4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Guest]

Having lost 10 1/2 stone I'm a year down the road and very unhappy with my body. I'm a size 10 but I have rolls of flesh at the front - huge bingo wings and seriously padded corsetry to lift and really make appear - I have no cleavage at all. I know I look fabulous dressed but when I undress I'm just depressed by what I see. People constantly ask me why I don't date when I look so amazing but the idea of getting close to anyone terrifies me - I liken it to looking forward to opening a lovely box of belgian choccies - only to find they have gone bad inside!

 

I went to a Ligtherlife do today and someone I know there has just been approved for a full body lift on the NHS! She is under the same health authority as me and I have the name of the consultant she was referred to, I am going to ask for a referral to him. Basically she lost her weight after me and hasn't even maintained as well as me but they still approved her - tummy, arms and breast all to be done. She has been told her recovery will be 8 to 12 weeks! I'm pretty sure work would never agree to me having that much time off - but frankly I'm going to end up seriously depressed if I don't do something about it. I'm 40 years old and I feel like I couldn't even begin a relationship, if I don't do something I think I'll spend the next 40 years alone and it was mainly lonliness that caused me to pile on the pounds in the first place. I may have a shorter recovery time - she is a rather odd shape so they are doing her slightly differently. The idea of such radical surgery does terrify me but then not as much as the thought of anyone seeing my hideous body does!

 

I was wondering if anyone had any experiences I could learn from?

[Space Chick]

I have no experience, but I think if you need it to complete your dramatic make-over you should go for it

 

As you say, you should be enjoying your life, and if you are too self concious to start a relationship, then if thats what you want you should do it.

 

Good luck and hugs

[iar fach goch]

My sister had some surgery a couple of years ago. She has always had issues about her weight, although never having really been overweight. We are both quite slim, but quite busty and she was convinced that her large bust was making her look fat, so she had a reduction done. She was very secretive about it, and as she is a teacher, had it done at the end of the summer term, hoping to go back to school fully recovered in September. Unfortunately things did not go to plan, and they damaged some nerves which affected her right arm and she was unable to use it for months. She was in pain for months, which eventually settled down to a feeling of constant pins and needles. Obviously she could not return to work, eventually having to have 6 months off, and still not right then. She was unable to drive, dress herself, wash her hair etc - all those things you take for granted. Luckily she has no children and her OH works from home, how she would have coped otherwise who knows. She is now fully recovered and happy in herself and her new figure! Personally I wouldn't have gone through all that, but she thinks it was the right decision. Only you know if it is the right decision for you, but I would avoid surgery unless my health depended on it.

[Guest]

Only you know if it is the right decision for you, but I would avoid surgery unless my health depended on it.

 

Sorry to hear about your sister! I think my health may well depend on it. I had a brilliant night out last night - I looked fantastic - I wore leather jeans and a pretty top. I was worried all night about having my arms uncovered - I'm double sensitive about the bingo wings and lately some of the vile children I teach have been commenting on them loudly when I raise my arms and write on the board.

 

I got home and ended up in tears as I felt a total transformation from being a sexy woman into a wobbly blob - all I did was undress! And no I wasn't under the influence - I was stone cold sober. I do the gym and everything and a year down the line I still have rolls of flesh. I don't want a flat rock hard stomach but I'd like to look a lot less like the michelin man and I'd like to not need a ton of corsetry to make me look even slightly like a woman.

[chick wiggle]

Only you can decide what is right for you obviously, but if you are miserable about this now, and it is not going to get better by itself then I personally would go for it. We all know there are risks involved but you need to weigh up these risks with how you feel. Surgery has come such a long way, especially cosmetic surgery. There are always going to be horror stories been told because these are more interesting to tell, read about, watch and listen to, but my guess is much much more surgery goes well than goes wrong. Have a word with your GP. Congratulations on losing so much weight, you should be dancing in the streets about your achievement, not been miserable.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

[Happy-Mama]

I don't have any advice as have no experience of cosmetic surgery, I just wanted to wish you all the best

[iar fach goch]

If not going for it is going to affect your health, then what have you got to lose? Even after all her problems, my sister is still glad that she went through with it and is far happier in herself than she previously was.

[Redwing]

I personally don't agree with cosmetic surgery but then we are all different

 

Perhaps one operation to get rid of the 'bingo wings' would be a start as you are most aware of them as they show (not that I think there is anything wrong with bingo wings)

 

Certainly a full body lift is extremely drastic and very risky so maybe doing it in steps might make things easier financially and with time off work

 

Someone I know is in a similar position to you and equally as unhappy so I can sympathise with you totally

[mags]

Best thing to do is research , research research

 

check out the surgeons record and make an informed choice

 

a lot of NHS doctors do Private work and you can find out what they do best

 

good luck and well done for losing the wieght

 

 

mags

[fluffyfeet]

My SIL had a tummy tuck recently. She has always been a 'bonny' girl since she was little, total opposite to her tall slim sister, which didn't help matters.

She dieted and lost the best part of 4 stone (Respect!) and was left with all the loose skin, especially around her tummy and hips.

After much debate she decided to go for surgery and just a few weeks on she looks and feels wonderful.

She is in her early 20's and now looks her age instead of hiding behind baggy clothes etc.

I think the boost to her self esteem has made the surgery worth every penny and although it was very painful immediately afterwards, she said she will never regret having it done.

I know if I had the money I would not hesitate having the odd nip, tuck and tweek.

 

Dawn x

[chick wiggle]

I know if I had the money I would not hesitate having the odd nip, tuck and tweek.

 

Dawn x

 

Hear, hear, if I had the money, well.... joan rivers would have nothing on me

[Janty]

I will always regret not having plastic surgery on my facial scar. I was told to visit my doctor for referral but I didn't go. However, on that subject, you will also have to consider what scaring you will be left with on your body. I know that hubby sometimes feels the scars on my body and wonders what they are until he remembers.

[Snowy]

Pengy a friend of mine who is a nurse had a similar op done - as with any surgery and general anaesthetic there are the normal risks, but this type of surgery is relatively straightforward and is very effective. She was certainly very happy with the outcome and results. The only problem that she has had is where she has regained a little weight over the years and her tummy scar has not expanded to accomodate it! But she still feels it is a vast improvement on her previous shape. Go and talk to your GP, get a referral and talk to the surgeon. You can still change your mind right up to the last minute if you need to! If your surgery was scheduled at the beginning of the summer holiday, you should be fit enough to return to work by the autumn term

[Guest]

Thanks all - Snowy thats pretty much what I was thinking about the timing - getting it scheduled for a couple of weeks before the summer holiday so that I miss minimal work and at the time of year when it matters least from a results persepective. It would mean changing my holiday plans slightly - the part where I am at sea would be OK but probably driving from Canada to NYC would be out!

 

I'm scared of the risks involved, but as I said this seems to be becoming a bigger issue for me all the time. In the beginning I was very bowled over by my own achievement and thought the body (except my chest!) would improve in time but it hasn't improved at all. I've been saying for the past year that I will get my chest done - it needs a little "refilling". But the rest of it is becoming more and more of an issue to me. I truly feel I couldn't contemplate any relationship - yet I could have done when I was fat - at least then what you saw was what you got! I know it's not a fix for any problems really but I need the confidence in myself. Last night was I was the sexy flirty girl in the leather trousers -but I still got home feeling flat and unattractive. I have to find a way past that and it seems like the toning and working out just doesn't do it.

[Rona]

You made such an amazing effort to lose all the weight in the first place , it is such a shame you're not getting the full benefit of it now. For every person who experiences problems with having something like this done there will be many more who make a speedy and straightforward recovery. If it is affecting your mental health and happiness so much, you are not going to be able to just forget it, so even if you don't do the whole body lift maybe if you just start with the bits that really upset you that will make you feel better and have a better understanding of the procedures.

 

Whatever you decide, good luck. I wish Lighterlife did a diary free product but I doubt if I could have the commitment that you have had.

[sparkysmum]

Hi Pengy, You've done brilliantly on your own, and you've done all the really hard work. I would go for it Ask your GP for a referral, you've nothing to lose. Wishing you loads of luck and a sympahetic GP Allison

[quickcluck]

Pengy who are you getting referred too?

[jackiepoppies]

All the luck in the world Pengy

 

There is only one thing worse than being unhappily fat and that is the mental stress of what you perceive to be an ongoing fault which is out of your control.

 

I remember you saying when you were on the diet how you responded to a structured form of self discipline and it must be heartbreaking after all that effort you are still not happy with the final result.

 

Do your research in your normal dedicated way, make an informed choice and be happy

 

Jx

[clootie]

Well said J

[Lewis]

I think you've decided its something you need and will make your life better to complete your weight loss.

 

If there's no/little risk, go for it

[Willow]

If you can get it under the NHS I would say go for it !

 

She has been told her recovery will be 8 to 12 weeks!

 

I don't know anything about the op but that sounds optimistic - this is quite radical surgery and youru body needs time to recover. If you are going for it aim to do nothing but rest afterwards.

 

If you are thinking of travelling check your travel insurance would cover any medical problems resulting from surgery - I suspect they won't cover it. I persoanlly wouldn't travel until after the 12 weeks.

[Guest]

I would be going to St Andrews Centre at Broomfield Kay.

 

As for thinking of travelling - next years holiday is booked! I can change the plan so I don't drive across America but I'll still have to fly out. I need to check the dates and find out when I can schedule everything - I don't thing I'll be having quite as much as my friend - she was a VERY odd shape to start with and is having incisions in both directions to create an hourglass figure. I actually have one of those already - I just need the front done, not the sides, back or rear. Plus the arms and the chest!

[quickcluck]

Was just being nosey as I work with most of the plastic people and wanted to know who you'd chosen

[WitchHazel]

Get a referral and talk to the surgeon. He can help you understand the risks and what you will and won't be able to do. He will also be able to advise you whether or not flying so soon afterwards is possible or a definite no-no.

[Reikiranf]

I don't have any experience of cosmetic surgery, but you've already done the hard work with your amazing weightloss and the fact that you've maintained it

 

If you need a bit of help to finish your journey and get to where you want to be then go for it You just need to research it thoroughly (I'm sure you already have) and weigh up the risks and decide from there, though I'm sure that you've already made your decision

 

Life is short, so do what makes you happy, they say that when people look back at their lives they don't regret anything they did, they regret the things that they didn't do

 

So whatever you decide Pengy, you've a heck of a lot of admiration, love and support from your fellow omleteers.

 

Amanda