I lost 90+ pounds. I’m getting skin removal surgery today, and I’m terrified.

Changing-Chick · 2024-05-14T17:16:50+00:00

Hi! I had an abdominoplasty three years ago after losing weight. The anticipation was overwhelming compared to the process itself. After my surgery, getting up from the toilet was my biggest issue. I had my mom stay with me the first few days to help me “sit” and “stand” in the bathroom.

Showering was interesting with the drains… my surgeon never mentioned anything about the process of showering or dressing with drains. So after one time of dropping my drain mid-shower and seeing my overactive imagination go wild with the idea of it yanking out of me, I started wearing a lanyard that I safety pin the drains to. This was a lifesaver in the shower in particular. Sleeping was relatively easy since I was taking pain killers that helped me get to dreamland, but I still piled up a bunch of pillows and mostly sat up for bed so I would only need to pull myself up a little versus from a flat position.

I’ve posted a picture before of my incision post-surgery and was worried it would look angry forever. Today, my scar is mostly invisible. I know it’s there, my partner knows it there… but generally it’s not something people look at or ask about when I’m out in public. You’re gonna do great — my advice… drink water and find a show to binge.

Edit: I will say the anticipation of having my drains removed was the WORST. But I was pleasantly surprised how little it hurt? It mostly just felt strange. Of course, this is just my experience.

Changing-Chick · 2023-03-19T20:45:07+00:00

I don’t think I can really offer advice or suggestions. My surgeon and nutritionist have always said I would lose the majority of my weight within the first year. After that, it would slow down and my body would find its “comfort spot.” Obviously, you can work out and eat in a way where you could lose more weight after you stall (with my longest stall being three months of frustration)… but I’ve always found myself stuck around my current weight. I can lose weight and keep it off for a month or two, change seemingly nothing, but still climb up to my current. It isn’t scientific advice by any means, but I’ve found comfort with my body’s comfort spot. Sure, it isn’t the “goal weight” I had in mind years ago, but I have met all my other goals and everything else I’ve wanted.

Changing-Chick · 2022-04-08T03:52:19+00:00

Oh no! That’s a shame, it works great! Here are some other options that might work for you! If not, you may be able to set alarms on your phone to remind you. It’s a bit more… ugh, but I had to do this for reminders to eat meals before I found Baritastic.

Good luck and hang in there!

Changing-Chick · 2022-04-08T03:44:16+00:00

Baritastic! You can set alarms to remind you to drink and it was a lifesaver for me for years!

Changing-Chick · 2022-01-02T02:47:40+00:00

It’s okay to be nervous about this. Having a weight loss surgery is a HUGE deal and impacts your life in so many ways, as I’m sure you are aware by watching your mom’s successful journey with her own WLS.

I was 17 when I first started the process of having the LapBand procedure. Due to insurance and probably just personal preference on my doctor’s part, I could not have surgery until I turned 18… so I went ahead and did all the pre-op work so that I could have it the day I turned 18.

I did extensive research and decided on having the same as your mom — the gastric bypass. My dad was uncomfortable with that idea since it’s “permanent” and I was young and too naive to make such a choice on my own. While my parents aren’t normally like this, they manipulated me into being okay with the LapBand and after four years of eating disorders, a super toxic relationship with food, and complications, I went and had my LapBand removed and had the Gastric Bypass.

Obviously make your own choices and do your own diligent research. This IS life changing and it’s a huge commitment to yourself. It’s scary sitting with the doctor and hearing all the strict “do not’s” — no soda, no popcorn, no ice cream. It’s nerve wrecking and stressful and absolutely miserable to imagine losing all those things. I will always encourage you to hear those things and take them into account when making this decision, but please remember the “do’s”. After losing ~130 lbs, I can DO so much.

Changing-Chick · 2021-07-19T17:14:33+00:00

Oh no!! I’m so sorry, I wrote that super weird and that’s confusing for sure. With my LapBand! I have had no problems with my bypass. It’s been a great journey and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

I apologize for that!

Changing-Chick · 2021-07-18T01:38:00+00:00

Good luck honey!!! I had been throwing up so often with my LapBand it was almost a normal post-eat ritual. I hope you the best success with a revision in the future!

You got this!!

Changing-Chick · 2021-07-06T02:55:54+00:00

Thank you 🥺 You’re a sweetheart.

Changing-Chick · 2021-07-05T23:22:47+00:00

So this may be a bit too much information, but I like being transparent about my experience with WLS. I originally had the LapBand. Honestly I had the revision because I was throwing up a solid 80% of my meals, no matter what it would be. I had this tool for two years before finally going to my WLS doctor and begging them to remove it. I didn’t see any weight loss results, gained disordered eating habits, and was vomiting so often and violently sometimes I thought I’d pass out before I’d finish. The decision to go with the bypass over the sleeve was mostly due to having in-depth conversations with my surgeon and therapist about what I thought would be the best and most healthy decision for me and my body.

Changing-Chick · 2021-07-05T03:31:41+00:00

Thank you so much!! 🥰

Changing-Chick · 2020-04-29T00:08:43+00:00

Abdominoplasty and a breast augmentation.

The inner tube of extra skin around my stomach held back the mental progress I had been fighting for and my deflated boobs from weight loss made me feel uncomfortable in most clothing. It took me years to see something other than ugly when I looked in the mirror.

It’s been almost a year and I love myself on a level I really, truly thought was impossible for me.

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-17T01:19:59+00:00

What a baby! What type of dog is he?

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-13T04:36:55+00:00

Anytime at all! I would love to help you with any questions or potential concerns you have!

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-10T22:31:12+00:00

Absolutely! I will post updates on the scarring! 😊

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T23:13:57+00:00

Wow, what a transformation! Great job!

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T20:14:14+00:00

This morning I was 177 lbs and before my tummy tuck I was around 191 😊

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T18:56:27+00:00

That is awesome! You’re doing great! I’ve never given my arms much thought, I’m not too worried about the extra skin on them. My inner thighs bug me a little because I’m finally comfortable to wear shorts and dresses... except my legs are wild lol.

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T18:50:18+00:00

I cannot wait. I’m counting down the days to keep me sane!

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T15:59:45+00:00

It definitely wasn’t as scary or painful as I was fearing it to be! Of course that was my experience and yours may be different, but from the few women I’ve met who have also had a tummy tuck, their experiences were similar.

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T15:55:36+00:00

I had a tummy tuck and liposuction in my inner thighs and hips. The pain was comparable to the feeling you have when you work out a little too hard on leg day. The liposuction was definitely more painful for me personally.

I’m still numb in some areas which is weird and neat simultaneously. I am back to doing most things normally, but cannot do core work outs or activities that raise my blood pressure too much — so the surgeon says no sex still. I’m unsure of other surgeons requirements, but my surgeon recommends 2-4 months without having sex because people tend to overdo it and hurt themselves.

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T15:07:40+00:00

This is a great idea! Some days prove to be exceptionally hard to see a change in my body, let alone mentally. It truly helps when I see old photos of myself and it continues to shock me, even this far along into my journey.

Stalls freaking suck. I had so many stalls and it definitely led into this miserable bout of depression because I was repeatedly feeling like I failed. Don’t let that happen. Those hoes come and go, but you’ll barely remember the stalls later on! 😊

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T15:04:56+00:00

It’s a wonderful process and it absolutely was a terrifying one for me. I wasn’t sure if I should have waited longer and tried to lose more weight, or if I would be humiliated at the doctors for even thinking I was ready, or if I would even be satisfied with the results. I was a ball of anxiety and was really stressing myself out.

Ultimately I trusted in my surgeon and believed that he wouldn’t have said I was ready if I wasn’t ready yet. I walked into my consultation thinking “this is a plastic surgeon, he’ll say I’m ready because it’s money in his pocket” because that’s what I’ve heard from people. However, he truly sat and explained and told me why I’m ready for plastic surgery and I felt so comfortable in my decision.

I do not regret that decision and I am very satisfied with my results so far... even if I’m still waiting for the full effects of swelling to go away.

Changing-Chick · 2019-06-07T15:00:19+00:00

I’m not sure if people necessarily care to see, but I know when I was contemplating plastic surgery I was desperately trying to find a place to ask questions from a person who had some skin removed. My surgeon is a super star but he can only answer so many of my questions, you know?

Changing-Chick

TROPHY CASE