Excess skin?

I did my arms first because they were inexpensive to fix and the rest I could hide with shapewear. I had them done as soon as I got to goal because they bugged the bejeezus out of me. Plus I figured they would not change much if I gained or lost a little weight. I waited another 18 months to get my lbl/bl done. I wanted to make sure I could maintain my weight loss plus I need to save more money. I also used credit for part of it.

Arms were an easy recovery. I felt good after about a week. I could have gone back to work but had already taken 2 weeks off so I just stayed home and relaxed. The lbl/bl recovery was much more extensive. By 3 weeks out I felt pretty good but had 7 weeks off because I had it done in the summer and I am a teacher. i felt great by the time I went back to work.

It sounds like you have a great plan. You will be just fine.

I KNOW my arms will drive me nuts, they already do!! So I'm gonna be in ONEderland I darn right wanna wear sleeveless and short sleeves. So I'm sure that will be my first off too. IM not sure if my doctor would write a note for me to be off for recover time from BL and Breast done. I'm blessed w my work, if he did I can get  180 days off paid in full.  But for plastics I'm not sure. We will see, if not I have 4 weeks vacation I can use, plus I have a desk job. So I'm sure after 4 weeks off I will be able too. If not I know my doc would write me off for a week easy. 

I am so excited about this entire journey!! The weight lost !! The plastics.. Wish I had tthe nerve and belief in myself 4 yrs ago to do it them.. Oh well 35 it is. :)

I was 42 when I had my RNY. I honestly do not spend one minute regretting that I did not have it sooner. I like to think all the experiences I went through in life leading up to my surgery helped make me the person I am today. And I am wonderful. 

Enjoy the ride. It is quite an amazing journey.

You're going to have skin and probably a lot of it. It has to do with genetics, your age, how overweight you were and how long you were overweight.

This is going to sound harsh, but the reality is that you can deal with the skin or deal with the fat. Would you feel more vain as the size you are now or as a much smaller size with some skin?

I choose the skin. Every single day that I stay on plan and eat right, I choose the skin.

One day, I'll have it lopped off, until then, I celebrate it.

I think it's a no brainer there.. Of course I would prefer to be thin with loose skin.

but that's not what I'm asking here. I'm asking how I can't deal with it. What are the things everyone else is doing.

as much as it is a reality I believe I am Now starting to care about myself. And for years I didn't.  So yes I wanna be healthy and I wanna look good also. Nothing wrong with that in my eyes. 

Im 35, been overweight most of my life. If I can get to a size 12-14 I would be very happy. I know I will have excess skin.. I think my skin will hold up pretty well. I maybe 410, but I don't have a lot of stretch marks, I have no spider veins or other skin problems.

I will celebrate being able to move easier.. The skin I will deal with until I can have it dealt with. It's all exciting times

Ah, okay. It sounded like you were wobbly on it and I just wanted to make sure you were thinking of it in the right way. I was near where you were (my BMI was 60.5 when I started). I get it, I do.

Mexico is a great option for some. I don't think I could spend two weeks away from my business and family though. So, I'm hoping to get a trunkplasty, perhaps, next Summer (I was hoping sooner and I might try over Christmas). Then we'll move to my arms and boobs.

Hang in there... one step at a time. I know how hard this whole thing is. You can do it though, I have no doubt.

One thing that I'd like to throw in there is your mention of "I don't have a lot of stretch marks." This is interesting because I didn't think I did either. It wasn't until I started losing weight and my skin wasn't pulled so tight did I notice ALLLLLLL of the stretch marks that I had! I guess they just didn't come in as the really dark kind initially. They are much easier to see now that like I said, the skin isn't pulled so tight.

I really really hope you don't actually have them... BUT, try to be mentally prepared if you do! Good luck!! :)

I don't have stretch marks. I have a road map. LOL. 2 kids and severe obesity takes it's toll. It's okay. I'll take the skin and stretch marks any day over the fat :)

ME TOO GIRL (re: stretch marks over fat!) I try to look at the silver lining - at least I'll already have the stretch marks and loose skin if we have kids someday lol!

I couldnt live with the excess skin after starting at 420 lbs....I went to mexico for my PS and did my whole body at once. I used Dr. Sauceda. He has a group here on OH with tons of info.