Tummy Tuck...have You Had One?

[coops 1,790]

I wish I lived in Washington... it would be the four of us!! =]

[mommy794 119]

^{I was wondering about having a previous TT and then VSG, I had a TT in 2001 when I weighed 170 but then I gained up to 215, now I'm 200. My stomach still looks alot better than it did before the TT. But I was wondering about how it will look after I finally lose all this wieght and keep it off... anyone who's ahead of me in the game please let me know!!! thanks!}

[Happylife 6]

I had a Tummy Tuck. After my second child. Since then I had another child and the weight gain etc. My tummy always remained flat after. Flat and hard. The only problem is with TT and Lipo is the remove the fat, acess skin from that area. IF you were to gain weight you gain it back in other areas instead like back, legs, arms etc. Probably not a problem for us anymore with the sleeve. But yes. still rockin the TT! Also its a toughie for recovery. Harder than my C sections. But you get through it. And IMO its worth it.

[Lee 19]

I had my plastics four weeks ago with Dr. Sauceda in Mexico. He has a group over on obesity help if you ever want to check out what people have to say bout their experience .

At 61 I finally have the body I've always wanted. Yes, recovery is difficult but not outrageous. I spent six days in a clinic, then a week in a hotel. The doctor came to the hotel daily. He sent a nurse daily to bathe me, change my dressings, remove drains and stitches for me. I came home with two drains that I removed myself. I'm wearing compression garments for six weeks that go from my elbows to my calves. Two sets were included with my surgery. Because my surgery was over $7k, the doctor paid my airfare(up to $600), and the two weeks at the hotel. I had a friend go with me and she stayed at the hotel the entire time.

On 12/9 I had a lower body lift, thigh lift, arm lift, beast lift and reduction. There was two liters of fat taken from my thighs. The good fat was put into my tush because it was so flat. I also had my stomach muscles tightened. On 12/12 I had my face, neck and eyelids done. Two days later I went to the hotel. Two days later I went to the movies and out to lunch. The recovery is tough but it's still possible to get out and walk etc.

I exercised 6-7 days a week before plastics. I did lots of Pilates classes to strengthen my core to deal with the lower body lift. I was strong and healthy and I think that helps.

There's a great plastic surgery forum on obesity help if you want to read more about my surgeon or others. Mexico was 1/3 of kaiser with only one recovery, not four.

[ouroborous 519]

This is near and dear to my heart, but I think I may be the only man on this board talking about plastic surgery (I'm not sure if that makes me vain, or just more honest than most men!) I agree that getting the WLS and then not fixing the loose skin is kinda silly, from a vanity point of view -- of course, the WLS alone is still a huge win from a health point of view. Most of the fat that I have left is in my "spare tire," and most of the skin around my midsection is loose. I'm lucky that I don't have loose skin in almost any other area -- chest, arms, legs. I've been fortunate in that, as a man, I can pump Iron at the gym until my arms and legs and chest are full of muscle, not fat and loose skin. However, with the tummy, the more you work out, the smaller it gets and the worse things might look!

So, at almost two years out, I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to do it and more and more, when I'm going to do it. I want to get the loose skin removed, but I also want to get the remaining fat around my midsection removed. Any comments on that would be welcome; is that a liposuction? Does it add significantly to the cost/recovery time/risk? I only ask because that's really the last, most stubborn bit of fat for me; I can't seem to lose it!

Up until now, my default answer has been to wait, put it off, because I always thought I could lose more, or that my skin would tighten up on its own. But I think I'm hitting reality now; there's only so much skin can tighten up, on its own, and the last ten or fifteen pounds of fat are the hardest, so waiting until I'm at "perfect" weight means I could be waiting nearly forever...

[Lee 19]

I think that the skin resulting post weight loss is just as difficult for a man as it is for a woman. We just don't want it anymore.

There are men on the plastic surgery forum on obesity help. My surgeon Dr. Sauceda has operated on many men. We have a Dr. Sauceda group on obesityhelp .com where you can come and check things out. Dr. Sauceda is awesome and does great work on men. His prices can't be beat.

[MINI-Me 196]

sorry guys ... I lost track of this thread & never gave information. Here is the surgeon I talked with. I REALLY liked him - felt comfortable from the very first moment we talked.

http://www.drwindle.com/

[MINI-Me 196]

I want to get the loose skin removed, but I also want to get the remaining fat around my midsection removed. Any comments on that would be welcome; is that a liposuction? Does it add significantly to the cost/recovery time/risk? I only ask because that's really the last, most stubborn bit of fat for me; I can't seem to lose it!

You might be surprised to find that what you think is fat is really just a lot of loose skin. I checked into just liposuction and they laughed at me. They told that what I thought was fat was just a lot of skin!

Definitely helped my ego. But, made me want a TT even more! Just have to come up with the funds & about 2 weeks of vacation time. Of course, the little one was a much better choice right now. Can't believe I've had him for 3 months now. Love being a thin mom with the energy he needs and deserves.

[MINI-Me 196]

I wish I lived in Washington... it would be the four of us!! =]

I wished you lived here too ... I think we would be great friends!

[ouroborous 519]

Thank you for the replies. My current weight this morning is 223. According to the BMI charts, "ideal weight" for a 6'1" man with a "large frame" tops out at 192 lbs (! this seems crazy-skinny for a large-built 6'1" man, but maybe having been at 335 skewed my perception!) According to some sources I've seen online, I should be at "ideal weight + 10%" before considering a TT, so this would be around 210 max. Unfortunately, 210 is the magical "goal" I've been shooting for for some time; I got close towards the end of summer at 213, but then "something happened" (I swear, i didn't face plant into cakes and ice cream, and I actually ramped UP the exercise!) and now I'm up 10 lbs. I've stopped the gain, but now my weight is plateaued again at the higher weight. So, long story short, getting to and maintaining 210 seems almost unattainable. It's not like the beginning after VSG where I could fart and lose 20 lbs!

Mini-Me: I'd love to believe that it's all loose skin, but it's not pinchable, if you know what I mean -- when I pinch a fold of it, there isn't just loose skin between my fingers, there's actual fat that I can feel. Obviously nothing like before the VSG, but still fat. And on my "flanks" (now I know what to call that area; apparently it's a really common trouble spot for me... the back "love handle" area) is the worst, that's where I'd like to slim down the most right now (it's the main reason I still wear "baggy" shirts, to avoid that "muffin top" look!), but apparently that area is just amazingly resistant to diet and exercise; either I have to go to almost superhuman weight loss lengths, or I have to think about surgical reduction.

I know, I know, talk to a doctor -- it's always good advice. But just like with the VSG itself, I know that any surgery is a big deal, and I want to get as much input and advice from others as possible before I commit my body and 5-10 grand more of my money to an elective surgery.

I really want to feel like I "look good" -- my health is SO much better now (my doctor is just speechless with how good all my results were from my last physical!), but now I'd like to really get to the point where I feel good about my appearance, not where I'm still feeling like I have to "hide" part of my body, ya know? I mean, I'm going to the gym five days a week and lifting weights, it sucks that I feel like I have to wear baggy clothes that hide all that new muscle, just to cover the stupid little "spare tire" that's left!

(NB: also going through my mind is that I am "only" 41, and the younger I am when doing this surgery, the better the results will be from the standpoint of recovery, risks, healing, and final outcome.)

[ladymacwhiz 42]

I just went to the surgeon last week..I went for her to look at my chin area because I carried a lot of wieght in my face and now that I lost almost 60 pds an the skin isn't bouncing back...She said that I need to wait to get to goal or really close My insurance will not cover that.7.000 But. she says I probably would be covered with my insurance for a Tummy Tuck and boob lift..If i start getting it documented about rashes and soreness from sweating were the overlapping skin is they will cover it.She does alot of weight loss patients..s

[coops 1,790]

I wished you lived here too ... I think we would be great friends!

You got that right Mini... we're defo on the same wave length! =]

[ouroborous 519]

Well, I live "here" (WA state) and I think we wasleevers have to stick together.

[Ricky 6]

I live in Oregon...can I come on the TT field trip?? Maybe we can get a group discount! I am thinking I want to wait a little bit though..I am still losing and am not sure where I will end up..thanks for the info

[SouthernSleever 228]

Eek guys. I have a way to get plastics financed with low interest. Should I do it? It would take all the extra money I have for probably the next 6 years and that means no vacation for my little ones I HAVE to get a Tummy Tuck and my breast are so deflated it's sad. My arms and thighs are pretty bad too. I can't believe this could be a reality. That and I'm scared : /