Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi everyone; thought I would jump in with my experience with loose skin. Mine situation might be a little bit different than yours, but this is what my plastic surgeon said to me. First a little history - bear with me. When I was nine years old I had an appendectomy. That was in 1959, and believe me back then the doctors were not careful about scars, at least mine wasn't. I was always a little embarrassed about that scar, but I was thin, just had some funny looking skin around it. Well after two pregnancies, it didn't look any prettier. As I said in a previous post, most of my adult years, I weighed between 120 and 130, but I did have to work at it. Then after 40, I started putting on the weight and have ranged between 138 and 164 since. Anyway, back to the skin. Two years ago I finally visited a plastic surgeon and to what could be done to make my tummy smoother. I was exercising a lot, but nothing ever happened to my tummy, and the scar was like sunken in with all this loose skin around it, just would not tighten up. My PS told me it would not no matter how much I exercised. The skin was funny around the scar because of the way the did the surgery and the way it healed. Add to that several pregnancies, and what you had was pretty ugly. My dh and I vacation every spring in the Carribbean, and he always wants me to wear bikinis and such and I would not even think of it with that icky belly. The PS told me I could do nothing, or I could have a scar revision (which would look a little better) or have a tummy tuck. After a lot of thought, I chose the tummy tuck and have never been sorry. I traded a smaller scar for a bigger one, but the scar from the tummy tuck is low and a thin pencil line. It was so weird because I had had that other icky scar for so long. Anyway, it is not a way of losing any weight, just tightening up the skin and for those of you who have lost a great deal of weight, I say more power to you if you want to pursue some plastic surgery. I am so proud of you for what you have accomplished. I joined WW needing to lose 25 pounds and know how hard that is sometimes. For those of you with huge weight losses, my hat's off to you. Hope I didn't bore you too much with my history. Terri in Wisconsin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Terri, Thanks for this information. I have an appendix scare from when I was five years old, a c-section scar and now the hysterectomy scar in the same place. My second son was a giant sized child: 11 lbs 3 and 1/2 oz. He stretched my skin so badly that I had the hanging skin way before I got totally obese. Now I have already lost this 103 lbs and have hanging skin under my arms, on the inside of my thighs and that belly. I lost that 100 lbs several years ago and have been playing around for a while up 20, down 20 lbs etc. Anyway the point being that the skin did not go away. One day I intend to have plastic surgery for all this. I am waiting until I lose more of my weight though. 400/297.4/150 top/current/goal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Thanks for sharing your story, Terri, I was just talking to a friend yesterday about looking into a tummy tuck for the extra skin. I have a tad more fat I am trying to lose on my lower tummy (although even at my lowest weight I recall there being some extra there though). Maybe after I've tried my hardest, if nothing improves, I'll see about a little lipo with that tuck. Your tummy tuck scar sounds a lot like my c-section scar. It will be nice if it will be that un-noticable. Thanks for the info.-- Terri wrote: > > Hi everyone; thought I would jump in with my experience with loose > skin. Mine situation might be a little bit different than yours, > but this is what my plastic surgeon said to me. First a little > history - bear with me. When I was nine years old I had an > appendectomy. That was in 1959, and believe me back then the > doctors were not careful about scars, at least mine wasn't. I was > always a little embarrassed about that scar, but I was thin, just > had some funny looking skin around it. Well after two pregnancies, > it didn't look any prettier. As I said in a previous post, most of > my adult years, I weighed between 120 and 130, but I did have to > work at it. Then after 40, I started putting on the weight and have > ranged between 138 and 164 since. Anyway, back to the skin. Two > years ago I finally visited a plastic surgeon and to what could be > done to make my tummy smoother. I was exercising a lot, but nothing > ever happened to my tummy, and the scar was like sunken in with all > this loose skin around it, just would not tighten up. My PS told me > it would not no matter how much I exercised. The skin was funny > around the scar because of the way the did the surgery and the way > it healed. Add to that several pregnancies, and what you had was > pretty ugly. My dh and I vacation every spring in the Carribbean, > and he always wants me to wear bikinis and such and I would not even > think of it with that icky belly. The PS told me I could do > nothing, or I could have a scar revision (which would look a little > better) or have a tummy tuck. After a lot of thought, I chose the > tummy tuck and have never been sorry. I traded a smaller scar for a > bigger one, but the scar from the tummy tuck is low and a thin > pencil line. It was so weird because I had had that other icky scar > for so long. Anyway, it is not a way of losing any weight, just > tightening up the skin and for those of you who have lost a great > deal of weight, I say more power to you if you want to pursue some > plastic surgery. I am so proud of you for what you have > accomplished. I joined WW needing to lose 25 pounds and know how > hard that is sometimes. For those of you with huge weight losses, > my hat's off to you. Hope I didn't bore you too much with my > history. > > Terri in Wisconsin > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure what could be done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly button and is about 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three surgeries through the same hole. I hate it! ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ Career and Technology Educator The successful person will do things that the unsuccessful person will not. > Re: Re:Loose Skin > > > Thanks for sharing your story, Terri, I was just talking to a > friend yesterday about looking into a tummy tuck for the > extra skin. I have a tad more fat I am trying to lose on my > lower tummy (although even at my lowest weight I recall there > being some extra there though). Maybe after I've tried my > hardest, if nothing improves, I'll see about a little lipo > with that tuck. Your tummy tuck scar sounds a lot like my > c-section scar. It will be nice if it will be that > un-noticable. Thanks for the info.-- > > Terri wrote: > > > > Hi everyone; thought I would jump in with my experience > with loose > skin. Mine situation might be a little bit > different than yours, > but this is what my plastic surgeon > said to me. First a little > history - bear with me. When > I was nine years old I had an > appendectomy. That was in > 1959, and believe me back then the > doctors were not > careful about scars, at least mine wasn't. I was > always a > little embarrassed about that scar, but I was thin, just > > had some funny looking skin around it. Well after two > pregnancies, > it didn't look any prettier. As I said in a > previous post, most of > my adult years, I weighed between > 120 and 130, but I did have to > work at it. Then after 40, > I started putting on the weight and have > ranged between > 138 and 164 since. Anyway, back to the skin. Two > years > ago I finally visited a plastic surgeon and to what could be > > done to make my tummy smoother. I was exercising a lot, > but nothing > ever happened to my tummy, and the scar was > like sunken in with all > this loose skin around it, just > would not tighten up. My PS told me > it would not no > matter how much I exercised. The skin was funny > around > the scar because of the way the did the surgery and the way > > it healed. Add to that several pregnancies, and what you > had was > pretty ugly. My dh and I vacation every spring in > the Carribbean, > and he always wants me to wear bikinis and > such and I would not even > think of it with that icky > belly. The PS told me I could do > nothing, or I could have > a scar revision (which would look a little > better) or have > a tummy tuck. After a lot of thought, I chose the > tummy > tuck and have never been sorry. I traded a smaller scar for > a > bigger one, but the scar from the tummy tuck is low and > a thin > pencil line. It was so weird because I had had > that other icky scar > for so long. Anyway, it is not a way > of losing any weight, just > tightening up the skin and for > those of you who have lost a great > deal of weight, I say > more power to you if you want to pursue some > plastic > surgery. I am so proud of you for what you have > > accomplished. I joined WW needing to lose 25 pounds and know > how > hard that is sometimes. For those of you with huge > weight losses, > my hat's off to you. Hope I didn't bore > you too much with my > history. > > > Terri in Wisconsin > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Cliff, Don't blame you at all for trying what you can to tighten up that skin before going ahead with any plastic surgery. For me it just wasn't working, but, like I said, I started investigating it initially to see what could be done about that other scar I had. You know I don't remember exactly what it cost, I think it was a little under $6,000. That was a year and a half ago and I had it done at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. That included the pre- op stuff, the surgery, an overnight stay, and a few " after " visits. You are correct though, that insurance will not cover it; it is considered elective surgery. Although recovery took longer than I expected, I am very happy to have had it done. Even with a long scar, it is low and narrow and fades pretty well. Everyone has to decide for themselves, but I think if it is something that really bothers you, it is an option. I was 143 pounds when I had the surgery. During the next year and a half, I gained 10 pounds. Now through ww I have lost 10 again and am trying to lose 10 or 15 more. Continued good luck to you. Terri in Wisconsin (s Point) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Cliff, Don't blame you at all for trying what you can to tighten up that skin before going ahead with any plastic surgery. For me it just wasn't working, but, like I said, I started investigating it initially to see what could be done about that other scar I had. You know I don't remember exactly what it cost, I think it was a little under $6,000. That was a year and a half ago and I had it done at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. That included the pre- op stuff, the surgery, an overnight stay, and a few " after " visits. You are correct though, that insurance will not cover it; it is considered elective surgery. Although recovery took longer than I expected, I am very happy to have had it done. Even with a long scar, it is low and narrow and fades pretty well. Everyone has to decide for themselves, but I think if it is something that really bothers you, it is an option. I was 143 pounds when I had the surgery. During the next year and a half, I gained 10 pounds. Now through ww I have lost 10 again and am trying to lose 10 or 15 more. Continued good luck to you. Terri in Wisconsin (s Point) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Hi Cliff, Don't blame you at all for trying what you can to tighten up that skin before going ahead with any plastic surgery. For me it just wasn't working, but, like I said, I started investigating it initially to see what could be done about that other scar I had. You know I don't remember exactly what it cost, I think it was a little under $6,000. That was a year and a half ago and I had it done at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. That included the pre- op stuff, the surgery, an overnight stay, and a few " after " visits. You are correct though, that insurance will not cover it; it is considered elective surgery. Although recovery took longer than I expected, I am very happy to have had it done. Even with a long scar, it is low and narrow and fades pretty well. Everyone has to decide for themselves, but I think if it is something that really bothers you, it is an option. I was 143 pounds when I had the surgery. During the next year and a half, I gained 10 pounds. Now through ww I have lost 10 again and am trying to lose 10 or 15 more. Continued good luck to you. Terri in Wisconsin (s Point) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 I'm pretty sure they can reduce them now. I have major scaring from my breast reduction and I would also like to have them minimized. It's my understanding that they can cut away the old scars and restitch you. My friends OBGYN fixed one of her old surgery scars after they did her last c-section. They just cut away the old scar and restitched her a bit lower. Her original scar was really thick and yucky and the doctor that did it made it to high so it wasn't right on the bikini line where it was supposed to be. She has another scar that runs down from her belly button and the OBGYN said that a plastic surgeon could fix it for her. I have though many times about going back to the plastic surgeon that did my surgery and see if he could reduce the scarring. Kris -----Original Message----- I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure what could be done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly button and is about 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three surgeries through the same hole. I hate it! ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ Career and Technology Educator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 My sister had gallbladder surgery the old way (9+ inch scar) and it was a thick bumpy scar that just looked nasty. And the holes from the drainage tubes were also raised. They used a laser and took them off. I don't think she went to a plastic surgeon. I think it depends on the drs and what they 'like' to do. Some surgeons are more particular about how they want you to look after surgery and others are just down to business to get you fixed and well again. I know my gallbladder surgeon did a great job (had it done the new way) since whenever I go to a dr they comment on how nice it looks. Moe RE: Re:Loose Skin > I'm pretty sure they can reduce them now. I have major scaring from my > breast reduction and I would also like to have them minimized. It's my > understanding that they can cut away the old scars and restitch you. My > friends OBGYN fixed one of her old surgery scars after they did her last > c-section. They just cut away the old scar and restitched her a bit > lower. Her original scar was really thick and yucky and the doctor that > did it made it to high so it wasn't right on the bikini line where it > was supposed to be. She has another scar that runs down from her belly > button and the OBGYN said that a plastic surgeon could fix it for her. I > have though many times about going back to the plastic surgeon that did > my surgery and see if he could reduce the scarring. > > Kris > > -----Original Message----- > > > I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure what could be > done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly button and is about > 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three surgeries through the > same hole. I hate it! > > ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` > Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ > Career and Technology Educator > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 That sounds exactly like what my scar looks like, only it's not quite that long. I have three scars from my drainage tubes and one long one that runs vertical so I can't hide it with high waisted pants or long swim top or anything. Such a bummer. Maybe next year at some point I'll look into it. I know I'll never look like Britney Spears tummy, but I'd like to not have these ugly scars. ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ Career and Technology Educator The successful person will do things that the unsuccessful person will not. > Re: Re:Loose Skin > > > My sister had gallbladder surgery the old way (9+ inch scar) > and it was a thick bumpy scar that just looked nasty. And > the holes from the drainage tubes were also raised. They > used a laser and took them off. I don't think she went to a > plastic surgeon. I think it depends on the drs and what they > 'like' to do. Some surgeons are more particular about how > they want you to look after surgery and others are just down > to business to get you fixed and well again. I know my > gallbladder surgeon did a great job (had it done the new way) > since whenever I go to a dr they comment on how nice it looks. > > Moe > > RE: Re:Loose Skin > > > > I'm pretty sure they can reduce them now. I have major > scaring from my > > breast reduction and I would also like to have them > minimized. It's > > my understanding that they can cut away the old scars and restitch > > you. My friends OBGYN fixed one of her old surgery scars after they > > did her last c-section. They just cut away the old scar and > restitched > > her a bit lower. Her original scar was really thick and > yucky and the > > doctor that did it made it to high so it wasn't right on the bikini > > line where it was supposed to be. She has another scar that > runs down > > from her belly button and the OBGYN said that a plastic > surgeon could > > fix it for her. I have though many times about going back to the > > plastic surgeon that did my surgery and see if he could reduce the > > scarring. > > > > Kris > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure > what could > > be done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly > button and is > > about 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three > surgeries through > > the same hole. I hate it! > > > > > ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` > > ~` > > Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ > > Career and Technology Educator > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 That sounds exactly like what my scar looks like, only it's not quite that long. I have three scars from my drainage tubes and one long one that runs vertical so I can't hide it with high waisted pants or long swim top or anything. Such a bummer. Maybe next year at some point I'll look into it. I know I'll never look like Britney Spears tummy, but I'd like to not have these ugly scars. ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ Career and Technology Educator The successful person will do things that the unsuccessful person will not. > Re: Re:Loose Skin > > > My sister had gallbladder surgery the old way (9+ inch scar) > and it was a thick bumpy scar that just looked nasty. And > the holes from the drainage tubes were also raised. They > used a laser and took them off. I don't think she went to a > plastic surgeon. I think it depends on the drs and what they > 'like' to do. Some surgeons are more particular about how > they want you to look after surgery and others are just down > to business to get you fixed and well again. I know my > gallbladder surgeon did a great job (had it done the new way) > since whenever I go to a dr they comment on how nice it looks. > > Moe > > RE: Re:Loose Skin > > > > I'm pretty sure they can reduce them now. I have major > scaring from my > > breast reduction and I would also like to have them > minimized. It's > > my understanding that they can cut away the old scars and restitch > > you. My friends OBGYN fixed one of her old surgery scars after they > > did her last c-section. They just cut away the old scar and > restitched > > her a bit lower. Her original scar was really thick and > yucky and the > > doctor that did it made it to high so it wasn't right on the bikini > > line where it was supposed to be. She has another scar that > runs down > > from her belly button and the OBGYN said that a plastic > surgeon could > > fix it for her. I have though many times about going back to the > > plastic surgeon that did my surgery and see if he could reduce the > > scarring. > > > > Kris > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure > what could > > be done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly > button and is > > about 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three > surgeries through > > the same hole. I hate it! > > > > > ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` > > ~` > > Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ > > Career and Technology Educator > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 That sounds exactly like what my scar looks like, only it's not quite that long. I have three scars from my drainage tubes and one long one that runs vertical so I can't hide it with high waisted pants or long swim top or anything. Such a bummer. Maybe next year at some point I'll look into it. I know I'll never look like Britney Spears tummy, but I'd like to not have these ugly scars. ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ Career and Technology Educator The successful person will do things that the unsuccessful person will not. > Re: Re:Loose Skin > > > My sister had gallbladder surgery the old way (9+ inch scar) > and it was a thick bumpy scar that just looked nasty. And > the holes from the drainage tubes were also raised. They > used a laser and took them off. I don't think she went to a > plastic surgeon. I think it depends on the drs and what they > 'like' to do. Some surgeons are more particular about how > they want you to look after surgery and others are just down > to business to get you fixed and well again. I know my > gallbladder surgeon did a great job (had it done the new way) > since whenever I go to a dr they comment on how nice it looks. > > Moe > > RE: Re:Loose Skin > > > > I'm pretty sure they can reduce them now. I have major > scaring from my > > breast reduction and I would also like to have them > minimized. It's > > my understanding that they can cut away the old scars and restitch > > you. My friends OBGYN fixed one of her old surgery scars after they > > did her last c-section. They just cut away the old scar and > restitched > > her a bit lower. Her original scar was really thick and > yucky and the > > doctor that did it made it to high so it wasn't right on the bikini > > line where it was supposed to be. She has another scar that > runs down > > from her belly button and the OBGYN said that a plastic > surgeon could > > fix it for her. I have though many times about going back to the > > plastic surgeon that did my surgery and see if he could reduce the > > scarring. > > > > Kris > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > I'd sure like to see a PS about my scar, but I'm not sure > what could > > be done. It goes from below my ribs to below the belly > button and is > > about 1/4 inch wide at its widest point due to three > surgeries through > > the same hole. I hate it! > > > > > ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~` > > ~` > > Tory Klementsen, MCP A+ > > Career and Technology Educator > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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