TUMMY TUCK....oh my!

Angimom
Angimom Posts: 1,463 Member
edited November 3 in Motivation and Support
I am having a tummy tuck. I am just not sure how much weight I should lose before? And what happens if you lose more weight after? Is there a magical number? Like you can still lose 20lbs and your skin will not be lose? OR should you lose all the weight you want before considering it? I really do not mind my curves but I have very ugly stretch marks and a flap that is not going away with weight loss. I am hoping that others who have been through this can shed some insight.
«13

Replies

  • cortney_weiss
    cortney_weiss Posts: 57 Member
    That is something u should discuss with your surgeon...make a consultation and u can have all these questions answered. :)
  • cherie515
    cherie515 Posts: 37 Member
    I had my full tummy tuck about two years ago. You will want to lose your weight first, its like the final step of your weight loss journey . Who knows maybe you will be satisfied with your abdomen after the weight loss. I lost 60 lbs of my pregnancy weight. The surgery is a BIG DEAL, which I'm sure you've already researched. So really consider the pros/cons.
    I'd say if you have another 30lbs or so to lose (as I see in your ticker) to wait it out a while. Do what you can to get your weight down and firm up your abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks (in my opinion) are to correct diastasis recti , in which the two large parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of the abdomen separate, and to tighten the lose skin from weight loss.
    I had a severe case of diastasis which still made me look pregnant after I lost my pregnancy weight. Now I have a super flat stomach, Yay..buuut I also have large scars to go with it. I can wear a bathing suit, yay..no wait now my scars show. I am still numb in the abdominal area. Excercising is so odd now. It took FOREVER to start doing core work, which I don't need flat abs, but I do need the strength for working out.
    It is a major procedure, so make sure you are at the very end of your weight loss before proceeding. You would hate for extra skin to hide your new abs.
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    I did not have mine until I lost all the weight (well I still want to lose 20 but I'm happy where I am)
    If you are on the fence about including the "girls" ... include them. I would not be nearly as happy with my tummy tuck if I still had fat, flabby fat boobs hanging over my beautiful tummy .... getting perky girls back at age 50, priceless :p
  • curvykim78
    curvykim78 Posts: 799 Member
    Get as close to your goal weight as you can, that way the doctor can remove as much of the excess skin as possible. I had one a few years ago due to excess skin being incorrectly sewn after a c-section. I've since lost 40 more pounds, but I love it!! It hurts like hell, so be prepared.
  • WaterBunnie
    WaterBunnie Posts: 1,371 Member
    I had my full tummy tuck about two years ago. You will want to lose your weight first, its like the final step of your weight loss journey . Who knows maybe you will be satisfied with your abdomen after the weight loss. I lost 60 lbs of my pregnancy weight. The surgery is a BIG DEAL, which I'm sure you've already researched. So really consider the pros/cons.
    I'd say if you have another 30lbs or so to lose (as I see in your ticker) to wait it out a while. Do what you can to get your weight down and firm up your abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks (in my opinion) are to correct diastasis recti , in which the two large parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of the abdomen separate, and to tighten the lose skin from weight loss.
    I had a severe case of diastasis which still made me look pregnant after I lost my pregnancy weight. Now I have a super flat stomach, Yay..buuut I also have large scars to go with it. I can wear a bathing suit, yay..no wait now my scars show. I am still numb in the abdominal area. Excercising is so odd now. It took FOREVER to start doing core work, which I don't need flat abs, but I do need the strength for working out.
    It is a major procedure, so make sure you are at the very end of your weight loss before proceeding. You would hate for extra skin to hide your new abs.

    Found this really interesting. I have often wondered what's worse, the loose skin or the surgery scars/pain/feeling odd. I'm 80% sure I wouldn't go for corrective surgery when the time comes, but who knows how I'll feel then.
  • brandnewsnickerpuss
    brandnewsnickerpuss Posts: 110 Member
    Lose as much weight as you can before your surgery. You don't want to lose more after surgery because your skin may begin to pooch outwards again. (That was my experience, but I did lose 180 lbs via gastric bypass so YMMV.) That being said, I was pretty happy with the SEVENTEEN POUNDS the surgeon cut off. Yeah, baby!
  • dogo187
    dogo187 Posts: 376
    I had a tummy tuck on Wednesday...and its the best thing that I could have done for myself...

    I couldn't lose any more weight...the doctor removed 8lbs of skin!

    And he sucked out the fat out of my saddle bags, some inner thigh contouring...and a few other places but the fat was just 2lbs...

    I got my boobs done too...and I am soooo glad that I did! I would hate to have this nice flat stomach and then have my saggy pancake boobs hanging over the top, yuck!!!
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    I agree with the rest. Lose as much fat as you can to get as close as possible to your goal before the surgery. If you have a belly flap, and I know exactly what you mean (I wore control top panty hose just so I could tuck my flap in to keep it from getting caught in my zipper), obviously the skin is not going to bounce back. The more fat you lose, the tighter they can make the connection between top and bottom.

    And on the scar thing - oh, my yes. Mine wraps just around to the backside. I got mine done right before low-rise jeans came into style, so it shows even when I wear pants. It's been 11 years and my belly is STILL numb. The part where I do have sensation is not right. I touch it, and I feel it 4 inches off to the right. The left side is just numb. But no more elephant butt hanging down over and around my navel!
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member

    And on the scar thing - oh, my yes. Mine wraps just around to the backside. I got mine done right before low-rise jeans came into style, so it shows even when I wear pants. It's been 11 years and my belly is STILL numb. The part where I do have sensation is not right. I touch it, and I feel it 4 inches off to the right. The left side is just numb. But no more elephant butt hanging down over and around my navel!

    I am 5 weeks post op and your sensation comment made me laugh. I have this problem. I will touch my right side on my incision but feel it about 4 cm up. It's so weird. I've had a csection and remember sensation issues/numbness with that, but it all came back to be fairly normal. I had my TT 8 years to the day after my csection and while it prepared me for the pain post op, they aren't comparable.

    only now at 5 weeks post op am I starting to feel good again! The swelling can be super discouraging though.

    I had lost over 125 lbs (88 on MFP) and what I was left with would never go away with diet and exercise. He removed over 4 lbs of skin. For me the loss of the skin/fat and not having to tuck it into my pants was well worth the trade for the scars!

    I do agree to be close to your goal but a small amount of weight loss after won't harm you. I know a lady who had one 4 years ago, she put on 20-30lbs and just recently lost it and IS HOT!!! you can't even tell and her scar is next to gone.

    I lost 9 lbs with the surgery, and plan to lose a few more but that's about it.

    My surgeon wouldn't do the boobs with the tummy, he feels it's too long under general so I may do them one day after I pay this one off. now I am post op, ya the saggy boobs bug me because my tummy is nice and flat.

    ETA: my profile pic is me 2 weeks post op compared to 5 weeks post op, the swelling is unreal. I didn't prepare for that!
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    Your results are fantastic! You're going to love it. To have a flat, tight belly after carrying around all that extra skin some of us get after childbirth and weight loss, it's an amazing feeling. Your pants zip right up, no tucking in extra folds of skin. I got the whole package done all at once. 5 hours under anesthesia. Top, middle and some lipo on bottom. It was $14,5K.
  • Angimom
    Angimom Posts: 1,463 Member
    I have decided to suck it up and lose another 25lbs before I do the surgery. I know it just keeps putting it off but I don't want to be sorry later that I didn't lose enough weight first. My goal is 3 months. I can do this by May 1st, 2014. I can do this!!!
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I've looked into a tummy tuck and from what I have read, if you gain or lose 30 pounds, your tummy tuck will be messed up. So if you're planning to have one, wait until you're completely done losing weight and don't plan on gaining any weight back.
  • ashenriver
    ashenriver Posts: 498 Member
    Just a thought...

    Waiting some more time before surgery also gives you more time to save up to cover costs.

    Paying for surgery (LASIK in my case) sucks, especially if it gives you that negative balance.

    I do not regret the cost of the surgery, just regret the $100 interest fee on my credit card before I paid it off.
  • dogo187
    dogo187 Posts: 376
    i am only 5 days post-op...and i have not a single regret having this surgery...

    i did get to as a low a weight as i could...159lbs the day of surgery, I am 5ft8"...

    overall, I lost 156lbs before i had the surgery....i got the works, lipo, boobs, a fleur di lis tummy tuck...

    if you plan on having a tummy tuck then do your research, i have noticed that lots of people look outside of their immediate city to find a better surgeon than what they have locally...

    thankfully, i didn't have to look far, my surgeon was local, with over 30 years experience doing reconstructive and cosmetic surgery...

    5 days out...i am swollen, sore and at some times miserable, but i would do the past 5 days all over again to get where i am today...best money i ever spent!
  • jmeyer925
    jmeyer925 Posts: 326 Member
    I'm about 4 weeks post-op from my tummy tuck without muscle repair. It was mainly just to get rid of the "apron" from my hanging stomach. They removed 3 pounds of skin.

    I was about 30 pounds lighter this time last year, and I really regret not having it done then. Because now most of my weight is on my backside, and it's not exactly the results I was hoping for (but so far I don't regret it).

    Honestly the best surgeon's will be honest with you about if you're close enough for a tummy tuck. Most of the time, you should just imagine what your stomach looks like right now, and just push down the very bottom flatter. It's not a weight loss miracle.

    That being said, just do your research. And good luck!
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    Most of the time, you should just imagine what your stomach looks like right now, and just push down the very bottom flatter. It's not a weight loss miracle.

    Yes and no, I had the abs repaired and my upper stomach is night and day... as is the lower. I think it depends what work you plan to get done and when you look at before/after pics and talk to people make sure you are comparing the SAME surgeries.

    Full tummy tucks with abs repair, mini tummy tucks (don't go to your hips), just skin removal (panniculectomy). They are all different and produce different results.

    With that said, it isn't a miracle. You have to do the work first, and it will never be perfect but for me it's 100x better than what I had.

    To the OP poster, totally worth the wait for another 25 lbs. You can start looking though. Took me 6 months to get a consult, then I wanted my surgery at Christmas so I had to wait another 6 months. Was a long process.
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
    ...pic not working, boo. Was my before.
  • Angimom
    Angimom Posts: 1,463 Member
    Thanks everyone for advice! I am going to lose more before I go under. I am joining the Walking Dead Challenge that is 9 weeks, I love challenges and did really well losing weight last year in a challenge, if anyone is interested in joining here is the link:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/18469-walking-dead-fitness-challenge-feb-mar-2014
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    I've looked into a tummy tuck and from what I have read, if you gain or lose 30 pounds, your tummy tuck will be messed up. So if you're planning to have one, wait until you're completely done losing weight and don't plan on gaining any weight back.

    That's not true. I gained 50 lbs after mine, and now I've lost it. Back to a flat belly.
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    Thanks everyone for advice! I am going to lose more before I go under. I am joining the Walking Dead Challenge that is 9 weeks, I love challenges and did really well losing weight last year in a challenge, if anyone is interested in joining here is the link:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/18469-walking-dead-fitness-challenge-feb-mar-2014

    I had my appointment in the month of June and scheduled it for Christmas week because I knew I'd have 3 weeks vacation saved up by then. That gave me a solid deadline I had to meet to finish losing the baby weight.
  • Angimom
    Angimom Posts: 1,463 Member
    JayJay, that is a great idea! I gave myself until May, but maybe I should go schedule my surgery to help keep me on track.
    Happy Thursday!
  • marlasegovia
    marlasegovia Posts: 1
    I had a tummy tuck in 2007. I was not at my goal weight but I had the money and went for it! Afterward I got really nervous of necrosis and ate like a freight train. I have gained 25-29 pounds since the surgery. My tummy is always flat even though! Make sure they do the incision low so your scar doesn't show. Mine is hidden. I gained weight on my arms, inner thighs, and under my stomach muscle. So I am always flat but thick.. Now that I am loosing weight my stomach is starting to look like it did before I gained weight. (not as thick) The other problem I have is that I always used my stomach fat as an indicator that I was gaining weight. With it growing under my stomach muscle I was not as aware of weight gain. I just looked thicker! So I think this is another reason I gained weight!

    So in a nutshell..... if after you have the surgery you gain, then if you lose, it will look like it did right after surgery. The trick is they sew up the muscle and take the fat cells off the top or in the skin removed! As far as weight is concerned I would suggest that you be at a maintained weight. If you are still yo yoing.... then there is a chance you will gain weight. Either way when I lose weight I look flat.

    BIG HINT: I have seen women who have had TT and their doctor didn't tighten them up like I am. It is so sad to me! They still have a belly!!! When they show me their results I still see flab! I have NONE!!! NONE!!! All my fat is under the muscle so it is like an internal wall..... ! I currently weigh 190 and I am down from 202! I was 178 at surgery and came out at 173. 5'5"

    So look at pictures and go to makemeheal.com and look there for pics! I am on there! I am maylea and my password is : password So you can see my pictures under advanced search user name the pw is password. Good luck on your journey!
  • jmeyer925
    jmeyer925 Posts: 326 Member
    I'd also recommend looking at Realself.com

    I spent hours on there before I went into surgery, it's a lot of great advice (more so thank say, youtube).

    I was able to look at reviews from surgeons and what costs would be. I confirmed that i was willing to go to the next state (Indiana) and have mine done, and the price was pretty dang reasonable about $5900 (I got a loan from my credit union). Only downside is that I have to drive to Indiana (about 2 hours away) to have my pre/post opp appointments (one was even on Christmas Eve!).

    Also, never be afraid to ask those "dumb" questions. Like for me, I didn't need muscle repair, so I asked if I would see a big difference in results not getting it, I got an odd look from my surgeon, but hey, if I was essentially paying for that option I was going to make sure I wasn't missing out! Another good thing to think about is if you need any other "work" done, more than likely it's worth looking into to doing it all in one shot if possible (and still healthy). Because, for example, I paid for Anesthesia, facility, and surgeon fee seperatley. Just the surgeon fee would increase if I had something else done.

    You'll get tons of different opinions on here. Best thing to do now, is focus on exercise and fitness now :)
  • RaggedyAm
    RaggedyAm Posts: 6
    justbreastimplants has a forum with a lot of amazing women, there's a whole 'other surgeries' section :) they are seriously so sweet. Get as close as possible to your Goal. they say not to be more than 30 pounds from your goal weight.

    Go to a bunch of consultations. Good luck!
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    My surgeon required me to be in the "normal" end of the BMI before he would schedule me.

    Since then I have lost another 25 pounds and I think I look good, but I'm certain I would have looked better had I lost more before the surgery. The skin on my abdomen is a bit loose.
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    I had a tummy tuck on Wednesday...and its the best thing that I could have done for myself...

    I couldn't lose any more weight...the doctor removed 8lbs of skin!

    And he sucked out the fat out of my saddle bags, some inner thigh contouring...and a few other places but the fat was just 2lbs...

    I got my boobs done too...and I am soooo glad that I did! I would hate to have this nice flat stomach and then have my saggy pancake boobs hanging over the top, yuck!!!

    *dogo187*
    My wife is about to do the exact same thing, can you PM me as I have alot of questions to ask you.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    I had my full tummy tuck about two years ago. You will want to lose your weight first, its like the final step of your weight loss journey . Who knows maybe you will be satisfied with your abdomen after the weight loss. I lost 60 lbs of my pregnancy weight. The surgery is a BIG DEAL, which I'm sure you've already researched. So really consider the pros/cons.
    I'd say if you have another 30lbs or so to lose (as I see in your ticker) to wait it out a while. Do what you can to get your weight down and firm up your abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks (in my opinion) are to correct diastasis recti , in which the two large parallel bands of muscles that meet in the middle of the abdomen separate, and to tighten the lose skin from weight loss.
    I had a severe case of diastasis which still made me look pregnant after I lost my pregnancy weight. Now I have a super flat stomach, Yay..buuut I also have large scars to go with it. I can wear a bathing suit, yay..no wait now my scars show. I am still numb in the abdominal area. Excercising is so odd now. It took FOREVER to start doing core work, which I don't need flat abs, but I do need the strength for working out.
    It is a major procedure, so make sure you are at the very end of your weight loss before proceeding. You would hate for extra skin to hide your new abs.

    Found this really interesting. I have often wondered what's worse, the loose skin or the surgery scars/pain/feeling odd. I'm 80% sure I wouldn't go for corrective surgery when the time comes, but who knows how I'll feel then.

    I felt the same way, but I had my consult this morning. :D I'm at my weight goal, so no lipo is needed, so it cost was less than I expected. (In my area, anyway, the surgeons charge more if you need lipo too. I don't know if they charge more for that where you are.)
  • Some_Watery_Tart
    Some_Watery_Tart Posts: 2,250 Member
    In for the stories. I'm also considering this. My skin is terribly stretched out, and I'm tired of hiding it especially in the summer. I just can't decide if it's worth the pain and investment.
  • dogo187
    dogo187 Posts: 376
    yes!!! its worth the pain and the investment...

    you spend money on vacations, cars, houses, kids....why not spend it on yourself...

    after losing 156lbs, i was left in a skin that i was so uncomfortable in, i couldn't wear clothes that i wanted to and i had to wear compression garments all the time...it was horrible...

    im only a week and a half post-op i love what i see in the mirror and how clothes look on me (even though i have to wear stretch stuff so that when i swell up im not uncomfortable and don't irritate my incision)...

    but all that will change in time and i will be able to show off my enviable coke-bottle figure....
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member

    BIG HINT: I have seen women who have had TT and their doctor didn't tighten them up like I am. It is so sad to me! They still have a belly!!! When they show me their results I still see flab! I have NONE!!! NONE!!! All my fat is under the muscle so it is like an internal wall..... ! I currently weigh 190 and I am down from 202! I was 178 at surgery and came out at 173. 5'5"


    It doesn't necessarily have to do with being tightened up enough with this 'flab' that you see on these women. It's more the fact that the skin above the incision will always be thicker than the skin below your incision (ie upper abdo skin being attached to pelvic skin). If they had lost more weight it may have helped but not with everyone, our makeup is different.

    I think the big thing is if the surgeon lipo'd the abdomen as a part of the surgery or not. Some doctors will but a lot WONT because lipo'ing the abdo at the time of surgery is just too much trauma all at once. You are undermining the skin, pulling it down and hacking it off, then to lipo the area you are compromising the blood flow. And the major arteries of blood flow to your body are right thru the abdomen and a lot of surgeons worry about hampering with this and causing your tissue to die. It can be scary and there are horror stories of this.

    I didn't get the abdomen lipo, and on my left side I can see that it's 'thicker/fuller' right above my incision than my right side. This is exactly why. He will fix it at 6 months post op by doing lipo if it hasn't smoothed out yet on its own. It used to bug me, but it doesn't anymore, it's only noticeable to me.

    Another thing it can be, is you can only sew those abs as tight as your internal organs will allow. So some women seem more flatter than others.

    So much to factor in.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories