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Excess skin made me feel like I wasn't completely "there". I looked pretty dang good in Spanx, but when I didn't have supportive garments, i had a bit of the melted snowman look...
I never thought I looked better fat - not at all. Trim, with excess skin was WAY better than obesity.
There were those, including my lover, who tried to talk me out of plastics but I persevered. I likened it to getting rid of the ole 3X sweat pants, just didn't serve me well anymore. Having plastics was tranforming - not just in looks, but confidence and feeling "normal".
It is a big deal too, not to be taken lightly, but I am so glad I did it!

Be honest: How does your extra skin make you feel?
I was watching the new show "Skin Tight" on TLC with the young lady who's name is Lauana, mentioning her excess skin and how it REALLY made her feel. I personally have always had the knack of pushing my feelings aside and just being happy with 'Good Enough'... but then she spoke.


Be honest: How does your extra skin make you feel?
I was watching the new show "Skin Tight" on TLC with the young lady who's name is Lauana, mentioning her excess skin and how it REALLY made her feel. I personally have always had the knack of pushing my feelings aside and just being happy with 'Good Enough'... but then she spoke.
I have always wanted to eventually get my skin removed, someday. I've been at or near goal for about 4 years now, or something like that. I've never really counted. But I also never acknowledged the fact that I may be more fit, healthier, smaller.. whatever, but I am not a finished product. I still have one more step to go and with watching that Television program I was slapped in the face with it. I need to have my excess skin removed.
To this day I've never ever shared photos of my excess skin, and I probably won't until it's gone. Kind of the Before and After effect. I can't stand it. The gal who was on there, we look exactly alike naked. And when she said, "Sometimes I wonder if it's just better to be fat and filled out rather than be left with this saggy skin..." I felt that a little too much! I almost cried. Honesty came to the forefront and it made me realize that until I get it through my thick skin... (pun intended?) that I will never feel complete. Later during her consultation, the surgeon pulled her excess arm skin to the back, revealing a slender beautifully fit arm. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing at that point. All I could do was reach next to my bed and grab a tissue and wipe away the shame of what I had done to my body. I could see in my imagination the many times I'd done that in front of my mirror when I'm all alone in the room. Wondering what it must be like.. going out in public without worry someone is looking at my saggy arms, or what they must be thinking. I want to feel that general confidence that come with that.
I have always said that yes, I wanted to have my excess skin removed, but not with as much certainty as I was at that moment.
So why am I sharing this here? Why am I not sharing this in the skin removal category? Because, this is something that majority and I mean 90ish percent of us will think about at some point. With WLS comes a lot of fat loss, and with a lot of fat loss comes a lot of extra skin. Of course there will be some lucky people out there without the extra skin, and God Blessed them. But me? No, I have it. I hate it. I want it gone. I also hope that through this channel of communication I can bring others some comfort. That you are not alone, you are not crying alone. You are not wishing and hating your skin alone.
I have gone through more than my share of surgeries since my Lap Band in 2008, so the thought of more surgeries has me turned off. That said, when I see my friends who have had the skin removed... my heart aches for that feeling that I know nothing about. What it must be like to look tight, and finally feel like a normal person (whatever that means!). I want to say however that I wouldn't change a thing about my journey. I am glad that I made the choice to have Weight Loss Surgery. I am glad that I kept fighting when things didn't seem to go my way. I am glad that I stayed positive and kept moving forward when it felt like I wasn't losing. I am glad I stayed strong mentally and kept working toward a new day.
I am mostly thankful to myself that I kept that part of me in the background when I really needed to focus on other health issues I was having. I most likely would have gone crazy otherwise... but I've gotten all of the other health issues resolved. So now, this issue is ready for me to fix.
I am now in that fork in the road of, do I just take one course and keep the skin? Or do I take the other road and help myself achieve what I always imagined in my head I could be?
Thanks to the new TLC show, I have finally made my choice.
Loving myself doesn't have to be accepting myself the way I am. It can also mean loving myself enough to be everything I imagine in my head. There can always be room for improvement.

Ok, someone needs to cut up my VS card. Lol
But apart from places like Old Navy, and random places at the mall, no favorites yet. Some good ideas here I'll be checking out.
I've been below my goal almost 6 months and still feel a bit out of place in "normal" stores. Weird.
One thing I thought was funny was that while I was dropping weight and hitting the pool frequently, I'd buy swimsuits on line from "swimsuitsforall". They need to change their name... They don't have my size. Nothing below a 6...thought it was ironic.

Ok, someone needs to cut up my VS card. Lol
But apart from places like Old Navy, and random places at the mall, no favorites yet. Some good ideas here I'll be checking out.
I've been below my goal almost 6 months and still feel a bit out of place in "normal" stores. Weird.
One thing I thought was funny was that while I was dropping weight and hitting the pool frequently, I'd buy swimsuits on line from "swimsuitsforall". They need to change their name... They don't have my size. Nothing below a 6...thought it was ironic.

Ok, someone needs to cut up my VS card. Lol
But apart from places like Old Navy, and random places at the mall, no favorites yet. Some good ideas here I'll be checking out.
I've been below my goal almost 6 months and still feel a bit out of place in "normal" stores. Weird.
One thing I thought was funny was that while I was dropping weight and hitting the pool frequently, I'd buy swimsuits on line from "swimsuitsforall". They need to change their name... They don't have my size. Nothing below a 6...thought it was ironic.

Ok, someone needs to cut up my VS card. Lol
But apart from places like Old Navy, and random places at the mall, no favorites yet. Some good ideas here I'll be checking out.
I've been below my goal almost 6 months and still feel a bit out of place in "normal" stores. Weird.
One thing I thought was funny was that while I was dropping weight and hitting the pool frequently, I'd buy swimsuits on line from "swimsuitsforall". They need to change their name... They don't have my size. Nothing below a 6...thought it was ironic.

I had never gone to a spa until about one week before my sleeve surgery, a little over 2 1/2 years ago. My friend and I were on a girls weekend in Vegas and she wanted to treat me to a massage. I was absolutely against it. Embarrassed and ashamed of my body. She told me it would be one of the best pleasures I would ever know. "Besides," she said, "nobody knows you, they will never see you again." So, reluctantly, I agreed.
When we first arrived and they took us into the back to change, they told me I could go full nude if I wanted to, but--at the most--I had to strip down to my underwear and bra. I think I turned beet red. As they gave us a tour of the facility and its amenities, so many women were in the nude! Sitting in the sauna, steam room and hot tubs. Ugh! The movies were not so far off. I was so uncomfortable and I felt like I did not belong. I was surrounded by women who were comfortable in their bodies. I was not. But alas, there I was, so I stripped down to my underwear and bra, put on my robe, wrapped it around me and held onto it for dear life. I was offered some wine...which I gladly accepted to calm my nerves, and when I was called back into my massage room to meet my masseuse, I was MORTIFIED! The masseuse was a GUY, and I wanted to die. He told me he was going to step out of the room and allow me to take off my robe and get onto the massage table, under the sheets. When he shut the door, I seriously contemplated leaving. However, my friends words echoed in my head: I would never see this person again. I did as I was told and got under the sheets (and trust me when I say that I wrapped them tight, like a human burrito). He came in and talked to me in a very soothing voice. However, he noticed that I was fidgety and avoiding eye contact. He asked me if I was nervous. I admitted that I was, and I even confessed that it was my first time and that I was very insecure about my weight. He graciously told me, "Sweetie, every woman is beautiful. No matter her shape or size. This is going to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and I do not want you ruining it with such nonsense." Oh my goodness! What a wonderful and beautiful thing to say. I loved him from that moment on. My nerves and reluctance melted away and I REALLY enjoyed the experience! My-oh-my, that 80 minutes felt like 20 minutes! I wished it lasted longer (actually, I think he added on an extra 10 minutes; tipped him big too!).
So, here I am. 30 months post-op. Learned to work my sleeve, eat right, religiously spending 8-10 hours in the gym a week, lost all of my excess weight, completed plastics, and loving my body. So, the girls and I had a spa day over the holidays and I decided to go fully nude in the hot tub, in the steam room and on the massage table. I wasn't uncomfortable. Totally owned it. I even had one of the girls who joined us (mind you, she is 10 years younger than me) say, "Jeez...what I would do for your body."
[Mind you, yes I had the sleeve. Yes, I had plastics; but, I work my butt off in the gym lifting weights and sticking to an eating regime that is healthy 90-95% of the time. Some people love to say that I cheated to get this body, but I say all the sleeve did was give me QUANTITY control. The sleeve does not control QUALITY and it does not dictate my fitness. After 4 kids, major weight gain, rapid weight loss, there was no way that my skin was going to put itself back together. I am not ashamed of my plastics and praise my doctor for helping complete my weight loss journey.] Okay, mini rant over.
So, anyway, I felt AWESOME. I have never, EVER, had the confidence that I do now. And my ability to confidently lounge around in the nude was my biggest NSV yet. For the first time I realized I was just like those women in that Vegas spa.

Well guys, the Powerball is going to be 600+ million on Saturday, so if I win, massages for all!!

I made a similar post for the "Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend". Just wanted to see if anyone is participating?
Again I'll be "running" the 5K on Friday the 15th. Just wanted to see if anyone else was going to be there. I'll be in corral "B" towards the front if I can. let me know if anyone wants to run together.

One of the things that helped me to be honest with myself about my weight and obesity was watching My 600 Pound Life on TLC.
The new season started last night and I just finished watching the new episode that I recorded last night.
It was preceded by a compilation episode that I did see last night. Since that one included a segment on Penny I needed to take a break before seeing the new episode.
Some random thoughts:
I thought it was sobering and heart wrenching as usual.
I HATE the obligatory shower scenes. We get the idea. They could spend a lot less time on them or eliminate them entirely and spend time on other aspects of obesity, the surgery process, or the post-surgery segment.
Nikki (I think that was her name) is a beautiful girl with a lot of style. I noticed the drawings on her walls before they revealed she is a costume designer. It was great to see her get her MOJO back.
With a disabled brother and two older sisters, it was obvious to me she was starved for affection and attention.
Dr. Now mentioned when doing the sleeve instead of the bypass something that the sleeve can be just as effective even though the bypass is more aggressive.
Watching this post-sleeve, watching her eat the volumes and types of foods (donuts) she was eating pre-op looked really gross and unappealing. (Thank, God!)
I started at a lower weight than she did and I would never dream of trying to sit on one of those balance balls or on the ground. What a difference being 20 years younger than me makes!
It is heartbreaking how young so many of these patients are who are on this show. Nikki isn't the youngest by far, but she was still really young to have reached over 650 pounds. That is an awful lot of donuts.
It was interesting to see the rate of her weight loss pick up again after she started seeing a therapist and addressing her emotional issues.
I liked the analogy that the therapist used of not being able to look at and address issues until you physically put them down/let them go.
I wanted to slap her sister until they had their talk. I know we only get one side of the story, but to not allow NIKKI to be around her nieces and nephews is outright cruel.
I think her mom has a lot of food issues and is also probably dealing with a lot of stress due to both her son and daughter.
Her dad was sweet if clueless.
I am looking forward to seeing a follow-up on her in a year. I really liked her.
I know it's January and every other advertisement and commercial on TV is about diet or exercise, but still find it jarring to see those commercials on during this show. It just seems so transparent.
Did anyone else watch it? What did you think?

To the OP: You insist in your post that your the same person but in all actuality you aren't. You've stopped the drugs and drinking. You don't know in all honesty what kind of person you were in that time frame. You were literally out of your own mind most of the time.
The fact that people like you now and are expressing it shouldn't make you uncomfortable. It should make you realize even more so that you changed yourself for the better. I don't mean to be harsh, just trying to open your eyes. Go with it. Stay strong, be proud of your accomplishments, and realize all this extra attention is because you are now someone people want to be with. The real you is coming out. You aren't clouded and out of your mind anymore. It's a good thing. Welcome it. Use it to stay the course and never go back. Good things are yet to come.

I thought I'd post another update.
There's been some big challenges this past week. My husband had stroke #2 (the first was May 2014). He's doing ok. We hope and pray he recovers 100% again. But boy, it sure makes you realize how important your health is.
Our son is in the military (Air Force). As a matter of fact, he was deployed the day of my surgery. I remember how upset I was that I didn't get to say good bye to him because I was unconscious when my husband got his call, lol.
Because of health issues with his wife, his leave has been eaten up with her relocation to his current base and treatments. Haven't seen him since their wedding in June 2015. He was so shook up from his Dad's second stroke, he took emergency leave and together they came home. We were over joyed to see them, even though it was only for a long weekend.
The look on his face when he saw me at the airport was priceless. I caught a glimpse of it through the tears
The last time he saw me in person, and now...


Having my husband be OK, and my family here these last few days - I am truly blessed.

Greetings Everyone,
It's been a while since I've checked in. I had my sleeve surgery on 8/11/2014. As of 01/04/2016, I am down 120 lbs. It's been tough. I've been been at my current weight for a few months. The scale is not moving. I guess it's a bonus that I'm not gaining, but I would love to resume losing again.

I dropped in steps, had lots of plateaus. You'll get through it, just keep working your plan. It's very normal :-)

As an example. I'm starting to go my pre-op low carb, low fat, low taste diet.

I say to my mother... I'm doin yadda yadda. It's hard but I'm doing it.

Mom replies: Well what you should do is eat low carb, low fat, low taste.

I'm already doing that.

Well you've got to do it anyway. Try harder.

repeat this a dozen times or so, then progress to.

What are you doing on the computer?

Looking for a sale on wood chippers.

I use a ninja. The one that's like the bullet.
It'll be 2 years old in April. So far it's doing great. I use it every day.
If you are worried about "air" in your shake, just let it sit for a bit first.

Just a update. Got drains out from 360 lower body life. Then had boob lift yesterday. Never realized how much reaching for stuff pulls on your boobs. Ouch! Lol. Everything looks great. Soooooo happy.

Im really interested in this new show on TLC called Skin Tight which follows individuals after weight loss surgery who have excessive skin.
Airs Jan 6th at 10p
Heres the link
https://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/programs/skin-tight/

I'm currently recovering from a TT, arm lift, and panni. I'm 8 days post op.
I stayed one night in the hospital. That one night was covered by my insurance under the panni. I think paid 7k for the TT and 3k for the arms. Or 6 and 4. Something like that. It was another 10k anyway.
It's been a tough week, but I'm super happy.

Yesterday was a busy day. It was supposed to rain in the afternoon, so we started early and got the tree and the decorations out of the garage (my garage is not attached to my apartment). We also pulled out a lot of bags filled with clothes that either I or my older daughter had grown out of, and some winter clothes I had put away in the summer.
After putting up the tree, I started going through bags of clothes, keeping whatever would fit my younger daughter now or in the near future, and donating the rest. For my clothes, some of them I would now fit in, and some were too big.
My mom was folding the clothes for donation and putting them in new bags. At one point she holds up a dress that was a size 30/32, the largest size that Avenue carries. She says, "OH MY GAWD! THIS IS HUGE! THIS NEVER FIT YOU!"
:: ::
"Mom. Not only did that fit me in the past, but I got too fat to wear it."
A few minutes later, she holds up a 6x top. "Okay, there is NO WAY this ever fit you!"
Sigh. "Yes Mom, it did. Do you want to see pictures???" Now remember, this woman lives with me and has for several years.
After I gave her the stink-eye, she says, "I guess I don't remember, I only see you as you are now."
Good save, Mom.

Ours is monthly through my surgeons group. Until this month I've not missed one. I'll be 5 days out from my plastics, so I'll be in no shape to be there, lol.
It's great to support folks going through the process. It also keeps me grounded and focused. That's what keeps me going each month. Plus, I like the people

It’s great to hear that so many of you attend support group meetings – both that you have them available, and that you choose to attend them! It seems that going to these meetings is linked to better success – maybe because it helps keep you motivated and on your toes.
I am glad BariatricPal is able to play a role in providing support as a source of information and encouragement, as well as to hold members accountable!

Ours is monthly through my surgeons group. Until this month I've not missed one. I'll be 5 days out from my plastics, so I'll be in no shape to be there, lol.
It's great to support folks going through the process. It also keeps me grounded and focused. That's what keeps me going each month. Plus, I like the people

I would search realself and be biased toward docs with LOTS of before and afters that are similar to you (ie results from a typical mommy makeover isn't necessarily the same as a formerly obese). Speciifcally, I have more "back skin" then a typical Mommy makeover person. Also, some of my skin has very poor quality - it has been so over stretched for so many decades. For me, the bad area is the pubic area. So, if my surgeon had pulled me any tighter, I think I would have even MORE stretch marks on my already crepey pubic area skin...
Then, go on SEVERAL consults. Be sure to ask questions, discuss options and recommendations.
he eye opener for me is how much variation there was in recommendations for me in terms of what procedures, how to sequence them etc. By talking to various surgeons it helped me hone in on what is important to ME.
I also noticed a variation in the "asethetics" or how people looked. I did all these consults 6 months before I actually did the plastics. It gave me alot of time to think about my own priorities. Example, some surgeons seem to wind up with "boy figures" after lower body lifts. I would rather a womanly shape (and am already cursed with broad shoulders and skinny butt so so this was very important to me) over having as tight of results as possible.
Having said that, I am an athletic person and didn't want boob so big that it interfered with my cowgirl lifestyle! in the summer, i want to wear skimpy (cool) tanks and camis without feeling like an aging porn star - ha!
I feel that complication rates vary by surgeon too, but I think that is hard to research. I did alot of reputation checking - realself, healthgrades, talking to rich women i know (most have had work done of some type).
Anyway, I am not saying my path is right for others, I am simply saying take the time to really understand that this is largely an "art" - individual results do vary due to both surgeon and the patient.
Good luck - it is a very big deal, but also very exciting.

I also did not want to go to Mexico, but I live in FL, so can't really refer you to my surgeon, lol. I used realself.com to review the doctors and to see what other people had posted about them. I went to my doctor originally just for a boob job and I liked him so much we did my stomach, my back/butt, thighs, boobs and arms, haha. Go with someone who makes you feel comfortable, particularly since a big part of the process is getting totally naked and having them draw all over you. Your doctor should be very patient-centered, as in you tell him exactly what you want and he makes it happen, instead of gives you excuses. My doctor put my arm scars in a place he had never done before and they ended up being perfect. They are pale, flat, very narrow, and along the back of my arm where you can only see them from the back when my arms are not by my sides. I drew him sharpie marks on my arm before surgery so he would know where to put the scars.
A plastic surgeon is someone you want to pay full price for. If you see discounts, run for the hills, lol. My surgeon was near the top of the market where I live but he was so slammed with patients that he never had to offer incentives to get new customers. Also my doctor gets a lot of his business from breast cancer patients, which means he is not only very compassionate, but he is gifted at taking a body part that has been severely damaged to save someone's life and reconstructing it to the point that they not only feel normal again but that they feel attractive.
So...best advice. Don't pick your surgeon based on price or sales, but based on kindness, compassion and talent. If he at any point makes you feel like anything other than a priority, walk away. There are plenty of excellent surgeons and finding someone you really like is worth the effort.