Excess Skin

Can someone tell me about any products I can purchase to "hold back" excess skin? I am 5 months out of RNY surgery and have lost 100 pounds.....but the overhang on excess skin on my torso and behind my knees is really interfearing with my life... I know it's too soon for plastic surgery.......anyone have some ideas???

WOW!  You are doing great!  Unfortunately there is not much you can do...But definitely go to the doctor and have any and ALL rashes and problems (like this) documented...It helps later for insurance to help pay for excess skin removeable later...(if your insurance will pay for it at all)   As for the stomach...I had quite a loose flap going on the first year or two and I kept corn starch on it (no perfumes or additives) to help keep it dry where skin touched skin. (I was getting rashes and yeast infections under the flap.  I wore a binder (girdle type contraption the doctor gave me to hold things in place for nearly 8 months.  Little by little, the skin slowly over 3-4 years went back into place somehow...(Probably dumb luck) and a lot of exercise for certain. But skin is not muscle and if it's lost elasticity it's just not going to go back , unfortunately.  As for the knees...I guess I would try the same thing with corn starch...I know this sounds a little gross but if it gets really raw, you might try a little "Desitin" which is used for diaper rashes...It really helps if deter a bad rash.  I used it a lot in the first year.  Avoid lotion under any flaps and after showers make sure area is completely dry...that helps a little too...As for the excess skin being bothersome...You might see what the doc says about it if it's really bad for you. Chronic rashes and infections can make you very ill.  If you try to wrap your knees...Use a gauze since it "breathes" Good luck and what a great job you are doing!

I have tried a few products to lessen the appearance of loose skin.  The best so far has been the torso to thigh Spanx, which is about $68.00. It has 4 small straps that attach to your bra. This Spanx gives extra contol and is very comfortable, once you position all of the extra skin. LOL Actually... try to position the skin to look your best... it moves more than you may think and you can get a nice flat look with most shapers.  A knock-off, which is licensed by Spanx, is sold at Target under the name Assests. I found that the leg stitching releases and needs to be mended, but the look is pretty good for about $17.00.  I wear panty girdles that have a slightly higher top (just eye-ball one pair against another... no special brand) to conceal the "muffin top" effect. The body shapers are great, but some skirts may ride-up and the panty girdle is the way to go then. As for breasts, I wear a larger size that has broad side panel bra so that the extra skin remains hidden. The smaller size bras have narrower panels and cause skin overflow problems for me. I wear Wal-Mart's Enhancements bra inserts, which cost about $17.00 to fill the hollow cup area. The Enhancements do NOT have adhesive, which is important to many WLS patients, as they sometimes notice a sensitivity to adhesives / bandaids.   I wear mostly 3/4 sleeves for the bat wings. I have found that skorts fit better than shorts after WLS, as I have had a body melt-down. TJMaxx sells a brand of jeans called Kikit Jeans that have fit my body through many stages / sizes. Since WLS, I've had a number of break-outs, which left brown marks on my face. I checked out a few products, which were over-priced. If you are trying to lighten scarred areas, you might want to purchase Porcelana, night fade cream at Wal-mart for about $5. It has the same active ingredient as the pricey versions. I use a lipstick brush to dab only the brown spots to get the best results.  Ro HW: 332+ SW: 274 CW: 130

If you find something, please let me know! Like you, I started really noticing the skin after I'd lost 100 pounds or so. Just all of a sudden, it was everywhere. The grossest part was when I took a bath one day, to lay there and relax. I looked down and it floats! All that loose skin floats to the top of the water. OMG, it was awful. A lot of people told me it would get a little better after a year or so, and with a lot of exercise, it does look a little better. Just a little.

Thanks for all that great info Do-Over 2... I had wondered about Spanx as I have heard them talked about quite a bit. Also Wanda, I can relate to the floating skin... it's absolutely godawful! I was thinking recently that the best I've looked naked in 6 years ironically was when I was pregnant recently because my skin actually "fit" again!! ...Honestly I have to laugh about it because if I didn't I'd probably cry...For those of us who plastic surgery is not an option, this can be a really difficult subject... probably the one thing that bothers me most about my appearance. Martha

Just a note on Spanx. and Assets.. The Spanx rear-end area is not as tight as its other areas and has a slight contour so that the wearer is given a nicer shaped bottom.  The Spanx has an opening between the legs so the garment does not have to be removed to use the bathroom.    Assests are not as binding / firming as the Spanx.  Assets stay in place without additional suspension tabs on a bra.  Basically, its fabric controls similar to wearing 2-3 pairs of control-top stockings.   Ro

Scott... Finally realized that you don't need the type of garments mentioned earlier... Oops...  Purchasing a light-weight support garment may really help with the excess skin.  The link below sells compression garments for post-PS.  They might also sell (or know who does sell) men's toning / control garments to meet your need.  Someone else mentioned this site on OH and it's in my PS "favorites" for later.  As your body will continue to "drop" sizes rapidly, it might be best to limit the amount of clothes that you purchase; outerwear or concealed support-wear. http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product/thigh_lift/garment/men /index.vm?procid=37&catid=489&subcatid=492  Congrats on the fantastic weight loss Ro