Lynnlovesthebeach

Yes, I feel all of what you described. It's even more pronounced after plastic surgery! When I saw my abdomen for the first time after my tummy tuck my first response was, "oh no, my belly button is too high!" Then I remembered they don't really move your belly button, it's actually a stalk inside your body and stays in the same place, they just move the skin that was around it and pull it through a new hole. I also realized I hadn't seen my belly button in a "normal" position in years...it was in saggy, excess skin. I actually went online to order new panties and looked at the different models to see where their belly buttons are! After the swelling went away and I could actually see where my waist is, it is fine!

The tummy tuck part was probably the easiest part, after I got my drains out at 3 1/2 weeks. I didn't need muscle tightening otherwise my dr would have done it. The back part of the "360" was hard to get used to. It took at least a month to be able to bend over and not feel like my butt incision was going to split open. The arms were a hard recovery and the most painful. My incisions opened on both arms. The right one has healed, the left has a little more to go. It will need a revision with my next surgery. One thing I didn't realize...I'll probably never have to shave my armpits again! The skin that is there now doesn't have hair! I measured 73 inches of incision between my 360 lower body lift and extended brachioplasty! I'm 9 weeks post op and my body is still spitting out some stitches that didn't absorb. I'm ready for round 2...breast lift and back lift. Hopefully that happens early next year. It depends on when I can get time off from work and the sale of a house to have the money to pay for it!

I just had a tummy tuck, butt lift and brachioplasty Aug 25. My next step is breast lift and back lift early next year. It probably won't be Jan but hopefully soon. I still have an open wound on one arm and I need that to heal so I can get that scar revised. The arms were the hardest recovery I've had so far. I'm so happy I chose to have this surgery. I can say that now that I'm 9 weeks post op!

The scars are so small they won't be visible even if you wear a bikini. You will probably be able to find them because you will know where they are but no one else will notice. By the way, most of mine were just removed with my lower body lift.

The answer to your question is yes, you may end up with saggy skin in the lady parts, depending on how much weight you lose. If you are young, maybe not. I know I had it. However, I just had a lower body lift and that includes a "mons lift," which is lifting the lady parts! Believe me, the results are amazing! Everything, and I mean everything, including the lady parts and the whole lower body looks better than it did before I gained the weight!

Congratulations! I prefer to call myself the same person I always was in half the body I used to have.

Mine actually got better over time but some is still there. I'm thinking I'll have a mini facelift as a retirement gift to myself whenever I decide to retire! By then I should be done with the body work.

Yes, trying to schedule meals, water and vitamins is like another full time job. I was told to allow at least 3 hrs between meals.

Having worked in several hospitals for 43 yrs, my guess would be no, even before the pandemic, unless they are over 18 yrs of age. Where I work now they only allow overnight guests in Pediatrics and labor and delivery. Also, no visitors allowed under 18 yrs of age at all during this pandemic. You may have to hire someone to care for them at home while you are in the hospital. Maybe you won't need to stay 3 days. Most only stay 1 or 2 nights.

I'm thankful that it's been 6 weeks since I had my plastic surgery and I get to go back to work on Wednesday!

@STLoserthat is exactly how I feel!

Not only did I have "bat wings" I had the same thing on my forearm with a pocket of fat at the elbow. When he was marking me he showed me what would be left if he only went to the elbow...a lower arm smaller 'batwing." I told him I didn't care if he went to my wrist, I didn't want that left. So, I have an extended brachioplasty. The incision goes from my bra line, through my armpit all the way down past my elbow to midway to my wrist. I'll take a scar over hanging skin any day! I still have a lot of swelling (6 weeks post op tomorrow) but I love the shape of my arms!

I was 62 when I had gastric bypass. I followed my plan as prescribed to me. I tried not to compare myself to others that seemed to be losing faster than I was. I wasn't able to do much exercise because I had so much pain from an arthritic hip that has since been replaced. I was on 2 BP meds and prediabetic. Except for the pain I had when I woke up in the recovery room I can honestly say I never had any pain from this surgery. I did have nerve blocks on both sides though and walked early and a lot!. This was truly one of my best decisions! My walks are now 5 miles, pain free. My BP is normal and the only meds I take are my vitamins, calcium and extra iron. I made a complete lifestyle change, including moving to a more "walkable" community and breaking my addiction to sugar, diet coke and unhealthy foods.

Most people never said I looked like I lost too much except for one person. Most would say things like “you must be close to your goal by now” and I’d respond “yes, pretty close.” The for the one person that continually told me I was losing too much I finally heard enough and said to her, “look, you never bothered to tell me I was gaining too much weight so your opinion doesn’t really matter to me and I’d appreciate it if you quit commenting on my weight because I’m beginning to feel harassed.”That shut her up. Now days people usually just say something about what a great job I’ve done or how I inspired them to stick to a diet. When people ask how much I’ve lost I always just say, “a lot” or “more than I weigh now!”

I say get a scale. I couldn’t imagine not having one. I still weigh every morning before I get in the shower. During the weight loss phase I weighed daily but only recorded it once a week on Sunday. I use My Fitness Pal. That way I could see that I always had a loss and never had a stall.

Premier Protein has limited edition Pumpkin Spice protein shakes. I got some at Walmart. I thought they taste ok but I think I'll add some coffee next time and imagine it's a pumpkin spice latte!

@shortsleevedTWW doesn’t tell you how much you have to eat. They tell you the max you should eat. You get a set number of points. I use my WLS guidelines to determine how much to eat. I get 23 daily points on WW but because I eat such small portions and so many WW “zero” point foods I rarely go over 10 in a day. The things I have on a regular basis, protein shake = 2 points, nonfat Greek yogurt = 0 points, chicken breast= 0. The amt of beef I can eat is usually only 3-4 points per serving. I have plenty of points left over at the end of the day and eat plenty of food.

@Lily66I didn't share at WW except with two friends that had the sleeve. I felt like I would be judged. There are people in my workshop that talk about their WLS. You would be surprised how many do both. Trust me, as long as you pay your money I don't think they really care what you are doing. WW is a tool, WLS is a tool. One can never have too many tools! Because I incorporate my WLS guidelines I find it easy to stick to WW. I did share about my plastics because that's a impossible to hide if you get good results. Plus, I told everyone that was my gift to myself for finally reaching goal!

Fairlife is the way to go if you don't like the other brands. Their shakes or their milk are both great. If I have days where I am a little low in protein I just drink a glass of milk with a little sugar free Hershey's chocolate and sometimes add a little PB2 powder...instant 13 grams of protein and tastes great. Fairlife makes 2 different shakes...one is called "Nutrition Plan" and the other is called "Core Power." I find core power to be a little too sweet (can dilute it with milk) but love the nutrition plan vanilla or chocolate. Actually, I'm having a vanilla right now!

I agree with Manyloves...some of it could be shrinking feet! Has your shoe size changed? In my thinner days years ago I wore a 5 1/2-6, after pregnancy 6-6 1/2, with weight gain 7 1/2-8 and now back down to 6 1/2-7. It's not bad enough we have to buy all new clothes several times on the way down but we have buy new shoes too! I finally ordered all new appropriate size underwear after my plastic surgery. I had to draw the line somewhere so I wore baggy underwear for a long time.

And the vanilla tastes like a milkshake! These are my favorite! I have one every morning!

I've done WW off and on for the last 20 yrs! Lost and regained lots of pounds. I was actually doing WW when I decided to have RNY. I was losing slowly and needed to get my BMI below 30 so I could have a hip replacement. I continued WW after WLS for the support they offer in addition to their meal plan. My WLS program only offers a support group meeting once a month and I needed more than that. The weekly meetings kept me accountable. The weekly weigh-ins showed me I was making progress and never had a stall. Now I'm a lifetime member. WW has really developed a livable program. It is easy to follow, incorporating WLS guidelines. I will be 2 yrs post WLS next week.

@anaxilaI agree with you about plastics and pain! I've had RNY GB, Total hip replacement and now plastics in the last 2 yrs. Plastics is by far the most painful! Between my extended brachioplasty and lower body lift I have 73 inches of incisions! I guess that explains the pain! The result is worth it though! I'm already planning round 2...upper body lift and then round 3...thigh lift.

I am now 5 weeks post lower body lift and brachioplasty. All the suggestions already given are great. I had some things left over from my hip replacement surgery 14 months ago that I found helpful for this surgery. The most important being a "reacher/grabber." It kind of became a game of picking up the things I dropped, tv remote control, books or magazines, phone etc. I'm not usually a clumsy person but after 12 hrs of surgery it takes a while to get your energy and strength back! The actual tummy tuck was probably the least painful of my procedures. The arms are the worst. It took me a week to be able to stand up straight and about a month before I could bend over without feeling like I was going to split open in the back. I slept in my recliner for the first month but am now back in my bed. I did my recovery alone except for someone coming in daily to bring me food and change my compression wraps on my arms. I managed the emptying of my drains, changing abd binder and sponge baths myself. After two weeks I could do my own arm wraps until I finally got my compression sleeves I ordered from Marena! If you are having just the tummy tuck you should have a nice recovery. I didn't have a C-Section but I would think they may be similar. Keep up with your pain meds, take it easy for a while and you should do fine. Good luck with your decisions.

I didn't have to do one before my RNY but I did before my recent plastic surgery. It was a urine test. Apparently they test everyone. I've never smoked.