How do you know when its time for surgery? I started this journey at 285 pounds and a size 26...now I'm about 180 and a size 14..but I am all belly..if I didnt have my belly I would be in about an 8..i have to be 144 pounds for a normal bmi but already boney in most places..should I lose that last 35 pounds before I contact my PS?

I would go and have a consult with a PS and ask them, the last thing u want to do is to have surgery then lose more weight in case u create more skin. Its what i am going to do anyways i am all stomach and skin too

scashe....we must be about the same size, from beginning to now. I started at 290 lbs and i am 5'6 size 26 i am now 178 size 14 pants, small shirts....i still think my thighs are way too large...not much in my belly, but I still have a 3 to 4 inch chunk of skin I can grab around...i am having a lower body lift in June with lipo in my thighs and an inner thigh lift...Surgeon told me he can remove at least 10 lbs...so as soon as the weather gets better, come spring...I will start walking again and try to lose 10 more before the surgery for a total of 20...when I have surgery I will be 2 yrs post op...not sure if I will lose any more but I do not want to get another fill...as I have days now where I dont eat much....btw, my surgeon told me to wait at least 1 yr post op before plastics...so for me, 2 yrs is good

I would go ahead and consult with a surgeon. I've not had any cosmetic surgery but I know that for me, it was about at the higher end of my healthy weight range that I would have looked best if I'd had some lipo and a tummy tuck and stayed a bit heavier. I lost all that weight and then some and in reality, what's happened is I am literally skin and bone around the shoulders, face, neck and have nice long thin legs, but still have the same problem of flabby butt and loose tummy. I'm more of a pear and carry my weight very evenly, so if you have a real problem area like a tummy, that holds even MORE true. I would look better with a little more weight around my shoulders and chest, but if I regain, it wont all go there, most of it will all go to my bum. Cosmetic surgery really does have value for reshaping uneven figures.

The plastic surgeons will be happy to take your money any time, the sooner the better. But if you can get within ten pounds of normal BMI you will get a better result. A really good doc will tell you to get to ideal weight and maintain it for six months first but a lot of them will just say get out your check book!

Ok.... two years out... started at 223, now weight 145. 18-20 to now 8 (some 6) with the TT i could be around a 4.... The PS i talked too said he does plenty of LB patients and his rule is (for the most part) You weight has to be as the same point or with in a couple pounds for at least six months. I have been at 143-146 for over that. To do the TT it's going to cost me $8900. I really wanted to do the boobs too... but that's another 5-6k.... not in the budget just yet.... i'm trying for Feb. 16th.

Good luck!!!

I did a consult and when I told him I wanted to lose 30 more lbs (at the time of the consult, I'm halfway there), he told me to wait until I lost the weight. If they do it before you're done losing, they can't guarantee what will happen afterwards-- I think some people end up with unevenness or develop bulges/flaps if they lose a significant amount AFTER surgery. This is a bigger problem with breasts than stomach though.

I also think its best to have the plastic surgery (if you can afford it) as the reward for getting to normal BMI. Normal BMI is inarguably the healthiest for all of us.