I have always had that "fat stomach", i.e I have a huge bulge UNDER my belly button that "hangs" down (i'm only 4 weeks sleeved... and am losing slowly, so I havent seen much change yet".

I have (even when I was a KID... I was always overweight all my life... and I can look at a pic as an 8 yr old and I had that "under belly button-fat bulge". Now, ABOVE the belly button, it has always been pretty flat (strange, I know...)

I have always been sooooooo jealous of the heavier women who still, by the grace of God, had a "flat stomach" pretty much. If I had one wish, it would be to have a flat stomach after all this! (something I have NEVER had in all of my almost 43 years of living!

I have never been able to "tuck in shirts", because even as a size 14 (this is the smallest I can remember myself being.... and that was since middle school)..... I STILL had that FKIN bulge!

Now, I am praying that I go down waaaaay below a 14 (currently a 20, hope to be at LEAST a size 8-10!), but my question is...... if YOU have this body type and HAVE lost weight, does this bulge go away... at least mostly ? ( and for the record I do NOT believe that this "buldge" is something that excercise can take away either .... just like guys with chicken legs will NEVER have Arnold Schwarzenegger calves, unless you are so constantly trying to focus on that stomach and honestly..... that just doesn't sound appealing. I will and have been walking and will work out, but that just seems like it is fighting an uphill battle.....forever)

After this surgery though,......... I am reticent to potentially even THINK about a tummy tuck though (eek!), wven when the time is right (i.e. when close to/at goal weight).

Thoughts??? Is plastic surgery my best bet once i lose weight?

I do that too! I pull it up and out of the way and think I can just cut this off and be fine lol not so much

Totally!!! I've actually had dreams of cutting it off. Very weird dreams.

Same here- it's so weird to realize how fat my belly makes me look. I am wearing 8's now and realizing that even at a size 8- I look fat is NOT cool. I look pretty decent in clothes, but naked- not so much. Ill post a belly pic when I get home

I have a bulge both below and above my belly button! The one above is starting to deflate and get wrinkly. The lower one adds 2 pants sizes compared to my relatively skinny legs.

Ooooh yes, I always say how I would probably wear a couple sizes down if it wasn't there. My husband thinks its weird that I wear my pants so high but I have to tuck it in! I told him you don't know what it's like to start off with pants and undies over you're stomach, only to have them continuously roll down to the "lower level". I start off smooth and tucked in then look like I'm smuggling tubes of meat. Wow. It felt great to say that for some reason. Hahaha

Guys, I share your pain. I have ALWAYS had the overhang onto the pubis. Even as a young child. Never tucked in shirts. Wore control briefs to disguise it. Used to kneed and roll it in my hands, pulling it out, wishing I could just cut it off with a bread knife (yeah, that makes me sound psycho).

The thing is, I am an apple shape and I have yet to have surgery. Consequently, it scares the bejesus out of me as to how god-awful its going to look after weight loss. I was told years ago by a doctor that no amount of exercise would get rid of it.

As much as I've loathed it all my life because its been there forever; its a warming, squidgy and familiar part of me. Like an old friend. That I love and hate at the same time. Its been there that long, it has its own well-worn crease. A cut line, if you will. I don't know about these surgeons. Masters in the craft of surgical medicine - or glorified seamstresses?!

My mum would shudder at some of the patchwork quilt jobs I've been seeing on YouTube recently. I could just imagine her saying 'well, that person didn't cut the pattern and tack the garment before sewing very well, did they?!'

I don't know why I just told you all that. I should go to bed!

Madame, You're with people that understand! I would never have shared my thoughts with my friends who have never experienced what we're talking about. It feels great to be understood!

Madame, You're with people that understand! I would never have shared my thoughts with my friends who have never experienced what we're talking about. It feels great to be understood!

Thanks Coco, it does indeed. To be honest, I share most of my bizarre thoughts, most of the time. Just maybe not ones so personal. After all, how could you even bring in to general conversation 'yes, I have a big belly that hangs like a once pregnant cats and if you stretched it out enough, you could more than likely cover a sofa with it!'. Some segue's are impossible to achieve - even for me! x

Hahahaha very true. Love starting my day with a laugh.

I've got a hanging pannus already and I'm still preop -- I know it will only get worse! I've already begun documenting with my pcp the skin rashes and fungal infections so that I can get that portion of my plastics paid for by insurance. I've reconciled myself with the need for ps... it's not just a vanity thing, it's also a hygiene thing for me.

Hey, if I'm going to get carved up (which is inevitable), I'm going the whole hog. Boobs like Pamela Anderson's and a stomach like Usain Bolt's! Bring it on!

You are describing my exact build!

I have a photo of me at 2 years old with the under the belly button stomach "pooch" as I call it. Like you, was never comfortable tucking in or wearing a belt, even when I was thin in HS/college because of that damned "pooch"!

Two pregnancies, two C-sections and many pounds lost have made that area even worse. (Insert huge sigh here.) I have been exercising a lot so I am not flabby as I lose, but the "pooch" area is not rebounding as I hoped. It is certainly smaller, but is now hanging down and just looks ridiculous. My upper abs are fine and I would feel comfortable showing them off, but the lower, WOW - not good!

I think after a year or so at my goal weight, if it still looks like a disaster, I am going to "reward" myself with some plastic surgery so that area no longer looks like a deflated, hanging down beach ball. I’d like to feel like I have a “normal” shape after the weight is gone. Good luck to you as you lose your weight and keep us updated on your “pooch” as the weight comes off! Hugs - Shelley

Take a look at my before and after photos in my profile - I was the queen of the big gut!

I will never have a small little waist, but in clothes, my tummy isn't too bad now that i am at goal.

I am getting plastics because WHOA - I have extra skin in that tummy area. I don't know what results I personally will get, but, looking at other before and afters, it makes a hue difference.