To cut or not to cut...

Congratulations to everyone who's had or thinking about having WLS.

I will be 3 years post-op on May 8.  I went from 350lbs to 178lbs to which I have been ever since (over 2 years).  I feel great and I've been told I look great buuuttt I have (in my opinion) too much excess skin and I feel like I need to get it removed. 

All my friends and family keep giving me the usual "you're fine" and "you dont need to go thru another surgery" and the popular " you cant even tell" routine but they dont see what I see. 
The question I have is, to those who have had the excess skin/tummy tuck/pannis operation done... Is it worth going thru the trouble to have my excess removed?  I know all about the "do what you think is right for yourself" but I want honest opinions... is it worth the risk to have my excess removed.  I dont have the huge tongue but there is some in the boob and tummy area.  How long was the recovery time?

Has anyone had success with body wraps?  Ive tried them and I find them to be very unconfortable.  Any suggestions/comment would be appreciated.

Ive attached a YouTube video of my journey.  My current pictures are there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVb_QzvzS6s 

Thank you.  And best of luck on your journey!

Santino

I can totally understand; I too have lost almost 1/2 my body weight, resulting in a lot of saggage.  I will be looking at p/s soon, for my own piece of mind.  I hate that pudgy part around the middle that still looks like fat...even though I know it's baggy skin now.

You are one handsome looking dude!  Be very proud of what you have accomplished and if it feels like something you need to do to make life better, go for it.  We only have one life to live, do it the way you want.

I figure that after all the stuff I have gone through losing this weight and the surgery (although it was a breeze), and the number of people that do p/s for very minor reasons, I can go through it quite nicely!!!

Wow oh wow! You're weight loss is very inspiring.  Honestly though you look great.  If my skin looks anything like yours, I don't I would consider plastics.  It does go back to what you can be comfortable with though.  But wow you look amazing!

I watched the YouTube and as you squashed your belly into your pants at the end, all we see is Hunk-a-Hunk of a dude!
That being said and depending if you get chafing, rashes, or fungus etc-get your GP-PCP to document and maybe see Dermotologist-anything to hopefully get HMO/insurance to cover whatever they will.
Only you know how bad it really looks under the clothes-cuz in your clothes you be an Awesome Dude.
Mikimi in Israel
I had RnY and a few months ago Pannilectomy with minor complication and I was covered by my HMO. I was not at goal weight (dang it sucks being short!) and I'm still not at hosl weight.

You said it... We only have one life to live.  Thank you for the kind words.  I know I dont have a lot of droopy skin but there is excess there and its noticeable to me when im wearing tighter fitting clothes.  (Wearing tighter fitting clothes sounds funny to me bc ive never worn them before lol).

I wanted to make sure its worth the risk for the amount I have.   I dont think i'll be losing any more weight.  Ive been this weight for over 2 years.... give or take 4-5 pounds.

Thank you for your replies...

Thank you Mikimi.  I live in Canada.  Our health care is free unless its deemed comestic.  There are certain requirements that must be met in order for our government to pay for it. 

First of all-AWESOME JOB!!!!  You look terrific, that being said....

The best thing (besides weight loss) I did for myself was have a TT. It literally changed my life-I'm not kidding. My insurance paid for a panni removal and I paid the rest to make it a full TT. It wasn't a bad surgery either considering I was cut hip to hip. I never felt pain-honestly. I went to work after 2 weeks still with drains in but I hid them under my clothes lol. I have pictures on my profile of before and after. I had a lot of skin (3 kids plus being over weight) so they removed 10 lbs.

You have a much smaller am out of skin but I'm sure the impact of how you feel will be similar! 

I had my panni removed about 9 years ago, after my first WLS.  I honestly don't remember much about my recovery.  But I do see the results of the surgery every day.  Even with a 100 lbs regain and loss again it bounced right back.  I fit in clothes much better without that bulge.  I could use a full TT but probably will never be able to afford that so I am grateful for what I do have.  I still don't look great without clothes but it makes a difference when I am in clothes.

I had a TT after loosing 160 yeas ago. It doesn't matter what your friends or family say , I am sure you look GREAT ( in clothes) it is how YOU feel about how you look naked it is all about YOU not them.
That being said The nurse anesthetist made a mistake and I almost died BEFORE I could actually have surgery. I DID eventually have surgery and it was awesome!!! , it cost 6.500 12 years ago ...I would do it again although it does make me feel guilty about having a not 'needed" surgery , kinda how I felt about RNY last week.
Just make sure you don't gain weight back cuz it HURTS !!!!!!! I kept my weight off 3 years before TT
I think you should do it , if the money isn't taking food off the table and you know the risks.
I looked into having a lower body lift and it was a 2 day surgery and at that time I was regaining so that never happened and I doubt after I loose this time I will do anything.
Good Luck

So..um...if you're ever in the Detroit Metro area...coffee? Yowza!

I'm just 11 months out and I totally feel you on extra skin and wanting to get it removed. I didn't think much about it myself because I'm tall and standing, I hide it well. Until I had a girl moment in the dressing room trying on bras (sorry....you asked). It was then I saw the extra skin. I wanted to find out what my options are, so I scheduled a consulation with a well known plastic surgeon in the area who, oddly enough, used to perform RNY surgery prior to his plastics career. I meet him in a few weeks.

Consultations don't hurt, they're generally free, and I think if you're wanting to finish off the journey with a touch-up...go fort it.

-Traci

p.s. I friended you on FB