question on extra skin

Hey everyone i'm new and have not yet had my surgery, my question is if any of you were able to get away without plastic surgery after your WLS. I am 19 years old planning on having RNY bypass in august, one of my fears is that after all is said and done all the extra skin will leave me feeling worse about myself then I do now, I am about 290 however i don't feel terrible about the way I look, I am having surgery for health reasons more then anything else (not that i love the way i look). I know I really don't belong on this forum but i'm looking for advice from people who have been through the surgery... Any help would be great.. Sarah

Sarah Congratulations on your up coming surgery. I am almost three years out from my surgery. And no I have not needed plastic surgery. Yes I do have a small amount of lose skin but not enough for any. Plastic surgeons to touch me. As one told me in all I have only about 6 pounds of lose skin and I would be to much of a risk to have any done and they refuse to do it. The day of my surgery I was 286 pound and I go from any where between 148 to 154. But I also exercise before my surgery and walked alot. So on day four after my surgery I was back walking four miles a day and at 3 months. I was back to the gym working out. Now just my option I think alot has to due with the way we are made up and how our genes are. That deturnons sp on how we will look after surgery and if we will have a lot of lose skin. Yes I have been heavy all of my life At one point in my life I was up to 400 pounds. IMO alot has to due with with how much protein we take in and all of our vits and of course I call the best think of all. Lots of water and working out.Again I wish you the best of luck on your up coming surgery. Taichi

I'm 47 and was SMO for most of my life. I've dropped over 200 pounds, so i've got some excess baggage hanging there. My loose skin is where I carried the most weight, my thighs and butt. I've got a little everywhere, but that's where most of it is. I'm guessing that your youth will help you a lot in that respect. My surgeon told me "this is not a cosmetic surgery." I may have PS one day, but right now I'm just tickled to be rid of the extra weight. You're a smart girl, wanting the WLS for health reasons. I noticed this past  Saturday, I did housework, yard work, detailed a car and truck, cooked a bunch of stuff, just went all day and didn't even get tired. The difference is amazing. Honestly, my loose skin does bother me, but I know I look better than I used to, and the health benefit has been great. You go girl.

It is definatly n individual situation. I weighed in at 335, I'm now at 153 (ish) and I have a ALOT of excess skin, especially where I was carrying my excess weight, my bely, my back, my arms, my thighs.  I'd like to EVENTUALLY get some kind of plastics to take care of it.  That said- I wouldn't take back my surgery for anything. Sure I look kinda weird with my clothing off, but I can RUN! I can hike and jog and dress pretty. I feel amazing, all my co-morbidities are gone. Even were I stuck forever with kinda weird skin, I'd totally take it. 

I lost 171 lbs. and have had no plastic surgery.  I was 31 when I had surgery, already had some belly sagging to to childbirth and weight,  I was lucky that most of my skin "bounced" back if you will.  No, I will never grace the cover of Vogue, but I am happy with how things turned out.   As already said, it depends on the person, genetics factor in and just plain old fashioned luck.  Things are fine for me now, but how about when I am in my 40's or 50's?  I mean, time does take it's toll.  I will cross that bridge when I get to it I guess.   Good luck to you, Traci 303/131

Sarah, I'm another with bouncy skin...it didn't stretch as nicely as it bounced back. So whereever I have stretch marks is a little looser than other areas. I took very good care of my skin all my life. Eating healthy (even when obese)...I used moisturizers (now I use skin firming lotions that I believe help)I drink a ton of water...no liquids with sugar or any many with unnatural dyes and thick color.  I eat at least 5 fruits and veggies everyday. (Helps with skin)  And I tone with some sort of pilates type work out a 15-20 minutes every single day!  (always have)  Summer I swim for hours...to tone every muscle in my body without jumping on my knees.  Water gives good resistance too and NO SWEATY gym clothes! I feel refreshed the entire work out!  Some of it is having good genes...Some is good hard work. I am not perfect...I have problem areas and cellulite...I can live without plastics...I kept my goal weight practical for my body shape and got to the 160's where I have tried to stay the majority of 4 years and have been successful with some minor set backs here and there...I was 315lbs for 2 years...230 average in my 30's I am 43 now and I am quite content with how I look. Healthy is so much more important to me. But I think one day I might even have some plastics on my neck ...That is one place that between age and losing weight, just never tightened very nicely!  Good luck!  Get healthy first!

I just want to thank everyone *****sponded to my post..i feel a little bit better now, after talking to my surgeon he said that being I am so young and mostly healthy he is expecting that I shouldn't have too much loose skin i am hoping thats true but my boyfriend is also helping me with it he's been so great I couldn't so all this without him . Again thanks guys it means a lot i can't wait till I can post on this board after my success 

Sarah, As many of the others have said, a lot has to do w/ your genes and with where you carry your excess weight to begin with.  When I was 27, I lost about 110 lbs. (regained quickly), and when I was about 38, I lost nearly 100 lbs. again (& again regained it in record time).  But my point is that neither time did I have problems w/ excess skin; I was simply very fortunate to have good elasticity.  (The 1st time I lost, I did NO exercise; the 2nd time, I did aerobics.)  I also lost various amounts of weight MANY times in addition to those two big time (another time I lost 70 lbs.). When I had my RNY, I was 54 and obviously had a long history of yo-yo dieting, so FINALLY my skin gave up!  This time, I do have skin issues--most particularly my bat-wing arms and my hideously wiggly, cellulite-covered thighs & butt--and I do have a saggy abdomen (but amazingly not real horrendous--it flattens out pretty well under my clothes).  I do not plan on getting plastics.  As long as I'm wearing clothes, I'm satisfied!  I hate how I look "nekkid," but I'm just dealing w/ it!  None of my potential plastic surgery would be classified as "medically necessary," so I'd be self-pay, and that's just not in the cards for me. The best things you can do for yourself to be pro-active with the skin issue is to eat exactly what you're supposed to, drink your water/liquids, and EXERCISE faithfully! Best of luck!   Jo