Excess Skin

As I'm starting off with a lot more weight to lose than most of you folks, I would expect to be left with a lot of excess skin.  It's hard to know if what I hear and what I read on the subject is accurate.  Your experiences and input would be appreciated.  Here's what I've heard/ read:

• If you exercise you'll have less excess skin
• Younger folks will have less excess skin
• Race/ ethnicity could be factors in how much excess skin your left with
• The slower you lose the less excess skin
• Some surgeries to remove excess skin are covered either through OHIP or private insurance but what makes someone eligible?
• Are there reputable surgeons in Ottawa?

ya I know I'm ahead of the game at this point but just curious.

Thanks in advance.

Here's my ticker...forgot to add to my last message.

Yes and genetics and how you carry your weight can make a difference, how long you were obese as well.

OHIP coverage can be given for a panni or breast reduction based on health issues like rashes.  (a good doctor to advocate for you is key).

Dawn

Genetics I'm not sure but ya...I've gain about 10 pounds a year since getting pregnant with my son (20 years ago).  Sometimes I dream of how maybe I'll look like I did 20 years ago and then I have to give my head a shake.  I do wonder if I'll look older?  I know shouldn't be thinking about looks but the"feeling better/ healthier", seems to be a no brainier.  What I'll look like is more the mystery.

Many of us have had 200 lbs or more to lose so you aren't alone.  I had a lot of loose skin.  If you have stretch marks then that skin is damaged and nothing will make it bounce back.  You won't have fat in the skin but you will still have the skin to deal with.  I ended up not bothering with OHIP coverage and paid out of pocket and had an extended tummy tuck done once I lost over 200 lbs and had been stable for about 8 months.  I don't think how slow or how fast you lose, if the skin is damaged, it stays damaged.

Thanks, Tracey that's helpful actually.  It's nice not to feel alone.   Unless you've been there you won't get how alone you can feel.  Maybe this question is too personal so if you'd rather not  answer, I'd understand.  Do you feel as happy as you thought  you'd be?  

I was a happy person at my highest weight and am still a happy person now.  For me weight loss didn't affect my happiness or my self esteem.  I personally don't feel that losing weight makes people happy but others claim it does.  For me, weight was just weight, it didn't define me.

For me it has been less what people think and more about how crappy I feel.  The last 40ish pounds have brought me to a bad place where I can't stand or walk for longer than a few minutes without breathing issues.  To the point where I feel like I can't breath and then I feel panicked and for the first time in my life I've experienced panic attacks...very scary.  Has it been career limiting...not sure.  In the last few years I've over compensated at work at a desk job and because of the hard work I've been given opportunities.  Do people judge? For sure but as you age the "not giving a rat's ass what people think" factor is just par for the course. I'm fortune so far to have scathed the medical issues I'm genetically predisposed to,,,well in so far as a medical check up and blood work can assess.  It is however, just a matter of time.  Anyway, thanks for listening to my rant.  It is really helpful to chat with someone who gets it.  Cheers.

I had surgery over 10 years ago and have seen so many come on here saying that as soon as they lose the weight they will no longer be miserable and then fast forward 2 years and they are at goal and still miserable people.  Does losing weight make many things easier, of course it does but does it bring you happiness, not necessarily.  It can make some more confident and then they do things they never had the courage to do before so that could make them happier but I don't believe if you have an unhappy life that losing weight is going to change much at least for me it never did, can't see how it could but see others who claim they are so much happier now.  I didn't stay in a crappy marriage because I was overweight like many have.  I have never had issues with men wanting me at any weight so that aspect of my life was always a happy one.  Career wise, my weight never held me back so had a happy work life as well.  I just think fat happy people remain thinner happy people.  I get the feeling crappy because of the weight part for sure.  Makes you feel defeated more than unhappy I find.

The feeling like crap is getting to be old and scary at times but life aside from my weight is awesome, actually.  I've been fortune with my marriage, kids and career that the only set back is the weight.  As I gained 10 pounds a year since my 20 year son was born I progressively became more limited which sucks but other parts of my life were getting better.  As a "normal" sized person before I had kids, I had other parts of my life that were dysfunctional and so you're absolutely right, losing weight doesn't miraculously make your life happier but it can however feel amazing to do the things you can't as a heavy person.  To have to deal with the next new challenge as the weight rose has had a toll on me.  The proverbial straw that broke the camels back was the breathing problems.  

Keeping the weight off for 10 years, Tracey, to me is an incredible success.  Anyone can get the surgery but how you decide to change your habits is the key. So congrats!