Question:
5 Months Post Op- Body Image Issues
— Jazzy (posted on May 19, 2003)
May 19, 2003
I am only 3 1/2 months out and down 63 pounds, but I know exactly what you
mean. I am now a size 18 (from a 22/24) and when I look in the mirror
dressed, I think, hey, maybe this is working. But then, I look in my
'undies', all I see is the same rolls of fat in the same place they always
were! I know in all reality I am smaller (11.5" around the largest
part of my abdomen), I just can't figure out why the mirror doesn't show
it. I'm sure our minds (and bodies) will catch up eventually. In the mean
time I'd take the scale over the mirror any day!
— eaamc
May 19, 2003
Janet, I'm 8 & 1/2 months out and as much as I hate to admit it...I try
to stay out of the mirror as much as possible (after putting on my make-up
in the morning), because I still feel *fat* sometimes, even though I've
lost 105lbs so far...Strange, huh? LAP RNY 265/160/115
— yourdivaness
May 19, 2003
Your normal. I usually like me in clothes, but in the nude, quite another
story! All I see then is the saggy boobs, tummy roll and big
hips...sigh...and I am a size 10-12. I wonder if the size 6-8's see the
same thing when they look in the mirror. I've heard that it can take a few
years for the brain to see the same image that is in the mirror. Makes
sense, since we were fat for so much of our lives...its the ole surgery on
our tummys and not our brains....
— Cindy R.
May 19, 2003
I'm sooooo with you. I had surgery 4 days after you did and when I look at
myself in the mirror I don't know how it's possible that I'm fitting in
size 13/14 (I was a 22/24). My body looks the same to me. People keep
telling me how great I look and I just can't see the change. My head keeps
playing games with me that the tags in the clothes must be wrong. I just
see the loose skin and the rolls. I put on an old pair of pants (size 22)
the other day and I couldn't believe how big they were, that they were skin
tight not 5 and a half months ago... Wish I had some comparison to see
what size I am. I asked my bf to point out someone the same size as me,
but he said he couldn't think of anyone. I'll have to ask another friend
what they think. Hope my head catches up eventually.
— Toni C.
May 19, 2003
I think I might have an answer to this unsolved mystery. I'm a non-op, but
am down 50 lbs (278 to 228, from size 28/30 to 20/22) due to my psych meds
(Topamax). If we lose weight from "all over", a bigger part (my
stomach) may still be disproportionately large? People tell me, you've lost
so much weight, but - I LOOK THE SAME TO ME! However, I always thought I
looked cute! (Some things even meds can't help!)
— Maxe B.
May 19, 2003
Janet - this body image thing isn't just for girls. I (a man) had lap rny
on 12/23/02 and have lost 116 pounds - 14 more til goal. I am now wearing
size 36 pants (from a 50) and a large shirt (from xxxl). People are
telling me how good I look - some have even said I've lost too much. But
when I look in the mirror I still see a fat person. When I'm shopping in
the regular size section I always think that people are saying to
themselves "Whats that fat man doing in here - he must be buying a
gift for someone". Anyway, I think it'll take a year or so to have
the mind and the body jive again.
Temple
— Smitty B.
May 19, 2003
Im almost 2 years out, wear a size 6 and still feel fat. All I see is the
loose skin, and my wide hips, and jiggly upper thighs. Most of the time Im
ok with how I look dressed, but I still feel like I weigh 300 lbs when I
see myself in the mirror
Logically, I know I cant be that big, because my clothes look so tiny
hanging up. I usually keep this opinion of my appearance to myself because
Im afraid people will think Im crazy or worse yet, fishing for a compliment
I sure hope it gets better with time.
— Angela S.
May 19, 2003
I feel great in clothes! I went from a size 22/24 to a size 7/8 and I feel
almost like a skinny person. I do however have the NAKED issues, ugh I
looked better fat naked, at least it was solid fat lol, but it is shrinking
and as much as I did not want to have PS, I am going for a consultation
next month just to see if I will qualify through insurance, but I honestly
don't think it's bad enough. I am just working my butt off trying to make
it normal again. I will take the looking good in clothes anyday than being
obese again, nobody sees me naked but my hubby anyways :o) The only thing I
wish I could wear is tank tops or strappy dresses, oh well maybe in a few
months more flab will shrink. Good luck to you!
— Sandy M.
May 19, 2003
I am 16 months out, down 128 pounds and in a size 12 from a very snug/tight
size 26 1/2. At 10 months post-op I had my arms done, breast augmentation
and lifts. Six weeks ago I also had a bit of liposuction and contouring of
my back (removal of 1 liter of fat from my flanks) and butt (fat injection
in teh fanny). I am having a TT and medial thigh lift in 2 weeks. Body
image is something we all have to deal with. I am very happy with my
appearance, but the excess skin and looseness is not something I can live
with. I did not undergo major surgery, lose all that weight, eat right and
exercise religously to look less than good naked and in clothes. My life
has changed and my body is now leaner and stronger than when I graduated
from high school back in 1975! My skin just has to be trimmed down to fit
my smaller, tighter and leaner body! My last surgery will be the
best...flat tummy and no more jelly thighs! Living on Florida, I am in
shorts, and on the bech swimming evey weekend. I would not be happy
without the plastic surgery I've had done. I planned on it, saved for it
and gladly pay for the body image that matches what I saw in my mind's eye
nearly a year and a half ago, as I layed in bed at night and asked God to
make this surgery wirk for me, and promised that I would do the work
required to have success...I hope this helps...Diane N.
PS, I weigh 168 but look much smaller thaks to exercise, resistance/weight
training and muscle toning as well as lots of cardio/aerobics. I am not
made to be a size 6, and will be thrilled to be a comfortable 8/10 post-TT.
— DianeN
May 19, 2003
Janet- I wish they would've told us that they did surgery on our stomachs
and NOT our minds! lol Boy do I know how you feel. And I hate to tell you,
but you'll probably still feel this way 1 or 2 years down the line. I'm a
year out and surpassed my goal, but still feel fat. HELLO- I'm a size 4/5!!
Why is my mind so crazy!?! And just like you- I'm exstatic about my weight
loss and realize sometimes that I look good, but others days I just see the
fat. I have saggy boobs and some saggy skin below my tummy, so I feel fat.
But I still have that obese mentality. It may go away on its own, I don't
know. But talking to someone about it sure helps, so maybe therapy can help
you as well! Congrats on your weight loss- hope you can feel better about
it soon!
— Lezlie Y.
May 20, 2003
Yep...I'm right there with you. I'm just over 1 year out, down 119 pounds
and I can now wear a size L shirt. (I'm still 40 pounds from goal.) But
looking at myself in the mirror or catching my reflection in a window, I
feel like I'm still 300 pounds. :o( But I do feel so much better now. I
can walk around for hours and do things instead of hiding out in my house.
Hopefully my mind will catch up with my body. And hopefully the part of me
that is so critical of myself will relax. Hugs
— Jennifer A.
December 22, 2008
Hi Janet,
It's been 4 years for me, I lost 131 lbs and went from a size 28 to a 12.
I looked in the mirror each morning and saw what I always saw, a fat woman.
But reality kicked in for me when people stopped recognizing me in public.
I would be introduced at a conference for work, and people would hear my
voice but not recognize who I was. People I'd worked with for years (but
saw infrequently) would look right through me without a glimmer of
recognition. At 1st I thought they were messing with me. But it happens
all the time now, so I just have fun with it.
I felt the WORST about my body when I stopped losing weight and had all
that saggy-baggy skin everywhere. It was weird because I never hated my
body so much when I was fat. I think I resented the saggy skin covering up
all of my hard work. Once I was able to have the excess skin removed... I
was much more comfortable in my new body, and could accept what I really
saw in the mirror.
Docey
— Docey
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