Excess Skin Removal Surgery?

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by Vilya

Hi there! Have a question for y'all.

Is it possible to just have that roll around my waist removed, without doing a whole bunch of other things? My stomach flap is yuck, but what's really problematic is that "rolled down girdle" around my waist. It prevents me from wearing any tops without Spanx, and it's so annoying! I can cover my stomach, but that roll is hard to conceal.

Just curious...

Dr. Agha does a reverse tummy tuck for the belly button overhang / side flab.

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by greybb1

Got a question for those of you who've gone through the surgery. How did you decide it was the right time to have it done? Did you wait until you got down to your desired weight or did you wait until you just couldn't stand it anymore? What I don't want is to have it done too soon and the skin be flabby when I've lost the remaining.

I've lost 80 pounds and still have about 80 to go & my arms are driving me crazy! I'll need to have a full body lift with legs and new boobs but my arms are so flabby now if I flap them fast enough I think I could get lift off.

Do they make Spanx for arms? LOL

I had rashes and stuff from my arm skin so it was the first to go... i was 185 lb and I am 5'6". My surgeon says to come to him when you have about 20 lb left to lose so he can reshape you.

Slimplicity makes a 3/4 sleeve arm compression which goes under the bust and also provides compression for the back and torso. It's expensive but worth it because I would wear it as sleeves with sleeveless things.

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by Hot Tamale

Bruised as in black and blue? Mine aren't bruised but my incisions are all swollen and somewhat hard in a majority of places. I'm not sure what things will look like 4 weeks from now, however. It does sound kind of odd. Maybe, like I said, I will take some pictures and you can compare to what you have...

yes, black and blue... my surgeon doesnt think theres anything strange about it. it has been that way since early on.

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by Hot Tamale

HT update... 23 days post-op for my thigh lift and also breast lift "adjustment..."
I am not sure what happened yesterday, but around 6PM it occurred to me that I was walking almost like a normal person again! I was additionally shocked, because I was bummed because my doctor had decided to not to give me more antibiotics, telling me that in addition to killing the bad bacteria, it could also kill too much of the good bacteria... I was pretty mad about that. Today I can tell you that, while still sore and uncomfortable, I do feel the best I have in several weeks. I am far from out of the woods, but I am encouraged. Finally! On the breast lift adjustment...I haven't had any issues with this area. My breasts now have a lot more projection and fullness. Only problem is one is bigger/fuller than the other one. It is not noticeable when I am dressed, but it looks weird when I'm not. The doc says if they don't become more symetrical once the stitches disolve she can add some fat to the smaller one. O,o I am not sure I'm interested in any more procedures! I'll let you know how things progress...

I went for a walk with my parents today and even though Im wearing my compression hose my thighs started to get sore and swell up. When I got back I put my legs up and felt better pretty quickly

Boobs - how my surgeons patient coordinator put it... they are sisters, not twins!! LMAO one of mine is a little different than the other. But I love em.

[Hot Tamale]

LOLOL - Sisters, not twins - mine are for sure not twins - I'm not entirely sure how they're even related - I think maybe one is adpoted! I do really like them more now, though - a little more cleavage and shape to them even though they are still kinda small in my book (B vs. the DDD I used to be...).

My thighs hurt more as the day goes on - sounds similar to what you go through. I sleep with my legs elevated some - I find it most comfortable. I don't have compression stockings - she said no to them - but maybe I need to try something again to see (I tried a long line girdle and only could stand it for about 2 minutes...) how I feel. I miss walking for exercise and hope, maybe two weeks from now, I could start back. Let's hope the healing continues along quickly for both of us!

[Maryposa]

X-Post

I FINALLY took some pics I can post. I have been taking pics weekly but so far they have been inappropriate for posting here. Even this is kinda iffy for me, genie bra and shorts. I don't have a full length mirror.

PS in the side view, I do not know how much is swelling in my lower stomach and how much is going to stay puffed out like that... I am thinking my stomach will not be completely flat... but time will tell.

[clmoore]

Originally Posted by Maryposa

X-Post

I FINALLY took some pics I can post. I have been taking pics weekly but so far they have been inappropriate for posting here. Even this is kinda iffy for me, genie bra and shorts. I don't have a full length mirror.

PS in the side view, I do not know how much is swelling in my lower stomach and how much is going to stay puffed out like that... I am thinking my stomach will not be completely flat... but time will tell.

Maryposa! You look great! Look at those fabulous thighs! You're so pretty!

[Hot Tamale]

Yay Maryposa! I think you probably have some swelling left - I know it takes me months until all the swelling goes down. You look great and it will only get better!

[Hot Tamale]

Oddly enough, the same day Mary decided to take pics I finally got up the nerve to take some of myself. If you would like to see them, please PM me and I will be happy to send you the information and password you need to view the pictures. I will warn you, they are for sure R-rated - maybe more. I show you a lot of my scars, including a minor part of my thigh lift (from the back) and several pictures of my tummy tuck progress (pictures from last July before and right after the surgery and then today). You can also see scars from my breast lift and you might be able to see the scars underneath my arms, too. I made some pasties so you can see the results of my breast lift as well as the fact they are sisters, not twins! These pictures are for sure not for children.

[Maryposa]

HT I can see the swelling in your just after TT vs today. I don't see a big difference in the boobage! You look slim!

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by clmoore

Maryposa! You look great! Look at those fabulous thighs! You're so pretty!

My thighs are still "thick" but since I have them close together in the pic it doesn't look bad. I don't mind being "thick", it's the SKIN that bothered me.

My belly button is still weird to me... but it THRILLS me that it is in the "right" spot! lol

[Bejewelme]

Mary some of that puffiness will go away, my tummy is totally flat now it is amazing, but it takes some time, so dont get discouraged, you are looking super!!!!

HT, I am going to email you, you know I am torn about the legs they scare me!!! But I really want that damn skin gone!

[Hot Tamale]

Mary - I love my belly button, too - it shocked me at first because I thought it was so high - I just never knew how terrible mine was! Now I think about, when the scarring lightens over time, if I'll get it pierced or not! lol

My legs/thighs are still quite thick, too. All they do is remove skin and maye a little fat. I have big legs from 25+ years of carrying around 200 extra pounds - and women in my family do tend to have heavier legs. I'll deal wth it! One thing - when I was getting ready for surgery my nurse helped me swing my legs onto the operating table. "Wow, I love your calves!" I had to laugh because I think they're huge. "They're so muscular and defined!" LOL That's progress!

Mary - hang in there. In two or three months this part will just be a memory (albeit a bit of a painful one). You do look great and thank you so much for saying I look slim - the ultimate compliment!

PS: I noticed something in my pics... Take a second to look for the mole I have on my left side in the before and after tummy tuck pics. It has totally changed location! lol

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by Bejewelme

Mary some of that puffiness will go away, my tummy is totally flat now it is amazing, but it takes some time, so dont get discouraged, you are looking super!!!!

HT, I am going to email you, you know I am torn about the legs they scare me!!! But I really want that damn skin gone!

About how long was it before you were flat?

[Hot Tamale]

To everyone who is having trouble getting in to see my pics - I do not know what I have done wrong... If you're still interested, please PM me and if you give me your email I will send them. Thanks, HT

PS: One other thing to remember: I have keloid tissue, which means I scar a lot more than most people will... The scars will lighten a lot over time, but right now they are all still quite dark.

[Bejewelme]

OMG HT you look freaking amazing, there are just not words!!! Well I gave you some, LOL!!! I am floored it is amazing you worked to achieve that skinny body!!!!! You look fabulous!!!! I saw you have that very fair skin prone to keloids, but they will flatten my GF had a breast reduction and I thought OMG what did she do to that beautiful milky skin she has, but now they are very faint, she always shows me her boobs, LOL!!! I just can't say enough about your transformation!!!

[Hot Tamale]

Thanks! You are very kind. But remember - I am still about a size 14 and I still weigh 185! I know I look better - but I sure am not skinny! Still, I'll be working the rest of my life to stay around this weight (or maybe a little lower if I can really hit the exercise when I get healed...). Thank youuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

[NWLoser]

Hot Tamale, You look fabulous! You make me jealous! JK. I wish I had that flat abdomen. You have worked hard and it shows. You rock it girl!!

[clmoore]

HT is so narrow when she turns sideways!!

BELLY BUTTONS -- i thought mine was really too high after my tummy tuck also. It just hit me what you all said.. I was so used to it being lower that the higher one looked weird. Now. I love my belly button!

[greybb1]

HT I finally got the pictures and they're amazing! You have such a tiny waist! I used to have one too. Now it's lost somewhere under the rolls of fat.

I want a normal belly button too. Wahhhhh!

[Hot Tamale]

Thanks Everyone! You can do it, too. The weight loss and the plastic surgery if you decide to do it... I'm just a normal person... I did have a gastric bypass, but I have worked hard to lose the weight and I'm trying hard to keep it off, too. I really appreciate the compliments, but I am still overweight (considerably) by all the BMI calculators and weight charts... My "tiny waist" is around 32" - 34". I am NOT complaining, just saying a lot of people think that's huge! It is just how I'm built and I'm very happy with where I am right now. I wil be paying for these surgeries for the next few years, too - but again, I'll deal with that. I have never in my life looked like this. It took 45 years but I'm savoring it now & trying to make up for lost time. Thanks again.

[Bejewelme]

HT- you are tall like me I think and there is no way in heck I will ever weigh 160 until I am 6 feet under! You look freaking amazing!! The charts are worthless what matters is how you feel!!!

mary- by the end of the 3rd month my tummy was really flat it still is flat even though I gained 20 pounds that all went to my boobs and thighs, ughghg, in some ways its funny people keep saying I look so thin, but I can feel it, one thing once the tummy gets hacked the fat doesn't go back there, so that is why I am kicking up the exercise and trying to get this off!

[Maryposa]

Thanks for the response Bejewlme, I am already at 7 weeks post-op and I hope it does go down some, even if it doesn't end up totally flat!

[Dirty Harriet]

Glad to hear you are on the mend, HT!
Sounds like we'd better be ready for "da bomb!"
Enjoy your transformation.

[Hot Tamale]

One month update: Still have an infection - doc put me on a different antibiotic today. My hematoma appears to have closed/healed up, as well as another yucky area (where a stitch was right after surgery...). That was the good news... however, three new little places have opened up - the doc says this is my body's way of getting rid of the stitches that usually just disolve...leave it to my body to be finicky! I am not in any constant pain, although walking is not pleasant and things are generally still pretty uncomfortable. Everyone who has had this done is right when they say it is really uncomfortable! More as things change (hopefully improve). Thanks again, everyone, for the kind words and encouragement over my pics!

PS: Last call for anyone who wants to see my updated before and after pics... Send me a PM with your email and I'll send them to you.

[greybb1]

HT, have you been able to go back to work and/or your regular daily routine?

If I can ever get out of this stall and lose the last 60-80 pounds I'm going to start the surgery's over Christmas this year. I can take 2 weeks off during that time and up to 8 weeks (I think) on short term disability, but when, realistically can I go back to the office?

Any of you post surgery gals have any input as well?

ETA: I have a desk job and sit on my fat you-know-what all day.

[Hot Tamale]

hey grey... I've been back at work since last Tuesday, the 15th. That made it just short of 3 weeks since surgery. I could have used one more week home, but if I didn't develop the infection I don't think it would have been as bad as it was - and it really wasn't that bad. Sitting isnt really too comfy for me (or wasn't), so I brought a pillow from home to sit on. I also took three weeks after my tummy tuck before returning to my job and only two off when I had my breast lift and arms surgeries (it was at the same time). That one really should have had an extra week; three weeks seems to work well for me. I also have a job where I sit a lot of the time...

[Maryposa]

Originally Posted by greybb1

HT, have you been able to go back to work and/or your regular daily routine?

If I can ever get out of this stall and lose the last 60-80 pounds I'm going to start the surgery's over Christmas this year. I can take 2 weeks off during that time and up to 8 weeks (I think) on short term disability, but when, realistically can I go back to the office?

Any of you post surgery gals have any input as well?

ETA: I have a desk job and sit on my fat you-know-what all day.

I requested 4 and a half weeks, took 7, and now finally back in the office 6 hours a day. It all depends on what you had done... this round was lower body lift, breast augmentation ( had a lift Dec 2011), thigh lift.

Round 2 was breast lift and neck lift.... I took 3 weeks off.

Round 1 was arm lift, fat transfer to butt and breasts, upper body lift (got rid of back roll skin) and reverse tummy tuck. I took 4 weeks off.

[Maryposa]

My body also doesn't like the so-called dissolvable sutures, it spits them out lol. I have four openings and two other unhappy spots (one on each thigh). The opening under one of my breasts hurts!!! The others are painless.

I am 7 and a half weeks out.

[Bejewelme]

I took 1 week off for arm surgery, 3 weeks for tummy but still felt like crap but sat all day, but laying out felt better I was counting the hours til I could get home and lay out, I really still want a boob lift and work on the leftover side skin that bra fat that pushes up! But honestly this TT is still causing me problems so I am not even thinking about the boobs, I am letting VS take care of that!!!