[Obesity to normal] Anyone else up for a full body lift?

I have lost nearly 160 pounds these past few years and am maintaining my new weight of 135 pounds (5'5). I used to wear a 24/26W jeans, and a 3X top. Now I'm down to a size 4 jeans, and a S/M top. My breasts are gone and my stomach and arms show signs of deflation.

I've been scheduling consultations with plastic surgeons to try and find a solution to fix my body so I can just feel like a woman again.

Has anyone else in here had a full body lift? Or is looking to get a full body lift? Care to trade stories and photos?

I feel so alone in this process. 

I watched a show I think it was Discovery Health about a woman that lost a lot of weight too fast and she had to have a lot of excess skin removed- but they had to do it in a few different operations. She was in so much pain that it brought tears to my eyes just watching the show.  She was an extreme case though because if I recall she was over 600 pounds to start.  It was a few months back that I saw it- you might want to browse the Discovery Health website to see if you can find it.

I don't have stories or anything to share with you but I did want to post to say well done! I've followed your postings where you've listed how much you lost etc and was just so impressed with what you've done.

I've watched dozens and dozens of those discovery channel shows. I'm a sucker for the obesity clinic, the one with the bypass patients that get the full body lift, and the plastic surgery before & after show. I've followed the SWAN reality show, extreme makeover, etc. It gives me a glimps of hope when I see people that have had their lives taken over by their body, and then with a procedure they are whole again.

I just want to be whole again. A woman if you will. Right now, things aren't as such.

I don't care how much pain I have to endure. Pain is but a state of mind. But then again, isn't this whole process?

*sigh* I don't feel all that supported, but it's something I HAVE to do for myself.

Consultation Dates: 1/3/08  and 1/7/08

I'm nervous. Not for the surgery, but just getting financing and everything to come together. It's a big deal. Taking off weeks of work, need someone to take care of you, help you out of bed and bathe you... I just wish I had more support in this. 

You, my dear, are one hell of an inspiration.

{{{ Hugs!!}}}

I'm sorry for the trama, difficult choices, and 'just plain hassle' you are facing!!! Wish I could help...!

Remember- a LOT of people here at CC are PROUD of you!!!!

I'm afraid you  are our  trail-blazing-guide in this area! We want to know how it all works out for you! They better do their BEST!!!!

You DESERVE IT!!!!

Sincerely,  2beittybitty

I was looking at pics of that from a doctor in pittsburgh.
I was reading his info because he is suppose to be one of the best in the country. (Dr. Hurwitz)www.HurwitzCenter.com ;

It looks GREAT.

heres him working on utube:
http://www.google.com/search?q=body+lift+pitt sburgh


i know people travel to pittsburgh for medical stuff so i thought i would share

My mom had several surgeries for excess skin after her weight loss about ten or so years ago. She lost about 125 lbs, starting out about a size 22, ending at a 4, on her 5' 4" frame. She had a breast reduction and lift, a tummy tuck, and her arms tucked. She was going to go back for a thigh lift, but later decided against it.

Her recovery went smoothly for the most part, what she considered a reasonable amount of pain and no major complications. She did have one part of her incision on her belly become infected, but thats about it. She had a hard time dealing with the support garments she had to wear, a special bra, and a girdle type thing that went from her ankle to ribcage that she had to wear 24 hours a day for about three months. She had to have help to get them on and off, (not much fun when you have to ask your brat of a teenage daughter (ME) to help).

She has been very happy with her breast lift and tummy tuck, and they still look good after she gained back about 60 lbs over the last ten years. She has since taken it off again and her skin is still pretty tight. She was much less happy with her arm surgeries. She had very bad scarring, ( they are about 3/4 an inch wide and look like big red worms.) She also has some strange puckering at each end of the incision where her elbows and shoulders are. She still has pain and pulling sensations in the incisions due to the keloids (big scars). All three surgeries were done by the same surgeon, who was very well respected.

I asked her a while ago if she would do it again, as I am struggling with my own weight loss, and her answer was maybe. She said she would wait longer, as she found that during the year or so process the other surgeries were, her thighs tightened up enough that she felt that she didn't need them done, and believed her arms would have been the same way. She thought that she would likely still have done her tummy tuck, as that was done in conjunction with her hysterectomy. And she thought she would definitely have done her breasts, as she breastfed four children, and that took its toll more than the weight loss.

I hope her experiences help you with your decision, and major congratulations on you amazing weight loss. You look fabulous!

Katie

I've been thinking alot about this lately. I lost about 120 pounds almost two years ago and I have a excess skin on my arms, stomach, thighs and breasts. I waited to see if my skin would snap back or if toning would help. It helped a little but I still look like a half-deflated blow-up doll around the torso.   :)

I'm not sure I would consider a full body lift, I would be happy with a breast lift and an arm tuck. The expense is what worries me the most, although I also worry about the recovery period since I live alone.

I understand your need to do this. You did all of this work to be healthy and to stay alive and you deserve to look and feel your best.

I'd love to hear how your consultations go. Feel free to email me if you'd like to talk more.

Pam

Sounds to me like Pam & Katie have the best anecdotal evidence on the effects of these surgeries.  When I was younger, I lost 50-70 lbs at a time 4-5 times and my skin always "snapped back" with no problems; I don't even have stretch marks today, except a very few on my hips and 1-2 on one breast that popped up when I was pregnant a long time ago.  What I'm getting to, is my assumption that a young woman--your age-- would probably snap back within a reasonable time, even with a loss over a hundred.  Has any physician given reason to think this could happen?  I'm not saying plastic surgery is a nay-nay, just that plastic surgeons have a vested interest in procedures.  And I know from my own gall bladder-ectomy and a few other minors that surgery hurts, recovery can be slow, and residual effects can surprise you.

You are indeed an inspiration, by the way. 

I've been to several consultations.. and I have 35 grand in surgeries to complete. I'm doing some contract work to earn an extra 15 grand this year. I hope by the end of the year I am able to do a breast lift/augmentation and a tummy tuck. I'd be SO happy doing that alone.. And it should cost about 18K to complete.

I'm very excited, and I am waiting for my skin to tighten back up on its own throughout the year. My current weight is 127 pounds, size xs, in a size 2 pants. I've lost weight even since this original post.. which my surgeon asked me to stabilize before I even consider getting it done.

I am so wanting to do this...I had gasteric bypass 14 years ago and lost 210 lbs...I have about 35 to 40 loose skin..it is like it all falls to the ground whenever I dis robe. I gained about 30 back due to tyroid/hystorectomy/depression over divorce and prednisone. This is why I am here now, trying to fight my way back down to the 170lbs that I am happy with.

I look forward to seeing how this turns out for you.

GL

I have no advice for you on your topic but had to drop you a line and say. You are amazing! You should be so proud of how much you have accomplished and I think you look amazing! You are absolutely beautiful and you look every bit a gorgeous woman to me! God Bless You!

I so want to get a few things done, having lost 105lbs so far.  I feel like a complete mess with all the extra skin I have.  Especially my arms.  If anything that is the one thing I will have done in the next two years.  I may never be able to afford anything else, but i'd give anything to be able to wear a tank top comfortably and not worry about that lose skin hanging from my arms. 

My arms are horrible, but even if I get them fixed I don't know if I'll be able to wear short sleeves. I live in PHOENIX Arizona, and its SO hot during the summer. I run around in long sleeves and people think I am crazy.. But I've been doing it for so many years, I wonder what it would feel like to go outside without my sleeves.

Kind of scary to think about. 

wow- congratulations.. that is amazing. I would say, definitely do the surgery, if you have excess skin everywhere- get it off! and start to enjoy your beautiful new body.

you really need to check out this web-site ( makemeheal.com ) if you are considering any surgery. it is a great site with so many other women who have had surgery after huge weight loss like yourself. I know exactly what you are going through since I am 9 months post-op myself. go fo it you've worked hard to lose it now show it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I live in fear with, I am almost 450 and I need to loose to under 200 for knee surgury but I know I will never be able to afford the reconstruction and my insurance wont pay for it and I am terrified but I have to do it ta keep walking.  I feel like I am in a catch 22 and just thinking about it makes me cry.

I hope that everything works great for you.

Doesn't this just suck?!!! Here we've worked so hard and lost all this weight and what do we have to show for it?  Lot's of ugly hanging skin!  Yikes! 

I too am consulting with a plastic surgeon.  I've lost 190 lbs to-date and want to lose another 50 but, in the meantime, I'm continuing to workout at the gym to tone-up as much as possible.  My arms crack me up.... I have amazing 'guns' but, when I go to flex my muscles to show them off, I have these big ol' flappy bat wings underneath! 

Two of my friends who also lost a lot of weight have had some surgery done.  One had her arms done.  As someone else mentioned, she has huge scars.  However, I didn't think they were so bad that I'd try to cover them up.  She is unhappy that the scar is somewhat crooked but in talking to my plastic surgeon, that's just one possible scenario since it's hard to tell how the skin will settle once the incision starts to heal.

Another friend had a tummy lift and inner thigh lift.  She said the pain was 'tolerable' and she was up and about within two weeks.  It's been three months and she's quite happy with the results so far even though she was told it will take 10 months for the incisions to start to fade and for her new body to 'shift' into place.

I'm looking at having a lower body lift (includes tummy, butt and inner thigh) in one session, and then going back later for an upper arm lift and some work on my breasts.  I can't decide if I want to stick with a breast lift or augmentation (I'm flat-chested).

Yes the costs are horrendous but, they actually aren't much worse than purchasing a luxury car.  The only difference is that the plastic surgery will hopefully be a lifetime investment.

Congratulations on your weight-loss success.  I look forward to reading updates on your surgery, if you have it.