Body Image Issues

I am getting ready to have a mini tummy tuck with lipo next month, I'm 5'4" wear a size 6 and I am hoping that this will help me to see that I am a size 6.  My head tells me I am still fat and when I look at my stomach all I see is this wrinkley blob of skin and fat.

I've been told recently by several people that I am too skinny and I should actually gain weight back and I don't need a tummy tuck.  Even the doctor told me not to lose anymore weight before the surgery.  But in my head I am still too fat, so after having a tummy tuck did your head catch up?  Will I not feel fat anymore?  Is my head just messed up?

My hope is that after this surgery I will feel better and comprehend where my body is.  Does that make sense.  This has really been causing me a bit of grief lately, its like I am obsessed and I don't like it.

Any insight from anyone who has had the surgery and it helped them see their body differently or going through the same thing would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

When I look in mirror, I still see fat.  I have my first consult this Thursday with PS.

There was a post on this subject the other day, it's probably on the second page if you're interested.

It does not sound like you're too thin. If it's people who knew you when you were fat, then that's what they're used to. Ignore them. The best thing I ever did was get a new job after I got to my goal weight. People know me at this weight so there are no more comments like "You're too skinny".

I love my new body post-plastics.

Laura

I'm dealing with the same thing. I've reached my doctor's goal weight for me, but I still feel huge, because I have flabs of hanging skin. And people tell me too that I'm looking too thin. But they're all people who knew me before so they're used to seeing me with a fat face, no cheekbones, etc.

My PS told me not to lose weight before the surgery because he didn't want me dieting or messing up my nutrients. He said surgery is such a huge trauma already, he doesn't want me changing my diet at all beforehand. He said I could lose another 10lb after I'm healed from surgery if I want. But he didn't say that I'm too thin or can't lose any more weight.

It's really infuriating when people try to tell you how you should feel about your body. They don't have to live in your skin. They have no idea what you look like naked. They aren't invested in you like you are. So tune them out. But also don't lose more weight before your surgery, because your doctor said you should 't, AND because it's likely that your image of yourself will change after surgery. Maybe you'll decide you still wanna lose a little more weight. Or maybe you'll be happy with yourself. Nobody else can make the call.

People think it's almost flattering to say stuff like "You're too skinny!" and they don't hesitate to say it because they feel that it's acceptable, because our society worships thin people. Did you ever have someone say to you "You're too fat, lose weight!" (I hope not, it's totally rude). I find myself guilty of the same thing, I won't hesitate to say to someone "you're so skinny!" but have never in my whole life made a comment to someone about being too heavy. It's just more acceptable to comment on skinniness. It's almost a backhanded compliment.

You are used to seeing a fat version of yourself, so you probably haven't caught up mentally. I hope the tummy tuck will help with that. I think it will help for me, definitely. Good luck!

Hey Staci!

i'm 6 weeks post tummy tuck.  i'm 53 years old and have lost 108 pounds.  the PS removed 3 pounds of skin from my tummy and a 100 ton burden off my shoulders when he did my tummy tuck.  i hated that skin my weight loss left behind.  i felt like it wasn't even part of my body!  i didn't really realize how i felt about that skin until it was gone.

i still can't wrap my mind around my weight loss.  like i said....i'm 53 years old....i'm 5'7" and have been maintaining in the 140's.  everyone tells me how skinny i am and i honestly don't see it.  my nutritionist says i should never weigh over 140 but i just can't see me going that low without the thigh lift i hope to have one day.  i was talking to hubby last night about this and i told him that i wish i could see me as everybody else sees me because i honestly don't see skinny when i look in the mirror.  he said that i am really thin and certainly don't need to lose any more weight.  and i count on him to tell me the truth.  i told him right after my surgery i would count on him to tell me the truth because he's loved me fat, thin and in between.  i listen to hubby and i am maintaining.  i still don't get the "skinny" part yet...but the scales agree with him!  i'm in a size 4 but still catch myself wandering over to the big mama department when i shop for clothes!  it's crazy!  but now i am beginning to understand how an anorexic says they're fat when they weigh less than 100 pounds!  they really can't see how thin they are! 

i get lots of skinny comments but just take it with a grain of salt.  i feel so much better since my tummy tuck.  i kind of felt guilty for spending that much money but i realize now that it was worth every penny.....i look better physically and i feel better emotionally!  and now i have a cute stinkin belly button!!!  and the cutest stinking tummy i've ever had.....it looks better than when i was a teenager! 

wishing you nothing but the best!  and you will be so happy with your tummy tuck....and our brains will eventually catch up!

jenni