plastics before you're at goal
I'm just full of questions about plastics today! Building off my other question: my panni and my batwings are the parts that look the most disgusting to me already. I feel like they make me look deformed and they make me very self-conscious. I'd LOVE to get my arms done and something done to my panni (maybe panniculectomy) sometime in the near future. But I still have a substantial amount of weight to lose. But here's the thing: I don't CARE about looking svelte. I just want to look NORMAL ie not deformed! I'd like to be able to feel good about myself now as well as when I lose the rest of the weight, ya know?
Anyway, has anyone had plastics before reaching goal? FWIW, I'm sure there's LOTS of fat left in my panni, but my arms are actually pretty muscular with disgusting saggy skin hanging off (I swim and have been since right after surgery).
Anyway, has anyone had plastics before reaching goal? FWIW, I'm sure there's LOTS of fat left in my panni, but my arms are actually pretty muscular with disgusting saggy skin hanging off (I swim and have been since right after surgery).
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford
Weights: highest = 520; before pre-op diet = 510; day of surgery = 494; goal = >200
Check out my blog - My Life with Sleevey. And add me as a friend to see my pics!
Weights: highest = 520; before pre-op diet = 510; day of surgery = 494; goal = >200
Check out my blog - My Life with Sleevey. And add me as a friend to see my pics!
I am looking into have plastic surgery before I get to goal. I started out at 420 lbs and now I'm 260 lbs. I have a lot of hanging skin on my stomach area. Its cause a lot of pain in the last few months. My doctors have advised me to look into getting the skin cut off. I still have 70 lbs I would like to lose. Right now getting rid of the pain in priority number one. I have an appointment with a plastic surgeon next week to see what my options are.
Baby Christopher born Oct 21, 2011
You may need two rounds of plastics ... also they also cut off the excess skin sometimes before having Wls
Best Wishes
Natalie
Best Wishes
Natalie
Starting Wgt 238 Goal Wgt 145 Current Wgt 133
RNY 09/09/08 by Dr. Kruger
Full anchor TT on November 27, 2009 by Dr. Laurence Rheingold
Breast Reduction and Breast Lift May 24, 2010 by Dr. Laurence Rheingold
www.myspace.com/kidneedonor
I weigh between 235 and 240 depending on the day... and I just had a tummy tuck and breast lift. LIke you, I had lost a ton of weight but still wasn't happy because of the mess of skin that was left.
My surgeon told me that it was my choice and that he'd do it whenever I decided but that I had to know that losing more weight after plastics could change my results and that further surgery may be needed to maintain my results.
My surgeon told me that it was my choice and that he'd do it whenever I decided but that I had to know that losing more weight after plastics could change my results and that further surgery may be needed to maintain my results.
I would wait until you were at goal or close to goal. I have seen a few women who had surgery before goal and ended up with more saggy skin once they lost more weight. Some had to pay again for more surgery. Just something to consider.
Duodenal Switch - July 2006
Baylor Residency Program - Houston, TX - June 2009/March 2010
Baylor Residency Program - Houston, TX - June 2009/March 2010
Aloha Jenny-
As long as you acknowledge that you might need more surgery to revise your first round of plastics, go for it ..but you need to have those extra funds and the patience/grit to go through it twice.
Funds because it will cost you dollars to go through it again, and you'll have to be off work again meaning no income.
Patience and grit because you'll have to undergo anesthetic and healing time/discomfort again.
Every surgeon I consulted with wants you to be at a stable weight for 6-9 months prior to plastics- because your skin will undergo changes ( shrinkage) even once you are at goal, and you might not have needed to get one or more procedures done ( for example I am not doing my arms anymore. Would have sworn at 100 lbs heavier that I'd absolutely have to do them). I swam for the first 5 months post VSG- but it wasn't til I started lifting weights on land that I developed muscle and improved the look to my upper arms. So if you haven't strated resistance training, I urge you to do so- and remember swimming is also not weight bearing enough to prevent osteoporosis ( neither is cycling!).
The other reason for being as close to goal as possible- less body fat means less weight of the skin tugging down on your incision. Imagine a 360` incision at your pubis/hips trying to heal ( if you are considering a CBL or LBL) that has even 10 lbs of extra flesh/SQ fat around your lower hips or thighs pulling it down toward the ground. You will have more difficulty getting that incision to heal compared to someone who has no extra weight pulling their incision down.
People have had their pannis done before reaching goal, especially those with hernias or fat pads in their panni- but most repeat the procedure once they have hit goal and stabilized when they realize that they are now just as saggy after losing the additional 40 or 60 or 80 lbs...at least the posters I have seen report that. I wanted mine done because I was tired of the disgusting slapping sound/sensation my butt cheeks and pannus made when I did my jumping jacks at the gym. My personal decision, though, was to only be off work once and only go through things once. Everyone is different- and in different cir****tances as far as finances, support of family, etc. If you want it and can afford it- go for it- just be prepared to want to redo it later down the road ( because then "normal" might not be good enough, you'll want "stunning"!).
Good luck- XOOXLori
As long as you acknowledge that you might need more surgery to revise your first round of plastics, go for it ..but you need to have those extra funds and the patience/grit to go through it twice.
Funds because it will cost you dollars to go through it again, and you'll have to be off work again meaning no income.
Patience and grit because you'll have to undergo anesthetic and healing time/discomfort again.
Every surgeon I consulted with wants you to be at a stable weight for 6-9 months prior to plastics- because your skin will undergo changes ( shrinkage) even once you are at goal, and you might not have needed to get one or more procedures done ( for example I am not doing my arms anymore. Would have sworn at 100 lbs heavier that I'd absolutely have to do them). I swam for the first 5 months post VSG- but it wasn't til I started lifting weights on land that I developed muscle and improved the look to my upper arms. So if you haven't strated resistance training, I urge you to do so- and remember swimming is also not weight bearing enough to prevent osteoporosis ( neither is cycling!).
The other reason for being as close to goal as possible- less body fat means less weight of the skin tugging down on your incision. Imagine a 360` incision at your pubis/hips trying to heal ( if you are considering a CBL or LBL) that has even 10 lbs of extra flesh/SQ fat around your lower hips or thighs pulling it down toward the ground. You will have more difficulty getting that incision to heal compared to someone who has no extra weight pulling their incision down.
People have had their pannis done before reaching goal, especially those with hernias or fat pads in their panni- but most repeat the procedure once they have hit goal and stabilized when they realize that they are now just as saggy after losing the additional 40 or 60 or 80 lbs...at least the posters I have seen report that. I wanted mine done because I was tired of the disgusting slapping sound/sensation my butt cheeks and pannus made when I did my jumping jacks at the gym. My personal decision, though, was to only be off work once and only go through things once. Everyone is different- and in different cir****tances as far as finances, support of family, etc. If you want it and can afford it- go for it- just be prepared to want to redo it later down the road ( because then "normal" might not be good enough, you'll want "stunning"!).
Good luck- XOOXLori
Lori, tell me more about your arms...I find it really inspiring that you thought you would need them done and now feel you don't! What kind of weight training do you do? Did you take it easy at first? I HATE weight training, but I do understand that I'm probably going to have to commit to it to get the results I want.
Also, interesting point about healing...hadn't even thought of that...
Thank you so much, everyone, for your insights on this. Maybe I really do just need to be a little patient and spend more time working hard rather than looking for a quick fix.
ARGH, though!!
Also, interesting point about healing...hadn't even thought of that...
Thank you so much, everyone, for your insights on this. Maybe I really do just need to be a little patient and spend more time working hard rather than looking for a quick fix.
ARGH, though!!
"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford
Weights: highest = 520; before pre-op diet = 510; day of surgery = 494; goal = >200
Check out my blog - My Life with Sleevey. And add me as a friend to see my pics!
Weights: highest = 520; before pre-op diet = 510; day of surgery = 494; goal = >200
Check out my blog - My Life with Sleevey. And add me as a friend to see my pics!
Aloha Jenny-
I never lifted weights before this- and hadn't exercised in 30 years ( gulp). The regimen I started with is documented on my blog page , as well as my other exercise transitions ( interval training, conversion of water to land work). Yes, I did start easy- I still do not lift anything heavier than a 15 lb dumbbell, and that's only for two exercises ( sitting inclined shoulder press and sitting inclined chest fly) - most of the time I am using 10 lb dumbbells and started with 5's. I will paste photos that show arms from start of lifting to 16 weeks post lifting, and what they looked like at goal. I think the amount lost over the 16 week period ( from 5 mos post op to 16 weeks post lifting) was about 45 lbs. Between the 16 weeks post lifting and the green shirt was probably another 10 lbs on the scale. Even though I weigh a very solid 132-135, my clothing size is only a 4-6. Needless to say, I am a HUGE fan of the weightlifting!
My PS brought up the point about having decreased weight tugging on your incision- he says it's one of the reasons some surgeons don't like to do a CBL if you still have pounds to lose from your tummy- because that delayed healing often leads to stretched out scarring, or open areas that now have to heal by secondary intention . Secondary intention healing is where the wound granulates in, as opposed to healing by primary intention, which is where 2 adjacent cut areas are pulled together with sutures and heal- that's the preferred method of healing- less scar and faster healing.
Not sure if I made this other point about protein and healing- but I will get up on my soapbox ( again) and reiterate- for plastics, you need to heal well. A pretty outcome IS your goal. You don't feel much like eating post plastics ( I still have no appetite at all 2 years pst VSG), but you must get your dietary protein in to heal- I upped mine to 125 g/day pre and post plastics- and relied on protein shakes since it's challenging for me to get that amount in my sleeve per day. The amount of muscle you build up pre plastics is used as a bank for protein to draw on while you heal, and on days when you maybe don't get that dietary protein in. My PS made that point- he said you want to be in the best shape possible for plastics for several reasons- to make your healing time as comfortable as possible ( because you are more flexible, mobile and strong and it's easier for you to walk upright soon after surgery, or get up off the toilet/couch/bed/in or out of the car with a strong core) , to heal quickly ( it's ALOT of surgery- my CBL/BL/BA lasted 6.5 hours, you need protein to heal all that muscle and skin), and to keep your immune system strong to able to fight off infection ( again- protein is the base for your immunoglobulins).
Be well, Jen, it's terrific that you are doing your research ahead of time- and if you decide to wait, use the time wisely- lots of squats ( trust me it HELPS with getting up and down post tummy work, and guess what- it's strength training without the weights- you are using your body weight as the resistance instead of a dumbbell or barbell) and lift those weights- you might even find you enjoy it, or get to skip the brachioplasty part! Also, measure before you start lifting and then in 4 months- the scale losses might flatten out a bit (because you build muscle) but if you are changing body composition from higher fat mass to higher lean muscle mass, your measurements will go down.
XOXOLori
I never lifted weights before this- and hadn't exercised in 30 years ( gulp). The regimen I started with is documented on my blog page , as well as my other exercise transitions ( interval training, conversion of water to land work). Yes, I did start easy- I still do not lift anything heavier than a 15 lb dumbbell, and that's only for two exercises ( sitting inclined shoulder press and sitting inclined chest fly) - most of the time I am using 10 lb dumbbells and started with 5's. I will paste photos that show arms from start of lifting to 16 weeks post lifting, and what they looked like at goal. I think the amount lost over the 16 week period ( from 5 mos post op to 16 weeks post lifting) was about 45 lbs. Between the 16 weeks post lifting and the green shirt was probably another 10 lbs on the scale. Even though I weigh a very solid 132-135, my clothing size is only a 4-6. Needless to say, I am a HUGE fan of the weightlifting!
My PS brought up the point about having decreased weight tugging on your incision- he says it's one of the reasons some surgeons don't like to do a CBL if you still have pounds to lose from your tummy- because that delayed healing often leads to stretched out scarring, or open areas that now have to heal by secondary intention . Secondary intention healing is where the wound granulates in, as opposed to healing by primary intention, which is where 2 adjacent cut areas are pulled together with sutures and heal- that's the preferred method of healing- less scar and faster healing.
Not sure if I made this other point about protein and healing- but I will get up on my soapbox ( again) and reiterate- for plastics, you need to heal well. A pretty outcome IS your goal. You don't feel much like eating post plastics ( I still have no appetite at all 2 years pst VSG), but you must get your dietary protein in to heal- I upped mine to 125 g/day pre and post plastics- and relied on protein shakes since it's challenging for me to get that amount in my sleeve per day. The amount of muscle you build up pre plastics is used as a bank for protein to draw on while you heal, and on days when you maybe don't get that dietary protein in. My PS made that point- he said you want to be in the best shape possible for plastics for several reasons- to make your healing time as comfortable as possible ( because you are more flexible, mobile and strong and it's easier for you to walk upright soon after surgery, or get up off the toilet/couch/bed/in or out of the car with a strong core) , to heal quickly ( it's ALOT of surgery- my CBL/BL/BA lasted 6.5 hours, you need protein to heal all that muscle and skin), and to keep your immune system strong to able to fight off infection ( again- protein is the base for your immunoglobulins).
Be well, Jen, it's terrific that you are doing your research ahead of time- and if you decide to wait, use the time wisely- lots of squats ( trust me it HELPS with getting up and down post tummy work, and guess what- it's strength training without the weights- you are using your body weight as the resistance instead of a dumbbell or barbell) and lift those weights- you might even find you enjoy it, or get to skip the brachioplasty part! Also, measure before you start lifting and then in 4 months- the scale losses might flatten out a bit (because you build muscle) but if you are changing body composition from higher fat mass to higher lean muscle mass, your measurements will go down.
XOXOLori
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