saggy skin?

Question for anyone who can answer.

My friend had RNY almost a year ago. She lost 90lbs and is having surg for the extra skin. She says it "hurts" around her legs, Which has me thinking about teh saggy skin. I know with RNY you lose it SO fast your body doesn't keep up very well. What bout lapband? Has anyone had a LOT of saggy skin or is it able to retract a bit better because of the slow steady weight loss?

The rate of weight loss is a piece of the puzzle, so the slower weight loss of the band can certainly play into it.  But it also depends on a person's age, how much they have to lose, exercise, etc. 

I've talked with people who are 2 and even 3 years out, who notice that things are still snugging up on them, even tho the bulk of their weight loss happened in that first year.  That gives me hope!  But I'm not having any pain issues with it.  Even if money wasn't an issue, I'm not sure I'm vain enough to go through plastic surgery.  If I was having pain or rash issues, I would - but just for appearance?  Nah...  That's why God invented capris and 3/4 length sleeves!!

In my opinion, I think it also depends on your age, younger skin has more elasticity. 

I am 48 now, but years ago when I'd lost weight (in my late 20's lost 80 lbs) I didn't have as much touble with extra skin. Now lets just say uuuggghhh. I've lost on average 2 lbs a week.

Loose skin does have a lot to do with age, how long you were overweight, where you carried your weight, how fast you lost, do you have stretch marks which is a sign of damaged skin, etc.  No one says you have to have plastics, it's just a matter of how much it bugs you.  For me, I was tired of stuffing my gut into my pants, tired of having my boobs at my waist, and tired of still feeling fat even after losing 150 lbs.  So I invested in me and had a lower body lift and a breast lift.  It was the best money I ever spent.  Now my tummy is flat, my boobs look better than they did when I was 16 (I'm 45) and my clothes fit right.  To me, plastic surgery after WLS is not a matter of vanity, it can be the final step to feeling normal again.  But - it's very individual...some folks choose not to have further surgery...and that's fine.  I'm just happy with my decision.

It really is an individual thing.  Some people lose a lot of weight and don't end up with all that much loose skin, and some people don't lose all that much weight and still have a lot of loose skin.  One thing that I have sworn by is using a ton of moisturizer while losing, and starting even before surgery.  After every shower I use a ton of moisturizer all over, and sometimes a stretch mark or firming cream and it really helps.  I lost 110#, 90 of t within about 6 months, and my skin isn't very loose.  I had surgery at age 40, and am 2.5 years out, and the skin is still getting better.  I definitely won't need plastic surgery, and I'm pretty picky - I would totally do it if I had any bad feelings about my skin's appearance.  I think that after surgery and all we've gone through, we all deserve to look and feel our best, regardless of what that takes!  Everyone's skin is different, and usually a plastic surgeon doesn't want to do surgery unless it has been 1.5 to 2 years after surgery.  Good luck to you!

It really depends on a lot of things. Yep, the band does have a tendency to help  because of the slowness... mine is tightening up quite well. BUT, age has a TON to do with it... so does genetics. One reason I picked the band though was for the slower weight loss which is giving time for my skin to bounce back.

Hi there

I totaly, 100% agree with Lori. Having plastics was purely medical for me. I was having rashes and back pain and couldn't exercise as much as I needed because of these issues.

I think that genetics has the most to do with how our bodys deal with the extra skin. My daughter had WLS at 21 and lost 110# and had a ton of extra skin. So, even at her young age, she still had the same issues as me.

I felt like Lori did, that having the plastics done was the finishing touch to my weight loss because with the extra skin, I still felt like I wasn't done. I am so much happier with the skin gone because now I can exercise like I need to without the hinderance of the extra skin. I felt that I worked extremely hard to lose 150# to be healthy and that I needed the extra skin gone to continue with my new healthy lifestyle.

Peggy