Considering Abdominoplasti (tummy tuck)

**mooshue** · July 30th, 2007, 05:21 PM

In the last 2 and a half years, ive gone from 265lbs to 198lbs. Ive been able to maintain that weight fairly easily the last 6 months or so after doing the velocity diet. I was hoping that doing that would dump the last bit of what i thought was fat residing in my lower abdomin area. As i decided to try the velocity diet again and have been doing it for a week now down to 195lbs, someone made the comment to me in the gym that im looking way to skinny. So as my brain needs, i begin to research out the ass on the net for the answer. I start looking at my pics and realize, that every step of the way my body has changed for the better, except for the lower abdomin area. I spoke to a few friends in medical fields and asked their opinion. They too believe i am way to skinny and that spot in my abdomin is probably excess skin due to my rapid weight loss. I am going to schedule an appointment with a surgeon here in a week or so just to get a professional opinion but was curious what everyoen else thought. Below are my pics step by step throughout my journey to become a nice chisled piece of man meat. I want to gain nice big lean muscle but im so self consious about my stomach that even nearly 70lbs lighter i still am uncomfortable even thinking about taking off my shirt at the pool or beach. I just notice i put June instead of July in my last pic there, oops. Thats a current me.

**tellico** · July 30th, 2007, 07:08 PM

Can't tell anything from the pictures (they come up about 2 mm x 2 mm on my screen for whatever reason), but I can say that a little more patience may be all you need. of course, the surgeon will know the real answers, and he may say otherwise. but I had a friend who lost 150 lb. in about a year and a half, maybe a little less. Unhealthy, yes. But I met him after he had been at the new weight (having dropped below "normal" and gained back 15 lb. to be "perfect weight") for about a year. while he wasn't ripped, he also wasn't a fitness guy, just your average college student. His skin was not at all saggy and baggy like you describe, though he said it was that way in the beginning.

good work, Mooshue. congrats on the achievement!!

**pliny_2001** · July 30th, 2007, 07:30 PM

You can click on the pics, tellico, and a larger version will open in a different window.

It's tough for me to tell (not an MD, btw), but it's possible that you may have extra tissue on the abdomen. I won't counsel for or against surgery, but I'll say that you don't have to worry about being shirtless at the pool/beach/Havasu - based on my summer's beach trip, you're way above average.

But yeah, if there were something that I couldn't change and it really started to get to me, I'd consider plastic surgery. But I wouldn't obsess about it right now. You may find that you've just reached your "low" weight and aren't satisfied, so you're considering surgery. However, if you think about gaining some (muscle) mass for a few months (it takes a different mindset to switch from loss to gain) you may find that some new muscle weight will take your mind off the area/make it go away.

I'm not down on all docs (long, boring, painful story), but most are the type that, once they have a hammer, think that every problem is a nail. So plastic surgeons love to cut. FWIW.

But great job on the weight loss so far.

**mooshue** · July 31st, 2007, 04:44 PM

thanks pliny and tellico.
I have gotten good responses both here and other places ive asked for advice. I think i have to kind of "reverse mindfuck" myself if you will. I have obsessed with the goal of having a flat stomach for the first time in my life and focusing on that and just letting the lean mass grow from my workouts over time. I think if i can convince myself that it will look smaller when the rest of me gets bigger i will ultimately be satisfied. If i can blow up my upper and lower half the center has no choice but to look smaller.