Question:
My belly has become wrinkled and mushy?

I have lost 56 lbs. so far and before surgery my belly was tight, big and tight. Now it has become wrinkled. Is this normal? Does this mean that I am going to have alot of saggy skin when I get closer to goal? I am 27 and started at 325 lbs. I was hoping that exercise would prevent me from having to have reconstructive surgery.    — Candi B. (posted on October 4, 2002)

October 4, 2002
I started out at 258 lbs. and have lost 120. I am 21 mos. post-op (RNY open on 1/8/01). My stomach is also very mushy and droops down, as do my breasts and arms. I would guess that you will have a lot of saggy skin the closer you get to goal. I think by losing so much weight, all of us have wrinkled, mushy, drooping tummies. I wish reconstructive surgery came along with the weight-loss surgery. However, exercise is good for us ... try it and stick with it, good luck and keep up the good work.
   — Betty Todd

October 4, 2002
LOL!!! I know where you are coming from! I was naked and bent over the tub to clean it before I got in for my shower. I looked down and saw this rectangluar "cinderblock" with wrinkles that was protruding. (I swear I'm telling the truth.. my belly is square when it hangs out- NOT round)! What a god awful sight... but it beats what it looked like before WLS. Now everytime I have to rearrange my clothes, or go to the bathroom it is always getting pinched and hurts like crazy. Oh well. What are we going to do? lol I highly doubt Medicaid will cover all the skin removals (or any of it) I need to have done. At least I'm 152 pounds lighter. (But probally never will get to goal at this late stage). But yeah, it looks very bad... but not when I'm dressed. Thankfully that is the only way anyone sees me. ;) As the words of a Simon and Garfunkle song goes: "I touch no one and no one touches me". lol
   — Danmark

October 4, 2002
i have it too! I'm 4.5 months post 278 lbs down to 200 lbs and I'm 25. My arms, belly, bum and inner thighs are saggy and soft. I'd take this over being morbidly obese again any day! I will probably end up with at least a tummy tuck though.
   — KCAllen77

October 5, 2002
Sorry hun....it only gets worse. I started at 265 and have lost 115 at one year out. I have always had an hourglass figure and had a flat tummy till I wore 16's.....what I am trying to say is that my tummy wasnt really all that big when I had WLS...and it still looks icky now. Have you had children...because I really think that is what made mine worse. Not that it would have been real pretty without the kids..but that certainly didnt help. I am just happy it looks good when Im dressed. It doesnt bother my husband, and really doesnt bother me.....so I live with it. Its better than before : )
   — RebeccaP

October 5, 2002
Same here, I had "tough fat" if you could call it that. Now I am a giant bowl of jellow. It's not too bad waist up, although I want a breast lift/reduction and my arms done, but every time I move I feel my lower stomach, butt and thighs doin' the jiggly dance. Grosses me out. I started in the high 380's and am down 140 and I'm 23...oh and I went to the gym faithfully and excercise hasn't helped that. Sorry!
   — Paula Prichard

October 5, 2002
I am only 2 weeks post op and have lost 25 lbs already and when I bend over and look down I see a great big butt right on my upper stomach. The funny squishy fat hangs over my incision perfectly like a butt. Oh boy how happy am I. I am just going to keep working out and see what happens. I can't even think one second about another surgery this close to this one so I will remain in denial and assume that I can work it all off.
   — Peggy A.

October 5, 2002
Boy do I know what you mean! My once large-but-firm behind now resembles two water balloons that follow me wherever I go. They fit into much smaller clothes, but still....LOL. Life always requires trade-offs....
   — Rebecca T.