Loose Skin

I have not even had the surgery yet and I am so worried I am going to have all kinds of loose skin hanging off of every where. I am 458 so I know I have a lot of stretched skin !!! Is it possible to loose and not have loose skin hanging??? Pam

Hi Pam. Every thing I have read says to be prepared for excess skin, and to make it a consideration before surgery because it most likely will occur. I've seen a lot of people go into the surgery not knowing that excess skin is likely, and they are disappointed. You just have to decide if you'd rather be thinner and healthy with excess skin or heavy and unhealthy with tight skin. For me, I'd rather be healthy and my body isn't going to look good either way. I know not everyone has excess skin, but many, many will. I know the less weight you have to lose the less excess skin there will be, also the younger you are, the better, then there are other things such as genetics and how long you've been overweight. My doctor says that strength training and drinking lots of water will help minimize it, but the fact is, if it's going to happen it's going to happen no matter what. Jacie

You seem to have a very realistic view of the whole loose skin thing. Do drink your water and exercise to take care of what you can. I wish you the best of everything. Loris

Hey Pam, I know there is so much to worry about before surgery. But... I can only give you my view sorta speak... I have skin hanging everywhere. My stomach is hanging so bad and low till scared one day will hop in my shoes before my feet lol.... I weighed 397 to start with. But dont get all worried. Take it baby steps.... I can live with the skin a heck of a lot better than the four hundred pound body I had... Hugs Marge

Hi Pam in the words of my nutritionist..once skin is stretched to a certain point it will no longer go back to normal on it's own. I started out at 297 and I'm down to 215 and my thighs are jiggly and my stomach and butt look like popped balloons. Like Marge said though it's WELL WORTH it!! I haven't thought about plastic surgery too much I still have a ways to go. I guess once I lose what I'm going to lose I'll evaluate myself and see what I can and can't live with. I would be prepared for loose skin though. Jamie

greetings pam i started at 463, down now to 197...and i have skin hanging everywhere. it's actually quite amazing. you just have to prepare yourself for it, cause it's most likely gonna happen. and even with skin hanging everywhere, i'm SO much happier and healthier -- i can live with the skin - with an extra 266 lbs., my future was pretty tentative. best to you! deb