Question:
Do I have to !! ( will I need plastics?)
I am still waiting on a date and plan to go through with my surgery regardless but my question or fear is this... I have in excess of 100 pounds to lose. Do I have to have surgery for all the excess skin removal to truly look thin. I see so many have done this but I am scared of all the scaring that you will have. Am I just worried needlessly or are the options to surgery? I worry that I will look like a charpe puppy! Any advice ? — Vitabella (posted on December 22, 2003)
December 21, 2003
Hi Janeen, You ask, will you need PS to "truly look thin"- I
think this REALLY depends on the person and their body type. I needed a TT
before I even lost weight- I had a large yucky panni (and I STILL have a
large yucky panny) I started out 327lbs, I have lost 162 pounds and now
weigh 165- BUT, I feel/Look like I'm still over 200 because of all the
excess skin. I was SURE I would be wearing a size 12 or so at this weight,
actually I pictured something TOTALLY different pre-op....a slim, sleek me-
But I am nothing of the sorts, I am still wearing 14/16's beause of all the
extra skin. I did not have this surgery to get THIN, I just wanted to be
able to MOVE, to be mobile, to look "normal" but I must admitt,
some Vanity (for the first time in my life) has kicked in- I'm EXTREMELY
self concious about the skin- I think some people just "go back into
place" and other, just deflate :) I'm SOOOOOOOOO looking forward to
getting this hunk of stuff chopped off me :) (smile)
Best wishes Kim
— WABBIT F.
December 21, 2003
I've dropped over 270 pounds since my surgery last October and thought that
I would have needed surgery. Fortunately, my "excess" skin
doesn't really bother me, nor does it seem to appreciably add to my waist
size. Everyone is different-- try to not let this worry deter you. Good
luck.
— SteveColarossi
December 21, 2003
Hi
I too had a panni prior to the weight loss and losing the weight just
deflated it. I was considered a lightweight (252 to 157) and in spite of
that needed the plastics. Once the panni deflated I began with rashes and
low back pain from the hanging so I had the tummy tuck and breast lift
then I had the tt incisions revisioned to circumfrencial do to teh excess
skin on the back and hip. I achieved the healthy part with the weight loss
and feel better than I had in years. The plastics restored my confidence
and my desire to look good and perhaps one day my head will understand I am
no longer MO. But thats just me.I began at a size 24 to a 14/16 prior to PS
and then to a 10/12 after TT and I would guess a 8/10 however not sure as I
am only 10 days PO. A perfect body NO WAY not even close to bikini material
but the most important part is 140 units of insulin to 30 and a cholesterol
of 275 to 130 and a blood pressure of 110/60 and I can run 3 miles when i
used to have trouble walking from the car to the store! YOu get my point.
Best Wishes to you, Lesley
— Lesley T.
December 21, 2003
I had 136 pounds to lose to get to my goal of 140. I've lost 75 of it so
far and I don't think I'm going to need any plastic surgery except on the
arms. My tummy is shrinking and I don't think I'm going to have any excess
skin there or on my thighs. Time will tell but unless it is a health issue
or a major discomfort, I'm not planning to pursue anything except arms.
— SCbabe B.
December 21, 2003
There are so many things that factor into this - age, genetics, amount of
weight to lose, where on your body you carry most of the weight, even your
height, I think. But don't let that stop you from pursuing this. You are
going to feel so much better and healthier, even if you have sagging skin.
My son weighed 442 at the time of his surgery, and he carried quite a bit
of his weight in his stomach. He's now lost 150+ pounds, and will probably
seek plastics at some point. But he's just not bothered by this skin at
all - he feels like a new person. He can move now without back and feet
pain, and feels like a normal 24-year old. For myself, I'm in the middle
of probably what will turn out to be about 100 pounds lost. My breasts and
arms are getting very saggy, but the rest of it isn't bothering me, at
least not yet. If I had the money, at some point I'd probably go for at
least a breast lift, and possibly the arms, too. But it may not bother me
to that point. I'm just so thrilled to be at a weight I haven't seen in
over 15 years! Best wishes to you as you continue on your journey!
— Carlita
December 21, 2003
Hi! I needed the TT because my panni was so bad. If you go to my profile
and see my before pic, I carried ALOT of weight through the middle. I had
my TT on 11/17 and I am so pleased that I did. Good luck with your WLS and
may you not need plastics :)
— Stephanie B.
December 21, 2003
I started at 304, and I am now about 150 (at 5'4). I had my surgery in
February. I REALLY need plastics, but everyone tells me that it is not
noticeable at all in clothing. I go back and forth about whether it bothers
me. Sometimes I hate it, and other times I just don't worry about it. I
still look WORLDS better than I used to. I am wearing a size 10 right now,
by the way. Good luck!
— SarahC
December 22, 2003
As others have stated, it varies person to person. I am a 42 yr old woman
who had two previous c-sectiions plus a hysterectomy. I already had a
little bit of a pouch hanging over the incision site, even when I was thin.
Currently I am 10 lbs to goal and am pretty sure I will not need any
plastic surgery. I'm wearing a size 8 and with close on I look perfectly
normal, but with my close off you can definitely see the loose belly skin.
I'm thinking I can live with it, but will wait until atleast 18 months
post-op to see if the skin tightens up any. If it doesn't, then I might opt
for a tummy tuck. Barb 4/07/03 235/140/130
— Barbara C.
December 22, 2003
Your surgeon can help you with a preliminary pre-op assessment. Mine told
me that I would probably need a TT when I was a pre-op. He was right. How
much hanging skin you have as a post-op is dependent upon many factors-your
age (young is better), how long you have been obese (less is best), whether
you have had children (none is best), and genetics. I will tell you though,
there are many post-ops that look wonderful in clothes-thin and healty, but
unclothed...well, it depends on your point of view. That should be the
least of your worries-being wrinkly and healthy is much better than obese
and unhealthy...
— Cindy R.
December 22, 2003
When people lose weight, it will depend on the amount of elastiscity your
skin has as to how it will look. I lost 120 pounds and I had excess skin
on my stomach, arms, legs - just about everywhere. I've had a tt - hip to
hip incision and you can't even see the scar anymore. I had my upper arms
done - the scar under the armpit so again, you can't really see the scar.
I'll be having my inner thighs done in May with the incision in the crease
of my leg. I guess what I'm saying is if you go to a GOOD plastic surgeon,
scarring with be minimal.
— Patty H.
December 23, 2003
Do you need the skin removed to look thin? No, chances are, you'll appear
pretty thin to everyone else regardless of how much excess skin you have.
That skin compresses and folds up remarkably well, LOL. But you might end
up wanting it done because you don't look good to YOU.
I've lost 175 lbs (and I'm 40 now) but I have to say my panni isn't that
bad to me, esp considering I had a larger one as a fat person. While I'm
clothed it doesn't show. Still I WISH I had a flatter abdomen and I'm more
self conscious about the drooping, collapsed-looking, wrinkled dog ears I
have on either side of my belly button or the excess skin under my armpits.
The skin on my stomach just looks horrible, particularly if I lean
forward. It's something most people would never know I have, but it still
bugs me and makes me self conscious. I'd like to be able to wear low
riders without worrying that my shirt might ride up and EXPOSE that. Maybe
even wear a two piece bathing suit or a halter, which I haven't done since
grade school - and even then the fashion police should have been called
out!
At the same time I have to say, I think I see signs of improvement there
and in my arms. I could see where a younger and more athletic person might
be able to get a pretty good shape without plastics. But I doubt mine will
ever look really good without plastics, and call me vain, but after going
through all this it would be nice to look normal, both naked and clothed!
So for me, I guess it's more of a desire to have surgery than a NEED, and I
think everyone has to decide for themselves what's acceptable to them and
weigh whether another surgery and more scarring is worth the tradeoff to
them. It's not really a win/win situation, both sides have their pluses
and minuses. No surgery will ever make you "perfect" so it's a
matter of deciding what's "good enough" vs a calculated risk.
If I can't afford the plastic surgery, I'm still glad I made the RNY
decision. I'm definitely more comfortable with this body than my old one,
but I think I do see a consult with a plastic surgeon in my near future.
— sandsonik
December 27, 2003
I'm going to sound cold here, but I have to. Your puting the cart before
the horse. First, you should be having this major surgery to improve your
health not to look thin. As far as the skin surgery, that depends.
Excercise is very important. I've lost over 150 lbs in 8 months and my
arms are fine. My stomach and legs will need some work. Worry about taking
the weight off and keeping it off should be the concern first. Baby steps,
baby steps.
— Linda R.
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