Excess Skin Forum (Surgery or Body Image)

IsMollyReallyHungry

I know many WLS patients have excess skin that needs to be removed. If you are contemplating or have already had excess skin removal surgery please use this forum to share your experiences and to ask any questions to members regarding this matter.

How many of you are struggling with body image issues because of excess skin? I know this is an issue for many of us, so use this forum to discuss any issues regarding excess skin.

We look forward to hearing from you.

MSWDiet

MY BODY IMAGE ISSUES COULD FILL VOLUMES AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW MsMOLLIE. I'M SURPRISED AT HOW SKIN THAT WAS NOT TOO BAD IN THE BEGINING HAS SAGGED OVER THE YEAR SINCE REACHING GOAL. THIS IN SPITE OF SOME BLASTED RE-GAIN.

I WON'T CONSIDER PLASTIC SURGERY UNTIL I'VE STAYED FIVE POUNDS UNDER GOAL FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS. BUT, I FANTASIZE ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HAVE THE FLAB TIGHTENED. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN FAT BUT NEVER BEFORE FLABBY.

THE FAT ALWAYS COVERED GOOD FIRM MUSCLE TONE. NOW THE SKIN IS MORE VISIBLE THAN THE MUSCLE. I LIKE HAVING ALWAYS LOOKED FIT REGARDLESS OF MY SIZE. I'M NOT TRYING TO LOOK LIKE A TEEN BUT I WISH MY SMALLER BODY SHOWED THE MUSCLE TONE.

Simona38

The only thing that really makes me self conscious and that I'd consider having removed are my bat wings. Let me tell ya...on a windy day, I could take flight! I've always hated them. I NEVER wear anything short sleeved or sleeveless.

Laura8603

HATED the bat wings!! As soon as I got to goal, I got them clipped. I love love love my arms now. This past summer I got a lower body lift and breast lift. My thighs are still a mess, but I'm not sure I'll ever get them done. I'm pretty happy with my body now. Scars and all.

AdymondNtheRuff

I would love to have my lower stomach and boobs done... I went for a free consultation and was told it will cost 24,000 plus... I am trying to figure out how I can get it done where it is not cosmetic... Ugghhh!!!

vdegraff

My bat wings are not from excess skin. I've always had huge flabby arms. I hate them. I work out my arms every morning!

IsMollyReallyHungry

HATED the bat wings!! As soon as I got to goal, I got them clipped. I love love love my arms now. This past summer I got a lower body lift and breast lift. My thighs are still a mess, but I'm not sure I'll ever get them done. I'm pretty happy with my body now. Scars and all.

Hello,
Why did you not get your thighs done? Because that is what I would need done. By arms are not good but I could live with them.

Laura8603

HATED the bat wings!! As soon as I got to goal, I got them clipped. I love love love my arms now. This past summer I got a lower body lift and breast lift. My thighs are still a mess, but I'm not sure I'll ever get them done. I'm pretty happy with my body now. Scars and all.

Hello,
Why did you not get your thighs done? Because that is what I would need done. By arms are not good but I could live with them.

Pain, healing is tougher, cost, recovery time, etc. Lots of reasons not to. And I look pretty good in clothes, even with the scary thighs. So I will live with them.

Laura8603

HATED the bat wings!! As soon as I got to goal, I got them clipped. I love love love my arms now. This past summer I got a lower body lift and breast lift. My thighs are still a mess, but I'm not sure I'll ever get them done. I'm pretty happy with my body now. Scars and all.

Hello,
Why did you not get your thighs done? Because that is what I would need done. By arms are not good but I could live with them.

Pain, healing is tougher, cost, recovery time, etc. Lots of reasons not to. And I look pretty good in clothes, even with the scary thighs. So I will live with them.

IsMollyReallyHungry

HATED the bat wings!! As soon as I got to goal, I got them clipped. I love love love my arms now. This past summer I got a lower body lift and breast lift. My thighs are still a mess, but I'm not sure I'll ever get them done. I'm pretty happy with my body now. Scars and all.

Hello,
Why did you not get your thighs done? Because that is what I would need done. By arms are not good but I could live with them.

Pain, healing is tougher, cost, recovery time, etc. Lots of reasons not to. And I look pretty good in clothes, even with the scary thighs. So I will live with them.

Thanks Laura,
That is what I thought. That is why I backed off too. Heard it was more risky also and I don't take blood transfusion.

frogmama

bump

Kelly_Wilson1990

I want to get a body lift, arms, and breast done.

Lobster1987

I want to get my boobs done, a lower body lift, and a butt augmentation.

Robin66

I'm scheduled for a tummy tuck on Jan.3rd, I'm terrified to the point of canceling, but I really hate my stomach, I swear it make me look 30 or 40 pounds heavier.

erinacarpenter

I desperately want a 360 belt done the tummy tuck and but lift but I really want to be much closer to my goal weight of 150. I hate my body just as much now at 244 as I did when I was almost 400 pounds. :frown:

shandylynn

I am already noticing excess skin and flabbiness after 50 pounds lost. (Although I've always been flabby). The most distressing part is related to intimacy with my husband. He swears he doesn't care, but it definitely bothers me a lot. I will definitely consider at least a tummy tuck and boob lift after I get to goal.

I work in a Women's Health department at a hospital and care for GYN surgical patients. We now have a general/plastic surgeon who does tummy tucks after our OB/GYN completes hysterectomies. They still have to pay for the surgery, but the hospitalization/anesthesia is covered by insurance for the hysterectomy. I've heard of women doing something similar when having a breast reduction. They would add in a tummy tuck and have reduced cost due to insurance paying for the breast reduction part.

phinners

Why dont you believe him Shandylynn? if he loves you all the same then you should believe that.

Im a bit flabby too and my husband is still bonkers for me, I have no reason to think that he's lying when he tells me he dotes on me. So why should you hun? Youre denying yourself fun and loving from the man you adore.

xx

shandylynn

Oh it's not that I don't believe him. It's kind of like having a huge zit on your nose and someone telling you it's not noticable, when it obviously is. He loves me and supports me and totally doesn't care.

I don't deprive myself or him, I just don't "feel" attractive and have to make a conscious effort to NOT think about the flabby skin.

MSWDiet

HI WLS FOLKS!

MY SKIN ISSUES ARE EMERGING AFTER A YEAR'S DELAY. SURPRISE, SURPRISE, I THOUGHT I HAD ESCAPED THE WORST OF IT.

I WAS NEVER FLABBY IN SPITE OF MY GIRTH. I'VE ALWAYS WORKED OUT AND HAD WELL TONED FAT COVERED MUSCLES. SKIN WHICH WAS NOT BAD AT FIRST IS SUCCUMBING TO THE FORCES OF GRAVITY A YEAR LATER.

LAST SUMMER ALL WAS PRETTY FIRM CONSIDERING AGE AND WEIGHT LOSS. ADMITTEDLY I HAVE NOT PAMPERED IT DAILY AS I DID WHILE I WAS STILL LOOSING. STILL, I AM SURPRISED THAT IN SPITE OF NO MORE WEIGHT LOSS, MY SKIN LOOKS MORE SLACK AND MY WELL TONED MUSCLE IS NO LONGER AS VISIBLE.

ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS DELAYED SAGGING?

prbyjennyd

OMG!!!! I have the hugest, most disgusting bat wings EVER!!!!! I hate them!! It is all I think about in the summer. Wearing a bathing suit is a fate worse than death for me!!! My mom and I had the vertical sleeve together (8/2010), and we both suffer from the nasty arms. Together, we lost over 300 lbs between the 2 of us, and we look great in clothes, but please don't ever ask to see what is underneath, lol!!!

I have heard that getting them "clipped" if very painful. Which is one reason that I haven't had it done, besides the cost. Can anyone verify or weigh in on the discomfort level of recuperating? I have had 2 c-sections, and the wls of course, and recovery from the vertical sleeve was way worse than the c-sections. I am a whoose, and not afraid to admit it!

MacMadame

ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS DELAYED SAGGING?

It's possible you have continued to lose fat or it's redistributed even if your weight remained the same. (If you lost fat and are the same weight, you gained muscle to replace it.)

My weight doesn't change dramatically but in the summer when I'm working out intensely, my skin gets very loose.

SCUBAMomofTwo

Plastic surgery costs varying depending on what part of the country you are in. I had an extended TT, scar revision and breast lift two years ago and it cost right around $15,000 for everything, including an overnight at the free standing surgical center. If you have any pre-existing medical issues you will probably require hospitalization, which adds to the cost.

Kathkeb

Hi,
I had my arms done along with a breast lift in November of 2010.
It was out patient in a surgery center and I was thereabout 4 hours total.

I went home all bandaged around the chest and from my wrists to my armpits.
I had 1 drain in each armpit, but did not feel anything because of the anesthetic and pain meds.

I went back the next day and they unwrapped my bandages, pulled out the drains and re bandaged me.

The syrgery was on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. I took the whole next week off.
I was up and walking around the neighborhood by Saturday ... And driving and running errands byMonday, getting ready for thanksgiving.

I was uncomfortable but not in pain.
In the evenings, my arms would feel heavy ski would wrap them with flexible ice packs. For an hour or so.

Overall, it was a breeze and I am so glad I had it done.

I had a tummy tuck 2 1/2 weeks ago and also am surprised that it was not nearly as painful as I expected.

Completely worth it to have a body I a proud of.

Good luck

frogmama

I have been about 2 or 3 pounds from goal since June 2011. I had a lot of excess skin in the lower abdominal area and felt as though that excess skin looked pretty bad. On January 27, I had a tummy tuck. I am now back to exercising except for any kind of ab work. That will have to wait for a few more months. I am very pleased with the results, and finally feel comfortable when I look in the mirror. I stayed overnight and came home the morning after surgery. I had 2 drains that were left in place for two weeks. I had the surgery on Friday and took pain medication until Tuesday. After that I felt pretty good and really didn't need to take anything after that.

My arms and legs have a bit of excess skin but I have exercised a lot for several years and these areas aren't too bad. At least not bad enough to have further surgery,

Arthemise1

I will probably NEED a breast lift when I'm done losing the weight. For anyone who's had it done, how bad are the scars? I've seen "after" pictures (scars around the aureola and down the underside), but I don't know how long after surgery they were. I mean, I can hardly even find my tiny LapBand scars, but these would be more drastic, I'm guessing.

Laura8603

I will probably NEED a breast lift when I'm done losing the weight. For anyone who's had it done, how bad are the scars? I've seen "after" pictures (scars around the aureola and down the underside), but I don't know how long after surgery they were. I mean, I can hardly even find my tiny LapBand scars, but these would be more drastic, I'm guessing.

I have to ask, why are you so worried about the scars???????? Yes, I have scars, but they are minimal and faded. I love having my breasts up where they belong. My clothing fits better. I can wear strapless clothing. The scar are not visible in clothing and my boyfriend does not mind them. No one else sees them. I do not understand why people worry about the scars.

IsMollyReallyHungry

I will probably NEED a breast lift when I'm done losing the weight. For anyone who's had it done, how bad are the scars? I've seen "after" pictures (scars around the aureola and down the underside), but I don't know how long after surgery they were. I mean, I can hardly even find my tiny LapBand scars, but these would be more drastic, I'm guessing.

I have to ask, why are you so worried about the scars???????? Yes, I have scars, but they are minimal and faded. I love having my breasts up where they belong. My clothing fits better. I can wear strapless clothing. The scar are not visible in clothing and my boyfriend does not mind them. No one else sees them. I do not understand why people worry about the scars.

I agree. You just have decide which one is more important to you. Hanging/excess skin or a few scars. Any surgery you have will have scars, so it is a part of the process.

HealthyDeb

I had and still have lots of loose skin. I had my arms done first in '04 and it was a botch job so I had to have a revision. That scared me to do anything else for 5 years and then in '09 I had the lower body lift and WOW! It was great so I had the upper body lift 2 yrs later in '11. I look and feel so much better and was going to stop but now I want to move forward to see if I can afford to do the legs. I'm currently between jobs so I have the time and I still have credit to pay for it. I never thought in a million years I'd spend this much money on myself. My legs are enormous still and I look very out of proportion. I have a consult set for Wednesday with the PS that did my upper and lower so we'll see how it goes. I'll let you all know what he says.

HealthyDeb

Back from my consult on the thighs. PS suggests 2 stage surgery whereby he does lipo first to deflate/debulk and then 3-6 months later the thigh lift. I think I'm going to move forward even though it is costly and I'm nervous. I will then hope an pray that I find a job to pay off the debt so my DH doesn't have to pay for it (even though is has offered because he knows how much it means to me) He says he loves me just the way I am and was before the surgeries, however, he never knew me before GB at 380, hahaha.

Has anyone else had the thighs done or lipo? I've never thought of having lipo.

HealthyDeb

I was hoping someone would have responded I'm disappointed but that's life:brokenheart:

Here is an update to whoever is interested.

I went in for my preoperative visit today. Filled out all the forms, had photos taken (gross), measured for support garment that I will have to wear 6 weeks after & that they put on me while I'm under general anesthesia & of course paid in full. The nurse answered all of my questions and then I talked to the PS again. He reassured me that this is a outpatient procedure that should take 3 hours and he hopes to remove 3 liters of fat from my thighs and knees. He said I would be really sore and bruised for a couple of weeks and swollen for months. It's being done in a hospital setting in case of complications but I sure hope and pray that I don't have to.

I know that I still will need a thigh lift but that will have to wait until I win the lotto or rob a bank:laugh: but I'm hoping that this will help me with being able to get into pants better. It is such a drag trying to pull on jeans with all this loose saggy fat around my thighs and knees.:grumble:

If anyone is interested in any further updates please message me because I feel like a moron posting it on this thread since it appears that nobody is interested. :embarassed:

I'm very nervous but excited and would love to hear from anyone who has had this done to calm my fears, hopefully.

Good luck in your journey wherever you are at on it's path!

AnotherAustinGirl

Hi, Deb! I'm interested! I was disappointed no one replied to your earlier post. My legs are a mess but need to wait before I can have any of this done. I don't know if I'm even a candidate for any of it as I had a total knee replacement about five years ago. I wish that surgeon could have helped me out while he was in there doing the knee but he wouldn't.