excess skin

I had an open RNY 2/13/06 and have to date lost 111 lbs. I was 368 before surgery. i don't regret one minute of this journey. I do look in the mirror and see a little saggy skin but i remember what I felt like and looked like with the 111 lbs on. I would take the sags anytime. And if my husband doesn't like it oh well... I am not even considering his feelings. Because this is about me... ALL ABOUT ME!!!! I am doing this to live longer, feel healthier and eat right. For the first time in my life I am finally taking charge of what I do for me. And that is what it is all about. If you obsess about saggy skin and that stuff that can be fixed after ward you will never take that step. Hope you understand where I am coming from. Only do this if it is right for you. You will see a psych doctor before your doctor submits the paperwork to your insurance company for approval so talk to him/her about your concerns. It will help. Good luck and God Bless! Stephanie

Thanks for that reply. I am doing this for myself and not just for myself but for my 7 year old and 3 year old. I feel the same way. If he don't like who care but me. RIGHT. Thank I need that. Linda

Hi Sarah, I'm preop too, and I, too, am a little worried about becoming a thinnish person locked in a fat skin suit. But health concerns are prevalent, so that's what's mostly moving me forward. I'm in really dire straits healthwise and only going to get worse if I don't act NOW on the WLS front. Have you looked into the duodenal switch as well as the RNY? You can get some really good information on this procedure--which is beginning to look like it might be a better procedure than the RNY for super morbidly obese people in particular but is by no means restricted to those people--at www.duodenalswitch.com .

I had the band, and not the RNY, but the skin issue is the same. Right now, even if I dress nice, I hate how I look, and I REALLY hate how I look nekkid. I figure after I lose all my weight, I'll at least like how I look dresses, and when I can afford surgery, then I'll worry about how I look nekkid.

Sarah, I had this surgery at age 52, have lost 170 pounds and I am saggy baggy, But I look So So So much better than I did at 333 pounds. My daughter who had her surgery at age 27 has lost close to 160 pounds and she looks fantastic, a little belly hang and some underarm, but not bad at all. She looks like a pixie after losing more than half her body weight and no need for PS. My point is at your age you have good elasticity and you probally won't have the problems us older gals have had.. Good luck on your decision..Jeanb

Jean, you are 52?? oh my gosh! you look so good! when i saw your pic i thought, oh she must've posted a pic of her 26 year old daughter! seriously you look fantastic.

Hi Sarah. I was 23 when I underwent the surgery. BMI 42.5 at 5'3" weighing in at 240 POUNDS. I've since lost 112 POUNDS. I'm at BMI 22 or 23 I think. pRE-OP I already knew I'd have the excess skin because I had stretch marks all over my arms and belly. I'm a fashionista as well. I was so worried I wouldn't be able to fit into clothes and not look like there was flabby skin hanging out. Honestly, most people wouldn't know I had excess skin. I look very slender and perfectly groomed like my sisters who are teeny weeny. The only time my extra skin bothers me is when I wave (which I try not to do). Other than that, it's not so obvious. It bothers me sometimes as I lie in bed and see my skin spread out, saggy boobs, saggy skin in the thighs...grosses me out, but I remember the days when they were filled in..wouldn't trade my extra skin for the fat ever! I wear super short skirts, and you really can't see the saggy skin at all in my thighs. It jiggles a bit, but what-ever. Better than the thunder thighs of days yonder! I haven't considered plastics at all. I think I look fine the way I am now. I probably have about 8 lbs of excess skin, though. But I'm not shy about wearing a bikini or anything. Think of it this way, if you can't see yourself wearing a bikini with the extra skin don't feel bad, cuz you wouldn't have ever worn a bikini at 200+ lbs anyway, right? So your not losing anything.

*gasp*!!! i just saw your pictures! aaaaah i'm so excited to get my surgery! yeah, you dont need plastics. you're incredible! lucky you! oooh i'm soo excited. thankyou for posting pics and responding to me

I thought the skin issue would not bother me, when I was 325 lbs, I just wanted to lose the weight, and I would worry about the skin later. Well once the skin started hanging, it really upset me more than I thought it would, but I have since had a lower body lift, and feel great. It was painful but worth every stitch. Like someone else said worry about one thing at a time, you may be one of the lucky ones that age, and genetics are on your side. I will tell you that I preferred the skin, over the fat. Hang in there, it will be worth it! I now wear a size 1 and weigh 115 lbs, so yes it was worth it to me! Hazel