Does lg. weight loss mean tummy tuck?

SueSue · December 1, 2007

I am in the beginning of my journey and worry about having a sagging stomach. I started at 222 lbs. 5'5'', The majority of my weight is in my stomach. I plan to lose down to 145. That will be a 77 lb. weight loss. Is there anyone that lost that much and DID NOT have sagging skin?

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Jachut · December 2, 2007

I've lost 85lb and here's the lowdown on my stomach.

I've had 3 babies. I'm 5ft 10 tall and my babies werent huge, 7, 8lb. I didnt get enormous and gain heaps of weight in pregnancy. I carried my weight a lot on my hips and thighs. I never got above a BMI of about 36, I wasnt that heavy for that long and I dont have many stretchmarks on my stomach either - but I dont know that I have good skin or anything because I have heaps of old silvery ones over both hips and on the tops of my breasts.

My stomach now, as you can see from my avatar is good enough for me to wear a bikini. Its not a great stomach, but it doesnt occasion stares or glances either, its just a stomach, like most 40 year old women have. Its a little loose and doughy and I do have to watch the muffin top effect if I wear anything tight, and I have the tiniest little flap that will wobble over the top of that bikini I have on, I have to readjust every so often.

If I turned up at the PS asking for a Tummy Tuck, I wouldnt be laughed out of the office. But in my case, the scarring really has to be weighed up against the size of the problem I have. A TT will make little difference to how I look clothed and if I feel self conscious in a bikini, its easy enough to simply not wear one. So to me, I'd like a firmer stomach than I have but I"m pretty thankful that I dont need major surgery, which is expensive to boot.

SueSue · December 2, 2007

Thanks for posting, I have had 3 kids also. Last one 10 lbs. I am shorter than you and carried the kids in my stomach mostly so I guess the answer to my question is yes I will have sagging skin. My daughter has said you have not stretch marks mom, but I still think I will have to have a Tummy Tuck and I dread it. It was hard for me to do the lap band. I was afraid of waking up after surgery. (My grandfather did not) I have watched the biggest loser and it seems no one on that show has sagging skin. I know they work out tremendously but does that take care of the problem?

PS Cannot see your picture as it is so small. You look good for what I can see though.

Jachut · December 2, 2007

Oh, they have sagging skin on the Biggest Loser!! They just dont show it. On the Australian one they did and it was quite publicised how several of them have had MAJOR reconstructive surgery afterwards. Our season one winner looked simply terrible, honestly like he'd melted, he had to have the man boobs removed, an entire lower body lift, brachioplasty etc.

And if you notice, they often weigh shirts off early in the series then the shirts start to stay on!

JulieNYC · December 2, 2007

SueSue,

My only advice to you is to do the best you can not to worry about it, since there's nothing you can do to change it. 77 lbs isn't that much, so you may be fine. And if you're not, the only alternative is to NOT lose the weight and I think we can all agree that's not the right course of action.

I remember worrying about the PS in the early days of banding. I remember worrying about the incisions from banding itself and being concerned if they were "worth it." HA! Seems like such an obvious answer 2 years later. I guess I'm saying I know it's a stage to ask these questions, but do what you can to focus on getting as healthy as possible -- at that point you can assess whether you even HAVE a problem with excess skin. (I'll keep my fingers crossed for you).