Question:
jumping the gun on reconstructive surgery?

Hi! I have a plastic surgery question.I started at 274 pounds 9 months ago and I'm at 160 right now.I'm definately going to need a tummy tuck eventually so I've been reading info on it.I still have alot of fat in that area and I don't feel like I'm at goal yet as I'm still losing weight and I would like to lose at least another 25 pounds so I don't want to jump the gun so to speak.This is what I'm confused about though....I've seen where other people are getting tummy tucks at 160,170 and even 190 pounds.I can understand a panni removal at that weight but those seem to be high weights for a tummy tuck.I'm just curious as to why someone wouldn't want to wait until they were at a lower weight?    — jennifer A. (posted on March 25, 2004)

March 24, 2004
Its NOT so much as being at a higher weight than being at a stable weight. I was 180 and 'stable' size 14 for more than a year... before having mine done. The main thing your surgeon (PS) is going to ask is are you 'stable' .. IF your not done loosing you should 'wait'; once your weight has stabled.. then go for it.
   — star .

March 24, 2004
I was 217 when I had my lower body lift a month ago. The skin removal brought me to 198 lbs, which is 2 lbs below my goal weight. The LBL included a full extended abdominoplasty and lateral thigh lift. My weight was not totally stable. I had sat at 224 for about a month but then dropped 9 lbs in the week and a half before surgery, getting me to where I ideally wanted to be before PS. <p>Some won't agree with me doing it this early but it was right for me. Getting the 19 lbs of skin off will help my back and eliminate any moisture problems this summer. I know my body may go through some shifts yet but as tight as the PS made this skin things will be fine. The PS made it clear that doing it before I had totally plateaued could be an issue down the road with loose skin, but only if I would lose at least 25 lbs which I have no intention of doing. I'm 5'9 and the way I carry my weight at 175 I would not look very good. I am already a M to L on top - very boney. I could stand to lose 20 lbs from the thighs on down but there is no way to control where the weight comes off. I will need a thighplasty but not real excited about the associated pain with the recovery because the skin would be so tight. I will likely do it to bring my body in balance but not looking forward to the recovery. I suspect when I am finished with the upper portion of my abdominoplasty, breasts, arms and thighs I will be down another 12-15 lbs which puts me in the 180's. That's as far as I want to go. The bottom line is in my case the 217 was the right point to have it done. The rest needs to be removed through PS not weight loss efforts. <p>If you are going to go for insurance approval then it's not too early to start. I had my first PS consult at 280 lbs which was in early Sept. I got insurance approval in early Nov. which gave me 6 months to get both phases of the abdominoplasty done. Within 6 months you will likely be rid of the 25 lbs or closer and have stabilized.
   — zoedogcbr

March 24, 2004
I'm three weeks post TT/thigh lift and I was 155 at the time fof surgery. He took off 10 lbs of skin from my abdomen. I'd do it again in a minute. I've lost a few pounds since then, but I've dropped two sizes and my surgeon says I'll drop one more. I would have weighted until my body got to the 135 I wanted as my goal, but my feisty body wanted 155-160 as it's weight -- I stayed there for four months even while dieting--and d who am I to fight with my beautiful body? Jen
   — Jen E.