How do I know...

Hi all! I'm a year post-op tomorrow, and I'm down a total of 190 lbs. (60 pre-op, 130 since surgery) I started out at 435 lbs, and I am currently 245-ish. I'm just shy of 5'8" tall. I've been losing very minimal amounts for the past couple of months, kind of going up and down the same few pounds. I know it's normal for people to fluctuate depending on water retention, what you ate that day, etc. so I try not to obsess over a couple of pounds either way.

Anyway, my question is, how do I know when my body is done losing? My goal was to get to below 200 lbs. I think my ticker goal is set for 195. My doctor's estimate for me pre-op was that I'd get to around 210. I REALLY want to continue losing, but I'm starting to get discouraged.

Also, those who started out as large as me and have had plastics already, how much skin was removed from the panni/mons area? I have a LOT of loose skin on my tummy (Both above and below the belly button) and I'm having a hard time at this point knowing what is skin and what is fat. It's VERY wrinkly and I suspect it's largely skin. Also, my mons area is the worst I think I've ever seen as far as loose, hanging skin goes. (I have googled, trying to find out what is normal.) It's not only embarrassing, but it's very uncomfortable. Finding swimwear and underwear is a problem. It just HANGS out everywhere. It's not like my tummy, which I can at least contain with shapewear. Is this something that can be fixed with plastics when I have panni removal? It really bothers me. I lose weight, and it just hangs worse.

I guess I'm wondering if my body is slowing down so much on weight loss, am I getting close to the end of my weight loss? At 245 lbs? *sigh* And if so, how much of this 245 could be attributed to skin? Would I even *BE* a plastic surgery candidate still weighing in at 245? 

I know... lots of questions, but I am really starting to wonder where I'm gonna wind up and what is normal for people who begin as large as I did??? I mean, I'm still *almost* as large as some people who just begin their journey. 

Any thoughts or advice is appreciated! :)

Hello,

first of all, I want to offer heartfelt congratulations on your commendable weight loss thus far! You are an inspiration to me! And I highly doubt you're done losing as the "window of opportunity" is 18 months long according to my bariatic team. Besides, many peeps on OH have described weight loss stalls and have persisted and continued to lose beyond the 18 months to achieve their goal.

I am only four weeks post-op, but I can relate to your post. My beginning BMI was 58 and I figure I want to lose at least 225 pounds. (I was down 35 pounds at my 3-week post-op appt. last week.) More relatedly, I suffer from an impairing mass below my belly button in the mons area. My gyno had inaccurately diagnosed it as a lupima (fatty tumor), but my surgeon said it is just how my body is carrying my excess weight. He did state that plastic reconstructive surgery would be indicated as the overhang extends into my vaginal area. He advised that I have the RNY first and hopefully the rapid weight loss would lessen the pressure (edema) in that area and bring me some relief. Another advantage to postponing the plastic surgery was that he thought it likely that a tummy tuck could be also be covered by insurance after weight loss due to one condition contributing to the other!

Meanwhile, my surgeon recommended somehow lifting this area with a support garment (shapers extending to cover the thighs help!) and also recommended a specific support, Bariatric Support Plus, which I ordered at www.bannertherapy.com. It's a low-fitting belt-like support that provides both lumbar and front girth support. Other helpful suggestions from OH friends have been lifting and tying that area up with pantyhose and wearing tights with the legs cut out as a lite support. Your shapewear is likely more effective at this point. I can just assure you that my surgeon had "seen it before" and knows that plastic reconstructive surgery will correct this problem. And it even sounds like it will be covered by insurance! So don't fret, relief is available, it seems. Message me/add me as a friend if you wish!

Hi Robin -

I had surgery at 440 lbs. and I am now weigh anywhere from 225 to 230.  Like you, I've been playing around with the same 5 lbs for a couple of months now.  I did have one plastic surgeon consultation - he said a lower body lift would remove about 20 lbs, max.  I'm not sure I agree with that.  I, too, don't know what still is fat to be lost and what is extra skin.  However, it seems to me that I'm not going to be able to go down very many more sizes because even with shapers, I still have this belly.  Yes, it is smoother and more 'in place' but no shaper is going to make it disappear.

I hope this makes sense and I hope others who have gone before us chime in, too!

Jana

Hi Robin,

I am going thru the same thing you are at just over a year out.  I started at 344 the day of surgery.  I have been up and down 2-3# in the last 5 weeks.  I have found that my measurements are different though, so that is a little helpful.  I have been told we can lose up to 18-24 months out of surgery.  Other folks here have told me that at a year, it is normal to have plateau of some sort, not what I want to hear, but it is a little reassuring to know that others have gone thru this too.

I have been to a plastic surgery seminar, and they do "mons" lifts as well as other lifts too!  I had no idea that part of my body would become so loose too.  I feel like I have a mans scrotum sometime (ha ha). 

Just know that you are not alone.  Hope the scale starts moving for you soon!

Keep up the good work, you have done great so far!!! 

Caroline

Thank you all for your comments, suggestions and advice!! I really needed the perspective of others who have "been there, done that" or are there now along with me! I normally post primarily on the main board, but there are some things that only those of us who started out much heavier fully "get". So, thank you for your suggestions and reassurance that my concerns are not so unusual!!

Hi,

I had my RNY 6/20/07 - so I am at 22 months and I am still losing, albeit slowly.

I started at 366 lbs, 334 on the day of surgery and I currently weigh 190 lbs.  I have lost 20 lbs since mid-December.

I am living proof that you can continue to lose weight beyond 1 yr, beyond 18 months - so don't give up.  I don't know where the weight loss will stop, I really no longer obsess over it.  I feel so great that I consider anything I lose from now on to be a bonus.

I'm probably older than most of you guys (62 - will be 63 in August).  I have decided not pursue plastics, but I am certain I would feel differently if I were younger.  The only skin that really bothers me is the upper arms - short sleeves are out of the question.

Shirley

One thing I wanted to tell you is that a friend of mine lost 28 pounds with her plastic surgery.  (Tummy and arms) so it is possible to lose a good deal on the scale with surgery. 

I also wanted to post this  http://www.vaginalplasticsurgery.com     There are several sites you could check out if you google it. 

Good luck and CONRATS on your success so far!!  You are doing very well I think!!

Thank you both for your input!! Teresa, I will bookmark that site and check it out later when my kids are gone. Thanks so much!

Just wondering have you tried to break your stall on this one? I have found I have to force my body out of these stalls.  I have my own private dietitian now to help me out of these stalls since I couldn't figure out what was going on when I wasn't loosing for weeks going on months. I also found out I have to trick my body to move. Exercise one day, less the next, eat more, eat less. I guess I have to work hard to get out of my stalls. My body isn't going to give me anything at this rate. I to started at 440 (lost 15 month before surgery) and today came in at 249. I am loosing at a rate of about 15-10 lbs per month depending on what my body wants to do. But I am getting more aggressive on my body now about moving though stalls. I am starting to pick them up quicker since I started tracking things (I started journaling). I am a little taller then you also (5'10) but I really would love to see myself at a normal bmi and every time I struggle I have to keep repeating it over and over. I hope this didn't come off negative I was just wondering since you are a little farther ahead of me what you are doing to break out of these crummy points

Also I understand what you are saying about the skin.. Mine is running that way also. I have looked into a couple places and they did have a couple people that got rid of some of the loose skin about the same point you are. It did make a difference it just was not the extreme you see with some people.

Although I definitely hope this isn't the case for you, I started at 440 and am stuck at 240-250 since about 14mos out. I can do everything right and not lose, I can do everything wrong and not lose.

It might help you to take your measurements. I'm still losing inches, just no change on the scale. It is beyond frustrating and I try not to get upset but I am really quite depressed about it and feeling like a failure.

You can seriously expect to lose 20+ from plastics and yes you may be a candidate now or you may need to lose more. Either way they prefer to see you at a stable weight for a while before they schedule plastics.

All the best!