When did you decide to have plastics?

I am only four months out and have thirty pounds left to lose. My initial thoughts were NO WAY after I had the RNY - that I would be happy with the weight loss and that was that.<br />
<br />
Now that I am 65 lbs down, my thighs look awful. But I've read that the thigh surgery is the worst and least effective one so I don't think that is on the books for me. My arms are fine thus far - I have been working out like mad with weights since week 2 and it seems to be working. They aren't perfect by any means but not bad.<br />
<br /> There are pics of my arms in my profile.
But then there is the tummy, and the boobs. I never expected my boobs to lose so much so fast (40DDD to 36C) and be so flabby and wrinkly. The stomach is pretty bad but never looked great after the last 15 years and three nine pound babies.<br />
<br />
So, do you wait until you are at your goal for a predetermined time before you have surgery? I am skeptical about how I will heal, the time I need to take off work, the cost, complications, etc.

Hi there,
I am doing a tummy tuck for the same reasons you stated above. Now I am doing it probably sooner than most on this site would say is ideal but my plastic surgeon and my Weightloss Surgeon both said I could do it now. My goal weight was 150, but at I got closer to that I realized I wanted to stop losing sooner than I thought. I don't want to be smaller than I am now, I just want the excess skin gone and Im happy with the rest of my body. One of the big reasons for this for me is that I cant afford tons of plastics and Id rather have a lil meat on me than be super flabby. Just my preference for my body. I am in a size 9 now and am hoping to be a 5 or 7 after the TT I have a ton of tissue on my belly! I am 5 months out and am doing my tummy tuck Monday when I will be about 3 weeks shy of 6 months post op. I am paying 12k for a tummy tuck and lipo. I too an worried about recovery but I cant live with his huge skin flap on the  front of me!!!
hugs
jen

Good to know. My initial goal was 150 but I am 5'10 and thinking anything under 170 is going to be ok with me. I don't know for sure, of course, and I do have a ways to go.

I am pretty sure I'd have to pay for it all myself.

Hi I never thought I would need plastic surgery until I almost reached goal and saw how much saggy skin I had left over - which despite all of my workouts etc - had not shrunk back with me.

I had a TT and breast lift 2 months ago followed 7 weeks later with a thigh lift (definately the worse) and an arm lift.

Full details on my blog.

My surgeon said that anywhere within 10lbs of your goal weight would not have a detrimental effect. Also he agreed to do the surgery once I was ready - no waiting for a certain time at a stable weight etc - but I am completely self pay and not in the US.

Good Luck whatever you decide.
Debbie

I read your blog faithfully! I love it.

I don't know how prepared I am to deal with the aftermath of the plastic surgery. The most I could probably take off work is two weeks; but I do have a desk job.

The thighs scare me the most. I've seen/heard such horror stories about the outcome and the healing. Yet they are the body part that looks the WORST to me. I figure I'll never wear short shorts; and I can wear a sarong with a bathing suit.

I  knew for a fact I would need it and I didn't want to spend years playing the numbers game. I wanted to be realistic about a weight what my body and me were capable of acheiving and maintaining so I am scheduled for Novenmer and I am currently 220 and my surgeon ok'd me to lose up until my surgery (self pay) so my goal is to get to 185-190 and call it. If after all my plactic surgerys I end up 175 that would be freaking amazing. I'm 5'10 and just darn realistic!

LBL and Brachioplasty in November
Thighs and breast lift and implants next year.

I think 175 for 5'10 is very reasonable. I can see myself being very happy at that weight!~ You've done SO much already.

My Plastic Surgeon will NOT schedule any procedures until you have been weight stable for at least 6 months.  He doesn't want you to lose more and then be unhappy that you spent $16,000+  too early and now have to do it again, as you will likely have loose skin again.

I do have a friend that was at goal for a year or more, and she had the LBL, breast augmentation and lift. Then she gained 25 lbs over last summer, and then lost it again. The results on her tummy were fine, but her breasts? Awful. The skin slipped and her nipples were basically hanging at the end of her breasts. She had to have the skin redone and then they had to create some type of scar tissue underneath her breasts because the implants were moving. They told her it was because her skin, after the RNY and the up and down weight loss, just didn't have the resiliency. They warned her very strictly about losing/gaining anymore weight and gave her a three pound limit. I think that would be hard. She's had three surgeries since that weight gain and they aren't 'right' yet.

Yep, I've heard of that happening, too. Because of that I personally think it is better to wait at least until your weight has been stable a year or two before doing anything. That being said, I did have my arms done earlier than that because I did not think they would change much if I gained or lost.

Laura