weightloss and sagging skin

Hey BAF!

for the most part, i am gungho about getting the lap band. but after speaking with a couple of people of have gone thru kaiser, the surgeon recommended the rny over the lap band.  my main reasons for not wanting the rny is because 1. lap band is less invasive and 2. i figured with the slower weightloss i would be able to prevent saggy skin.

i would like to make the best informed decision so that when i finally have this discussion with the surgeon i am prepared. i would like to hear from all of you on your experience with saggy skin (if you dont mind).

How much weight are you looking to lose?  How long have you been overweight?

both of these will help me answer you based on my experience - not just trying to question you.

i would like to loose at least 120. i am not trying to be skinny..i love being thick (i.e. fluffy) but a healthier fluffy (LMAO!). i have been severly overweight..for at least 7 years i believe.

Ok - here's the brutal truth.  you ready????

I don't care if you lose 120lbs the GHANDI way, the Jenny Craig way, the weigh****chers way or what the hell ever - you will NOT be able to avoid sagging skin.  Save up for girdles, plastic surgery or a combo of the two.  Plain and simple.

What you need to focus on is your eating pattern and which procedure best addresses that so that you end up with a tool that will allow you to lose and maintain.  Folk KILL me when they think losing 100+ lbs slowly will let them be Pamela andersen - it won't!  (not saying that's your expectation tho)

I lost 200lbs with RNY - I have been over 100lbs overweight for at least 10 years.  There was NO amount of working out, losing slowly or anything else to keep me from needing Spanx and a surgeon's knife - the simple fact is that your skin elasticity and age play major roles in how your body changes - HOWEVER - the ONLY things I really needed were a Tummy tuck and breast lift.  There are plenty of folk that need a full body lift, with thigh lift, breast augmentation AND face surgery..........

How do you minimize it no matter which surgery you go with?  EXERCISE and skin conditioning.  I made sure I did full cardio AND weight training ALL the time, and I kept my skin well conditioned. 

Ok - that's my $0.02

Hate to tell this ma but if you skin has been stretched for a prolonged period of  time ( meaning if you have been overweight for a while ) loosing slow or fast is not going to keep your skin from sagging.   The only thing that works in your favor is age and genetics....if you are young you may ( notice I said may ) not have a lot of sagging skin.....if supple skin runs in your family (IE the women who have babies but don't get stretch marks.) then you may not get much sagging skin.
 Most people even those who exercise faithfully still end up with sagging skin...a lot of people end up getting plastic surgery to remove the excess skin.  As for for me my excess skin is minimal so  I can live with it.

I agree with Diva 100%.  

My experience: I was not a fat child or teenager, and was a very active youngster (ran track, on basketball, softball and volleyball teams Jr High-HS).  I also swam, hiked and hit the gym for weights, on or off team sports seasons.

I went to college, and the pounds started pouring on!  I was working out less and eating the same as the high activity levels I ran on in HS.  By the time I was 24, I weighed 240ish pounds, up from 150 when I was a college freshman.

I had my RNY at age 34.  I've been fortunate in that my excess skin is also minimal (some at the tummy, but the right undergarments flatten it, and some upper arm bat-wing.  Even the bat-wing isn't too bad, I have seen many women my age (44) with the same.  I doubt I'd ever do plastics on either location.  I may however have an upper thigh lift; it's the only site that is noticeable. 

Every person's experience and outcome is different.   With skin, lots of variables in play.

Hey BAF..Missed u guys..  what is funny is that when I was going to have surgery, when some one mentioned saggy skin..I rolled my eyes and sucked my teeth like what ever...(I would rather saggy skin than fat tight skin)!! Now I am just praying and saving!!! I am even thinking about standing on the corner with a jar and a sign that says save my Boobs!!! LOL! My how times have changed.

lol @ the save my boobs fund     (  I'll be a few streets down with my jar )

***hijack***

Hey stranger!   How have you been?  You were missed!

Hey V, Octavia and Kim.......  I miss yall..... Anyway, I wish I could have avoided saggy skin, but, well anyway!  I must say that I know someone who had lapband and she exercise and she did not sag so bad....but your choice should be yours...if you want lap-band, then that's what you should get! God Bless you in your decision.