Question:
Is there absolutely always a need for plastic surgery post WLS?

I know ANY amount of weight loss is an accomplishment. I have at least 150 pounds to lose and am now at the beginning stages of my WLS journey. Looking through the pictures provided by everyone on this site, to me, all the "after" pictures are amazing, whether the outcome was "perfect bodies" or not (and I use that term loosely because there is no such thing).. still truly amazing....however has anyone lost tremendous amounts of weight and acheived a post WLS and post plastic surgery "look" without actually having the plastic surgery?    — Trish M. (posted on January 30, 2006)

January 30, 2006
Ya know what... I think that is a very intresting question and I look forward to reading the answers on that. Much sucess to you in this amazing journey! Kim
   — KimY

January 30, 2006
Hello Patricia, I have lost 124 lbs and I have not had PS of any kind. Now don't get me wrong, I do not think that I have a perfect body but I do not think that PS is a necessary thing for me either. I am very happy with my results and probably will now have any elective procedures. Tiffany
   — Tiff's On a Mission

January 30, 2006

   — Kasey

January 30, 2006
Hey Patricia, I have lost about 95pounds total and been around this weight for about 10 months. I could go without any plastics and still be thrilled with my outcome. I did workout and try to tone as much as possible along the way though. The one thing I think most all women find is the breasts head south. I might end up with a lift someday. Christie
   — tisfemin

January 30, 2006
After my 300+ pound loss, I needed to have large clusters of varicose veins removed (I was beyond mere stripping). Because of the protrusions of these clusters above each knee, I did need to have reconstructive surgery with the redundant skin being removed from each upper thigh (the skin measured about 7 inches by 17 inches) which was done in conjunction with the vascular surgery. I would not have had any other plastic or reconstructive work (not that a butt lift would have been wasted on me) but for the need to use mesh after multiple hernia repair this fall which prompted my surgeon to remove the 2 1/2 pounds of excess skin that had been hanging from my abdomen. That surgery was not painful and it exposed me to no greater risk than I the hernia surgeries already had. Over time, my skin has found some bounce-back so I have not felt compelled to consider other reconstructive work-- clothes tend to fit as well as can be expected for a middle-aged guy and I continue to avoid nude beaches (one of my old morbidly-obese habits that I have continued, thankfully, to this day). What happens to many of us, at least in my experience, is that no one would consider additional surgery soon after their bariatrics. And, the thrill of having a new (or renewed) body provides a great perspective that the flaws are secondary to the renewed health and vigor. But over time, some of us begin to want the outside to reflect more of what is going on inside of us-- and, given the reduced risk from surgery after being at a healthy weight, and the relatively minor discomfort from some of the reconstructive work, many of us begin to seriously consider it when we are faced with needing other surgical procedures.
   — SteveColarossi

January 30, 2006
Some people do not need PS, as their skiin retracts enough. Many need PS for the oose skin. Germs can grow under the skin flaps, and the loose skin on your stomach can give a person backaches. Many of us lose the weight, but the skin stays and just becomes a huge pouch on our stomachs, bags of empty skin on our thighs and butts, and loose flaps of "batwings" on our arms.
   — Novashannon

January 31, 2006
Hi, I lost approxmately 107lbs and really don't "need" PS, but would love to have it. I've been told I look decent and remembering where I came from, I would have to agree. Check out my photobucket for pics in a bikini (Oct. 2005). I think we will all have some loose skin, but I 've read where your age, ethnicity, size, health and fitness level play a part.
   — MsCristal

January 31, 2006
In my case it was not a need, but a want. Some people have issues with rashes and skin infections and need the skin removed to clear that up. Even with plastics, no one is going to have a perfect body after having been morbidly obese. the skin is changed forever. Clothes can hide a lot, I looked fine in my size 12's/ but after plastics I was an 8 and my clothes fit nicer. It is all a matter of personal preference. Plastics like wls change your anatomy, but may not give you a great body or body image.
   — **willow**