Question:
I am pleased but spare tire

I still see that "spare tire" around my middle right under my breasts. I guess that is the "old stomach". Do you think this will EVER go away? It still sticks out further than my breasts. (smile) No matter how much exercise I do it will not diminish. Any suggestions?    — pennix122 (posted on June 14, 2004)

June 14, 2004
At your next checkup your surgeon should make sure you don't have a hernia. That can cause your midriff to stick out. Beyond that, it may just be excess skin left over from your weight loss. I was surprised that my pannus, below the waist, went down more than I expected but my midriff less than I expected compared to before surgery. Once you've reached your bottom weight and stabilized you might consult a plastic surgeon. Several people have also posted about various undergarments that help; one name I remember is flex-zees, though there have been others. I don't have any personal experience with those, but some people swear by them. You'll also want to get a good underwire bra to help give your bosom some uplift, that will help reduce the appearance of your stomach. It's sad that weight loss doesn't always bring us the perfect bodies we've dreamed about, but we're still better off than before!
   — Celia A.

June 14, 2004
Hi Eleanor, I wish I had better news for you. The lower you go on the scale, the smaller your overall body size, however, hanging skin is hanging skin and no amount of exercise will help. Those who are young, never had kids, do not smoke and are blessed with great genes are the few who can lose massive amounts of weight without hanging skin but for the great majority of us, what we end up with we either have to live with or have plastics to remove it. BTW, I read your profile, you have done very well. Don't get discouraged.
   — Cindy R.

June 15, 2004
You know, I swear to you...I lost only 1 stinkin inch on my calves after WLS, until 3 months ago. It seems that my claves were the last to go. Sometimes, we have those tough areas and those are the ones that we loose last in. maybe that's so for you? Also, you may need to deal witht he excess skin issue in the future...that stuff sure can get in the way of seeing progress! Hang in there.
   — LMCLILLY