Question?????

 I'm 24 and I'm getting the sleeve but I keep seeing forums about sagging skin. I'm 299 pds and it's all in my upper body. Will I have saggy skin? If so, after surgery can I do something to prevent it? I want to be able to get in a bikini later on lol. I also tan and I know that makes the skin tighter...aahh  confused!!

Congratulations on getting your health better.  You will not know if you will have saggy skin, until you lose the weight.  How tall are you?  299 lbs and 4'9'' then you may have definitely some issues.  The good news is that you are young.  How long have you been at this weight?   Were you always overweight?

Look at a balloon.  When you blow it up it looks great.  When you let the air out several times, it no longer looks like new anymore.  Have you been dieting, losing weight and then regaining?

So. age is on your side.  You may be okay :)

All the best.

Judy

The good news???  You're 24.

The bad news???  You're 300 pounds.

Two words:

PLASTIC SURGERY.

You will have some loose skin, but how much you can't know. There are too many factors that play into it, mainly age, how long you have been heavy, HOW heavy and genetics. You will never have the body of a model, but some are luckier then others.

Cut out the tanning RIGHT NOW! Tanning is the skin's response to damage caused by ultraviolet rays, whether from the sun or from a tanning bed. Damaged skin doesn't have the same ability to 'bounce back' that undamaged (i.e., untanned) skin does.

Also avoid alcohol and smoking.

 I'm 5"6 and Ive been since around 12. Most of my weight gain though is from 2008 when I had my gallbladder removed. I ballooned very quickly after that..does insurance pay for plastic surgery after weight loss surgery?

Plastic surgery is the only answer, though exercise helps with toning and fitness. The skin doesn't shrink with weight loss, unfortunately.

Tanning is terrible for the condition of the skin, to say nothing of contributing to melanoma and other skin cancers.

ASHLEY-you have rec'd some excellent responses, and, when you come back, and answer their questions, we can probably give some more specific "sage advice". I probably agree with SHARYN's answer best (she's forever getting into my brain space-scary place to be!)..

Also-you say "it's all in my upper body"..being "non-prro-portioned"..well..the skin more likey to "hang" from the belly area...Have you had babies? C-section? Any abdominal surgeries? All these things can factor in..

Bikinis are highly overrated. Just because some peeps CAN wear them, doesn't mean they SHOULD..find a more important "goal"--like doing this while you are so young and having a wonderful, HEALTHY life in front of you (I am VERY excited for you, for you doing this NOW-at 24 !!)

Okay..mama/nurse finger out here, for a minute..Who the hell told you tanning wound make your "skin tighter"??? Ok..I'll agree that DRY and CANCEROUS skin is TIGHTER than moist healthy skin. I'm a hospice nurse, and have seen-too many times-the results of long term tanning. You are an adult, and make your decisions, of course-but please do your research, and don't let a tanning salon salesperson convince you tanning is in any "healthy"..

Lastly..and MY favorite part..a motto that was said to me, long ago, and I love to pass it on, because it SO true:

"EMPTY skin is better than FULL fat ANY day"

Best of luck, as you continue your journey. Please do not be afraid to ask questions-it is how you learn. Take what you want, from the "answers", and leave the rest-BUT-do not just keep asking until you get the "answers you want"..(NOT that YOU did that-just throwing it in, for your future use)

I predict great success for you. Please post often, and keep us updated