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I went clothes shopping today at a store (with the pandemic haven't done much of that). Not sure if it is the pandemic or my weight loss, but my experience today was SO different then in the past. I had a number of sales people approach me right off the bat. Friendly, offering to help. In the past, I would wander the same store on my own without anyone offering to help. I've seen others post about being treated differently after losing weight and while i'm not positive that's what this was, it's certainly something I'll watch for. The NSV --- I took one of the sales people up on their offer to help and mentioned after losing weight I'm not really sure what size I am. She knew immediately what options to pull and I am in a size 28 jeans! That's a size 8, as in single digits!!! I am also wearing a Small in a number of tops. Holy $(@*. 🤯

I am almost 6 months post op, and wondering when I will be able to get a tummy tuck.

Yes, I had a Tummy Tuck...I don't really know what other procedures there would be? Do you have something specific in mind? Below is a Before and After of the TT. I didn't have too much hanging skin, it was more of a wrinkly cloth look right in the middle of my abdomen, as well as some lumpiness all over. After the tummy tuck (which included muscle tightening and a bit of lipo on the flanks, you can see that the wrinkle look and lumps are gone, and my little ab muscles are visible at rest (i.e, I don't have to stretch out and flex to make them show, lol). Also, the lump in my crotch area flattened out, and the hips and front of the thighs smoothed out: I am think I'm basically the same weight in both these pics (give or take a lb or two).

It's crazy expensive "per area" and requires multiple treatments "per area." I'm skeptical that something could be that easy or else everybody would be doing it. But that's just no two cents worth of opinion.

I felt the same way. I just had this nagging feeling that something would go wrong and I wouldn't be able to get it. Even on my surgery day, I was sure something would fall through. I didn't believe it would happen until I was post-op! I'm one week out now. Im so used to failing at weight loss, isn't it crazy? I also only told 2 people, my fiance and another friend who is thinking about the process herself. I've known other people in my family or circle of friends who have done it and suddenly they become the person who had weight loss surgery. It somehow always comes up. Years later. Its not in a negative way but still. I don't want that to be an identifier when people talk about me. I also think people tend to trivialize your journey. They think, ohhh THATS why they lost the weight. As if you went to surgery and ta-da you are now skinny.

Technically, you can get one whenever you want. You may want to be at least be at or close to goal for optimal results, but its not a game ender. I have read that there may be some docs who would want you to be at a stable weight for a certain amount of time...but I had 4 consults, and none of them had this requirement. 🤷🏽‍♀️ I had all my consults at 7 months post op (when I reached goal), with the intention of getting it done right away, but my chosen doc didn't have a free spot open until 6 months later, which turned out to be a good thing because I lost almost another 20 lbs by the time my surgery date came around. I'm over a year post plastics today (and weigh basically the same as the day I had plastics).

Non Scale Victory

if you have GERD, go with bypass. If you don't, it comes down to personal preference. Statistically people lose more weight with bypass, but it's not by a significant amount. IIRC, the average weight loss is 70% of excess weight (RNY) vs. 65% of excess weight (VSG). I don't know that cutting out 80% of your stomach and throwing it in the garbage is any less invasive than putting a staple line across your stomach and moving your small intestine up, but that's just me. They both seem pretty drastic to me... anyway, you'll find people who are wildly successful with both surgeries - and others who have failed both surgeries - and others who are kind of in the middle. Success is really more a matter of your level of commitment rather than which surgery you go with. They're both good surgeries and if you're committed, you'll succeed with either one.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery! Right after surgery, you'll feel awkward and possibly have pain. My advice is to walk as much as possible. I was in pain (intense side stitch) when I first tried to walk but it subsided. Walking released all the uncomfortable gas build up and made me feel so much better. Also, sugar free Popsicles were a life saver for me if your surgeon allows them. Good luck to you!

Sleeved at 22 on 01/20/21! I am currently down 34 pounds (weight lost from pre op diet included).