5lbs from goal, new photos posted, ? about sagging skin

Finally I am only 5 pounds away from my goal weight of 140 pounds. I am now 145 and am feeling great. I started Tae Qwon Do classes and it has helped jump start my weight loss again and really toning me up. I can really tell the difference from last month to this month. I posted new photos on my profile and I can definitly see a difference between last months photo and this months. Won my very first mock sword fight last night at my karate class. Those stretches we do before class really tone you all over. Now about my skin. I have really loose skin on the backs of my arms, inside of thighs, and my tummy really sags, plus my breasts are hanging to my lower ribs. How long do I have to wait before checking into plastics? I am only 10 months out so will more of it tighten up? What can I do to encourage it to shrink back? Anything? My doctor thinks I can get a breast lift paid for through my insurance because of a bad back and I am still a C cup even if they have to be lifted into it. It just won't pay for an augumentation. So goodby DD's. It was nice while they were there. The lower body lift is another matter. I do keep getting a rash and heat bumps but when I report it to my general practitioner he just looks at me like I am crazy. Shouldn't he be documenting it. I haven't seen my surgeon since March. I was scheduled to go in next week but got a letter rescheduling it for next month. Good thing I haven't had any problems. Cyndie

Hi Cyndie Congratulations on your weight loss . I'm not sure about the skin "shrinking" but as for your "rashes" may I suggest.....take pictures and document. Make sure your GP documents your "rashes" so when you are ready for any ps it is there in writing. ( got this from the board) I haven't had any but if I do get it I will make sure I get plenty of pictures. Good Luck, Sandy

You look great.. I am not too sure on the ps stuff.. but good luck ..keep up the good work...

Hi Cyndie, You look great! Take pictures of ALL your rashes and document the dates. If you have a lot of documentation, insurance usually will pay at least some of the TT for you. The more you have to show, the better the approval. Have someone take pictures of it for you. Even if it's under your breasts too. Anywhere you get a rash, bumps, yeast infection, etc. As far as sagging skin, I'm afraid that it's there to stay.. There really is no way to shrink it. With rapid weight loss, we're faced with losing the weight, but the skin has nowhere to go. *boo* If you're at goal, and are really toning, in time you may see some improvement, but after a while of toning, you'll reach a point where there's nothing else you can do. Some surgeons suggest waiting until 18 mos out to do plastics. They want all weight loss done (and extra if it happens) so that once they pull everything tight and you gain any back, it won't pull too badly. They want the weight loss to be at a stand still and your body to be in a stable state. I think every plastic surgeon is different, though. Your bariatric surgeon will have guidelines too. Tell your doctor that you want him to document everytime you've been in the office with a complaint of a rash for insurance reasons. And if he looks at you funny, so be it. Good luck, paula