Would you have surgery?

After losing 220 pounds i have decided to meet with a surgeon to remove the excess skin on my arms and upper back as well as have a breast reshape/enhancement. I go back andforth in my head because i know it will hurt and it seems so shallow and the 6 week recovery time is crazy but i look at it like this. I BUSTED MY *kitten* to get here. Hard work and determination. I should be able to wear clothes that show my arms, i miss my full breasts and if you ever saw me in the gym doing weights and pushups its kind of sad to see my extra skin on my arms bunch up. No joke, when i go out without sleeves on (it takes a LOT of courage for me to do that) I have actually had random people come up and ask me how much weight ive lost. THey always point to my arms as "how they just knew" Either way, I want a body that reflects the dedication i put into it. I dont know if i want to get my tummy or legs done. I just would like the chance to have a "normal body". You can't go from 430 to 210 without skin issues. My doctor said i have at least 25 pounds of extra skin on me. I worked hard and frankly i deserve a it.

I'm a bit put off by passing judgement on those who consider surgery, as if it is something frivolous. In my early 20's, I had a baby that had chromosomal defects that caused an excessive amount of amniotic fluid. My belly was stretched from here to Kingdom Come. Two days after birth, my baby died and I returned from the hospital to learn that husband abandoned me..

Throughout my 20's & 30's - I had to deal with that pouch of skin that would NOT go away, despite any amouth of exercise and toning. Every time I looked at my abs, I thought "dead baby", so I opted for a tummy tuck at age 40.

That said, I did have a problem post surgery and the doctor was less than helpful, and my results were not optimal. My advise is that surgical procedures are not something to be considered on a whim. Give yourself time for skin to retract as much as possible and then, do heavy duty homework checking out plastic surgeons. Just because they are accredited, doesn't mean they are perfect or even scrupulous.. Mine looked great on paper, but upon doing some checking after my problems, he had MANY problems with patients. My doc ended up playing games with me with big talk about free revisions in time, to the point where statute of limitations ran out (2 years.) There was nothing I could do legally. At that point, he refused to see me. Lovely, right?

On the other hand, in many ways, it was still worth it. If you do not want to live with redundent skin, be sure to discuss all details with your doc, especially what happens if revisions are necessary and what you would be financially responsible for, such as O.R. fees, anesthesia, etc.. Check out the doctor fearlessly, ask for references, pour through their "brag book", go to your courthouse, google the heck out of them. And once you've done all that, trust your gut instincts. If something seems wrong, it probably is.

However, it is completely reasonable to not want to carry around a mass of skin and tissue, just be sure to make sure you choose the right professional to help you with this phase of your journey.

If money were no object? HELL yeah, I would. Platypuses (platypi?) are natural creatures, but I sure as hell wouldn't wanna look like one if a little surgery would fix it.

I had laser surgery years ago and it's the best money I ever spent. To be able to see without glasses was a gift that just keeps on giving.

I got both my sons braces and they are effin handsome as hell when they smile and their speech is much better as well.

In a nutshell? If it's broke and you can fix it, what's stopping you?

Seeing as I've been big my whole life Im sure im going to need some type of surgery for excess skin. Yes, I'm young but if i maintain for a year, and my skin doesnt shrink..i would surely have surgery because im really not into getting skin infections.

Thats my choice though. The whole point of me losing weight was to feel better about myself. I wont feel good if I have extra skin everywhere.

if i busted my *kitten* to reach my goal weight and maintained it for a year or two but still had loose skin flapping all over the place, i would consider getting it handled. that's fair game in my opinion - you put in the work and just need a little boost. i'm also going to have my big honkin' varicose veins zapped at some point - probably when i get a job. they don't hurt, but i can play with them. it's rather disturbing.

as for 'age' remedies like face-lifts and botox, that's a no-go for me!

I think it's okay if it makes you as a person feel better. You worked so hard to lose the weight and if you're like me and have to lose over 100lbs, and having saggy skin isn't the best feeling. I would consider a body lift myself. Of course I would check into it first!

i'll more than likely need everything lifted being extreemly overweight but im ok with that, i got me here in the first place!!

Ive already accepted the fact that my body will look almost melted! so if i do need to have a tummy tuck, arm and thigh lift and my boobs put back in place then hell yeh!

i'll more than likely need everything lifted being extreemly overweight but im ok with that, i got me here in the first place!!

Ive already accepted the fact that my body will look almost melted! so if i do need to have a tummy tuck, arm and thigh lift and my boobs put back in place then hell yeh!

I am right with you on this one Lea! I started at 345 and my goal is 175. I have an aweful "apron" from 2 c-sections. The last one kept getting infected and I developed a hemotoma about the size of a grapefruit that took forever to go away. I have a huge area at the bottom of my stomach that feels dead from where the hemotoma was. I guess it caused nerve damage. I also nursed and my middle child preferred a specific one in the middle of the night and let's just say it no longer matches it's mate! I would definitely get the tummy, arms, and breast done if I ever reach goal. I totally deserve to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of all the hard work that I have done. I have a family member who had the gastric bypass and she says she hates the way she looks now. She went from 430 to 180 and has skin like the saggy, baggy elephant. :brokenheart: If I lose this weight, I finally want to be proud of my body and if it takes surgery to do that......LET"S GO!:happy:

It depends if my skin will ever bounce back. I used to be a purist as well, but if I can't get rid of the loose skin by putting on some muscle weight after I get to goal, then I might consider surgery.

i've had a lot of surgeries as a very accident prone person, so i dont think i would. unless i had lost like 500lbs and had an insane amount of excess skin. i just dont think it's worth the risk.
ex: look at kanye west's mom. She was a woman who appeared to be healthy and died bc of unnecessary plastic surgery. it's just not worth the risk.

I've always said I'd embrace my flappy skin and saggy boobs after this weight loss I'm not so sure the more I see the skin get looser the more I rethink it. I'm normally not for cosmetic surgery and think people usually look better before but if I was to do it wouldn't be to improve upon something already good...it would be to improve upon something undesirable and possibly bad for my health. I'm obese and I just can't fathom what my skin will look like once I'm down to my goal weight/fitness level. If it's not bad then I'd probably deal with it but if it's out of control I just may consider.

Totally. My grandmother had to have an eye lift just to be able to keep her eyes open in her later years, so I've considered it just a matter of time for a while. I've had time to get used to the idea, and it doesn't bother me. If money weren't an object at all, I'd have several more tattoos, no need for contacts, no leg/bikini/underarm hair, only the good looking facial hair, and I wouldn't be working at a job where I feel lucky to only eat 2000 calories a day. I imagine I'd be much thinner, and if need be, have had at least a tummy tuck (cause, wow, does preeclampsia make you gain weight. A lot. Fast.)

usually when i lose weight my boobs go from a c cup to an a or b cup. so new big dd boobs would be a nice addition to my new skinny body

Yes I absolutely would have a tummy tuck. I have been for a consult already. Hubby and I just have to decide if we are done having kids.
Also mine wouldn't be for a non-essential reason. I actually have some medical factors that have gone into why I need one to the point where my insurance would cover it. I guess it depends on how bad your stomach is, tummy tucks aren't always just a vain person wanting to look pretty.

I think that surgery is an okay thing. I'm not saying I'd do it myself (though I would be lying if I said I wouldn't consider a breast lift if I had kids and my chest took a hit for the greater good lol), but it is a thin line to walk. I am fully supportive of all the guys and gals who have done all the hard yards, lost all their weight and feel that they need that last bit of a nip and tuck to help give them achieve the image that they'd like to see.

I just don't like seeing extreme changes....things like overdone lip plumping, eye reshaping...that stuff scares the hell out of me.

I don't mind breast enhancing (by a 'normal' amount), though I feel that it's become so available and common day it's getting to an unhealthy standard (there are so many teenagers considering going under the knife it's just freaking wrong) and reduction is fine also, though it can also be a bad thing - if you're not cafeful, a doctor can end up taking the fullness out of the chest, but not reduce the circumference. It's harder for you to find a right fitting bra and look good in your clothing (which is probably why you got the surgery in the first place) if you're still the width of an F cup, but the fullness of a DD, if you get what I mean.