Am I rushing into plastics?

[omvsg 13]

Hi everyone, I’ve been lurking on this board for a while but this is my first post! I am going to hit my one year gastric sleeve anniversary in a few weeks and have lost 95 pounds, putting me at a BMI OF 24.8 (with a lot of loose belly skin). I want to hit 100 pounds down total, but don’t want to lose much more than that.

From researching this forum and elsewhere, I’ve seen most people say you should be at a stable weight for 3-6 months minimum before plastic surgery.

Due to current circumstances, I am working remotely indefinitely and have moved in with family at least until late winter/early spring, at which point I may have to return to the office. Because of this, I’m considering a Tummy Tuck and possible breast lift in late December.

The pros are that I have my family to help me recover, I can use my holiday break time to request less time off from work, and I will be able to continue recovering while working remotely (and won’t have to deal with explaining my absence to a bunch of coworkers). The major cons are that I will only be about 2.25 months out from my sleeve surgery and wonder if I’d get better results if I wait, and also feel nervous about doing this during a pandemic!

I’m wondering what you would do in my situation, or if you have advice based on having skin removal sooner or later from your bariatric surgery. I’m leaning towards taking advantage of my current situation, but also want to avoid subpar results. Thank you!

[catwoman7 11,233]

some plastic surgeons actually want you to wait a full year after you've reached your goal weight. Reason being is that a 10-20 lb rebound is unfortunately very common - and even for people who DON'T have a bounce back, things do tend to shift around over time (as in fat redistributing), so some areas might actually look better than they do now over time (I've heard a few people on here say they decided not to do thus-and-so procedure after all because things shifted around and that area actually looked a lot better than it did at first). They also say a gain or loss of more than 10 or 12 lbs can affect your plastic surgery results. So waiting awhile afterward for things to settle out is probably a better option - although there are some folks on here who've had plastic surgery soon after hitting goal, so that's not unheard of...

I had plastic surgery three years after hitting goal. I'm glad I did because I've gained 20 lbs since hitting bottom (10 of it I really needed to as I'd gotten too thin - but the last 10, no. Trying to lose it now...). I gained the last 10 after having plastic surgery and my surgeon, at my one-year follow up, told me to do whatever it takes NOT to gain any more weight.

[ms.sss 15,779]

5 hours ago, omvsg said:

I will only be about 2.25 months out from my sleeve surgery

Im assuming this was a typo you mean 1.25 YEARS after surgery...?

My own experience (may and will differ from others): I had my plastics surgeries (Tummy tuck/Breast Lift/Arm Lift) 14 months after my sleeve surgery. I would’ve done it earlier, closer to my one year mark, but my preferred surgeon was booked up (I had hit goal at 7 mnths post op).

My surgeon did not have a time requirement to being at a stable weight prior to surgery. He did say though that LOSING “alot” of weight would affect the results more than GAINING “alot” weight. He explained that that scar tissue does not stretch as well as regular skin, and is even worse at shrinking. He said I should be prepared for this especially since I tend to scar badly historically (keloid and hypertrophic scarring). His example of “alot” was either losing 10-15 lbs OR gaining 20-30...but these numbers were for MY frame (I was 5’2” and 127 lbs at the time of consult), others with different body types would have different numbers.

Anyhoo, fast forward to my surgery and I was 12 lbs less than the date of my consult 6 months earlier...so I guess it was good he was booked up (although I did lose those 12 lbs BEFORE my earlier date I originally wanted, but I digress...)

I’ll be 2 years post-sleeve next month, and am 9 months post-plastics today. I am basically still the same weight as plastics surgery day: 115lbs (give or a take a couple lbs, depending on the day). Had been this weight for months before plastics, actually.

I am thoroughly happy with my decision. There were people who told me I was rushing it, that to just exercise more and I can firm it up naturally (sounds familiar to my obese days when I was contemplating WLS, lol). But I knew what I wanted and was prepared to take the responsibility to maintain what I worked for...and should I eff it up, am prepared to take the responsibility for that too.

Everyone is different, and only YOU know if you are ready to take the plunge or not.

But I will say that plastics was a total game changer (at least for me). Would do it all again, in the exact same way in a heartbeat.

Good Luck! ❤️

P.S. This may or not be helpful: Even if you do gain or lose weight after plastics (whether you wait 2 months or 2 years), to the point that your results become undesirable, who’s to say you can’t get a revision to correct? Obviously, it would be ideal that one wouldn’t have to, but who says life is always ideal?

Do what makes you happy and is in your means and ability to acheive.

P.P.S. Sorry this was so long!!

Edited September 14, 2020 by ms.sss

[omvsg 13]

Oh my gosh, thank you both - and yes, I meant to say 2.25 months out from my sleeve surgery ANNIVERSARY, so about 14.25 months from surgery itself if I’m able to schedule for the end of December.

I really appreciate you sharing your personal experiences and you’ve given me a lot to think about. I will go ahead with the consultation with who I think is my top doctor choice and will update here when I figure out my game plan!

[Darktowerdream 421]

For me personally I had my gastric bypass surgery April 29th 2019 I reached goal before my one year anniversary. I ended up going for plastics in June. My weight was at the lowest that it ever would be, the lowest I’d ever been able to reach actually. It’s still stable I knew going in to expect a range within a few lbs of fluctuations and try to keep it in check due to hormone issues. But I don’t regret jumping in when I did. I saw the opportunity and grabbed it. I’m still in the recovery process wearing Faja. I had a belt lipectomy/butterfly lift with stomach muscle tightening, thigh lift, and augmentation. It helped that my BMI was low.

[sillykitty 10,781]

I definitely get how timing comes into play with plastics. My work schedule was the driving factor for my surgery date. I had originally planned plastics 9 months post WLS. Thankfully I wasn't able to arrange the time off work. I ended up dropping 15 lbs below my goal weight. 15 lbs doesn't seem like a lot, but my body changed dramatically. Most dramatically I went from a C cup to an A. Even once my weight stabilized it definitely continued to shift around, I seemed to continue to shrink. When I was able to have my plastics I was 21 month post WLS and had been at a stable weight for 10 months.

I am a very impatient person, so I did not want to delay my surgery. But at the end it worked out for the best.

[ChubRub 1,709]

I have PS scheduled for January which will be 13 months after my surgery. Am I rushing? Yes! I don't care though! LOL! I've lived in a body I've hated for too long, and I want to wear a bikini while I'm still in my 40s. If I lose more weight, etc, I'll just go back for a "touch up" later. Heck, I'm already thinking about what I want for surgery #2 (and maybe #3??)

After joining a few PS boards, I see that there are lots of ladies on there who didn't have WLS who are all trying to drop a few pounds prior to their surgery, so it's not just WLS patients that deal with what the "ideal weight" for PS is.

Good luck!!

[omvsg 13]

I’m glad I scheduled a virtual consultation since the first available was mid-November. I expressed to their coordinator that I am interested in a late December surgery date, which is still possible. I am nervous about the few available dates being taken, but I have the option of paying the deposit before the consultation (though she didn’t think this was necessary and didn’t pressure me to do this). I’m eager to figure out the scheduling, time off, etc. sooner than later.

I think the timing will work out extremely well and might outweigh the negatives - any results will be better than what I have now after being obese for my adult life! Also, I kind of feel like I need a “win” and that finally being free of the saggy belly could provide a little mental boost (though I’m managing my expectations).

Thanks everyone for your comments thus far!

[catwoman7 11,233]

5 hours ago, omvsg said:

I’m glad I scheduled a virtual consultation since the first available was mid-November. I expressed to their coordinator that I am interested in a late December surgery date, which is still possible. I am nervous about the few available dates being taken, but I have the option of paying the deposit before the consultation (though she didn’t think this was necessary and didn’t pressure me to do this). I’m eager to figure out the scheduling, time off, etc. sooner than later.

I think the timing will work out extremely well and might outweigh the negatives - any results will be better than what I have now after being obese for my adult life! Also, I kind of feel like I need a “win” and that finally being free of the saggy belly could provide a little mental boost (though I’m managing my expectations).

Thanks everyone for your comments thus far!

I'm not sure I'd put down a deposit until I "met" the surgeon...but that's me. I did four consultations before I found "the one". Also, two of them had different ideas on how to approach my issues, so they weren't all on the same page. So I had all that to contemplate as well.

[GreenTealael 25,500]

I *rushed* in by seriously considering it around 2.5 weeks before having round #1 Plastic surgery and 2 weeks before round #2 🤣

I doubt you'll move faster than that, but I was ~2yrs post my initial WLS & 6 months post conversion. I was not at a stable weight, but a stable range.

So many different paths to Plastics, do what works best for you ♥️

[kristieshannon 1,676]

I’m scheduled for a Tummy Tuck, BL/BA, and arm lift January 14. I’ll be 17 months post surgery. I’m working on losing my last 10 pounds, although my surgeons (both WLS and PS) said they’re comfortable with me having surgery at my current weight. I may be rushing, but it’s what I want and need to complete the final piece of my weight loss journey. I feel like that final big investment of money, pain, and time is going to be integral to my long term success. (There are several studies that show this to be the case).

[omvsg 13]

Well, I went ahead and put down the deposit to hold my desired date in late December! The timing ended up being crucial because I won’t have to take any unpaid time off from work. I feel comfortable with this decision based on my research (I did one other virtual consultation with a doctor in Miami) and their pricing info has been upfront so I know what to expect. I’ll be having my pre-op appointments mid-Nov (consult is 11/14) and the surgery will be 12/22. More updates to come!

[Kris77 1,539]

On 09/14/2020 at 09:04, ms.sss said:

Im assuming this was a typo you mean 1.25 YEARS after surgery...?

My own experience (may and will differ from others): I had my plastics surgeries (Tummy tuck/Breast Lift/Arm Lift) 14 months after my sleeve surgery. I would’ve done it earlier, closer to my one year mark, but my preferred surgeon was booked up (I had hit goal at 7 mnths post op).

My surgeon did not have a time requirement to being at a stable weight prior to surgery. He did say though that LOSING “alot” of weight would affect the results more than GAINING “alot” weight. He explained that that scar tissue does not stretch as well as regular skin, and is even worse at shrinking. He said I should be prepared for this especially since I tend to scar badly historically (keloid and hypertrophic scarring). His example of “alot” was either losing 10-15 lbs OR gaining 20-30...but these numbers were for MY frame (I was 5’2” and 127 lbs at the time of consult), others with different body types would have different numbers.

Anyhoo, fast forward to my surgery and I was 12 lbs less than the date of my consult 6 months earlier...so I guess it was good he was booked up (although I did lose those 12 lbs BEFORE my earlier date I originally wanted, but I digress...)

I’ll be 2 years post-sleeve next month, and am 9 months post-plastics today. I am basically still the same weight as plastics surgery day: 115lbs (give or a take a couple lbs, depending on the day). Had been this weight for months before plastics, actually.

I am thoroughly happy with my decision. There were people who told me I was rushing it, that to just exercise more and I can firm it up naturally (sounds familiar to my obese days when I was contemplating WLS, lol). But I knew what I wanted and was prepared to take the responsibility to maintain what I worked for...and should I eff it up, am prepared to take the responsibility for that too.

Everyone is different, and only YOU know if you are ready to take the plunge or not.

But I will say that plastics was a total game changer (at least for me). Would do it all again, in the exact same way in a heartbeat.

Good Luck! ❤️

P.S. This may or not be helpful: Even if you do gain or lose weight after plastics (whether you wait 2 months or 2 years), to the point that your results become undesirable, who’s to say you can’t get a revision to correct? Obviously, it would be ideal that one wouldn’t have to, but who says life is always ideal?

Do what makes you happy and is in your means and ability to acheive.

P.P.S. Sorry this was so long!!

That’s interesting what your surgeon said. I didn’t know that. Good info to have. I’m a keloid former as well. How are your scars? Are they fading? I had ankle surgery like 8 years ago and rubbed cocoa butter on it every day and it made it flat. Now it’s so faded you really can’t see it. Hoping that doing that same thing will help with my scars after surgery. I’m sure my hub would love to help me rub in the cocoa butter😊

[ms.sss 15,779]

My scars are still very noticeable in most areas (at time of this writing I am 10 months post plastics)

Arms: these are what I consider the worst of my scars. They are the darkest and widest here. And the most raised. Oddly enough though, the parts of the scars that span both my armpits are almost totally gone. Weird.

Tummy: this scar is dark, and for some reason is healing better in the middle (the part above my crotch) than at the sides (near the flanks).

Boobs: the scars here are the best healed, while still dark, the are not as dark as the arms & tummy, and they are almost pretty much flat here. The scars around my nipple are also almost totally gone.

All the areas that are still raised are the itchiest (doc says this means it is still healing?)

Now I knew going in that it would take me longer than most for my scars to fade, which I am cool with. Most others you will find will have scars that are virtually invisible at the same stage as me.

[Kris77 1,539]

@ms.sss
Thanks I know going in as well that I will have scars that may be raised. I’m hopeful and going to buy stock in cocoa butter and massage the scars as much as I can. Thanks for sharing!!!