So, I've been putting off uploading a before and after picture for a long time now because I was always waiting to lose just a little more weight. When I look at these pictures, I can see the difference, but even now I still feel fat. I feel thick and wide and round. I remember someone (I think Erin T.) that put it perfectly. I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was along the lines of; I hated my body when I was fat, so I got WLS. Then I hated my body when I had all the excess skin, so I got plastics. Now I still hate my body.

So this is me, stepping out of my comfort zone.

PS - I'd still recommend WLS everyday of the week for those ready to put in the work! Even with all the mental stuff you have to deal with.

Let us consider that we are all partially insane. It will explain us to each other; it will unriddle many riddles; it will make clear and simple many things which are involved in haunting and harassing difficulties and obscurities now. not by me - by Mark Twain

Smile at your courage to face reality and do what is possible. I am 2 years out from Plastics - I had 42 inches of surgical incisions and they OK now. Yours will get better - just continue to use what ever cream and support garments you are supposed to. I was told you use pure vitE oil - 2 for 1 at CVS and wore post-op support garments for 6 months.

Focus on maintaining your weight loss as your PS scars heal. Keeping those scars unstressed/unstretched will help their appearance. Your healing is not done.

There are some old pictures posted that will show scar improvement over time.

https://www.obesityhelp.com/group/VSGM/discussion/4481910/Tu mmy-tuck-pics-graphic/

https://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/6038711/1- Year-Post-LBL-BL/

There are alot of elastic marks on the stomach - you will prob look better

Amazing difference! Good for you for facing your anxieties!

girl,you are definitely not thick,wide and fat. You are nicely curvy and well proportioned. Try looking at pics of yourself with your face covered.

Well done, Haley, you look great and congrats for putting yourself "out there"

You look amazing Haley and VERY beautiful ! I would use scar gel on that scar . If you have the money you can also buy scar reducing post surgical adhesive patches at a medical supply store ( one box is approx 60-80 dollars. You can cut them up they adhere to the scar and stay on several days ... they dramatically soften and reduce the redness of scars .

Thank you all so much for the nice and encouraging words :) I really appreciate them all! I feel like with a little more mental work I can one day (hopefully soon) start seeing myself as a normal person and not "still a little chubby". Unless of course I am actually objectively still a little chubby, in which case please tell me! I want to know lol

not still a little chubby. At all.

You look great. Congratulation. Well done, very well.

Once you heal from the PS, may I suggest you look if you can get in your area DEXA body scan.

I had mine first app 3 years ago. My weigh at that time was app 150 lbs. App 26-27 BMI. I felt good. I had a couple of docs commenting that I may chose t lose more weight, and theoretically, BMI of 24.9 is app 143 lbs for me. But at that weight, 150, my body fat % as seen using DEXA scan was just 20-21%. Relatively low for a woman my age. That level of body fat is often seen in young women, athletic type. It helped me mentally to stop feeling "chubby", and starting to feel better about my body.

I keep hearing about this DEXA Scan. How would I go aback getting it set up? Will my insurance cover it? If not, is it of reasonable enough cost that I can pay out of pocket? What is it purpose, and how different from the normal check-ups we go through? I'll Google it but would prefer to hear about it from someone who is familiar with it first hand?