Question for everyone

Sorry I can't even say I'm a lurker. I have been here, but just haven't come back like I should. So, everything you faithful marchers talk about, well, I've missed. Wish I hadn't....but anyhow. I started @ 336. I'm down 150 lbs. Which I believe is a miracle in itself. I have toyed with possibly having the extra skin removed. Especially because I care about my appearance more than I did 19 months ago. Every person that I know that actually had the surgery than the skin removed then started gaining weight. They then were the size they were prior to having the surgery. I'm totally scared about that. I worked so hard. I'm @ 186, which to others still may be "fat", but I know I look good, and I definately feel better about myself. But don't know if I should just let it go, I mean nobody really knows what I look like without clothes (except my arms). What have people that have done the plastic surgery found? The one thing I do have now, which I totally don't understand is my back bothers me more now, than prior to WLS. So anyone who has thoughts on this please let me know. I would appreciate it. Everyone has worked so hard to get to goal.......My doctor told me my goal was 200, so well I guess I'm lucky.

Hi Dorothy, I remember you! Welcome back! I started at 352 and I'm stabilized at 143 - I feel best at 141 and have gotten as high as 148 on a bad weekend. I fight the food demons almost constantly and relish the hours when those voices are sleeping...So far, I've had abdominoplasty and breast lift, with major hernia repair with the TT (I think the hernia has returned, however). I am scheduled to have the brachioplasty in January and am in the appeal process for the lower body lift, which I'll have done at the same time if approved. Then, I will be finished with the PS part of my journey. As for gaining the weight back post-surgery, it doesn't have anything to do with having the excess skin removed. It's really very simple -- in order to keep the weight off and maintain our newfound good health and appearance, we MUST make healthy eating choices and eat moderate portions; and we MUST, MUST, MUST exercise hard and faithfully at least 5 days a week. If we don't do these two fundamental things, we will begin to regain the weight -- not rocket science! It's called being "normal" -- this is the same battle "normal" sized people face every day and they have to do exactly the same things -- eat healthily and in small portions, have a rare treat once in a great while, and move that butt! I advise you keep the two issues separate -- for me, getting rid of the excess skin has really transformed my perception of myself -- I don't see myself as a fat person anymore, which I still did with all that skin hanging all over the place. It's now starting to shift and the TT isn't tucking anymore! But I can't say it enough...my joy in life comes from the sheer pleasure of having the profound freedom to move my body through space. I love to move. I hope this helps and stay in touch, we need you! Maureen

Hi Dorothy, I haven't gone the Plastic Surgery route yet, although I certainly have skin to spare. I can't really advise you on that although I just wanted you to know that your fear of re-gaining the lost weight is something we all seem to be dealing with. After all we've gone through, it would be devastating to gain it all back! That is why this message board is so important to me! It helps me stay in focus and keeps me on track. All we can do is keep on struggling and helping one another when we stumble. Take care and stay in touch. Mike

Hi, I have to agree withMike, I have not got to that Plastic Surgury part of life yet,one, I don't have any Insurance right now & when I do get it in February they probalbly won't cover any of it. So unless I hit the lottery , it isn't ever going to happen. But, I agree with Reenie, if you have the funds & Insurance will cover any or all of it do what you feel is good for you. We went into this to lose weight & iit will probably go along way in helping you keep that weight off even better. You look great by-the-way & am not sure this has helped any, but, Welcome back to our little family, anyway. We are here to help one another if we can. Marilyn, the Bearlady

I have a lot of friends who also experienced more back pain after losing the weight. I think there are a lot of reasons, possibly now we are off-balance? and also we are moving and doing things we didn't used to do, but we still don't have the core muscle strength (back AND abs) we should have had so we are straining ourselves. You may want to consult a chiropractor and/or a personal trainer to come up with a routine to strengthen your core. I didn't think I would go for PS going into this, I didn't think I would "need" it (I started at 266 and am now 151) but now that I am here I am seeing the ways that the skin is a hindrance, it isn't even just about appearance, although that alone now I recognize is worth it. I don't have the money for it and I know I won't have insurance coverage so for now I'm just dealing with it, but I would like to get it off if I could. I'd also like some boobs. My boobs now are like hanging twin raisins. (SORRY MIKE T.M.I. I know) Jen

I think you should pursue plastics at this point. I'm a few lbs above you and am ready also. We'll lose probably 8-10 lbs in skin anyway, so that will help. But the thing is, the back problems may or may not go away after skin removal, but it can't hurt. I know I found out I have some degenerative disc disease (not serious yet though) that was probably present for years but is showing up more now because of the weight loss. Getting skin removed may help...depends on where you carry the bulk of it. As for regain, I have watched the message boards for awhile and one thing that I have noticed...to my uneducated eye....is that the ones who seem to gain the most back are those who don't get plastics. I think one reason is because when you have the skin removed, some old fat cells go with it, and they usually lipo at that time as well. When they do that, your body isn't trying to fill those fat cells anymore, so there isn't that wild desperation your body feels to fill up those shrunken fat cells. I've posed my theory to several medical professionals and they all seem to think it is a plausable theory. Don't worry about regain right now. You will want to worry about that anyway...regardless of plastics. Besides, when you skin is tightened, you will be more uncomfortable upon gain, so it might actually help keep you in line more! I hope you are able to come up with the right answer for you! Congratulations on the great job! Dina