Excess Skin After WLS - Is it avoidable?

Hello, I am 19 and I just had my bypass on Thursday June 21 with a starting weight of 273. I am doing well so far, although I am still very sore. Does anyone know if having excess skin after WLS can be avoided or minimized due to exercising and/or age? It is kind of discouraging to have to go through this surgery knowing that after I lose all of the weight I will probably still have to deal with the burden of loose skin and plastic surgery, which is something I am not looking forward to.

Hi, I can't say that you definitely will not have excess skin but you do have age on your side!!!  Be sure to get sufficient protein and drink your water/fluids.   Besides being necessary for your good health they will help with your skin's elasticity! Best wishes on your WLS journey! Hugs, Mo

To have started this journey at 19!!!  I am so envious of you!  The skin issue is up in the air.  Like Mo said, you do have age on your side.  Hopefully genetics will kick in and also be in your corner.  When you're allowed, start on toning exercises.  Keep us posted on how you do.   TraciL

Hey there.  First, best wishes to you on your recovery.   I had WLS Jan 06 and am doing remarkably.  No complications, nothing.  Just weight loss and plenty of it. As for the excess skin...my surgeon said that there are many factors.  The excess skin will be minimized by exercising, of course.  Someone who hasn't been overweight for 40 years will have a better time getting the skin more tones.  If you've been overweight for five years, your skin hasn't been stretched as long.

Exercise, that's the best you can do and give it your all.

I was overweight for 20 years and have excess skin...but nothing too bad.  My arms are flabby, the top of my legs are a bit, my stomache area, etc.  But it's not so dramatic that I want to have more surgery and have it cut off.  I chose good clothes (I wear sleeveless shirts which is something I NEVER though I would do) that compliment my "areas".   You're going to be so thrilled to get past the pain and lose weight that you won't worry about anything else until you're done.  Then, get some counseling and make an informed decision. Good luck to you! Kim P.

I'm not as young as you, but I was relatively young (26) when I had the surgery in Jan '06.  Because I was a "lightweight" (5'10" and 261 pounds) and in my 20s, people assured me I had a good chance of not having much extra skin.  And they were *sort of* right:  I don't have as much as a lot of people I've seen in pics...but I won't be hitting the beach in a bikini anytime soon.  My arms and upper thighs are a bit flabby, but not so bad that I plan to do anything about them.  But I definitely need a breast lift (and reduction still!) and a tummy tuck.  Unfortunately I'm at that age where I'll probably be having children in the not-too-distant future and therefore can't rationalize having the tummy tuck now.  (I'm going to go ahead with the boob job though.)  You're young enough where it might make sense to go ahead and do it.  For me, I wouldn't say the skin issue has been "discouraging" -- more like just a little annoying.  I'm SO DELIGHTED to look great in clothes that, for now, I'm OK with not being able to wear a bikini.  Baby steps, right? :)  I feel attractive for the first time in my life, and if I can't wear low-rise jeans, then so be it, I'll survive. Who knows?  Maybe your skin is more elastic than mine.  But I just want you to realize that even if you wind up with a bit of jiggle, it's probably not going to detract from your quality of life on a day-to-day basis.  You're going to discover exciting things about your body throughout your weightloss (collar bones!  hip bones!  elegant fingers!), so look forward to and enjoy those milestones rather than worrying about a little skin.  Good luck. :)

With my surgery coming up next month, this is one of the questions I've had for a while.  All the responses are great.  You guys really know your stuff!  My surgery is literally scheduled on my 42nd B-day so age is not on my side!!  I do, however, plan on getting back into the gym as soon as possible post-op.  I'm a self-pay too so I'm thinking if I tell my wife I need plastic surgery in the next year or two that she's going to kill me. 

I am 50. Take a look at my pics. The skin does tighten. About 6 mos out with the major stall is the time the body decides to catch up skin wise. I really havne't lost alot in the past few months, but look at the difference in my skin.  You have young skin and age on your side.

Aime, I checked out your pics, and your skin has really tightened up a lot!!  I am a year or so younger than you and hoping to get the same result, skinwise. 

I have a therapist who swears by Pilates.  She had RYN several years ago and when I asked her how long she waited for plastic  surgury she said " I haven 't had any"  She lost around 170 lbs.  She said she would like to get some on her arms but other then that it was all exercise.  Shes in her mid 30's early 40's