Loose Skin

Thanks to all that have posted.  I'm planning on having the RNY.  So I guess time will tell and I'll just need to give it a year or so and then go from there.  I know everyone is different.  Good luck to all of you and again congratulations on all of the weight that has been lost!!!  I thought about having this about 3 years ago and backed out.  Now I wish I would have followed through, oh well can't turn back time.  Hope everyone has a great day and once my surgery is scheduled I'm sure you'll all be hearing from me again.  I do read all of the posts on this site and I learn so much.

Cathy

Hello Cathy,

Welcome and you've gotten some information already. . . I was 52 when I had my surgery, being of Italian descent, I have good skin, but being obese the large part of my life, when I lost 98 lbs (I've regained a bit of that now), even with going to the gym regularly, I have lots of excess skin.  It is a small price to pay for living my life healthier and with the aid of things mentioned in other posts, I look pretty darn good for a woman my age.  If I had the monies, I'd have plastics, but I don't and I've had to accept what is.  Exercise helps some,  the rest is genetics. . .

Best wishes as you go through your personal WLS journey.

Laureen

I  had my surgery at 49, lost 185 pounds over 3 years, thought about getting the panni removed but had knee replacement instead. After two failed surgeries there, I'm not in the mood for more surgery, so I'm stuck with what I have. I use a medicated powder called Nystatin to take care of any problems with rashes. (It's prescription only.)

And Spanx works, or similar products. Or just live with the bat wings, etc.

I had ps- best decision I ever made. The flappy skin on my stomach was annoying and I did all of the spanx stuff (long line bras, girdles, high waisted, long leg ones, etc) and when I was dressed I could cover a lot. But after surgery, I wear bikini panties and a bra (sometimes!)- I am cool and comfortable. When I exercise, all parts of me now go the same direction. Skin removal surgery is not just cosmetic- it changes you emotionally and physically. After I lost the weight, I could not see the true, thin, me until after the ps. It is not as expensive as you may think- but use a very experienced ps. Check out their results carefully- some Mexican ps look cheap, but if they do a poor job and you have to fly back for complications and/or revisions- they are not so cheap. Make sure you use a ps who does a lot of massive weight loss patients. Recovering from a body lift is a pain-the drains are not fun-but so worth it. The first 1- 2 wks are painful, but in my experience, more uncomfortable than painful after that. At 2 mos, no pain or uncomfortableness during regular activities but  I do feel a little sore when exercising and my fitness level is not where it was 2 mos ago. I am proud of my body, and the scars are not upsetting to me- the ones from lbl are totally hidden by bikini underwear. Since you think you may need it, I would start saving now. You shouldn't really get ps until at least 6 mos after you weight stabilizes- so like 18 mos out from bariatric surgery, at least. It is also a great reward for all the hard work and is a motivation to keep the weight off.