I hate my new body

I'm almost two years out, from 350 to 185 and thrilled about the health aspects.  But I hate, hate, hate this new body!  My boobs are to my knees (only slightly exaggerated), my thighs and hips look like jello with fruit lumps in them.  I'm in a size 14, except for the chest, which does not work.  Very few size 14s are made for 36DDD chests.  My stomach is a mess and I just feel all out of wack. It took me 35 years to accept my fat body; I hope it doesn't take me as long to accept this one.  Any one else feel like this?

Is plastic surgery an option?  I had a BL/BA//TT.  I still have terrible arms and my butt and legs are bad.  I may have the arms fixed, but I refuse to do the other.  Compression garments helped me look better before PS, but I knew what was under them.  If PS is not something you want to do, try girdles.  I like the long legged ones.  I also wear a garment on the top of the body.  All of this feels pretty good after you get use to them--if gives you support.  I will probably wear them forever.       

Thanks; do you have any particular brands you like?  I've looked, but don't even know where to begin.   I hate the thought of PS, but will likely do that in a year or so.

J C Penney--fall and winter book   Page 157--back support briefer  $25 and   page 163--Firm control pant liners  $28 I am short and the liners come almost to my ankles.  I have seen and ordered them out of other catalogs, but you can get the idea here.  I have worn them almost the whole time since I had wls two years ago.  They give me support and make me feel better.  I had a more costly garment after PS, but it had an open crotch which drove me crazy.  My loose skin in that area kept coming out!!  LOL  My PS was costly ($17,000) included surgeon and medical center, and I may have to go back for revision.  I do not think I will have to pay for that.  I am glad I did it.   

I know how you feel.  Everyone is so complentary on how I look.  People in my support group say I'm a role model.  My husband tells me I'm very sexy.  I should be happy but I hate the way I look with out clothes,  yes in clothes I look pretty darn good, but I know what's underneath. It's my internal dialogue with every compliment, every look in the mirror and every complementary glance from a stranger. I can't escape it.  Plastic surgery has crossed my mind but the risk the scars and the $$ are all factors too.  Good luck on your journey to self acceptance. Always,  Carla

If you figure out how to fix that internal dialogue, let me know. 

I know how you feel. I had mine back in Nov. 2001 and i have a big glob of flab and my insurance is not going to cover it to be removed and i can not afford to go in debt to get it taken care of. So every time i look at my gut, I want to scream. But if had to do this all over again, I would. I went from 303 to 140 and stabled off at 175. My pants size went from 56 to 38. I can live with that. I just do not like the way i look in the mirror.  Bruce

I agree that I'm glad I did it.  I just had figured out how to accept me as I was, but, like you hate the way I look in the mirror now.

Welcome to the other side of WLS.  You are now ready for the second round of surgery - plastic surgery.  I think of it as two bookends - WLS at the front and PS at the back - with weight loss in-between.  You will find that most WLS patients have excess skin all over our bodies that we are not happy with. You need to check out the PS board on this site, and start thinking about it.  A lot of us are in the process of getting it.  In January I had an extended tummy tuck (TT) and breast augmentation (BA) with a breast lift/reduction (BL) revision (I had had a breast reduction previously).  On Wednesday I go in for a little nip and tuck on my face.  I am thrilled with the results so far.  It is expensive and painful, but sooooo worth it. Two helpful hints: 1.  Do your research.  Start a good six months before you want the surgery and research the techniques and the doctors.  Go to at least 3 for consultations.  Find ones that have experience with WLS patients - do not go to a regular one.  We have special needs, and our skin is very stretched and responds differently than normal peoples'. 2.  Exercise like a fiend and get in great shape.  This will give you better results and speed your recovery afterward.  It's very important to do this. Good luck.  Hope this helps.

Please let us know about the face work.  I am interested but have not made up my mind for sure. You are right about the PS.  I chose a regular PS and am not completely satisfied.