Personal Question - Plastic Surgery
cheryldumais
Posts: 1,907 Member
I might be really out of line here to ask such a personal question so feel free to not respond if you don't want to share but I'm considering a skin surgery/tummy tuck after a loss of 90+ pounds. I can't make up my mind if it is just vanity particularly at my age - I'm 60. I suffer from yeast infection in the folds of loose skin and am sick of it not to mention the ridge around my hips from loose skin. Exercise will not fix this. I actually still have about 20 pounds to go but I'm trying to decide if I should do it before I go for a consultation. The waiting list for surgery is months so I want to get the ball rolling. I wanted to know if anyone has had the procedure done and any warnings/tips.
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I haven't had it and probably won't, but if you are having infections then it wouldn't just be vanity to have surgery. It would be worth having the consultation at least.22
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My husband had one. A big one where the incision was ~75% circumference. He lost 100lbs, but I would not have done it as he is still overweight. I would recommend you lose the additional weight first. But if it's going to take months, that's good incentive to get it done.
It's a rough recovery, I won't lie. But like anything else, you regret it while you are in pain, then once you recover you forget the pain and are glad you did it. If you are getting infections, you should be able to get insurance to cover it.6 -
I had one....I will happily admit it. I had it at 50, I only wish I had done it sooner! I still have struggles with my weight but it has redistributed and my high weight now is much less than before I got it done.
The recovery is tough but I feel like it is totally worth it! If you live alone, you will need someone with you for at least the first 2 days. After that, I needed a walker for a couple of days but really just to get up off the couch. Once I was up I could move around just fine...slow but fine.
I do think for insurance purposes you need a bit of history so if you haven't gone to the doctor for the yeast infections, you need to do so to start a paper trail.
Do it! you won't regret it! The best part...I don't have to dress to cover the tummy apron! It's gone!3 -
I'm having one (and a breast lift) in about three weeks. I only lost 35 pounds, so mine is STRICTLY a vanity thing. I just want a nice flat tummy, and I don't mind admitting that. It's my body and I can do whatever I want with it! I'm 54 years old.13
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I'm having one (and a breast lift) in about three weeks. I only lost 35 pounds, so mine is STRICTLY a vanity thing. I just want a nice flat tummy, and I don't mind admitting that. It's my body and I can do whatever I want with it! I'm 54 years old.
Good for you! That will hurt for sure...I had liposuction in a few places with mine which hurt waaaaaaaaay more than I thought it would! fortunately I had a pain pump.
You will enjoy the flat tummy! I do! But for me, it had to be a one and done. I can see why plastic surgery is a slippery slope...I have a long wish list but probably won't do it again. (I'd rather spend the money on a vacation or retiring a bit earlier!)1 -
I am so grateful to those of you who have shared. I never thought of trying my work insurance to cover it! I live in Canada and basic health care might cover some but hadn't even thought of my other insurance. Thanks for the suggestion! I'm terrified because I don't want to stop walking. I'm also curious how much weight was lost for the skin removed? I'm thinking 5 or 10 pounds or so? I know everyone would be different but with over 100 pounds gone once I'm done 5 to 10 seems reasonable. Any thoughts?0
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I want to say my husband's was around 11lbs. They also removed 2L of fat.1
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I'm having one (and a breast lift) in about three weeks. I only lost 35 pounds, so mine is STRICTLY a vanity thing. I just want a nice flat tummy, and I don't mind admitting that. It's my body and I can do whatever I want with it! I'm 54 years old.
Good for you! That will hurt for sure...I had liposuction in a few places with mine which hurt waaaaaaaaay more than I thought it would! fortunately I had a pain pump.
You will enjoy the flat tummy! I do! But for me, it had to be a one and done. I can see why plastic surgery is a slippery slope...I have a long wish list but probably won't do it again. (I'd rather spend the money on a vacation or retiring a bit earlier!)
Lol, you caught me. This is not my first rodeo...but as far as I can tell, it should be my last.
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Congrats on the loss! You still have 20# to go, nearly 20% of your total. That's a lot of change yet to take place, and it will, especially if you're a l see our working out. I don't know how you can decide now whether you'll need it. But personally I avoid any surgery that isn't medically necessary. Not worth the potential risk0
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I'm explicitly not trying to discourage you from having the surgery, especially in that you're having health problems because of the loose skin. Under those circumstances, surgery may well be the best strategy, and it's certainly worth going for a consultation to get solid information, as well as checking into the insurance implications early on, in case a paper trail is needed to get coverage. (IMO, BTW, vanity would be entirely a sufficient reason, if you decide you want the surgery).
That said, I just want to add a data point. I've lost materially less weight than you have (about 60 pounds, which was around 1/3 of my body weight), and did so over 10-11 months. Even at age 59-61, I've found that my loose skin has continued to shrink since losing the weight. (I started losing at 59; after maintaining for a year, I'm now 61). It may help that I'm physically active; I don't know.
Also, in some areas (for me), I think that the last few pounds of residual fat tended to help the loose skin persist. Why? It appears that some fat areas get squishy - the fat gets less dense - before the fat goes away. That layer of softer fat seems to have enough weight to pull down on the skin and so maintain the loose skin, but once that fat was gone that was not a factor, and it seemed easier for the skin to shrink.
People say loose skin can continue to shrink for a couple of years. I don't have personal evidence on that score, since I've only been maintaining for a year. But there's been noticeable (to me) shrinking of my loose skin during that year.
Good wishes on your consultation, your decision, and your surgery if you go that route!6 -
Congrats on the loss! You still have 20# to go, nearly 20% of your total. That's a lot of change yet to take place, and it will, especially if you're a l see our working out. I don't know how you can decide now whether you'll need it. But personally I avoid any surgery that isn't medically necessary. Not worth the potential risk
Yes, you are right I still have a ways to go. I also had two 9+ pound babies and have stretch marks up to my breasts. I expect some shrinkage but doubt my abdomen will ever be normal again. To get a surgery date I am likely looking at 6 to 8 months anyway and don't expect to make my goal until some time this summer. I am taking my time and as I said still trying to decide. I probably wouldn't even consider it if it weren't for the yeast infections. They crop up EVERY time I go on holiday for some reason. Don't know if you have ever had one on your skin but it's miserable. Not to mention it smells like dirty feet which is embarassing.That said, I just want to add a data point. I've lost materially less weight than you have (about 60 pounds, which was around 1/3 of my body weight), and did so over 10-11 months. Even at age 59-61, I've found that my loose skin has continued to shrink since losing the weight. (I started losing at 59; after maintaining for a year, I'm now 61). It may help that I'm physically active; I don't know.
Also, in some areas (for me), I think that the last few pounds of residual fat tended to help the loose skin persist. Why? It appears that some fat areas get squishy - the fat gets less dense - before the fat goes away. That layer of softer fat seems to have enough weight to pull down on the skin and so maintain the loose skin, but once that fat was gone that was not a factor, and it seemed easier for the skin to shrink.
People say loose skin can continue to shrink for a couple of years. I don't have personal evidence on that score, since I've only been maintaining for a year. But there's been noticeable (to me) shrinking of my loose skin during that year.
Thank you so much for this information it is really good to know. Perhaps I will get rid of some of the hanging skin. I have wings under my arms and my thighs look awful as well but I would never get surgery on those parts as I don't have any medical problems with it. My hips look like two hanging sacks too so maybe there's hope there as well!
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If i had excess loose skin and had the money to do it, I would 100% get it removed. Yes, the surgery and recovery time would be scary, but well worth it in the end IMO. I'm sure if money wasn't an issue many people would get it done.4
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I wonder if the surgeons recommendation would be different minus another 20 lbs. Another thing to consider is whether that will be the end. I'm at goal weight, but not goal body composition. I need to gain about 15 lbs of muscle and lose similar amount of fat, which will affect the amount of loose skin since muscle is smaller than fat.0
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cheryldumais wrote: »Congrats on the loss! You still have 20# to go, nearly 20% of your total. That's a lot of change yet to take place, and it will, especially if you're a l see our working out. I don't know how you can decide now whether you'll need it. But personally I avoid any surgery that isn't medically necessary. Not worth the potential risk
Yes, you are right I still have a ways to go. I also had two 9+ pound babies and have stretch marks up to my breasts. I expect some shrinkage but doubt my abdomen will ever be normal again. To get a surgery date I am likely looking at 6 to 8 months anyway and don't expect to make my goal until some time this summer. I am taking my time and as I said still trying to decide. I probably wouldn't even consider it if it weren't for the yeast infections. They crop up EVERY time I go on holiday for some reason. Don't know if you have ever had one on your skin but it's miserable. Not to mention it smells like dirty feet which is embarassing.That said, I just want to add a data point. I've lost materially less weight than you have (about 60 pounds, which was around 1/3 of my body weight), and did so over 10-11 months. Even at age 59-61, I've found that my loose skin has continued to shrink since losing the weight. (I started losing at 59; after maintaining for a year, I'm now 61). It may help that I'm physically active; I don't know.
Also, in some areas (for me), I think that the last few pounds of residual fat tended to help the loose skin persist. Why? It appears that some fat areas get squishy - the fat gets less dense - before the fat goes away. That layer of softer fat seems to have enough weight to pull down on the skin and so maintain the loose skin, but once that fat was gone that was not a factor, and it seemed easier for the skin to shrink.
People say loose skin can continue to shrink for a couple of years. I don't have personal evidence on that score, since I've only been maintaining for a year. But there's been noticeable (to me) shrinking of my loose skin during that year.
Thank you so much for this information it is really good to know. Perhaps I will get rid of some of the hanging skin. I have wings under my arms and my thighs look awful as well but I would never get surgery on those parts as I don't have any medical problems with it. My hips look like two hanging sacks too so maybe there's hope there as well!
People who hate ugly mental visuals should stop reading right here. I warned you!
At the time of hitting goal weight (around 120 pounds at 5'5"), I looked at my back in a mirror. I swear, my rear looked like a bulldog's face - droopy, wrinkly, eek! - not good. Still, I'd rather that than the fat. A year on, it looks like a rear end, with a bit of droop to it. No biggie, and I'm betting time some & deadlifts and such will improve the situation further. Pretty dramatic improvement in a year, if you ask me. (No , no photos! Yikes! I'm a li'l ol' lady!)
One thing about the arm wings: Be sure you know what you have. I see soooo many women who hold their arms out straight in relaxed fashion & move them back and forth, and call anything that moves "ugly" "fat" "loose skin" on their upper arms.
No. Before you do that, bend your arms upward, curl your wrists a bit, tighten your triceps (the muscles on the back of your upper arms) and generally flex like a body-builder. Now move your arms around, staying flexed. Whatever moves now might be loose skin or fat (it may also be that you're not very adept at flexing like a body-builder.
).
Relaxed triceps, even on quite fit women, are mobile. If it isn't floppy when you tighten everything up, it isn't loose skin or fat, it's triceps. You can also check by holding on to the "flap" on one side with the other hand, then tightening up the side you're holding. If you feel it tightening up, it's a relaxed muscle, not fat or skin.
There are way too many women in the world mis-identifying their relaxed muscles as "ugly" "fat" "bat-wing" "chicken-wing" "flaps", and disliking the muscles that help them move. Be sure you're not doing that!
Still, as I said in the previous post, I encourage you to a medical consult because of that yeast-infection issue. Good luck!4 -
Sorry I can't help directly with your question, but this article caught my eye a few days ago. This is the first place I'd seen an actual reason why loose skin can actually cause plateaus or weight loss difficulties. The CNN article links to a published journal article that might help you decide if you can find a copy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/16/health/resting-metabolic-rate-fitness-weight-partner/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/64678091 -
If my insurer would pay for skin removal, I'd have it in a heartbeat.
My weight loss of nearly 150 pounds has been a long process, and loose skin appeared very gradual. But, now- it's like everyday it seems to get even MORE loose! Especially on my inner thighs and my face.
Heck, I even have loose skin on my hands.
Through out my loss I've been very active, and have good muscle tone. My upper arms, back, and calves all have visible muscles.
The tummy overhang actually bothers me the least. It's the 'bat wings', thighs and face that are most visible.
I've been told that after a year or so some will tighten up...I hope so.
But overall, I'll take the loose skin any day over that extra weight.
I'd say 'go for it' if you can, especially with the skin infections happening.
Also..congratulations on the weight loss!
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AnnPT77 thank you! You have given me hope. When I flex my arms the way you describe there is definately a difference. And the rear end info also helped alot. I may just put off the surgery for a bit and see what happens. I've been putting off strenth training too long it's time to do something about that. As for the yeast infections... Gold Bond powder is my best friend, lol.
FitOldMomma, I agree I would rather have the loose skin than the fat anyday.
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fitbethlin wrote: »Sorry I can't help directly with your question, but this article caught my eye a few days ago. This is the first place I'd seen an actual reason why loose skin can actually cause plateaus or weight loss difficulties. The CNN article links to a published journal article that might help you decide if you can find a copy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/16/health/resting-metabolic-rate-fitness-weight-partner/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6467809
This was a facinating read. Thank you for sharing.0 -
cheryldumais wrote: »
This was a facinating read. Thank you for sharing.fitbethlin wrote: »Sorry I can't help directly with your question, but this article caught my eye a few days ago. This is the first place I'd seen an actual reason why loose skin can actually cause plateaus or weight loss difficulties. The CNN article links to a published journal article that might help you decide if you can find a copy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/16/health/resting-metabolic-rate-fitness-weight-partner/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6467809
Sadly, the first link is to an article where cause and effect appear to be reversed. For example, reduced core temperature is the result, not a cause, of adaptive thermogenesis as the article implies.0
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