Abdominoplasty when to get?

[Bobbie]

I'm 6 weeks post GCS and am a goal oriented person, my next big surgery goal is having a Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) possibly combined with a Brazilian butt lift. When I first decided to transition I lost a lot of weight going from 200lb to 145lb, I'm 5' "8 and 52 years old, I've since then gone back to 155lb as 145lb required constant dieting and I felt gaunt and unhealthy. I still have an inch or two of fat in front and lots of skin folds on the sides I very much want to lose, but don't believe diet and exercise will be enough.
I've heard that without T weight lose in the tummy is much easier. My surgeon and others have told me I should wait 6 months to 2 years after GCS before having an Abdominoplasty.
Please share your experiences recommendations on how long to wait before having an Abdominoplasty, what is a reasonable expectation for results? Do you have any recommendations on doctors to use? Also anyone have experience with a Brazilian Butt lift?

[2.B.Dana]

I had the tuck done many years ago followed up by contouring with liposuction. I appreciate having the results but it certainly is not a perfect procedure. I would definitely wait at least a year and focus on complete healing from your most recent procedure as that is probably goal enough at the moment. I would suggest realistic expectations as it's not like air brushing. If you have ever watched it done it's actually very crude.

[Dani]

Bobbie

I had a tummy tuck about 1 year after SRS. I had complications.

Before SRS I had to lose about 120 pounds to get down to a weight where my surgeon would operate. You have lost only 55 pounds in total and now you are up a few pounds. With a current weight loss of 45 pounds, how much excess skin do you have?

Maybe RF skin tightening will work for you. I tried it at first, but since I lost so much more weight and my excess skin was just hanging off me, I finally had to have a tummy tuck.  I now have the scars around my waist which are slowly fading, but will always be visible. Other than the scars, my tummy tuck is just fine, except that removing the skin pulled up on my clitoris and urethra and now really should be repositioned to a lower area. Just what I need, another surgery.

My advice is, wait at least a year before another major surgery and if you can avoid surgery at all, don't get surgery, try all nonsurgical possibilities first.

[Bobbie]

Maybe RF skin tightening will work for you. I tried it at first, but since I lost so much more weight and my excess skin was just hanging off me, I finally had to have a tummy tuck. 

Dani,
  I've never heard of RF skin tightening, I probably only have a inch and a half to two inches of skin that I'd like removed.   I was interested in ColdSculpting as an alternative to lyposuction to remove the last fat from my tummy, but assumed that would do nothing to flatten out my flabbly skin. did the RF tightening do much? I'd hate to spend a ton of money on alternatives to surgery then have to turn around and have to have the surgery anyway.

Should I look for a Abdominoplasty who also has GCS surgery experience, or should I look for one with outside the top Trans experienced surgeons?

[Dani]

Dani,
  I've never heard of RF skin tightening, I probably only have a inch and a half to two inches of skin that I'd like removed.   I was interested in ColdSculpting as an alternative to lyposuction to remove the last fat from my tummy, but assumed that would do nothing to flatten out my flabbly skin. did the RF tightening do much? I'd hate to spend a ton of money on alternatives to surgery then have to turn around and have to have the surgery anyway.

Should I look for a Abdominoplasty who also has GCS surgery experience, or should I look for one with outside the top Trans experienced surgeons?

RF skin tightening is done in any dermatologist office or here in South Florida we have many Medical Spas that offer this as well. Of course, costs and results vary. RF skin tightening is not permanent. You will have to make repeated visits every 6 months for a touch up.

For the abdominoplasty, any good plastic surgeon can do this. With only an inch nor two of skin to remove, you may be able to get away with only a small incision, leaving a scar that may look like you had a C-section. This is easily hid by a bikini bottom.