Ive been advised that the excess skin might not be an issue for me as my skin has great elasticity and the fact that I havent been overweight for a very long time. My question to the forum...how many of you have had the tummy tuck (I guess any cosmetic surgery due to your weight loss) and how many did not need it?

I was very fortunate. My skin was very elastic and i didn't have any skin issues at all. Snapped right back - although I wish my legs were an itty bit "tighter." Nothing near needing surgery though.

I did end up getting new "girls" after all was said and done though (I ended up with the chest of a 12 year old BOY after I lost all my weight).

Only 4 months out & I can tell I will need the tummy done. Everything else I will probably just live with, but the excess skin on the belly is gonna be a problem.

I am having a full body cut and paste as soon as I lose the last 40 or so lbs the plastics docs said I needed to. Everything needs to be lifted, tucked, pinned, pasted, poked, and relocated! I will say that I was also EXTREMELY MO before wls...and did alot of damage to my body for years.

That said...a friend of mine also had wls, lost 124lbs...and never had a thing done except a breast job, and that was only because she had wanted larger for years prior. Even overweight....she had a small chest. She credits her lack of excess to being hydrated at all times, and exercising 5-6 days a week.

Best of luck!

im planning on plastic surgery sometime next year i have 20 lbs left and need to maintain before surgery. i started out at 225 and have alot of hanging skin on my inner thighs,arms, stomache and my girls hang really low and need brought back up were they once were. when u loose alot of weight fast skin is going to hang no matter how young or old u r. good luck...

I am having a lower body lift(tummy,butt,outter thighs) this coming up MONDAY!!!!!!!!

Hi Papergirl,

I had PS 4 years after my WLS. Tummy, arms and breasts. And I couldn't be happier. My skin did not "go back", my stomach wasn't as bad as others I've seen, but I hated it!!! I was overweight for YEARS though, so my poor skin had enough I guess. I "should" get my thighs done too, but the skin isn't hanging or "in my way" or anything, they are just ugly, but I hate pain so I won't be getting that done!!!

Good luck to you and I hope you get your date soon!!!

Hi Paper!!

There are alot of things that play into needing plastics. Age, amount of weight lost, how you carry your weight, how long you were overweight etc. You wont really know what you WANT or NEED till your done or close to done losing so I wouldnt worry about it.

But hopefully for you that because you werent MO for very long you WONT NEED IT! It's $$$$!

Good luck to you and keep us posted!

Hugs, Julie

P.S. I've had a tummy tuck, breast lift w/small implants, some lipo and my arms done. I will be 50 this year and have been pretty overweight for half my life....so lets just say...I didnt have ALOT of excess skin..but enough...6lbs off with tummy tuck, 9 lbs off with Lipo. I still need my thighs and butt done but that will wait as i'm working on taking another 20 off even after 4 years post op!

Hope this helps!

I was SMO prior to surgery and was for about 10 years and MO prior to that so to say the least I have tons of skin where my hips belong...as well as puddles for my inner thighs. And 10lbs worth Was on my tummy but I had a peneulectomy(sp?) (10 lbs of excess skin removed from my tummy area; it hang down to my knees) about 2 years after wls...that was 3 yrs ago...Wooo Hoo, so glad I did!!!! Now my knees don't hit my tummy when I climb stairs...this was more of a balance/walking issue than a cosmetic one for me (ALTHOUGH, don't get me wrong, I NEEDED the surgery!)....I also had 1 or 2lb (gosh, can't remember which right now, brain dead) of excess skin removed from my arms at the same time I did my tummy. My PS has suggested that I get a lower body lift and I want to once I get about 100lbs more off....or at least 50lbs...right now my hips and thighs (inner and outer) are the worst... but I so abused my body by being so overweight for so many years...stretched out ALL my skin except maybe my "back"....

Blessings, hope this helps!

I don't really need to have Ps on my tummy, but my thighs and butt and boobs need it bad! I'll have to save for a few years as my insurance won't cover it. You won't know if you need PS until you are close to goal. Just the way it works.

I've had a full body lift. However, I was SMO for about 15 years and MO or just plain O for the rest of my life. There was no chance that any of that skin was going to snap back!

No PS here, nor is there likely to be. It would be nice to have my tummy, thighs, and upper arms tightened up and the "girls" lifted back up where they (theoretically) should be, but they don't cause me any medical problems, so I'll live with them. If I were to have anything done, it would probably be to have the extra skin nipped off under my jaw and on my neck. I really dislike the way it looks, but I'm too cheap to spend the money for it. I'm 60 and wanting to retire this year. Given the choice of PS or retiring, I'll take retirement.

As Julie pointed out, there are a number of variables that influence one's "need" for PS following WLS. Having lost nearly 200 pounds after being obese since my teens, (I'll be 46 soon.) my skin hung and had more folds than a Shar Pei. It just wasn't pretty! Call me odd, but I just didn't appreciate my belly resting on my thighs, and I won't even try to describe the "girls." When I was a Size 5x, it was "expected." At a Size 6, it just made it difficult for me to see the weight loss. My skin just wasn't meant to stretch the way it did. When pregnant with my son, I had stretch marks at two months. Have you ever seen a balloon filled so full it almost pops? After being blown up several times and slowly deflated, it no longer holds its shape. That's the best example I can think of to describe it. Well . . . that and the Shar Pei. I've had a full abdominoplasty and a reduction mammoplasty and mastopexy. The results are phenominal--not "perfect," however, I am VERY pleased with the outcome and would DEFINITELY do it again! Because I run, I'm hoping to have my backside lifted, have the skin on my inner upper thighs removed, and up triceps done. For now, I'll just wear snug fitting running gear and be thankful for the work I've had done. I earned it!

I will need a tummy tuck when all is said and done. I have/had lost about 95 lbs and needed one then. My apron didn't hang as low as some I just resembled more of a sharpei puppy/ accordian. All of the wrinkles and stretch marks just sort of folded in on one another. My stretch marks go up to about 1/4 of an inch in width. It kind of looks like my kids try to claw there way out of me. I have a no skin elasticity it just isn't in my genes. I will need a lift and fill as well for the girls. I think one part of the severity of my lax skin is that I gained my weight fast. I was always overweight but the weight I gained so quickly with being pregnant with my boys back to back and never losing in between was just too much for my skin to handle. I do look forward to running down the stairs and not flapping!

I agreaa with many here about the factors that go into needing PS. My MD told me that b/c I was over the (magical) age of 30 the elasisticy(sp?) was gone. I have also been MO all my life and at the time had 3 kids. I now have 4 )I am done now hehe). Genes also play a factor.

I will be going in for the 1st of 3 PS. I go in on April 18th and will have my arms done with my abs. I have to have my entire abdomen rebuilt due to Multiple incisional hernias and multiple uses of my zipper in the last 3 years. They will be removing the muscle that runs right down the middle of your abs and pulling everything to the center.

My second surgery will be my legs. I am also a runner and have quite a bit hanging skin on my inner thighs and it gets sore after I run from being josseled around. The last surgery will be my backside being lifted and the girls being out back where they belong.

I have to say PS is a VERY personal decision. Personally , when I look in the mirror I see a Shar Pei puppy and I do not see my weight loss. The only way I see a difference is through pitures. Honestly, I don't have many "skinny" pictures up b/c I want to remember where I came from and where I WILL NEVER GO AGAIN!!!!

Good Luck and God Bless...

I wanted one of those years back, since I'm 10 years out, but it was not advise to me, meaning I was told not to do it because it was very new and my doctor thought it might not be safe... I'm happy for you

[quote name='PaperGirl' date='Feb 21 2008, 12:49 PM' post='69072']
Ive been advised that the excess skin might not be an issue for me as my skin has great elasticity and the fact that I havent been overweight for a very long time. My question to the forum...how many of you have had the tummy tuck (I guess any cosmetic surgery due to your weight loss) and how many did not need it?



I had a tummy tuck (12 pounds) about 18 months out. I also had a 10 pound breast reduction 3 years out. Both were a godsend...

Dawn

I am almost 2 years out and have lost over 170 pounds. I have lots of saggy skin. My stomach is down around my thighs, my arms flap so much I can almost take flight, and the girls are so wrinkled and shriveled it is truely sad. I was planning on having my surgery this year. I was also looking at going out of the country as it is so much more expensive here in the states. However, I have my first grandson coming in April and my son is getting married in November. There are just too many other things going on in my life right now. As so often happens, my wants and needs are put on the back burner until a more workable time. I do have to agree that PS is a totally personal decision. So many of my friends say they don't see why I need PS as they only see how I look in my clothes. Looking at myself in the buff is a really scarey thing to behold. Hugs.

After we have all the babies we want, then my apron will be removed! I was shocked after this pregnancy. When suddenly I had sagging skin on my lap! Gross, but lower lift after we are done having children, and all the pregnancy weight lost, is a deff. goal in mind! Everybody is different. :)

It really depends on the individual ~ I was 56 when I had WLS surgery and my skin has (for some reason) retained its elasticity. Did not need plastic surgery. So be patient while you lose weight and hopefully you will not need additional surgery. However, if you do, I have seen the results of some surgery that a wonderful friend had and it is awesome!!

Playful

You give me hope. I look at what is sagging & I'm a little less than 1/2 way to goal. I hope it isn't going to be too awful, but one never knows. The fact that you were a year older than I am & still had elasticity, gives me a glimmer of hope. "It ain't over 'til the (not so) fat lady sings."