Question:
Anyone notice that weight loss occurs in the top part of the body first?

I have met quite a few post-ops and all seem to be losing weight in their tops first. Some even look "normal" sized on top yet maintain large hip/butt areas. I, too, have lost 35 pounds and it all seems to come from my top-face, arms, chest....Anyone else noticed that and is that normal? Does it even out eventually?    — Cindy R. (posted on April 4, 2002)


April 4, 2002
Cindy, YES!! I lost my double chin and my face slimmed down within a week or so. I now have cheekbones! My shoulders and upper chest area are really getting small now too. I was so excited last week to see collarbones and those muscles/tendons that look so cool when you turn your head lol. I'm losing in my butt and legs but not as quickly. True to form, my tummy seems to be the big holdout.
   — Donna L.

April 4, 2002
I noticed my arms and legs first- WAY before my pants were loose at the waist band (the legs got pretty baggy). My family can see it in my face. I'm finally starting to lose from my middle. I'm attributing it to finally being able to do complete work-outs including abs- I couldn't until my 8 week check up with my doc. I'm hoping it will come off proportionately from now on!! :)
   — Angela B.

April 4, 2002
Yes. Discusting is'nt it? Most of my weight is in the butt and thighs, but that is the last to go... if it ever really does go. ;)
   — Danmark

April 4, 2002
Yes, you are right. I read in some weight-loss book years ago that you gain weight from the bottom up, which explains why most of us carry a lot of weight in the legs, butt and stomach. However, as cruel as it seems, we lose weight from the top down. So if you have a lot of weight in your face and neck, it will take much longer to see noticeable differences in the part we are all watching the closest! Sucks, don't it?
   — Katy B.

April 4, 2002
Yes! I I have noticed..Im almost a month post-op and my neck, face and ankles have gotten smaller. It bugs me because none of those areas were fat (lol) GO FIGURE! My dr said the "fatty areas" will take a little time to come down. I havent seen much loss in the trouble areas ( hips, thighs and butt) which is ok, I dont want to lose all of it.. I still want to have a shape!
   — S W.

April 4, 2002
I've read that we actually lose weight relatively <i>evenly</i> from all over our bodies, but since it's not <i>distributed</i> evenly to start with, the weight loss is a lot more noticeable in some places than others. Once our weight stabilizes, our bodies start redistributing the fat a little bit, so it doesn't look so disproportionate anymore. Unfortunately, if we originally had a lot of extra fat in certain spots ("if" -- ha!), those spots are going to be the very hardest to slim down completely. For me, it's my belly. When I've lost lots of weight in the past (too many times to count), my legs end up looking great, my butt comes back easily... but the rolls on my tummy are the very last to go.
   — Tally

April 4, 2002
Yes, I am 4 weeks post-op and down 36 lbs. I feel like it is all coming off my shoulders, neck and chest too. Even comparing to pre-op photos, it is really noticable.
   — Dell H.

April 4, 2002
In the first month, I could see a weight loss in my face, arms and calves. Now after 5 months, I feel like I've lost all the weight I'm going to lose in my upper body (I bought new shirts yesterday in a medium!!) and have about 25 more pounds to lose and I need to lose it from the waist down. My stomach is the biggest area on me now. It used to be my butt. However, I've lost so much weight in it, it starts to hurt if I sit too long since I don't have as much padding there as I did before!! So things do redistribute and you do start to look normal.
   — Patty H.

April 5, 2002
I know exactly what you mean. I started out at 223. I am 8 months post op and down to 124 lbs. I was a 44C I am now a 32 A how pathatic is that? I am a size medium to small is shirts depending on the style. I am a size 2-4 pants but still have a larger belly, hips etc. Alot of it is skin. I am scheduled for a breast augmentation in two weeks. THANK GOD... my body is really out of proportion
   — Jennifer L.




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