Anyone willing to share thier experience with Excess Skin

I knew when I had WLS that I woud need plastics cause I am vain and I Ididnt like the hanging Panni. I had Cervical cancer and needed a hysterectomy & I new it wouldnt heal correctly cause of the panni so i had a TT at the same time I didnt have time for insurance negotiations so I just paid for it myself I was saving up for it any way, then the legs looked bad and the back and so on & so On , I nevr did or will I ever have to get my breasts done . before plastics when I looked in the mirror I still saw the real fat girl now I look in the mirror and say who is that go figure, but I am happier and my husband says whatever makes me happy cause when I am happy he is happy. I did the plastics for me not for anyone else

I had WLS cause of my diabetes which I still have and i thought after my TT it would go away cause I have no bely fat all anymore but I still have it but tha is ok cause it keeps me away from carbs. I did WLS fo my health and plastics for my vanity, I chose PS over a new car and I also have Care Credit with my PS office no interest payments

one thing at a time first WLS then 2 yeas after when your weight is stable for 6 - 9 months then plastics
GOOD LUCK in your journey
Susan

I think it's fine you asked this here (and on the MB) but you should propbably read the posts (and connected profiles) on this forum going back a few years. You will learn a lot there.

If you have 150-200 pounds to lose, like I did, you almost certainly will have extra, loose skin. Better than the extra, taut fatty skin, I think.

Here's my story that I posted here 3 days ago:

Topic: X-post: 6 months post TT and brachio pix and unsolicited advice


Nicolle

I was considered a lightweight when it came to weight loss surgery. I only needed to lose about 100 pounds. I lost about 120 pounds but was left with a lot of extra skin. I was 45 when I had WLS. My skin was stretched for too many years to have much of a bounce back. That factored in with my age and I had lost a lot of my skin elasticity. After losing the weight I didn't like the extra skin at all. I still saw a fat girl when I saw myself naked. I had pretty much the works done. I have pictures on my profile if you care to look. My insurance didn't cover any of it and I had to self-pay. I am more than thrilled with my results.

When I was 35 I shed 100 pounds on Medifast (don't recommend this, it was awful) and my skin looked great except on my abdomen because I had two pregnancies each by abdominal C section. You may have this experience too if you're young enough and inherited good skin genes.

Well over many years I gained back that 100 pounds plus another 100 and I'm 57 now. What I find interesting is that I've now shed almost 200 pounds and I'm older ---- but I lost my weight on Dr. McDougall's diet and about the same rate as someone having WLS. The difference is I had good nutrition through out my loss unlike WLS where you are basically on starvation mode for many months post op as you heal and adjust to your new digestive tract. What surprised me is in the end I had a very small hanging panni - so small that I was afraid insurance wouldn't cover it. In fact I had problems with my deep bellybutton and not the panni.I don't know if that was related to my diet or not. I do have lots of other hanging skin - I've recently had a LBL/hernia repair and arm lift. I'm amazed at how skinny I look now that my arms are normal.

I'm lucky; I can afford this surgery, I'm in good health, have easy access to excellent surgeons and a very supportive family to help me through plastic surgery ... but if I didn't and had to live with my hanging skin, I would still be thrilled. It beats being filled with fat and dying slowly. I had serious health issues when I started and all have been resolved - some would have gone into remission with weight loss by surgery or just regular diet - but some like my allergies and arthritis and my autoimmune markers all returned to normal (rheumatologist had never seen that before) are due to Dr. McDougall's diet alone. Every day I give thanks that I found Dr. McDougall. For those of you with traditional WLS diets would be surprised to learn that my diet is a starch based whole foods diet - I'm eating all that rice and potatoes etc. that you guys aren't - but I'm eating it as whole foods like a baked potato and not just food like french fries or potato chips.

you might have to friend me to see, but I have before and afters in underwear that shows the difference.  Everyone is different.  Some people look fine and some do not.  If I was not pregnant 2 times during my obese period I think that my skin would be way less apparant on my stomach and my breats would not sag as much (I breast fed 2 times as well).  I am having a TT on tuesday.  I want a breast lift and augment but that is not happening until I pay off this procedure!! 

My excess skin is not as bad as some and not as great as others.  Luck of the draw... I wish I had more hang so insurance would have covered it!!!

BEAUTY.. is in the eyes of the beholder..!

As you behold your-self, how do you see, you..? If you are not happy with the extra skin, if any, then you are THE ONLY ONE THAT MATTERS..and IF you would like to see the loose skin, if any, gone..then you should do what feels right to you..!

I HATE my loose skin and when I behold myself..I see this extra skin as an awful sight to behold..!!
It is a constant reminder of the OLD FAT me..The person I NEVER want to see again..so, for me,
I want to behold a body with no flapping, sagging, melting wax look, pooled around my hips, waist, and thighs..and the wings that look like they could start flapping at any moment and send me soring into the wild blue yonder..geesh, I want my wings on my back, not my arms..! LOL

It's all about feeling good about YOU..No one will be looking at YOU everyday, but YOU..
IF, you think you will feel better letting go of the loose look..I say go for it..!!

The Best to you, sweetie..

cyndy