Loose Skin Question with Photos

Your photo:  that is what I look like too!  I can deal with my arms and bum, but my stomach and my thighs really bother me.  I would like plastic surgery too but have not looked into it at all.  Seeing your photos was really helpful to me in assessing whether I am "normal."  

Before I have plastic surgery, I need to decide if I am really maintaining at my current weight.  I have definitely settled here, about 158 for the past few months, but I still hope to lose 8-13 more, and I plan to keep working at weight loss through the end of the year.  In September, I am planning to have a body fat scan, to see if my 145-150 goal makes sense for me, or if my current weight is about right.

I'm so glad my pictures were helpful to you!  Hearing you and others say "Yeap, I look kinda like that too" has helped me. I am thinking if I get this last kid into college without drama then maybe at least a tummy tuck could be my reward. :)

Have a great day!

~Elizabeth

As a fellow mom of 4, I think kids equal drama.  Always and forever.  :-)

HI!

Mine was nearly identical, I wore spanx for probably 6 years (had WlS nearly 10 years ago) and I finally did the Anchor tummy tuck they removed around 12lbs of skin, it was the worst pain I have ever been through.  But  over 3 years later I find that the overall quality of my skin has improved dramatically and I think my over all health has. But as it is in life then you see the other flaws once the largest is out of the way. My legs are still really bad the doctor said I have 2lbs extra skin on each one, so if I wear something thin or too tight I need to wear spanx when going out, but for the most part to work I dont wear anything and it is so nice! But no amount of years made it any better. Sorry

I dont want any other surgeries, I dont feel they will make that big of a difference in my life, my legs will never be good enough to wear short dresses even with surgery and that recovery in the legs is really hard.  My arms are not perfect but not as bad as most, so I will will live with them. I try see if the cost of surgery, recovery, and results were worth it, and I dont feel any of the other spots are.  But I will say the tummy did not fix my body dysmorphia, I really thought without the extra tummy skin I would feel thin but even 10 years out I still have issues with it. But I am trying to be more accepting and love myself.

Good luck on your journey. 

Thank you for sharing.  I think waiting a few years and seeing what my body does will have to be the plan. I agree that not all of my parts will need to be addressed, maybe none.  The tummy seems most pressing so your story is really helpful.  Thank you!

~E

Hey Mell, on the thighs, there were some posts on here about thighs several months ago--from Lora, who has not posted for a while, but is a vet with gobs of experience, who I think even works now as a psychologist at a WLS center.  (?)  Anyhow, she suggested that thigh surgery is very problematic--lots of trouble with healing, etc--that we should think hard about thigh surgery. Maybe that is what you are referring to when you say that "recovery in the legs is really hard."  My thighs bother me more than my stomach, and I would very much like surgery on them, but those posts from Lora made me think maybe not.  Do you have more info on that?

Hey Elizabeth

You look great!  Our stats size, weight loss and age are super similar( I had no kids though), and I have to thank you for asking this question.

 "Crazy Raisin Belly" is hilarious because it's TRUE!!!!  I have it it too.  Hoping the skin appearance looks better as time goes on.

 I slather it(the raisin) daily with  a 4 part mix of Shea butter,Jergens for wet skin and a 1/2 and 1/2 of palmers oil and bio-oil.  Not sure if it makes it look better but I have never been silkier!!!!!

I have also bought a "device" from the shopping channel called Silk'n Sillouette, claims to reduce cellulite and tighten and improve skin appearance......although I'm highly skeptical I haven't tried it yet........I'll keep ya posted on that one!!!!

I totally want to hear that your new "device" works wonders.  Keep me posted.  I might try some slathering on the skin of something and see if it helps.  Like you said at least I will be silky! LOL

~E

Expect very little improvement without plas surg.  If you were 25 - maybe you would see some.  I had RNY at 57, after a lifetime of being overweight - so my extra skin was not going anywhere on its own.

I had my first PS consult a year post RYN.  I had 3 UBL consults and had surg 17 months post-op.  That waiting period gave me time to make a god decision about how extensive an UBL I wanted/needed/wanted to recover from.  I feel that the 6 months that I took to consider what I wanted was good - I waited because I had shoulder surgery in those 6 months.  But looking back, not rushing the decision was a smart thing to do.  

Many PS offer free consults, time to schedule one and see what your options are. 

Good Luck - you may want to post on the PLASTIC SURGERY FORUM.