How long was everyone out of WLS before plastics?

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to know how long everyone was out from WLS before having plastics? I am 8 months out and down 94lbs...33lbs to my goal weight and I have a TON of extra skin in my abdomen and am looking into a TT. My back is seriously killing me right now! All input and advice welcome. Also, my surgeron said that I only have 10 mor lbs before I can go for my TT consult.

I've been told your weight has to be stable for at least 6 months. If you are self-pay, you can likely have the surgery whenever you want it, but keep in mind that if you have it too soon, and then drop more weight, you may still have loose skin issues even AFTER the plastics.

I'm 2 years out and have only lost about 20 lbs this year so my weight is becoming more stable.  I would still like to lose 20 more but my dr says it won't come off in the right place and that I need to have PS.  I personally am trying to lose 10 before my surgery on Oct 28th.

 I had my first PS at 13 months out. I had made my personal goal. My doctor wanted me to lose ten more but said I might have that much extra skin. I was self pay so I didn't have to have six months stable weight.  I think you will know when you have lost enough for plastics. Get a couple of opinions from surgeons before you make up your mind.

I had a bl/br and an arm lift 19 months after WLS and had been at my goal weight for 4 months. I was trying to wait until my weight had been stable for 6-12 months before having any plastic surgery done but the excess skin on my arms and the weight of my breasts was causing me shoulder, neck, and back problems. Insurance paid for most of it and I have no regrets. I did end up loosing another 10 lbs during the recovery so I am actually 10 lbs below my goal weight.

Insurance also approved a panniculectomy but my doctors are recommending that I wait 3-6 months until my weight is stable and my body heals more.

Good luck to you.
Ole

I had my RNY in '01.  Lost about 100 or so, had major life changes about 3 years out regained about 25, rejoined weigh****chers in '06 and basically pulled my head out of my ass to lose the rest of the weight (another 100 or so for a total of 190).

I reached the weight I am now in May of '09.  I tried and for 6 months to lose more and just couldn't get there.  I talked my family doctor and after examining me confirmed that I really lost all I needed to even though I was technically overweight.  So I started the process of researching surgeons.  Everything I kept looking at, kept taking me back to the first surgeon I found through here.  I scheduled my consult with him and knew that he was the provider I wanted.  

I met him in November but scheduled my first round of plastics in late May and the second in late June.  Personally I wanted to be at a stable weight for a year to make sure I had all the mental work figured out before drastically changing the physical appearance.  

At the one year mark my surgeon diagnosed an incisional hernia.  But I had a weight in mind that I wanted to be before going on consults.  It would have broke my heart had I gone on a consult and the surgeon told me I needed to lose more weight!  So at about 14 months I hit that weight and went on my first consult.  Then due to scheduling considerations I did not have the surgery until I was about 20 months out.

While many say to weight a certain amount of time, stable weight, etc. (and while that is good advice) there are instances where there a medical issues that need to be dealt with.  In these cases waiting until an "ideal" moment could be foolhardy.  You know how bad your issues are and how much pain you are in.  This is a decision you and your docs should make together.

Red

I waited 8 years!

I don't think you have to wait that long; but I do think it is a good idea to be at a stable weight for a while.

I was 3 1/2 years out.  I wanted to make sure I was done losing weight because I only wanted to have the plastic surgery once.  I was within 4 pounds of my life long weight goal the morning of surgery.  I am glad I waited and would not do it any differently.