Almost goal,Tummy Tuck in Jan...Success but scared :( *Pics*

DevonLigotti

Well i started around 190, and now am 125. I did it, and ive kept it off. However,unlike a lot of pics ive seen of women who lose weight and still get a somewhat flat tummy after,mine is pouchy, stretch marked and wrinkles when i bend....
Im only 26 with no children and it looks like ive popped out a litter of them! lol

I consulted with Dr. Youn here in metro Detroit and now have a fully tummy tuck scheduled Jan 24th...i should be overjoyed to finally feel like ill have my self confidence....but im left with some fears
I see some tummy tucks where the belly button ends up looking REALLY weird...or the scar is scrooked..this isnt like buying a car or something where you can see the product first and that terrifies me...also as stated above i havent had kids...but when im in my 3-s i plan on doing so and most likely ruining the results....but I dont want to spend theses next 5-8 years hating my body! *sigh*

I guess i could just use some encouragement...heres some pics of the dreadful tummy buldge that has to go!!!

Rachiepie6

Please don't take this in a bad way, just repeating what I've read very little on.
Doesn't it take months for your skin to recover after large weightloss? I don't know your full story, so just my thoughts: wouldn't you want to see what your body can do for itself before you resort to surgery.

Not trying to be offensive.

DevonLigotti

Ive been doing this for about a year and a half now, i did lose most of my weight fast...but no matter what i cant work off excess skin, when i bend, you can see that its not just pudge,but skin thats leftover.
I understand where your coming from, but i think to be totally rid of that buldge i would have to lose about 15 more pounds and get a ridicuouls low body fat percentage...and i dont want to be a muscle machine lol i like a little softness left to me...<3 ( i do work out with weights and kettlebell and do have muscle, i just dont want to be all muscle!)

sm423

Not judging, just giving a lil advice...I would say wait until after you have kids. I'm not exactly sure how they go about doing a tummy tuck, but I would be scared to let my skin stretch out that much while pregnant, knowing I had the procedure done. But in the end it's your body and your happiness.

kathiemcn

Your tummy looks just like mine...only a tiny bit bigger. But because of that I think you could possibly lose a little more weight from there before you get the tuck. So think about that a bit first, as it doesn't look to be all skin.....it look just like mine, and I feel I have more to lose from there yet. maybe some walking or some situps and pushups?...that's what I'm trying first.

I have always felt I may have to have a tummy tuck after I have lost all my weight too, as there will be a lot of skin left over, but after just having had my gall bladder removed I don't look forward to another trip to the hospital...the discomfort or the cost. However, that said, I think you are perfectly justified in getting a tummy tuck if you want to....as long as you're confident with your surgeon you should be fine. I have had plastic surgery (nose job, breast reduction) in the past and I really do not regret either, as I feel they were definitely worth the discomfort and the cost. Nothing is ever perfect, and there will be scars, but it should be better and you will feel more confident.

All the best with it. Cheers. :drinker:

Artemis_Acorn

It's your body, so do what you want of course, but I've read that it can take up to two years for the skin to catch up. I would invest in some good shapewear to give it some more time, and rent a bunch of Bollywood films for an attitude check - they like their women to have a little bit of a poochy belly, and they are some sexy women!

risefromruin

My tummy looks like yours when I bend over as well, so I definitely feel your pain. I'd love to have a tummy tuck because I'm self conscious about it but I don't even have the money to consider an operation like that. I may look into it someday when I have kids or something...but I'm mostly worried about it because I'm almost 24 and still haven't met mister right I hope your surgery goes well and that you get the results you want!

MîîśÊmÿłõü

how quickly did you lose the weight? if it was drastically then it some hwta explains the excess skin, but id agree wait unti, youve had children, because your stomach will stretch again leaving you feeling the same way you feel now...and you would more than likely want to get another tuck after the kids too..just food for thought. its your body and your chpice of course but its important to think about all the factors ..not just right now.

MellowGa

I would get a second opinion from a Doctor, not a Plastic surgeon.

I would also research the DR very carefully, the last thing you want is a botched surgery.

I would talk to former patients and go on to Forums about this surgery and talk to people who had it.

supertracylynn

I am 26 with 3 kids and lost a lot of weight, too, and I have sme serious stretch marks.

I've kept it off for 2 years now, losing the majority of my weight on a 6 month period of time.

I can say with all honesty that I have less loose skin now than I did then. The $5000 wasn't worth it to me, and I'm pretty glad I skipped the surgery.

Also if you're genetically prone to stretch marks, you'll get them with pregnancy. They will likely be worse if you get the surgery right now.

annejuju

My honest opinion would be to wait until after you have children - your stomach will stretch out again and may naturally come back tighter (I haven't a kid so I can't honestly say). I've considered a couple surgeries after I lose the weight but I don't want to do them until after I have kids because I would hate to pay for something and then it either a) affect my pregnancy or b) be ruined by my pregnancy

Elleinnz

In the end you should do what makes you happy, and you have most probably thought this through.....

Personally I would finish losing weight - and then give my body time to settle in the new body
Do some weight training - a lot of what you are seeing can be sorted with some sweat in the gym
Seriously think if you want to go down the surgery route before you have had kids - trust me that tummy is most probably going to look a lot worse once you have had kids (and I suggest there are just so many tummy tucks one can safely have....)
Get a second opinion.....

Good luck with whatever you decide

DevonLigotti

To posters saying to wait to have children...i understand where you are coming from but i dont plan on having kids for 5-8 years...and the thought of living with a body im uncomfortable in for that much longer is not something i want for myself.

I realize there is still some fat in my belly too, but a part of it is just skin that will not go away even if i got down to 100 pounds.

Im a bit suprised at all the not-so-positive reactions....but i respect everyones honesty

EDIT: Side note,my surgeon was voted one of the top 10 in the nation by US news and is highly respected in his field, hes going to use sutures that dissolve so my muscles can stretch if i get pregnant, he also states that the tuck can be repaired after children if needed. (yes i know hes pretty likely to say what i want to hear, but i have seen revised tucks as well)

Dexy_

I understand wanting the tummy tuck, but please wait until after kids! Unless you wanna shell out the $$$ twice!

flausa

I just had a conversation with my doctor yesterday about similar feelings. He told me it was time to stop trying to lose more weight and focus on learning to love and be content with the body I have. He said that if someone is physically healthy but unhappy with the way they look, losing weight (or having a tummy tuck) will not miraculously make them happy. There's no guarantee that you will like your body once you've had a tummy tuck. Spend some time learning to love the body you have ... not criticizing it ... not comparing yourself to other people ... just loving your body as it is. I wish it was easy because I'm under doctor's orders to do it!

mquarry

With massage and some vitamin E oil rubbed on your belly, you can reduce the stretch marks and help bring back the elasticity in your skin, making it shrink. It will take a while longer, but you won't have to worry about scars, or if it ends up needing to be fixed after you have children.

However, it is totally your body. Your fears are justified, and every person that gets one done has these fears. It's natural to be worried about it with plastic surgery (...I really hate that term...). If you feel you need it, get it done.

WalkWell

You know the costs and you have done your homework- you are prepared to have a revision after kids. Go for it. Now my comment on waiting till after surgery is this- I have huge breasts- i have done since puberty- even when I was at my ideal weight. At a few rare times this has seemed like a good thing- but mostly it has seemed like a bad thing- it actually stopped me from being as active as I was growing up and i could go on and on. I thought about a breast reduction in my mid 20s when i met someone who had had one, but i thought i would wait till after kids. Now i am in my mid 30s, i still have no kids and i have carted the things around an extra 10 years. So I am thinking about cutting my loses and doing it now even b4 kids. There is another angle for you- perhaps an encouragement to you. But one last thing, just by the way- You look good anyway.

Jacole18

Well, it is your decision, but I would wait until after you have kids...it will stretch right back out again, and I would hate for you to go through that!! BUT, if you decide to do it, good luck, and it will look great!!

dianeellen2

In the end you should do what makes you happy, and you have most probably thought this through.....

I fully agree - i doubt you made this decision lightly - lots of research and then do whats right for you

Dont live your life waiting till you have kids - you will never have any spare money once you have kids (lol)

suzycreamcheese

5 years isnt a long time. I think you should consider carefully whether youre happy to spend that much money and go through all that recovery if you want children in just a few short years which WILL affect the result.

I dont have a problem with cosmetic surgery, ive even had it myself, but i did purposely wait till my family was completed so as not o ruin the results.
I think your tummy is quite cute. I can see why youd want it flatter, but its not anywhere near as big or bad as id expect for someone to go through a tummy tuck for. Is there any possibility of bringing your baby plans forward a couple of years to make it easier towait,

mummychaz

As long as you have thought through all your options for a long time and you're happy that this is the best decision for you it doesn't really matter what we think. It's perfectly normal to be nervous about a procedure like this but if you have researched your surgeon - which it sounds like you have, then you shouldn't worry - be excited!
I understand people telling you to wait til you've had kids (I am waiting to be sure we're not having anymore before breast surgery) and if you were planning to start a family within 5 years I would agree with them, but you are obviously quite unhappy right now, you have the money right now and the time to recover and you may find that after kids you're tummy isn't too bad or maybe you won't care as much!
Wishing you all the best and look forward to seeing some new photos once you've recovered!

donnasv

i am amazed at how big your weight loss is! good for you! i am 188lbs and would do anything to be in the 120s. if i may ask, how long did it take you and what did you do to lose so fast, (you mentioned it was fast)? i agree with the other one who posted, do what ever makes you feel happy, fulfilled and complete. keep it up!

ABeautifulDistraction

You might check into skin tyte, it's less invasive.

http://www.skincareguide.com/treatment/skin-tyte

Pics: http://www.doctorsofcalifornia.com/skintyte-before-after-photos/

DevonLigotti

I stopped eating fried foods and didnt drink pop,made sure i only ate about 1300 calories a day (though i ate back some of what i would lose working out) and i started a 4-6X a week excersize schedule...personalyl i began with Power 90 (a beachbody DVD!)
I also did A LOT of Just Dance on the nintendo wii

I still eat tons of fresh fruit and vegetables ( i am a vegetarian, but also was a vegetarian when i was fat) and only whole grains..no white rice or bread !

Took me about 6 months to get down to 140, then lost the rest over about 3 months

dbthegreat

If it is want you really want to do than go for it. There are plenty of people who have surgery and regret nothing. As long as you have properly researched everything, know what to expect than fingers crossed there should be nothing to worry about.

If I were you I would wait until after I finished having kids but I am a) Comfortable with my body and its flaws b) unable to afford surgery even if I wanted it so would not want to be getting more in a few years.

Only you know if it is the right decision for you. If it is (and if you have already booked it you have obviously decided it is) than good luck with it. I hope your new body is everything you want it to be. If we all spent life waiting for something before we did something else nothing would ever get done. (like waiting until after kids to lose weight in the first place...)

jmppilot

Wow, a lot of replies in a short span of time! You obviously hit on a hot topic.

Not being a woman, I will not comment on if this decision should be made pre-kids or post-kids. I just want to share my experience. I lost over 70 pounds 6 - 7 years ago. While I have not kept it all off, I have kept most of it off. Yet even after all these years I still have a belly pouch. I am convinced the only way to get rid of it would be surgery. I have not done it... at least not yet. There are other priorities in my life right now. But I have thought about it and may consider it in the future.

You make the decision which is best for you. I just wanted to let you know, that at least in my case, years of waiting and my skin has still not tightened up from my former belly.

momof3and3

I have had a tummy tuck in 2006, but it was post-children. My belly button doesn't look wierd, it does have a ring around it, which is now silver from the surgery...my scar is hip to hip, not the prettiest, I didn"t heal well due to a small infection...but I can cover it with a bikini bottom, that is higher cut up the stomach. I love my stomach so much now, that I don't care about the scar, even if it is shown.
I would do it all again!

I hated my stomach....no matter how much weight I lost, or exercised it looked horrible. I waited until my last child was 7 years old, my weight was the same than as it was pre-children, so I knew that extra skin was going not going anywhere!

If you have been heavy for a long period of time, and then lose the weight...unfortunately your skin has been stretched out and might not recover, just like if you blow up a balloon and realease it, it goes back into shape, but if you blow it up and leave it for a week, once the air is out it is still out of shape.

Your decision, your body...I say go for it and worry about having kids when it happens. you cannot worry about the future that way, you have no idea what it will hold...you might decided to not have children, you might decide to adopt instead or you might decided to have 1 and have triplets...LOL.

Friend me...I am very open about my surgery and will gladly answer any questions you have...

PS...my stomach looks better at 43 years than it did at 21, even with me being 15 lbs heavier!

mmuzzatti

I say go for it! You only live once and if it's going to make you happy then that is what you should do. The point is that you lost the weight and this will bring you to the point you want to be at! Post after pics if for us! Good luck!

mmuzzatti

Wow, a lot of replies in a short span of time! You obviously hit on a hot topic.

Not being a woman, I will not comment on if this decision should be made pre-kids or post-kids. I just want to share my experience. I lost over 70 pounds 6 - 7 years ago. While I have not kept it all off, I have kept most of it off. Yet even after all these years I still have a belly pouch. I am convinced the only way to get rid of it would be surgery. I have not done it... at least not yet. There are other priorities in my life right now. But I have thought about it and may consider it in the future.

You make the decision which is best for you. I just wanted to let you know, that at least in my case, years of waiting and my skin has still not tightened up from my former belly.

Just saw this, yep me too I lost weight before and had the belly flab and now going at it again I am experimenting with a belly strap. It basically is a wrap that you wear when working out. Another MFP told me she wore spankx for her entire weight lose and got rid of a lot of the extra skin so while I am losing weight and working out I wear the strap. Not sure if it will work but the investment was only $15.00 and it can't hurt. Will see what the results are in a few months when I reach my goal.

jhungate

I am having skin issues myself but it is slowly tightening up as I continue to work out. I had a 6 pack 20+ years ago, would love to get back there but I don't know if it is possible without surgery.

sunkisses

You should be able to check and see if he's been reported for malpractice somewhere. Not sure where, but yeah. Talk to him about your fears after you've done some investigation. Also, ask to see pictures of his patients after their surgeries. Good luck with yours.