To tummy tuck or live with a little extra skin

I have lost 102 pounds and optimally should loose 20 pounds more (especially 20 pounds of bodyfat - I sure like to keep as much lean body tissue/muscles as possible). I was only a light weight morbidly obese man and 41 yo. I do have some loose skin on my lower abdomen now and it seems to get and look worse for every pound I loose now. Obviously I am not having a big pannus - flap of hanging skin - perhaps about an inch? It may seems like just a vanity issue/luxury problem - but I do wonder if having a tummy tuck is going to be worth it?? I have seen some men have a tummy tuck + liposuction after loosing only 60-80 pounds and have up to 8 pounds of tissue "removed". I thought it was unnecessary for them to have this surgery ...
For those who have had a tummy tuck - was it worth it? The cost - the pain and the very large scar!!!  Or should I just accept to have jelly-belly and work on my overall appearance by working out, building up muscles and work on lowering my bodyfat percentage? Wondering ...

I lost close to 300 lbs, and had to have surgery to look somewhat normal. But the results from a Light weight having a TT are amazing. You'll have flat abs...something you'll never have without surgery. The scar can be hidden by underwear, and honestly I didn't think the surgery was so bad (i had a full lower body lift).

Scott

I am sorry to hear you had to go through this Scott! Your  huge weightloss is bound to give way too much excess skin, no doubt about it. (And right procedure too - DS only available to patients with BMI over 50 in this country - I only had BMI 43,7 at 315 pounds when I was my max weight, but refused to become 400+ like other familymembers before I had WLS - to save my life) .
Good point - I can already at 213 pounds see that I have abs - I just got abit too much subcutanous fat to really see them and well - on my lover belly I have this loose sagging skin.
I do need to wait and see how the skin looks about 9-10 month from now in order to make my final decision - but I will surely have to selfpay since the loose skin will be considered a cosmetic - not a health/functional problem. So I need to save more up - if I do choose not to live with it. Great - you had the courage and option!

They've changed the DS since I had it (I don't know where you live...but in the United States). It is no longer just for the SMO, but the regular MO too. Many surgeons are using a much smaller stomach and a much longer common channel. It's become more RNY like in the sense that you have more absorbtion and more restriction....and different in the sense that you still have your pyloric valve and you have enough malabsorbtion to keep the weight off more easily.

I'd wait until you've reached a stable weight for at least 6 months to a year. Skin does shrink up a bit, unfortunately not in my case...but some men find that they do not need any additional work.

Honestly I don't think it's vanity to want to look good. My insurance paid for most of my surgery, if I want my thighs or arms done....that would be on me. They paid for a Lower body lift and a chest reduction (no more moobies).

Scott

I decided shortly into my journey that excess skin would be a MAJOR side effect.  And I decided that I was just going to live with whatever happened.  As long as I didn't lose anything on my love stick, I'd be fine with whatever the outcome, LOL!

So just keep exercising, supplementing, pumping tha****er, and you shouldn't look bad at all.