[clancythecamper]

Okay, so I'm still in the "acceptance" mode, but I'm curious as to what's "fixable" exercise-wise. For example, my arms still have a good "hang" to them, but when I support the "hanging part" there's still some weight to it, so I'm thinking that as the fat shrinks it will still go down some more. Which brings me to the next part of what is fat that still needs to be shrunk and/or exercised away and what part is just skin/tissue that will stay behind? When I look at myself in the mirror, my upper body looks bony, like I've been on a desert island and need food! but then my abdomen still has some fat but just like a normal amount (whatever normal is) and my skin is getting a bit poochy. When you get to my lower abs though - whoa! look out - front butt coming thru! It sticks out more than my girls do. Now I confess Im not doing ab work, still looking for the right workout there but I do hold my abs in as much as possible. So I'm wondering about what will shrink - shape wise - and what would need to be medically removed.... I know the shapers do wonders, but lets get real people, I live in Florida with temps already in the 80's and in a couple of months we'll do mid 90's with 90% humidity daily, so I cant see me wearing a shaper all summer (although I might be wrong LOL) I dont know, I'm thinking out loud again.... I'm especially curious to hear from those of you who have had tummy tucks ~ how did you know you needed surgery? My belly isnt really hanging at this stage. Thanks ~

[Trulykath]

I responded to your other thread....but will respond here too....my skin is sagging BIG time...I have a consult with a plastic surgeon the first week of April....I'm interested in what his ideas are...and how some of this can be addressed...I have been in the gym a lot....but I could be there 24/7 and some of this would NEVER bounce back.....

to me...it's a pick & choose...what can I live with...what HAS to be fixed (in my mind's eye)....I don't think I can live with my arms this way...and I'll suffer a scar from my armpit to my elbow to fix it. I'd rather have that than this 4 inches of skin hanging under each arm. The funny thing is...I figured my stomach would be the first to go....only it's not near as bad as my arms, legs or boobs....my stomach has always had somewhat of a dunlop thing going on....having 2 kids and getting TERRIBLE stretch marks, I knew that would NEVER go back...stretched skin doesn't rebound.....

We'll see what happens....I'm approaching this one day at a time....!

[MsVickie]

Some have it in there thighs the worst some the arms some the stomach. Its probally gonna come down to what you dont like the most on what you get fixed. Im not even thinking about it. Im terrified to go back under again. Part of the PTSD is suppose. What ever you choose to have done good luck with it honey.

[not quite Barbie]

Good question! I want to see everyone's answers. My thighs are the worst, and like you said, it still feels like theres a lot of fat in the loose skin when I pick it up, so I'm wondering how much more they will shrink and how much I'm going to be stuck with.

[Denise57]

I have loose skin too. I have been going to the gym to tighten my arms and legs up. I had a tummy tuck back in 1998. After having 5 girls I had a big hang, so I had that taken care of then. It wastn a bad surgery at all. I was only in the hospital 24 hours. My problem now is that I have alot of loose skin around my Butt area. And some in my arms. So I hope working out each day at the gym will help. And I'm also hopen while working out that it will help regain the muscle tone in my BOOBS.. There almost gone..lol I went from a 40 DD to a 34 A/B. kinda depressing...lol

[Kattin]

Oh how I can relate to the question and the replies. I looked at myself in all my naked glory yesterday. Can we say Shar Pei?? That's what I look like. I've always had big thighs, and now I'm into size 8 pants. Maybe with the excess skin removed I'd be a six. I'm 61, so not sure about doing plastics. I'd do my arms and "the puppies" as they are what I think people see the most. Bra's help, but how much can you rearrange these "puppies", so bra looks good.
I've admired the pics of those who have had plastics and they look great. Just not sure if I could handle the pain.
Maybe at 18mo. out I'll reevaluate. Hopefully I'll be more toned and some muscle will tone up.
We have all done so well and I'm proud of what my new life has given me.
Take care,
Kathy

[clancythecamper]

Maybe a plastics consult is in order to see where I am, so to speak. I used to hear that you should attain your max weight loss and then maintain 1 year before doing plastics but it doesnt sound like that's the norm any longer. Kath - will be interested to see what the ps tells you~~~ Thanks guys

[qt82699]

my skin is getting loose in spots but it isnt too bad yet i am sure plastics is in my future though

[Kenyar]

i think how long you have to wait will depend on how you pay. im sure if you go out of pocket SOMEONE would be willing to slice and dice TODAY lol. my ins company covers tt's but only 18 mos post op. no sooner. i would assume some ins company's policies are similiar...who knows. i think its a personal choice. i have the most HANG in my thighs. my stomach is still a little full; cant describe it any other way...thighs and upper arm are the worst for me. but i dont mind then terribly. for special occasions i wear a garment but otheriwse i let my flubber fly!!!! (from the simpsons LOL!!) other than the sweat and infection issue i wouldnt even consider plastics. but im still thinking...i might not even bother until much later on...

im sorry i dont think that helped at all. i think i might have brought you deeper into the realms of "i dont know" lol.

[Trulykath]

all of my plastics will be self pay....so I'm starting to interview surgeons (I did this with gastric bypass surgeons too).

My GB surgeon said reach goal, then maintain for 6 months before doing anything. The thing is...if I thought the removal of skin would get me to where I want to be, I would maintain the weight I'm at right now for 6 months and have something done later this year.

My consult is April 5th...and I basically want know the options. What can we accomplish......? Will a tummy tuck handle all my issues? What can be combined....lipo/breast lift etc? Can we do a breast lift AND arm surgery at the same time? DO YOU HAVE TO MOVE MY FRIGGIN NIPPLES??? and the biggest of all...WHAT WILL IT COST ME??? I don't want to have 7 more surgeries...but I don't have $50k to drop on a body overhaul either. I took some pictures this morning of my arms....I'll post them when I get home!