Is it common to need a tummy tuck?

Hey everyone I just found this forum tonight, never knew it was here before! I have just been going to the state or main forums, so its exiting to know there are other people going through this who are actually my age! One of my main questions is that I am wondering if alot of you post-op have had, needed or want to have a tummy tuck due to a lot of excess skin or any other kinds of reconstructive surgery? My biggest reason for doing this is health reasons of course but I cant help but think about that as well. Ive heard that it all depends of the elasticity of your skin & age has a lot to do with it, but thats hard for me to grasp, knowing I have been overweight my entire life so my skin has always been strectchedAny advice or experiences with this would be so greatly appreciated!! Thanks

Just like you said... it all depends.  I needed my panni removed because it hindered my physical movements and what not.  Others have it removed due to other issues.  And of course, some don't need surgery at all! Keep you protein, water and vitamins in check, work out... who knows!  The cards just might work out for ya!

I have pictures of my excess skin on my profile - medically I do not 'need' plastic surgery but personally I want a circumfrencial TT, breast lift/implants, arms and possibly full or partial thigh lift/liposuction. Honestly nothing is going to snap back 100%... some areas will be better than others depending on how you carry your weight as well as the other factors mentioned above. Honestly I suggest you start saving for plastic surgery now and you can make decisions later down the road. I feel being younger we are more inclined to get plastic surgery because we want the 'normal' body we never had... I personally started gaining weight in middle school so all my teenage years and my young adult life I spent overweight/obese... I just want to be able to wear the cute fashions and a bathing suit at the pool without having to cover up or worry about flub hanging out etc.

I have skin skin everywhere. Someday it will leave me. 5-10 years when I am donw having children and debts are little to none.

Hey girl, you are looking AMAZINGLY!!  I haven't talked to you in ages and I miss talking to you!!  How are you doing??

I know after dropping 135 lbs I want some! Honestly, I think NOT needing or wanting skin removal after massive weight loss is more of the exception then the rule. BUT, I'm yet to come across a single person who says they feel the excess skin was enough to make them regret having lost the weight.

"need' is a funny word.  Now obviously, some folks who were morbidly obese for a long period of time are going to physically need to have the excess skin removed because it is a danger to them and it hinders their movements etc. - we're talking 200+ pound loss.  But for the rest of us - myself included - it isn't so much about "need" as "want".  I have excess skin and could easily justify plastics for my belly and thighs.  But I don't need it.  I do not look good in a bikini, and some tight clothes reveal some of my jiggly bits of skin, but I can do anything I want physically and I am finally healthy.  I have made the choice to be happy with my body because it has been through a lot with me, and I have come to a point of being satisfied with myself.  I'm not going to be modeling a swimsuit anytime soon and my belly and thighs will never be perfectly smooth/toned - but I look damn good in my clothes and I feel good and that is good enough for me.   So I guess I'm telling you what you've already heard - it all depends.  But fear of excess skin shouldn't stop you from pursuing the WLS - it is a very little thing compared to what you stand to gain.

Hey there Dbaker, I have been overweight all my life. The type of stomach I had was 3 tire rolls. One hung over the other and so forth. I was weighing in at 269 pounds. Plastic reconstructive surgery never came across my mind before having WLS. I can not tell you why it never came across my mind. I think the main reason for me chosing to have WLS was to be able to walk up stairs, go to the gym, fit into a movie theater chair, have people be more polite and not afraid of a bigger person. Deep down I knew that I needed to do something before I got bigger and unhealthier. I was afraid of dieing at such a young age, I knew I had more to do in life.  I have read many profiles and some peope who have had WLS look great and it appears that they do not need any plastics. After a year my Surgen mentioned to me that I could start looking into plastic surgery. I got right on board and and within a month I had  a tummy tuck and breast agumentation which was almost 2 weeks ago. I had 9 pounds of skin removed. I could not believe that as well as my plastic surgern, he was suprised as well. My arms have some saggy and some of my inner thighs do. But they do not bother me at all. I think I have nice legs. I went in for plastic surgery at 150 pounds and now I am weighing in at 139 pounds. I would recommend anybody to get plastic surgery if they have an amount of skin that bothers them. Everyone is different and your heart will tell you once the wieght starts coming off if you need some excess skin removed.  The past year has been a great journey and I would do it all over again! ~Diana~

How did you finance your plastics?? Was it terribly expensive??  I'm wanting it (someday), but I think I'll wait until I have some kids first so I don't ruin all their handywork ;-)  Do you plan on having kids someday?  If so, did they say you should wait til afterwards??

I have no idea about kids I will be turning the big 30 next year. For a tummy tuck and breast augmentation the plastic surgen charged me 12,000 dollars which I thought was very reasonable.