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What I Really Want To Know About A Tummy Tuck



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I am 59, and although happily married, we have slowed waaay down in the whoopee department. Nevertheless, when I reach goal, I plan to have the tummy tucked and the boobs lifted. Might do the face to some extent, will decide once I see what I'm left with.

This is not to be "hot", recapture my youth, impress hubby, or anyone else. It's just for me. I just don't want to have lift body parts to wash under them, or move them out of the way when I turn over at night!

We can eek out the money, but it will be a stretch and a sacrifice. I'm worth it. I hope you find that you are too.

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I mean obviously winning the Miss America pageant is pretty much out. When I talked to my ( fired) therapist, who was seventy, about this, she said, well what's the point? Who's going to see you in a bikini now?

That's such a stupid question.....I mentioned to my fiance that I was thinking about seeing a plastic surgeon about my inner thighs and gluteal folds to see whether it can be fixed with Lipo or a body lift and to decide whether it was worth it. His response - "I like it, and who's gonna see it besides me?" URGGGGGH. Thanks, but I see it every day and I know I'd prefer these areas to look different.

Or is there still enough time left for this to be worth it?

You are only 47! Now that you're sleeved, you've probably added another good 15-20 years to your life expectancy. It's not going to get better, your skin is just going to sag more and more as you get older, and cause you more trouble (infections, getting in the way physically as you become older, etc). Plus the longer you wait, the tougher your recovery would be because of aging. I say, if you want it done, do it! Don't write yourself off as not worth the effort at such a young age.

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I will be doing it, some sooner than the rest - but I eventually plan to have all the saggy sking tightened - and most importantly the skin folds and such removed. I am considering a "first wave" that would remove the apron and extra around the bra line, so I can exercize better.

I don't want to be an old woman trying to maintain my (ugh) apron. I look at it as a little bit of vanity maybe, but a whole lot of extra, potentially sweaty - LOUD (lol) skin - get it gone, gone gone!!!!

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Ten years ago I would *never* have gone to get a VSG but then...my mom was alive then and *her* attitude was that if you weren't a one hundred percent natural beauty then you were faking it.

What is natural? If we were dogs we'd be naked....natural. If we were grizzly bears we would rip open deer bellies and eat them raw....natural.

We are humans, humans have big brains although some don't use them a lot. :)

Our appearance has a great deal to do with how we think as does most everything else in our life.

We have subjected ourselves to having part of our stomachs dragged out through a slit by our belly button. Not a natural thing. Our brains ordered it. Our body's objections were overruled and now they profit from our brain's dominion.

I have encountered many instances of being grateful that women opted to use that unnatural substance: makeup. :o:D

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BTW your therapist was totally wrong!!!!!!!! I am a therapist and I would tell you to go for it! Don't let something that small hinder you! Get rid of it! You don't need it! Sorry,don't mean to let my emotion get into this. You are a beautiful person and deserve to feel and look your best, age doesn't matter! There is no stopping you now! Go for it! ;)

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I'm 50 and even though I'm only 5 weeks post-op, I know that I'll be having surgery to help remove the excess skin, etc. For me, this is just a natural extension of the VSG. I don't want to have to carry the excess skin around, plus it will help me feel better about ME! I figure I'll probably be around 51 - 52 by the time I reach goal and will have the surgery, but it is something that I KNOW will be the right thing to do. I say go for it!! And BTW - since having lost some weight, my sex life has never been better!

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I say get the surgery. There are always what ifs with the money. You could not buy makeup and donate money over time, you could own two pairs of thrift store clothes and donate your whole closet to the poor, you could sell all of your possessions and live with a small table and chair and bed. You could never watch tV or a movie and spend every free moment in a food pantry. Or you could have the surgery and keep your possessions and make a conscious effort to do a little more. Give a little more. Save a little more. If everyone did a little more then then the world would be much better than if a very few gave a ton.

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Not to mention that beautiful people help charities way more than us simple peons down here. Every time a major star (read: beautiful people) gets involved with a charity, it's donations go through the roof. When you look better, people are more responsive to your efforts to sell anything. Go for it! Please!! And then post before after pics so we can all Ohh and Ahhh over you! :)

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Okay....

I know you guys are being supportive and I really appreciate it. You're all saying what I think I think. But...is there really no one out there who'd say look, you're 47. Give the money to the starving children in Africa and get over yourself?

I'm curious about peoples' attitudes. No other vote but go for it?

Ha Ha! Just before I got to this comment I was thinking about writing this:

I think it is a great mind exercise to consider some of the many ways you could use the same amount of money. Send an Afghani girl to school, travel around the world, sponsor surgery for someone who cant afford it, Go back to school for something you have always wanted to do, have a giant fundraiser party and after, pay yourself back for the expenses...get the surgery, and use the rest to fund a scholarship or something. Your age should not stand in your way... I am 58, and all though my skin is kind of floppy, I am lucky to not have it TOOO bad (as long as I don't look down into a mirror....oh my!) I really don't have the money for plastics, but don't know what the future may bring. I would consider doing a little nip and tuck on my face some time. Or if I had the money to do that, I might just give it away, or do something for someone else. Create something beautiful. It's a good question. You could be that "something beautiful". Just by asking, you already are.

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47? Young 'un! I am 58 too and though I have been somewhat blessed with much less loose skin than many, I am bugged by the skin that I do have on the tummy not to mention the droopy boob situation. If I ever can afford it I will most definitely deal with both- and this kinda blows my mind because if you asked me this last year when I had surgery I would have said NO WAY. Now that I am at goal and loving how toned most of me is, the part that isnt is just not making Meggie happy! In addition, my legs and hips are so much smaller than my stomach that it keeps me in a bigger size and then the leg and butt of pants are saggy. URK! Yep girl- DO IT!

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Hell yes! And HELL yes!!!!! Go for it girl!! I am 51 and soon will have my first in a series of cosmetic surgeries an arm lift. I hope to have my whole body done within 3 years. Since my 104lb weight loss I am a different person with different goals and I have no hesitation about making myself look and feel as good as it can. I don't expect perfection, but I do want to feel good in my skin. What's wrong with looking as young as you feel? One only gets one life to lead so do all the things you've been wanting to do or fantasizing about doing. A few weeks ago I cut my hair short and went blond because I've always wanted to and there's no reason NOT to do it. My husband loves it!! Good luck in your journey!!!!

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47? Young 'un! I am 58 too and though I have been somewhat blessed with much less loose skin than many, I am bugged by the skin that I do have on the tummy not to mention the droopy boob situation. If I ever can afford it I will most definitely deal with both- and this kinda blows my mind because if you asked me this last year when I had surgery I would have said NO WAY. Now that I am at goal and loving how toned most of me is, the part that isnt is just not making Meggie happy! In addition, my legs and hips are so much smaller than my stomach that it keeps me in a bigger size and then the leg and butt of pants are saggy. URK! Yep girl- DO IT!

Check with some plastic surgeons. Some are able to get insurance to cover some skin removal and breast reductions. If insurance covered your sleeve, they kind of expect to have to cover skin removal. Maybe you'll be happily surprised. I plan on a panni and breast reduction and insurance should cover it.

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Hello! I'm going to be 38 this year and I have hot pink hair. you are only as old as you feel. The way I see it is that I only have one life and I intend to live it to the fullest and when my time comes I'm gonna go out kicking a screaming :)

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Hello! I'm going to be 38 this year and I have hot pink hair. you are only as old as you feel. The way I see it is that I only have one life and I intend to live it to the fullest and when my time comes I'm gonna go out kicking a screaming :)

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