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I don't know if some one has already asked this question before, but here it goes. I have a big pooch under my belly button that hangs over. I have seen it shrink while doing the South Beach diet and drink lots of water. But with the rapid weight loss that I am anticipating with the sleeve, will my pooch shrink or will it just look deflated?:confused:
I too have a pouch that hangs or an apron of skin. Tummy tuck is a later option for those folks who have had WLS. My doctor advised to to wait at least a minimum of one yr. out because in the first yr. you tend to lose most of your weight. From there after it becomes an option for those folks who choose to do so.
See the threads "cosmetic Surgery." Some folks will go in for exercise but folks who are in the know tell me it never completely firms up without a nip or tuck.
The final decision is yours to make.
Lorna :)
I have been wondering the same thing. It's been over 15 years that my skin has been stretched and at my age (46) I doubt my skin will bounce back completely. I am not above having plastic surgery when the time comes. I have looked at before and after pics and they are amazing. I don't plan on wearing a bikini but I do want to look good in jeans and a t-shirt again. So if there is excess skin that is hindering that, I will definitely do it. But I will cross that bridge when the time comes.
15 years ago I lost 90 lbs. (using pills, which I don't recommend), but my stomach didn't look deflated or hang loose or baggy. Of course, I was younger then (and probably more elastic, LOL). I think it depends on how much you have to lose and how patient you are. The skin is a remarkable organ. I plan to give mine plenty of time before I make the decision, and to become good friends with the folks at SPANX!
Seven years ago I lost 160 lbs. and had a real problem with a hanging belly. I work for a plastic surgeon and he did a tummy tuck on me and it was one of the best things I've ever done. Even though I later regained 110 lbs. (reason I just had the sleeve) my stomach has stayed pretty flat. The day of my surgery when the nurse came in to give me a shot in my belly as she moved my gown to give the shot she was shocked and said "you're belly is flatter than mine". By the way, she was not overweight but had given birth to 2 babies.
My advise is cross that bridge when you come to it. Being in the plastic surgery business I will say that there are lots of variences in how your skin will react. Some people has much more elasticity in their skin than other and age has a bearing as well.
Hi Sheila,
Try using compression garments like those used after liposuction, they are very tight and can help you, but you should wait at least 3 weeks after surgery and wear them for 12 hours a day (this has helped me). But as the girls have said it all depends on your skin's elasticity.
Unless you have brilliant genetics, the simple answer to this question is most likely no. most of us who have this surgery have spent a lot of years yo yo dieting, over time the skin loses it's elasticity. Some of the younger members may have some success, but the reality is that the apron is a bit like under the arms the older you get the less likely it is to Shrink.
I waited nearly 18 months before getting my stomach done, my scars from my first surgery are now down near my bikini line, and they probably took about 5 kg of skin off.
My wife has had the lap band surgery and with four c-sections, she wasn't too happy about the results of her stretched skin, so she decided to try a compression garment. There is one that works real good on the market now that she wears called Body Magic. It's helped her lose those unwanted inches, and she is starting to see some tone in her problem areas. So compression garments like this one really do work..
i asked my doctor the same question when i went on my first consultation. me being 25 i have had 2 csections so i have a pooch he said because i am still young it should tone itself up. but i also plan on a compression garment so i dont have to worry about it hanging. but one thing i have noticed since i work in retail i have seen these vitamins called collegen(sp?) pills it is suppose to help keep ur skin younger with elasticity so check them out they are at costco wholesale
where can u buy these compression garments??
Genetics, your age, how much weight loss and how long you have been overweight all play a part in how much loose skin you end up with. It also takes time for whatever will shrink does. If you have issues with the belly pouch skin rashes, infections then you may be able to have your insurance cover it. The procedure isn't called a tummy tuck or its medical name but it is the same surgery, insurance thing.
Just a little tip from me: If you do suffer from skin rashes, as Nancy mentions above, either in the crease of your belly pouch or under your breasts, there are numerous ways to control it. You can go to a dermatologist and get a prescription cream, which is essentially the same stuff you can buy over the counter to treat athlete's foot fungus, just a little stronger (feels slimey, in my opinion); or you can powder those creases down a couple times a day (smelly, messy, and not as effective); or you can apply an unscented solid antiperspirant there daily. In my opinion, the antiperspirant is the best option. Cut down on the sweating, and you cut off the water supply to the fungi (Yes, those rashes are caused by fungi...I'm not making this up!). This usually cures the rash faster than the other methods. If you work out, be sure to apply the antiperspirant before your workout and again after your shower.
Of course (and here is tip #2), if you want to document your issues with body rashes due to hanging skin and warm, wet body creases, you will need to go to the dermatologist and document every visit and every prescription. It will help to build the documentation to support your case for your surgery...if there's where you eventually want to go. My support group had a plastic surgeon come in and do a talk with us, and he said that insurance companies rarely approve the surgery, even with documented evidence of the need to eradicate the body of those sweaty, loose skin fungi-feeding grounds.
Once you have a rash in those places, another way to fix it is to use monistat (like for a yeast infection) at night. It clears it up in a day or two, but Diane is right, keeping that area dry is vital to success in getting rid of it! I use antipersperant and nursing pads under my breasts between my skin and my bra when I get a breakout.
Great suggestions, thank you.
Also, just plain ol' baby powder does wonders. Use one with corn starch...the rash will go away overnight. Put it on your body at night and sleep on it....good lucK!