Question:
How many sizes should I expect to drop after abdominoplasty and thigh lift

I had gastric bypass in September of 2002. I went from 376 to 195 lbs. I am scheduled to have an abdominoplasty, pubic lift and thigh lift on the 17th of November. I know everyone is different as some of us have more skin to be removed than others. My PS said she will be removing about 10 lbs of skin from my tummy. Maybe more. I am just wondering if you guys can share with me how many sizes you dropped after plastic surgery. Thanks!! :o)    — Samar M. (posted on November 5, 2004)

November 5, 2004
I had 19 lbs removed during a LBL and went from a 16W to a 12 misses. However, it took a good 5-6 months before I saw that total transformation. I came out of surgery wearing tight 16 misses. I was shocked but the swelling was a lot I guess. I will take many months to truly see your new size.
   — zoedogcbr

November 5, 2004
Hi. I am five weeks post-op today from a LBL. I had 15 pounds of skin removed. I started at 288 and lost down to 136 before my PS. Went in a size 10 and a couple of days ago I bought a size 4 pair of jeans. Real zip up jeans. I cried in the dressing room. The LBL is by far the worse surgery I had ever been through, but putting on those size four's was worth it. Best of luck to you! Lacy 288/119
   — Lacy G.

November 5, 2004
I had a LBL 9/11/2004 and the doctor told my he took off 5 pounds but I came out 9 pounds lighter, 2 weeks after surgery when my drains were removed I bought size 8 jeans that are now getting loose. I don't know if it is because of swelling going down or exercise. I have to say for me the LBL was not bad. I bounced right back. I did it outpatient and was able to go home that same day, go up & down stairs to my bedroom , and walk 1/2 mi 2 X a day 2 days later, and 2 miles a day the next week. I am a firm beleiver that the sooner you get moving the better you feel, the less pain and faster the swellling goes down. good luck! it is so exciting seeing a whole new body. the LBL did more for my self esteem than the 130 # I lost before I had it.
   — **willow**

November 5, 2004
I had my abdominoplasty on 8/16/04. I was wearing a size 6 before surgery. My guess is that I had 5 pounds of skin removed, but my PS told me he didn't weigh it. He told me that he removed skin that was the width of his palm plus 2 fingers in width. I weighed myself post-op and saw a 5 pound difference, so I am assuming that is the weight of the removed skin. I now wear a size 4, and could not be happier. My husband has to ask me who the jeans belong to when he is folding the laundry, because I now wear pretty much the size that my 12 year old son does. Who ever thought this would happen to me!!!
   — Fixnmyself

November 7, 2004
I was a size 14 (loose 14) before my belt lipectomy. My surgeon removed 8 pounds of fat and skin from around my stomach and waist, and I now fit comfortably in a size 12. I'm very happy with the results. For me, I think I look much much better- I don't have a protruding stomach anymore, and my clothes fit much better. So I guess for me it was more of a "reshaping," rather than "dropping sizes."
   — raye

November 7, 2004
Before abdominoplasy/excess skin removal, I was 127 lbs wearing size 7/8's in pants and S or M in shirts. After abdominoplasty/excess skin removal, I am 117 lbs wearing sizes 1/2's or 3/4's in juniors depending on the fit, style, brand, etc. I am also wearking S or XS in shirts. They removed about 10 lbs of skin from my abdomen. This was the best thing (aside from WLS) I'd ever done for myself. Life IS good! (Hugs) I hope this helps!
   — Renee B.

November 8, 2004
I think you're going to find the answer varies by person, and will depend a lot on your general build, how much extra skin is removed, and from where. I weighed 190 pounds at 5'5" when I had an extended abdominoplaty, brachioplasty and the skin removed that flabbed over the sides of my bra. The surgeon estimates he removed between 12 and 15 pounds of skin and fat. I went in a size 16, and now wear mostly 12s, with a few 10 pants/skirts. I was wearing L and XL tops before, and still do (I was hoping my breasts would get smaller as I lost weight, but alas, I'm still a D/DD). I now weigh 170, and so lost a few pounds in addition to what the surgeon removed. I'm still losing very slowly, but don't expect to get below the 12/10 size range (and am deliriously happy at this size!).
   — Vespa R.

November 8, 2004
I went from a tight size 8 to a size 4. My doctor removed 5 pounds of skin from my stomach in August of 2002. I had my inner thigh lift in May and he removed 4 inches of skin from each thigh. I've not noticed any difference in the way my pants fit me in the thighs since the surgery.
   — Patty H.

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