Loose and saggy skin
I've got excess skin. It bothers me. It's uncomfortable when I run if I don't have good compression gear. It feels awkward during sex. But, whatever, my body is super amazing. I CAN run and sex is MUCH better. Eventually I'll reach goal and I'm saving money for plastic surgery.
VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)
Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170
TrendWeight | Food Blog (sort of functional) | Journal (down for maintenance)
OK, I went into this with the intention of having plastic surgery when I was finished losing weight.
For about $35,000 you can get your tummy tucked, lower body lifted, breasts lifted, and upper arms tightened up. I had just paid that much for a new car. I figured I was as important as a car.
I ended up being happy with how much I did tighten up and I was 59 having the surgery. The only thing I did was the tummy tuck. The rest looked good enough with a lot of working out with weights, good skin care and just plain good luck.
Take it one day at a time and make a commitment to spend the money if you need to. You only live once and a car will rust out in a few years. Your plastic surgery will be with you for the rest of your life.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
I'm male, and 60 years old..... right now the flap of skin along my beltline that I have is like a badge of honor !! I never, even when much thinner, ran around without a shirt as I was always a bit flabby even as a physically lazy teen. It is different strokes for everyone. But it doesn't bother me . . but I do understand how it could be a detriment for some people.
Come to think of it... my hernia that pokes out from my belly button is more annoying.
HW: 336.5 (March 1, 2015), Height: 5'11", Birthdate: November 8, 1955
VSG: July 1, 2015 288.0 lbs, University of Iowa Hospitals -- Dr. Isaac Samuel
CW: 196 lbs, goal: 186
8/2/15 -- 263.8 | 8/30/15 -- 256.0 | 9/20/15 -- 248.6 | 11/1/15 -- 240.6 | 11/29/15 -- 233.2 | 1/3/16 -- 227.4 | 1/31/16 -- 218.6 | 2/28/16 -- 211.2 | 3/27/16 -- 204.6 | 5/2/2016 -- 206.6 | 5/30/2016 -- 203.8 | 7/7/2016 --198.8 | 8/1/2016 -- 197.8 | 1/25/2017 -- 196.3 | 3/23/2017 -- 194
I have extra skin on my upper arms and a little on my stomach, but I can mostly hide a lot of it. I'll take this shriveled up body over my morbidly obese, "spilling in to the airplane seat next to me" body any day.
Lanie; Age: 43; Surgery Date (VSG): 8/12/14 w/complications resulting in RNY next day;
Height: 5' 6" SW: 249 Comfort Zone: 135-140 CW: 138 (10/13/17)
M1: -25 lbs M2: -12 M3: -13 M4: -7 M5: -11 M6: -10 M7: -7 M8: -7 M9: -3 M10: -8 M11: -4 M12: -4
5K PR - 24:15 (4/23/16) First 10K - 53:30 (10/18/15)
on 11/16/15 4:31 pm
Of course a lot depends on your age how much loose skin will matter possibly along with your marital status. Also how much you to have to lose will determine how much skin is left hanging. At my age 60+ it doesn't seem to matter half as much as being happier and healthier. Haven't finished losing yet but so far it is not too bad. I don't see that same fat person in the mirror. I see a far cuter lady who has loose skin since she was overweight for years. My husband said it usually bothers females far more than males. If someone loves you they will see you for who you are not the flabby skin. Some ins will cover plastics if you ever want that and some won't. Mine didn't cover surgery let alone plastics. Plastics like surgery can also be had out of this country far cheaper than here if you ever want that. Life is a huge adjustment after surgery but I don't think I or my friend who surgery the same day as I did have felt sad at all. The feelings of less aching knees and other health issues that have been resolved, of being able to move around more easily and looking better mean so much more than not being able to eat more.We both enjoy small servings of favorite foods and do not feel deprived at all. Life is so much better...even with loose skin. Good luck with your surgery.
My biggest fear I am dealing with getting closure to my surgery date after talking to a few people that had a WLS, is that even though they are healthier without the extra weight that they find themselves more unhappy with how they feel about their bodies since the weight is off.
I have been on this form now for a few months and I do not see anyone on here talking about the negative affects that they have or the sad feelings.
I keep telling myself it should not matter about the loose saggy skin for I will be healthier in the long run. I am just afraid I will be more depressed and regret the surgery like the other women that had this done. They say when they look in the mirror they still see the fat body from before. For they say the fat might be gone but the their body is still of a fat person but with the excess skin hanging.
I would really like every ones true feelings about this subject.
Thank you.
Yes, I do know everyone ones bodies are different and some bounce back and some don't.
I would venture to say that some of those women. You. Speak of have body dysmorphia.
As fr as saggy skin,that is what plastics is for.
I have a rather substantial amount of loose skin (thanks genetics!!) but when I'm wearing normal clothing you'd never know how much sag and flap I've got going on. I'd have to be wearing something way, way more revealing than street clothes for the skin to be really obvious, and other than a swimsuit that isn't happening in public ;)
Foundation/compression garments are not really that expensive, and aesthetic benefits aside, I find that I am more comfortable wearing them because they control the rather bizarre feeling 'perpetual motion' effect of the extra skin on my stomach and thighs.
The bottom line is that not many of us end up looking like fashion models when we lose the weight. Have you been to many bariatric support groups or conferences? As a reference, you can look at the pictures OH just posted from their conference. I would say the overwhelming majority of us are happy we had weight loss surgery despite the skin and lumpy-bumpiness.
I will say to help my mental state, I did have plastics. As a single mom of 2 supporting my kids all on my own, if I could financially do it, anyone can.
Laura in Texas
53 years old; 5'7" tall; HW: 339 (BMI=53); GW: 140 CW: 170 (BMI=27)
RNY: 09-17-08 Dr. Garth Davis
brachioplasty: 12-18-09 Dr. Wainwright; lbl/bl: 06-28-11 Dr. LoMonaco
"May your choices reflect your hopes and not your fears."