I will be having a tummy tuck when I'm down to 155 or so or at least that's when my doc is willing to do it (at that point I will have lost 150 lbs. due to stomach stapling and low carb diet). Anyone have any experience with this? Should I wait till I'm closer to my goal at 135 to do it, like maybe 140? Someone I was talking to said if I get it done too soon it could loosen right up again if I lose another 20 pounds (seems like a big "if" though). Is it really painful? What's the recovery like? What do I need to know to be prepared? Anyone?

I read somewhere, maybe it was on this forum, to wait at least a year after reaching goal to have anything done. This is because your body fat shifts around during that time.

If you had your stomach stapled you have a hard time absorbing foods especially fat-Dont do that 99% fat diet you will end up making yourself sick then blaming Atkins when it is your history that is the problem.

Hi bevbme, I had vertical banded gastroplasty, not roux-en-y. I don't have any trouble with any food as long as I chew it up enough and I don't eat too much.

A friend of mine had hers done a few years ago.

The doctor made her wait a while after she lost weight, and he had her working her tummy muscles.

She had to take 6 weeks off work, and stayed swollen for about 3 months.

The good news was that, as part of the operation, the dr had to give her a new bellybutton, and she got to pick the shape! That's right, my friend now has Cindy Crawford's bellybutton!

How's it look now? I couldn't tell you. She got pregnant 4 months later and is now dealing with mommy belly!

Hi Mircomini,
I heard that you should wait about a year at a stable weight. The friends that I know who had it done did the best when they waited. One had it a year after her WLS and it got floppy again.
I cant decide if I want it when Im done but I kinda like my belly button and it tickles. I would want to keep it.
Beth

Thanks so much for all the replies. And Beth, it's so nice to hear from someone else who's had WLS and is doing Atkins. What do you think of it? I really like it, my cravings are pretty much gone! The surgery helps with how much I can eat at one time but that doesn't prevent me from grazing all day if I'm eating the wrong stuff. How about you?

I had a tummy tuck in 1997. I have yo-yoed the same 40 lbs. since. I have lost 34 lbs. since January. I am now in a size 8 and my tummy is still flat. I have always exercised so I think that helped.

I am glad I did it, but I probably would not have done it today.

thought about it but I am to scary for that !

I've watched the operation on TLC, pretty gruesome, but after the recovery, the patients always say they are happy with the results.

Vikki

Hi Micromini,
In Dec when I saw that my eating was very similar to Atkins I started on my own and a month later I saw my doc and she said fine. Since surgery I dumped big time on sweets and fats so I didnt think Atkins would work but I found out that the dumping came from the sweets/breads AND fats. Broccoli swimming in butter has no effect on me, but a tiny piece of cake with frosting doubles me over in pain and crying "why did I eat that". Now if I am on Atkins and I have that cake I wish I were dead. The dumping is 2x worse. So something tells me to stay away.

Abut the tummy, I think I will skip that but I would like the saddlebags under my arms done. I still have about 55 to go so I wouldnt even consider it till I am stable about a year.

Beth

I have had four children, i always was about 140 until ihad them. I ballooned up to 210.00 and at 197 i can feel and see the change in my skin. I often wonder what it will look like when i am done losing the weight and get back to my normal size. I have tons of stretch marks too. I have been to web sights and man it leaves quite a scarr. Almost looks like one is cut in half, that scares me.... I think ill reevaluate when i get there... perhaps the skin will tighten up yet??? Anyone lose the weight and skin ok ?? hehe


LD

WHY??

Today, it is easy for me to say that I'm not sure I would do it again because my stomach is now flat. Now, just the thought of the risks associated with major surgery gives me the willies and to do it for nonmedical reasons is hard for me to think about. In short, now that I am 40 I have become more of a coward.

i've been told told by my PS to be at weight for at least 6 months or really close to it.....I'm 10 lbs away from goal weight and they are willing to do it now......where the ten lbs that i need to lose is on my arms and thighs....My belly has barely no fat in it, just loose skin .......hope this helps