Tummy Tuck after Weight Loss???

I had Gastric Bypass surgery 3 years ago and have lost a total of 134lbs to date.  Of course this has made for much sagging skin around my mid section and upper thighs.  I was wondering if anyone on here has had a tummy tuck or thigh lift after their weight loss and how they felt about it??? Wondering about the pain, recovery time, and boost to self-confidence afterwards.  Were you satisfied with the outcome??

Thanks,

The people to ask about this are the surgeons that do the procedure and their patients.  Specifically, the surgeon you're thinking of going to.  They all differ slightly in terms of success rates, techniques, recovery times etc.  Good luck

Hello rlopez:

My sister had a full tummy tuck after losing a significant amount of weight.  She looks and feels terrific after having it done.  I helped her do a lot of research to find a good doctor which truly is the most important thing.  For me, I wouldn't even consider going to a surgeon who advertises half-price or two-for-one sales on TV.  So, assuming you are able to find someone that is accredited, board certified in plastic surgery, not just medicine, has hospital priveleges and allows you to talk with their former patients.....

The scar is big.  from one end of your hip to the other.  It is serious and although it fades with time, it will always be there.  A good surgeon will do his best to hide it so it's covered by your panty line (not a thong LOL!) but sometimes, because of body differences, it just isnt' possible.  My sister had a recovery period of about 8 weeks.  She only stayed home for the first 2 weeks.  The one thing she has mentioned to me that is strange is that her tummy feels numb where the muscles were sewn together.  I don't think that's uncommon and she says she's gotten used to it but it's still a little weird on occasion.   She had two drains on either side of her hip to allow fluids to drain and to empty those out twice a day.  She had the drains for 5 days but it varies from person to person.  It's literally blood and fluids that need to be able to drain away after surgery.  She had to wear a "garment" for a couple of months both day and night.  It is a tight bodysuit with snaps in the correct spot to allow you to use the powder room.  It is really tight and uncomfortable in warm weather.

Everyone is certainly different in their recovery and must do what the doctor tells you!  Having said that, my sister said she felt almost zero pain from the surgery.  The first two days she had some kind of painkiller and the doctor gave her a prescription if needed, but aspirin was enough for her.  It was her experience with this doctor that gave me the courage to get a teeny bit of lipo on my inner thighs.  My experience was like this:  "it's over?, that's it??!"  I went home also with a garment that I had to wear for a few weeks and didn't even need an aspirin at all.  (PS:  I don't work for any type of medical facility, me and my sister just had a good experience, that's all).

Provided everything goes well, the scar is the lasting reminder.  An incision from hip to hip.  lonnnggggg incision.

Last thing - congratulations on losing 134 pounds! 

Thanks for sharing your sister's experience, pufflet.  I have been wondering about tummy tucks, and I have NEVER before thought about any type of cosmetic surgery. 

If I did decide to go for the tummy tuck, it wouldn't be so much for vanity.  I'm concerned about the extra weight in the form of extra skin.  I have always carried weight on my belly, which is associated with increased risk for some medical problems, and if I can eliminate an extra 10-20 pounds in that area I think it may be healthy to do so.  I decided that once I have maintained weight loss for a year AND have continued to work out (cardio/weights/stomach crunches), if I still have a serious skin apron I will explore my options.  I would much rather tone with exercise that with surgery, but the reality is that for some people the skin and muscles have been stretched past the point of recovery.

The biggest drawback to me is the cost.  I could tuck the tummy, OR have a marvelous trip to Europe.  Hmmmm....

I'm currently working with a plastic surgeon to prep for a lower body life, including an inner and outer thigh lift, and an arm lift (see the pics on my profile page) and breast augmentation.

Right now I am working with my insurance company to see how much they'll pick up.  I'm hoping they'll pick up all cost except for the breast augmentation which is the only part of my surgery considered cosmetic -- my doctors are calling the other surgeries 'repair' and 'necessary for good health' due to frequent rash outbreaks.

As the others have said, be sure to work with a board-certified, qualified surgeon.  Mine has good references and he did an assessment of me to determine if I was a good candidate. 

The drains that pufflet mentioned aren't too bad.  I had them in place following surgery on my neck and throat and they were an inconvenience, but they were not painful.  The numbness she mentioned is also not so bad, just wierd.  I had surgery to remove a cancerous kidney which required I be cut halfway open on my waistline.  That was one year ago and the numbness is just now wearing off.  The surgery on my neck was a few months ago and there is definitely still numbness, but hopeful it too will reside.

One of our fellow cc'ers provided this link in a similar thread:  http://www.makemeheal.com/pictures/index.php  I found it interesting to see some of the results.

I'm hoping to have my surgery soon but the economy has me wondering if this is the right time to take on new expenses.  On the other hand, after working so hard to lose my excess weight, emotionally and psychologically I need to have it done as that last step.  The 'apron' of skin on my tummy, in addition to the excess hanging skin on my inner thighs is a monstrosity.  If you see the picture of the excess skin on my arms (profile pic), it's nothing compared to the skin on the lower half of my body!  Ick!

Note.....  I work out religously at the gym to tone as much as possible.  While it helps with my muscles, it has no affect on my skin elasticity. 

Not to get off thread, but everyone needs to view kaufmkk's gallery.  Wow, oh, Wow!  Congrat's woman!!  You are truly an inspiration!  Good luck with your plastic surgery.  I wish you all the best.  ~Tonnie 

P.S.  I would listen to this woman if this is something that you are considering.  She's beautiful and obviously in-tune with what she wants and what is involved.

Thank you, mommakitty.  That's very nice of you!

It's been a long, hard journey, and it has taken a lot of dedication.  But boy, it's been worth it!  In the midst of it, I found out I had kidney cancer.  If I hadn't started losing weight, I most likely would not have detected the cancer until it was too late. 

That health 'crisis' alone was enough to make me realize why I had to continue with my journey.  Even after I hit my goal weight, I will continue my healthy life style.

It took a lot for me to post my 'before' pics on my profile, and even more to post the saggy skin pics (I hide behind my clothes).  But if they help to motivate others, then it's worth the embarrassment that I face at what I let happen to myself.

Oooh good thread!

Pufflet- Thanks for posting the nitty gritty of the procedure.There are too many TV shows and magazine articles which glamorise cosmetic surgery without showing the true risks, and what you have to go through in the process.

I have lost 119 pounds so far and aim to be lose another 30-35 pounds which would make me 175-180 at 6 foot 1. I already have a rather large 'apron' of skin on my stomach and am looking forward to the day when I can have my tummy tuck.

One question i do have is- How much weight can you expect to lose in skin during the operation? I know this would completely differ person to person but if I can expect to drop another 10-15 pounds maybe I should shoot for a pre-surgery goal weight of 185?

Kaufmkk- I would be very interested to hear about your progress with surgery. I know what you mean about 'before' pics, I am still embarrassed to post full length pics of myself! Please keep us all informed :o)

Oooh good thread!

Pufflet- Thanks for posting the nitty gritty of the procedure.There are too many TV shows and magazine articles which glamorise cosmetic surgery without showing the true risks, and what you have to go through in the process.

I have lost 119 pounds so far and aim to be lose another 30-35 pounds which would make me 175-180 at 6 foot 1. I already have a rather large 'apron' of skin on my stomach and am looking forward to the day when I can have my tummy tuck.

One question i do have is- How much weight can you expect to lose in skin during the operation? I know this would completely differ person to person but if I can expect to drop another 10-15 pounds maybe I should shoot for a pre-surgery goal weight of 185?

Kaufmkk- I would be very interested to hear about your progress with surgery. I know what you mean about 'before' pics, I am still embarrassed to post full length pics of myself! Please keep us all informed :o)

Thanks everyone for the responses.  I am definitely considering a tummy tuck as I have lost so much weight that it is skin that is keeping me from feeling totally terrific about the loss.  Don't get me wrong, I am very happy to be healthier and active, but there is the health issue with rashes that I am now dealing with.  I've had a friend who went through one and lost an additional 20lbs just by having the extra skin gone.  I figure I may lose an additional 10-15lbs but am not anticipating it as I don't want to feel disappointed if it's less.  Basically I want to do it to feel better and healthier, not to lose additional weight.... Thanks again everyone!!!

Original Post by laurabow:

One question i do have is- How much weight can you expect to lose in skin during the operation? I know this would completely differ person to person but if I can expect to drop another 10-15 pounds maybe I should shoot for a pre-surgery goal weight of 185?

My doctor is 'guessing' that I have 20 pounds of excess skin in my lower body (tummy, hips and thighs) and about 5-8 pounds in my arms, which ironicaly, would mean that I'm at my goal weight minus the excess skin!  She pointed out that my clavicle, ribs and wrists are downright bony!  Even my hip bones are starting to protrude from beneath the loose skin around my mid-section.

I'm a bit frustrated at the moment.  I had a plastic surgeon lined up and was ready to go, and then I had to change my insurance carrier.  My surgeon is not in the network I'm now in so I have to get another referral and go through the preliminary work all over again!  Grrrrr........  Oh well, that gives me another month or two to lose as much more weight as my body is willing to give up at this point.

Hi,

I lost a huge amount of weight about 10 years ago and had a full tummy tuck three years ago.  Original weight: 268 LBS down to 144 LBS - (in two years) I maintained the loss for years, then quit smoking and have put some back on... hence on this site working hard to loose again.

Anyway the TT was really great.  There are some drawbacks - a big scar, sometimes would necrosis (the scar doesn't heal well in all places) and it takes a while to get any feeling at all back from the invasiveness of the surgery.  I am three years on and am still numb in places and yes, it does feel wierd at times.

There is a fantastic web site that has loads of Q&A about surgery: TT's, BA's etc.. I found it really helpful, maybe you will too?

www.breasthealthonline.org

It's similar in style to this site, so you can chat to people and find out lots more.. 

I have no regrets about my TT, if you want to know more about it, just let me know and I'll run through it step by step...BUT remember everyone is different.  I healed really quickly and well, some don't and there is no way to know, but eating right and not smoking is essential...

Hope this helps??

MA

My sister and my neice have both had full lower-body lifts after losing weight with gastric surgeries.  My sister said it was the most painful thing she ever did, that includes having 4 kids!  But she said it was totally worth it. 

My neice had her lower lift after my sister.  Initially, when she saw how much excruciating pain my sister was in, she didn't want to get it done.  But after she saw the results, she decided the pain was worth it and did it too.  They have both also had breast lifts.  My sister also had her upper arms done.

They are both extremely happy with the results and would rather live with the scars than the excess skin.  And my sister's scars are pretty bad.

I should, however, point out that both my sister and neice were significantly heavier than you to start.  I was closer to your weight starting (262).  I dropped to 165, and I would rather live with the skin.  My sis keeps telling my to get a tummy tuck, but I'm happy with me.

I just phoned a plastic surgeon for information on the tummy tuck.  I toy with it so much....Look great in clothes, but in a bikini, well the excess skin is there.  I'll mull over the info and then perhaps go in for a consult.  Actually, now that Im typing this....I will gather info on a few surgeons in the area.

Accountant told me that tummy tuck is not tax deductible....cosmetic surgery  - DARN.  Insurance will not pay for it.......I have to be really careful in how I do this.  LOL maybe I'll start an online fund for donations  LMAO.