how long after wls untill i can have plastic surgery?

i would like to set up a consult with a plastic surgeon since i reached my first goal of 130 and am just 3 lbs shy of weighing 120  lbs. i feel i am thin enough for my liking except for my gut, its pretty bad and i only feel the need to keep losing so that it will get smaller but its alot of skin and i know if i had the skin fixed i would be ecstatic with my current weight. my surgiversary isnt untill june so im not even 1 year out yet, so im not sure if plastics are an option yet or if theres somesort of timeline/waiting period. the plan is to get a tummy tuck and breast implants all in one shot but without a consult im not sure how much $$$$$ needs to be saved. so how long did you wait? any info anyone has is appreciated

Hi,

There's nothing that says you can't do a consult anytime...especially if the doc(s) you're interested in offers complementary consultation.  Docs probably have different guidelines, but my doc wanted to see stable weight for six months before surgery.  I kept a weight loss graph as I went along and had it with me at consult, so when I knew I'd found my perfect fit doc, I was able to schedule right there.

Terri

I think its a matter of personal choice and what your doc says. I had RNY on March 25, 2009 and just had panni, TT with muscle repair and lipo on March 10, 2010. I was within 2-3 pounds of goal and had maintained for 3 months so my doc felt comfortable going ahead with my surgery. Most posters say wait at least 18 months. I'll let you know if I made a mistake this time next year. Good Luck!

Aloha-

I was told by all 3 plastic surgeons I consulted with to wait at least 6 months at a stable weight before pursuing plastics- one recommended 9 months. Some reasons that they gave:

1) Your skin continues to shrink even once you hit goal, and everyone's elasticity is different depending on genetics, age, amount of weight lost, where you carried it, etc. Having plastics too soon when your skin is continuing to experience "shrinkage" could lead to the extra expense and healing time of revisions down the road, and if you'd waited the extra 6 months, you'd have a better idea of how your skin was going to behave once you are at goal for a prolonged period of time. Plus your surgeon is working with a more stable product.

2) Your body composition continues to change as you work out, build muscle, etc. Some PSs ask you to wait til your BMI is below a certain level - for example, you heal with fewer complications from a LBL if your BMI is below 30 than if it is above 35. Less body fat means very little tension dragging down on incisions, such as those around your belly, allowing for faster healing. I was dying to hear how many pounds of skin I lost at my abdominoplasty....and my surgeon didn't even bother to weigh it because there was so little body fat, he said it was all skin and didn't weigh that much. I ended up healing VERY rapidly, not a single complication in a very long 6.5-7 hour procedure ( Circumferential lower body lift, breast lift and augmentation). In fact, I was OK'd to go back to the gym for yoga and stretching at 12 days post op, and start cardio/ weights at 3 weeks post op when I'd been told pre op it would be 6 weeks before I could go back. All the extra muscle and squats and  extra nutritional protein pre- and post- op were totally worth the ease and speed of healing.

It's so tempting to jump into plastics once you hit goal- there's all this extra skin, you feel you're not at the end of your journey til your tummy looks better, you really want to wear that size 4 but the extra skin of your pannus means you are in a size 8 instead- trust me, I know. But I am so glad I waited, and got in the best shape of my life pre plastics, because it has paid off in spades- a lightning fast recovery and excellent outcome.

There is nothing that says you can't start getting consults now- most are free- and having your surgeons start submitting if you are anticipating  any potential insurance coverage. It allows you to choose your surgeon carefully ( remember these are elective procedures! You have a choice!) and save the money instead of making an emotional decision that you regret later. I started getting consults at 4 months post goal, and eventually had my surgery 9 months post goal. My skin definitely changed between goal and plastics- I decided to not do my arms because I had such a great response to weights and toning (and shrinkage!).

So patience, patience, patience......Good luck and congrats! XOOXLori

Mine required me to be at least 18 months post RNY and 6 months at a stable weight.  Additionally, if you want to try for insurance coverage, make sure yo uknow what they require.  Good luck!

April