New-ish to the forum

Hello everyone! I am a 22 year old looking into having WLS in the next year. I have posted on here before but it has been a while. I just wanted to ask a few questions to all of you 20-somethings out there.  After surgery, can I still have a few drinks? (I'm still young and like to cut loose sometimes!) Will my skin tighten better than someone who is older? I want to have children in about 5 years, is there a problem that I may encounter? This is all that I can think of right now. I hope that someone can help me out! Thanks, Nikki

Hey Nikki, Whether or not you can drink after surgery is up to your doctor.  Most surgeons allow a few here and there, but it's empty calories, so not something you should be doing daily.  Your skin will tighten better than an older person, but how much it'll tighten, no one knows.  Having babies in 5 years shouldn't be a problem, but depending on your surgery, some adjustments may need to be done.  Example, if you have lap band surgery, like I did, you'll need your band to be completely deflated so you can consume enough food for you and the baby.  Good luck!!

I concur....good answers....sounds to me like with those specific set of concerns, I might lean towards lap-band for the following reasons: The way we absorb and process alchohol differently with RNY wouldn't be an issue - although you will still need to weigh the pros and cons of consuming excess empty calories and the effect that will have on your weight loss goals and focus...personally, I think it is OK as long as you are smart about it and don't make it a daily habit or a "transfered addiction" If you are worried about your skin, the slower loss with the band may help decrease the likelihood of excess skin, but in most cases it is probably unavoidable. And if you want to have children down the road, although they say it is safe after RNY once your weight has stablilized, I would feel more comfortable knowing I could just have the fluid removed from my band and not have to worry about eating and absorbing adequate ammounts for the me and my baby... ....and if the band doesn't get you the results you want, you can always get a revison to a RNYor Duodenal Switch....although, the insurance company may or may not pay, so the cost could be prohibitive....just some things to think about and discusss with your surgeon as you weigh (no pun intended =)   ) your options... Good luck and welcome (back) to our forum!

Thanks, I was just wondering about the loose skin in people closer to my age. I know that it won't be avoided. I am willing to have surgeries in the end to get the best end result. I am kind of leaning away from the lap band all together. I just do not think that it is for me. I dont want to have a port in me and all that. I am sure that its great for some, but it kind of scares me.

Well I am a little over 3 months post op from RNY. I had the saem concern as you have. I have not had alcohol and don't plan to tell I am a year out. And by then I plan to be ttc so I still probably wont. You can have a healthy pregnancy post op I've talked to lots of people who have.  I think alcohol should just be on a rear occation and once you are post op quite a ways. Just my opinion.  The skin, well I can tell mines hangy already. I think the younger you are ya it may be a little better then if you were older but everyone is different.

Thanks so much for the advice. I mean I don't want anyone to think that I am a drunk, but I will have a drink on special occasions (bdays, weddings, etc). I will have to ask around and see what people have had to do when they were pregnant after WLS.