Skin Issues and Body Appearance Issues

So I have lost about 110 pounds since my surgery a year and a half ago.  I would like to lose another 20-30 pounds.  My question(s) is how many of you have problems with arm skin after WLS?  I just went to a Xmas party this past weekend and I wore a halter dress.  Now looking in the mirror my arms were big but not unsightly.  So I went with it.  Now I went from a size 22-24 to a 10-12.  The dress I wore is a size 11.  But when I look at the pics of me I dont see a woman that is a size 10-12, I see the same fat person.  Now my face, I see the change in it.  You can see my bone structure.  But I feel like my arms make me look about 50pounds heavier than I really am.  Does anyone have this problem with how they see themselves?  I want to get my arms done, and I will its just taking my confidence down looking at these photos.  It makes me wonder how people that didnt know me before see me.  Do they see a fat girl or what?

I have felt the same way lately when looking in the mirror. I've lost a good chunk of weight but I still have the big stomach. I think that we are so used to being unhappy with the mirror that we stay that way even after big changes. I just posted the other day that I wonder if I will ever be happy with my appearance, especially now that the skin issues are starting. I guess somehow I thought that I could go back to being that hot skinny girl I used to be. That the problems other people experienced would not happen to me. Whats bad for me is people from my past who only remember the skinny me. One guy in particular has been hittin on me and I wonder if he had saw me again a year ago if his reaction would have been the same. I don't think we can win when it comes to body image issues.

Congratulations on losing 110 pounds.  First, try not to worry about what others are thinking.  I believe I can honestly say that we all have issues with how we see ourselves at least I know I do.  It is good that you will take care of your arms because it will give you a boost of confidence.  I have had several surgeries done and I still lack the confidence that I should have. I don't believe the doubt or how we see ourselves ever goes away...it just subsides and rears its ugly head from time to time. 

I completely know where you're coming from. When I worked out my arms, all it did was build the muscle underneath because the skin and fat had completely separated. I had a brachioplasty one year ago, and besides my rny, it was the BEST decision weight-loss wise, I have ever made. I love my new arms and I don't have to worry about feeling self-conscious. Everyone who has wls doesn't have arm problems, but some of us with a predisposition to have big arms, have major arm issues. I did not have stomach and other issues, just my dang arms. All the best to you.... you have really done well with your tool!!

I understand how you feel....I dont have a problem with my armsbut my stomach and back fat is not the bizness.....I kinda wonder what people think....u can cover my stomach with spanx but that back fat.....sucks...God willing I will have my surgery in January,....good luck to you...and you look great

 I just read where you will have surgery in January...congrats.  I had a TT in 2005 and upper and lower back fat/love handles surgery (www.vaser.com and www.smartlipo.com)  just this past July and I am extremely pleased with my results.  If you have any questions, I would be happy to attempt to answer them. 

I truly appreciate the feed back.  I am praying that my surgery goes through in January, its a matter of finances at this point.  I have stomach issues also but if I had to pick between my arms and my belly, I would pick my arms.  My belly can be concealed but these arms???  And I live in Vegas, so come summer time its very hard to cover up and I dont like wearing a bunch of clothes, thats why I hate the winter time.  But I just want to look at pics and say ok I look good.  But I always find that flaw, and nine times out of ten its my arms. 

OMG thank you so much ....yes i have many questions im gonna email you

I am the poster child for body dysmorphia these days.  It took another OH'ers pic where I was caught in the background to realize I did not look obese anymore.  Had it been a full pic of me I would have torn myself apart.

I still see fat when I look in the mirror although I have clothes ranging from size 4 to one remaining 10 that is not too big.  I know I'm late to this thread but I had to reply. 

I'm wearing a size six skirt, same clothing line I wore in a 16w/18w this time last year.  Still I'm looking in the mirror *****ing about how fat I am in the waist, belly, and thighs. 

You are not alone.  We can't see areselves as we really are but I think others, especially those who did not know us fat see us as average sized people.