plastic surgery after weight loss surgery

Hi everyone. Wanted to post and let all the recent post ops know they are doing so great and let any pre-ops know that I read the board daily and dont post much anymore but always answer questions at my e-mail which is in the patient directory. ([email protected]) I had my surgery 16 months ago and have lost almost 150lbs so far! I am happy to have this tool for weight loss and would say go for it to those who are apprehensive, just be sure you know as much as possible cause I do believe that knowing all the info helps you through this journey and dont be afraid to ask questions! As far as me, I am in the process of looking for surgeons for plastic surgery for the loose skin, if anyone out here has any suggestions as to who they used I would appreciate it alot. The one I was oringinally going to go to doesn't accept my insurance. I am very scared about getting more surgery, although the skin removal is to make you more comfortable I am being vane about how it will end up looking! I must be crazy! I have been on/off depressed about the loose skin for sometime, I have 20 more lbs to lose and I almost wanna keep it so I dont get any baggier, well if anyone out there has suggestions as to who they used I would appreciate an e-mail, or anyone who may even have some skin issues , tips?? Sounds stupid but I go from FAT, to what I call a smaller sized baggy elephant, I feel better health wise 100% and am so thankful for that BUT I am so sad as to how I look , especially naked. Would I rather be fat? NO, BUT sometimes people dont realize that under these clothes lies many many wrinkles!! UGH.....sorry to be a downer on that note but I am just looking to find some more people who are inthe same boat...... =0) Ami

I am 57 years old and have lost 163 pounds since Feb. '02. I had lost 100 pounds on WW when I was 28 years old, and have had two pregnancies. So my skin is terrible!. It went back so nicely when I was 28. Not so this time. I have plastic surgery scheduled for Sept. 17 for an abdominoplasty and bilateral thigh lift. I was preliminarily approved for insurance coverage on the spot for the tummy but may be paying out of pocket for the thighs. I am more than willing to do so because the skin hangs down over my knees and causes problems in some cuts of pants. I also have bad arthritis and think this will help. I, too, sometimes think I am just being vain and there is some truth to that. Maybe I'm making up for never having enough confidence in my looks to be vane before. At my age I've decided that it's MY time and I'm worth it. You are, too. As for a doctor, I live in MI so I'm probably not much help. I had my surgery done at a BTC which had a reconstructive surgeon on staff. However, they discontinued their contract with my insurance, BC/BS, so I got the number for his private practice and have worked with him there - with insurance coverage. Do you go to a support group? Any help there? Also seems like this website would be helpful although I didn't need to use it for this purpose. Best of luck to you!

I am 51 and going for an inner thigh lift consult next week ( 3 years 130+ pounds off) How did your inner thigh go? Have you given any thought to inner arms, I have thought about it, but dont believe I will do it. I have read so much about "puckering" on the underarms.. My abdominoplasty was painful, my breast lift didnt hurt at all.

I know how you feel. I hat the hanging skin and the saggy boobs too. I want to have the plastic surgery but I have been denied 2 times. I have a hernia that needs to be fixed and I want to have it all done at once but I cannot afford to have it done. We all have some skin but the more you lose the more it wrinkles. Just hang in there.

Well, I look at it this way. Before surgery I hated how I looked with and without clothes. Now, I just don't like how I look without them : ) So when it comes down to it, we are still way ahead of the game! Low self esteem and poor body image has been part of our lives for so long, and perhaps it is a remnant of how you felt before the surgery. I have decided, that I have to work on how I see myself, and to accept myself more than I have to work on the physical shortcomings at this point. One thing at a time! Best of luck to you. Enjoy your success. You deserve to. Regards, Ann