So I have been patient with my weightloss...and I have been patient with the excess skin on my tummy. By no means is it completely awful and it is not even visible when I have clothes on but I feel painfully aware that it is there every waking moment. I know we joke that we are never going to be happy but this is something that makes me feel uncomfortable and unhappy. So I have an appointment to see a surgeon next week to see if I can get it sorted!
I have thought long and hard about this, it has been a decision that I have not take lightly. I kinda knew I would have excess skin about this time a year ago when the last bits of weight were starting to come off.
I am scared but excited that I could finally be regaining the body that I shouldhave had to begin with...minue some skin and battle scars :)

That's great stormgirl :huggs: It sounds like you have put alot of thought into this, and you have also waited quite awhile after you have finished losing weight to see how things sorted out on their own. I think you are a good candidate for the surgery, in the sense that you will look great afterwards. Too often i see shows where the women getting this surgery done simply need to lose more weight so they don't look all that great after the tummy tuck. As long as you have weighed the pros and cons and understand the risks involved, i would say go ahead.

Can i ask you, you said that you had the sense that you would have loose skin a year ago when the last few pounds were coming off. Did you not have loose skin until then? About what weight did you start to notice your skin getting loose?

My idea for myself (at the moment) is that since i'm not planning on getting down to the lowest weight i could be, i hopefully won't have to deal with alot of loose skin, and i'm not sure if this is reasonable or not. I've always been overweight so i think i'll be fine living with a bit of a stomach B) Loose skin though, i don't like that idea much.

Ooh, I am excited for you Stormy!!! :bouncy:

Thanks ladies :huggs:
I have def thought a LONG time about getting this done and carried out my own research about prices, operation, recuperation time, scarring etc. I feel it is worth me feeling good about myself again, wholly. I think the surgeon will look at me favourably Shy, as you say, I have waited almost a year now and I really am not carrying that much fat on that part of my body now. I am slightly concerned as it appears that they reposition stomach muscles and operate on them too. I am precious about my stomach muscles and they are really strong and toned so I am goingto make sure the surgeon leaves them well alone. I think they will as they usually only have to operate on them to because they are lax or weak.

Shy I started to notice the sagging stomach around the 175 pound mark. At that point my stomach was still quite big but I did notice the skin was changing and looking looser. As I dropped down to where I am now, the fat kept reducing and left the skin looking stretched and slightly saggy. The top half of my stomach is fine. I am measuring 36 inches around the largest part of my stomach so compare that to the 27 inches on my waist and you get an idea of how it is.
Shy I always thought that if someone loses weight slowly then they are assured no loose skin but I don't think that is a guarantee, not after seeing some of the various ops, case studiesetc. I kind of knew early on I would end up with some loose skin, I had quite an extreme weight loss and so I think it was unavoidable really and my doc did affirm this when I went to enquire initially. I think diet, age, genetics and elasticity are all important factors too so you might be alright. If there is going to be any excess skin, I reckon you would start to notice around a similar weight to the 175 mark.

I believe that my core toning has helped reduce the effects, had I not toned there then I think it would havebeen A LOT worse.

It is a big op and has its risks but I have worked so hard and feel a little unhappy with the way it looks so I probably deserve to spend the money and get it sorted :)

thanks for the info stormgirl!

being that you are taller then me, i'm hoping that around 175lbs i'll still be loose skin free :lol: We will see what happens, i'm taking it as it comes.

The repositioning of muscles worries me too, although i guess they would have to maybe depending on how much skin has to be removed....

That is quite a difference between your waist and the area with extra skin, so i definately support your decision. :huggs: I only hope if you do go through with it that it will be worth the money, pain and inconvinience.

Hey Shy, thanks...yeah I think post op is 2 weeks of rest and then I can return to work and start to do light exercise. I am scared about general anaesthetic and all that it entails but I will see what they say today...my appointment is looming this afternoon so I am feeling quite nervous!

wow. i support your choice and i hope you are very happy with the results...
I do have some advice i hope helps, and im not just blabbing.. i cant believe how bad im shaking when im writing this...

eh...

I went through a surgery on my arm in December 06 right after christmas...

I had gone under general anastisia and i was SO afraid....

But, it all went smoothly... i got the needle "stick" feeling... and that was it... off to sleepy land.....

When i woke up though, i did tell the nurse that my arm hurt.... and she was like "duh" we just tore it up...

BUT what i was trying to tell her, and my point here...

Is that the pain was NOT at my surgery location... it was under my arm, where the surgery was on my bisept.

I started to panic because i didnt know what was happening...

Just a little note that i didnt realize, and maybe u didnt either... since the nerves are put to "sleep" by the medication, the surrounding nerves tend to go a little "waco" with simpathy pains...

Its scarey, but completly normal... AND it goes a way....

Also, i had a "transitional" depression when i saw my scar mark after taking off the bandages.... i let my depression progress from the TIME OF SURGERY, when i didnt feel depressed, untill i finally broke down in my doctors office at a post op appointment... i was just on meds for 2 weeks while my body and mind accepted what had happened....
Thats just another thing, you might feel like your stronger than this, and that you dont need meds.... trust me i have always felt that way about "emotional" issues... But i subconsiously was just making my depression worse when it finally hit....

Just be open to your doctors suggestions about it...

You will be fine...
Your beautiful now, and youll be beautiful after... i just might take some time to accept it all.

Love ya
Hollywood.

Go for it stormgirl! Dont be scared I have went through two c-sections and was put out for both of them. The worst part is being in the freeze room. Until you wake up, then you will have pain but it will be worth it. Also get some Vitamin E Oil to put on the scar, I was cut twice in the same spot and after a year it only noticable in a few spots. It looks like dashes because its fade so much in some stops. You should use the oil daily for best results I only remeber to put it on 3-4 times a week. Good Luck. ;)

I fully support you Storm. You worked so hard for this new body. Let us know how the consult goes! :huggs:

oooh, note on the Vitamin E. ...some people can be allegic to it...
I put it on my scar and my skin started to crack and peel on the scar tissue...

I never would have expected that... but i went to my derma and she said that its not as common, but it is possible to be allergic to it...

So try it, make sure you dont turn into a scaleylittleone... and youll be all good, i totally stand by the results of it... just on other people...


=)