Body Image issues after WLS?

[spoiltmom 44]

I had a lot of issues with my body before I had WLS. With my first pregnancy I had pre eclampsia and I gained 80 pounds. 40 of it was just fluid/water weight. It caused me to have stretch marks on my thighs, stomach and the backs of my arms. I also have saggy skin around my thighs from it and my stomach is droopy.

Anyway for the longest I was so upset about it and then dh had a long talk with me and basically told me he really didn't care. I was still beautiful and I needed to get past it and stop worrying over it.

Well now after 3 kids and Lap Band surgery. I'm starting to wonder what I'll really look like when I hit my goal weight. I told dh I'd like a Tummy Tuck and a boob job when I reach goal and he is fine with that but I'm worried about how my thighs and arms will look. I can't afford all over PS and I'm worried what dh will think. Part of me thinks he won't care if I have saggy skin but part of me worries about it and you know what's worse? I can't even talk to him about it b/c I'm thinking he may never even notice or focus on the saggy skin as long as I don't point it out so maybe I should just shut up.

What got this started you ask? A friend of mine lost 100 pounds with Lap Band and she showed me her thighs and OMG. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't even saggy skin it was like she lost fat in some places and not in others so her thighs are a saggy pooly lumpy mess.

I know I will have saggy skin b/c of what I've already seen with my pregnancies.

Then I remember watching this show once on TLC where this lady had WLS. She got to her goal weight and her dh divorced her b/c he said she looked disgusting and he couldn't get past the hanging skin.

BLAH! And people think WLS is so easy.

[honk 780]

"She got to her goal weight and her dh divorced her b/c he said she looked disgusting and he couldn't get past the hanging skin."I call BS.I think he was unhappyy and wanted to leave and that was as good an excuse as any. What if he'd always had a hot thin wife who was in an accident and was misfigured? In that instance leaving his wife would have made him look bad. But blaming their divorce on her weight (which he did) makes it her fault. Even though she lost weight; she was fat BEFORE which led to saggy skin. If she had just been thin then none of this would have happened. I think you need to reach goal before you decide you need plastic surgery (not that you can't start saving the money now). I have never had perky breasts EVER. So there are'nt perky now. I think with breast augmentation being so prevelent; woman feel bad that natural breasts don't look like the fake ones.

[Cangel76 1]

I know people who have gone through this surgery and had little to no saggy skin. I think there are a lot of factors that bring that into play. I have the same fears, beyond that I am terrified I won't get enough Protein and start loosing my hair. Petrified because my hair is already thin and I hate it. SO think the things you don't like about yourself prior to surgery stick around post surgery it just morphs. I so want a breast augmentation because I nursed two children. If I could go out to California to do it I might be more likely to follow through. We are broke though so I may never have anything done. The biggest thing for me is, I need to loose this weight to be healthy and be able to be around for my kids. Overall, I will look better, no matter what.

[peacequeen 434]

My self image is crap right now and has been for years. If I can just feel healthier and better inside, that would outweigh the self image issue..for me. Right now I have Myasthenia Gravis, Interstitial Cystitis, IBS, Gerd, RLS, Hashimoto's, Hypergylcemia, Osteoarthitis/malacia, sleep Apnea, and the list goes on. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired. I'll stuff my skin in my bloomers and be able to walk again and run and play with my kids and not be ashamed to go in a store and shop..I'll sleep better and breath better..etc.

[peacequeen 434]

I forgot to mention..if my husband leaves me after all this because of hanging skin?? Then he probably didn't love me much all along and I'd be better off. I am lucky though, I have a very supportive husband and he knew me when I was thin and beautiful and he knows me now as fat and not so beautiful, his response to me has never changed, I'm very fortunate...but just saying..if he did have issues after I lose the weight, that's his problem not mine. Keep positive spoiltmom! You'll be great just being you!