Question:
Anyone else skinny everywhere BUT your stomach????

Well, it's been 17 months since surgery, and I have gone from 288 lbs. to 172 lbs. and I have these little bitty skinny legs, thin arms, and nice small face. However, I still have a layer of fat on my stomach and lower abdomen. I am 5'6" and yes, my tummy was always the first place I gained weight, but I had hoped it would shrink like the rest of me after surgery! Has anyone else who is apple shaped lost their stomach, and if so, HOW did you get it off????? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!    — T. 263 (posted on July 30, 2003)

July 30, 2003
I notice my upper body and lower (as in calves and ankles) asre nice, and I see a dramatic change. Especially in my face and shoulder area... but my stomach just hangs, nd my thighs and upper arms are flabby hanging skin... it's yucky, but far better than being puffed out with fat... I'd certainly like to have it fixed, but I really don't have the cash...
   — MF

July 30, 2003
Are you sure that the fat on your stomach isn't just a lot of excessive skin and tissue from your weight loss? Not stomach "hangs" when they lose, I have seen pics of plastic surgery panni people who looked like they had a fat stomach and it turned out it was excess skin and tissue (post op plastic they look very skinny)
   — M B.

July 30, 2003
It's very common to end up with that "apron" or panni. This is why so many post-ops end up with panniculectomies and tummy tucks. I got rid of mine with a TT. Nothing else worked.
   — mom2jtx3

July 30, 2003
Me, I look pregnant! I'm not skinny anywhere but my abdominal muscles have split (comes from having 20 pounds worth of twims, while being obese and then becoming morbidly obese rather quickly and staying there for 20 years) Doc says it will take surgery to pull together the muscle, sigh, I don't want more surgery but I hate looking pregnant and clothes not fitting (my waist is bigger than my hips and I'm actually a pear). Can't even do crunches (darn the bad luck) to try to flatten it. No advise, just commisorating.
   — Sunny S.

July 30, 2003
I don't know if this is common, but I lost inches off my panni AFTER I had been at goal for several months. I didn't even lose any more weight--just went from an 8 to a 6. I couldn't believe it! I don't know why it happened, but I am not complaining. LOL It is still deflated looking, but it now looks flatter with clothes on. Maybe there's still hope!
   — ctyst

July 30, 2003
Hi Theresa, That little history of yours is just like mine, though I was a relative lightweight. My belly fat is not hanging skin; it is blubber. I still have some to loose and is all in a tire around the middle. I look great in almost anything that doesn't have a fitted waist. What to do? Let us know if you come up with an answer.
   — Bobbi G.