[krysidaisy]

At the risk of asking you all a question that has been asked a million times before (and I'm sure it has)..... I just have to ask. I realize that having excess skin after losing a lot of weight is unavoidable for most, and at this point in my weight loss journey I have no idea if I will be one of the lucky ones or not. Just in case I have lots of extra skin I'm wondering how much tummy tuck surgery actually hurts, and if those of you who have had it thought it was really worth doing afterwards. I know that if I end up with a big flabby belly after all of my hard work to lose weight that I will never ever be satisfied with myself unless it goes away. I'd be alright with a little extra flab in other areas but I don't think I could handle the flabby tummy. If I end up with one, I'm definitely getting surgery to remove the extra skin. Anyway, now that I've rambled lol, back to my original question. Surely some of you here have had a tummy tuck, so how much did it hurt, are you satisfied with your results, and if you could go back to before the surgery would you do it again?

Thank you so much to anyone who answers. This is something I've really been worrying about.

[Meg]

Hi Krysi and welcome to Maintainers!I think you'll find all your questions - and more! - answered in this thread: Weight Loss and Skin FAQs.

[MrsJim]

Originally Posted by krysidaisy

Surely some of you here have had a tummy tuck, so how much did it hurt, are you satisfied with your results, and if you could go back to before the surgery would you do it again?

Thank you so much to anyone who answers. This is something I've really been worrying about.

It didn't hurt all that much (and I'm a total weenie - my dentist gives me Valium before she gives me novocaine!). Just make sure you have all the pain meds your surgeon suggests on hand prior to surgery (I was on Valium, Vicodin and Percoset - but by day 4 postop I was off the pain pills). Probably the most painful part of the whole process that I can recall was when the drains were taken out, but it only hurt for a few seconds (and I have to say that since my husband was at work, I had to drive myself to the doctor's office - she had recommended that I take a Vicodin about 30 minutes before my appt to reduce the ouchiness).

It's been almost 2 years (Dec 2003) and I have to say I am TOTALLY, IMMENSELY satisfied with my decision and with the results, which would answer question #3 - yes I would absolutely do it again!

That said, I would still recommend checking out the sticky thread on loose skin that Meg referred to.