they are hard to impress!

My incision is 8" long.  I see that Dr. Goss patients have nice little 4" incisions.  Boy am I jealous of that!  I don't know why some incisions are longer than others but I do know that Dr. Su told me I had muscular thighs and to expect more post-op pain as a result.  Maybe that has something to do with incision length, a lot more to move around?

There are silicone strips made by Biodermis/Epiderm that help greatly with the appearance of scar tissue. They are medical grade strips. Do not buy the cheap ones sold in drug stores. It's the medical grade strips that are thicker/heavier that does the trick.  The strips work best in comparison to silicone gels, compression is key in flattening scar tissue.  They can be purchased on http://www.makemeheal.com.  Don't be fooled by cheaper brands, you will be disappointed.  Consult with your doctor on when it is safe to place them over the incision. 

Mine are both about 5-6 inches! Had clips, healing very well, massaging with high concentrate Vit E oil to reduce scars :D

10" no staples,

Mine is six inches and scary. I had glue on the top layer. The top of the scar is more sensitive than the bottom. I had the anterior approach and the scar is on the front left side of my leg. It does look better than the first week.

Two part answer

Incision for resurfacing about 4 inches, but while Dr. Gross was in there, he decided to clean up an 8 inch scar from my varus osteotomy from 25 yrs ago, so the total is 12 inches. 

5” incision.  Dr. Gross uses an interesting bandage called Aquacel.  It’s the coolest thing.  You can shower with it immediately after surgery.  Stays on for 7 days, then you peel it off like a Command strip!  Incision looked like a thin piece of raw, lean bacon (apologies to those with queasy tummies), but is healing nicely and surprisingly fast with no pain at all at the incision site. I apply a thin coat of Bactraban ointment as directed to it after showering.