Tummy Tucks

[hopefull 0]

How do you know its time for a tuck...Should your weight be a normal range for your height. I've had 3 c-sections, appendectomy, gallbladder removal, and lapband with hernia repair. I started at about 308 now I am 235 and have ripply, hanging abdomen...not too bad yet however in another 50 lb I can't imagine.....

[Jachut 487]

Well I've been bigmouthing about how I wont need a Tummy Tuck, no stretchmarks blah blah blah. But 12kg down, everything is lookign decidedly looser, lol. Perhaps I'll be eating my words.

But for me, I plan to wait until I'm at goal weight and assess it then. And for me it also means to be at the lower end of my healthy weight range - you can still carry a fair bit of fat on your stomach at the upper end. I would never go through an operation that big if losing another 10kg would half solve the problem.

And lastly I'm prepared to accept a bit of flab there. I dont get around in belly baring clothes afterall. I dont need to look perfect, just blend with the crowd. There's an awfully big scar with a tummy tuck that in my mind is worse than a female contoured tummy.

So - depends on the extent of the problem, but I would wait till I was at goal.

[Kryssa 1]

My stomach hangs way down now! My PS said if I would get down to 175 he would take care of the last 30 lbs. required to get me to goal (tummy AND arms). That has given me alot of hope because 75 sounds so much easier to lose than 105. Perhaps a consult is in order?

[fee 0]

How do you know its time for a tuck...Should your weight be a normal range for your height. I've had 3 c-sections, appendectomy, gallbladder removal, and lapband with hernia repair. I started at about 308 now I am 235 and have ripply, hanging abdomen...not too bad yet however in another 50 lb I can't imagine.....

hi there

i have had a Tummy Tuck done a few years ago now. I seriously should have waited till i reached my goal weight .Your best thing to do is wait till u get to your ideal goal weight.If u stiill have weight to lose your skin may get a little loose and saggy again. Your weight doesnt necesserily have to be a normal range for your height, just what u feel comfortable with and most of all happy with:)

goodluck

[Parvathi 2]

I've got my Tummy Tuck booked in for April 3rd. After 90 someodd pounds, I can really tell a difference in that area. When I was at my max weight, my stomach was tight. I bent over the other night to turn the Water at the bathtub on and felt a big swish of skin fall to the side LOL.

Fingers crossed, I'll be at goal weight by then though .. if I'm lucky, perhaps even a kilo or two under it.

[babsintx3 0]

Hopeful,

I waited till I got to goal which was still 30 lbs more than I should weigh for my height. I had not lost weight for several months and I felt that I was probably as close as I was going to get.

Kryssa,

I had 4 1/2lbs of skin removed from my stomach. I thought I had more to remove, so it is deceptive. I seriously doubt that you will lose 30 lbs of fat and skin unless you started off at 400 lbs or more. I was optimistic when I thought I would lose the last 10 with plastics. If you have Lipo, its possible for sure, but 30 lbs seems to be excessive.

Babs in TX

334/180 ish

-150 ish

[Kryssa 1]

Kryssa,

I had 4 1/2lbs of skin removed from my stomach. I thought I had more to remove, so it is deceptive. I seriously doubt that you will lose 30 lbs of fat and skin unless you started off at 400 lbs or more. I was optimistic when I thought I would lose the last 10 with plastics. If you have Lipo, its possible for sure, but 30 lbs seems to be excessive.

Perhap it could be excessive. I weighed 310 at one point and it was ALL in my tummy. I assume the Dr knows what he's talking about. My sis lost 10 lbs. with a breast reduction so I know it's possible. We will see when I get there.

[Jammin & Losin 1]

Well I'm at 179 with my weight right now...and I'm in a size 16. I just don't know if I will ever get to a size 10 or 12 with out having a Tummy Tuck and something done with the thighs and arms. I'm almost to the point of feeling like I will probably get another 20 or so pounds off...but just don't think it will help a smaller size fit me right without getting the excess gone first???? Its so questionable as to when to have ps done. I want to get to my smallest that I can and try to tone some...but I know ps will be the only way I won't have hanging skin and droopy boobs YUCK!!!! Maybe I should start checking into it and start saving $$$$ for it now!!!

[PhotoNut 7]

I've been checking into PS as well and I've read suggestions that people who have gone through a lot of weight loss allow themselves a year after reaching their goal weight for their bodies to adjust to the change. I guess the skin and muscle tone adapts over time.

Also, MuffinBirdie had a lower lift (like pulling your pants up higher) which affected her tummy and thighs. She suggested getting below goal weight so you are as lean as you can get before PS. She has some really great comments about it. Check out her site:

http://www.myagb.homestead.com/index.html

[monymo 0]

Hi, Every plastic surgeon has their own requirements. I saw my plastic surgeon when I was 20 pounds above my goal. Basically they want to see you at a stable weight. I was able to finish my weight loss once I had plastic surgery. Good luck. Mona

[NewSho 20]

Yep, MonyMo - exactly!

I've posted here on other threads that the 'goal weight after WLS' is basically aimed at bypass-type patients that loose larger amounts of weight quicker than even the most dedicated LapBanders.

So like MonyMo - the plastic surgeons I consulted with thought that within 20# of goal was reasonable. I had my own TT once I hit the "within 20#" range with the knowledge that if I did lose more weight (yippee for me) that it would be slow, steady incremental loss and shouldn't affect a TT much.

Many cosmetic surgeons say the mistake patients make is coming too late for their initial consults so I was very careful to make sure I started my consults before I was at goal. I'm glad I did - the TT made a huge difference in how my clothes fit (although lots of skin is removed, most TT patients do not see a real change in scale weight.)

On the off chance I lose some tremendous amount of weight I'd be happy to go back for a small tweak but normal LapBand weight loss won't "undo" the benefits of a well-planned TT.

Happy Band Journeys to all...

[LilAngel 0]

Many cosmetic surgeons say the mistake patients make is coming too late for their initial consults so I was very careful to make sure I started my consults before I was at goal.

Happy Band Journeys to all...

I am quite PS stupid, so I hope this isn't a dumb question, but what does it mean to come in too late for a consult?

Thanks!