Younger Results

Hi all,

I was banded last Tuesday and so far feel great!  I had a friend banded about 5 years ago and he lost a total of 150 lbs and today you can't even tell. No loose skin or anything. I am wondering if anyone out there has successfully hit there goal weight and has a similar story, he says it's because we are all so young (i'm 24) and our body's are more elastic.  I know it is so superficial and I shouldn't be worrying about the cosmetic effects after i hit my goal weight but i can't get it out of my mind. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't say it's superficial at all! Looks are important to anyone but especially to us being young and sexually motivated, etc. :P From what I hear the amount of skin depends on a lot of things. How big you were when you started the weight loss, how young you are, how elastic your skin is (depends on genetics), and some even say the amount of exercise you do will help tighten it up. I've also heard compression garments and certain vitamins may help. It depends I guess how much it matters to you what you want to do about it. Either way you could do everything you can and still have some sag cause of the first factors. I think in general the outlook for people as young as we are is pretty good though and even if it is a little saggy it's not too bad. I think a while back someone posted pictures of their bare tummy here a year or so after surgery? Maybe they could post again for you to see. Whoever it was looked really good! As for me personally I'm hoping to wear a bikini some day but I'll be okay if I can't

Nobody really agrees on the answer to that...
I think it really just depends on genetics, stretch marks, and how much excess weight you actually carried...
For me, my "excess" was spread out pretty evenly...at 5'11" my whole body was a problem area...so my weight loss (just like my gain had been) was pretty even...after losing 140 pounds, I don't really have the "loose skin"....nothing needs any surgical assistance to look normal...I'm still losing, so that could all change in the future....but for now, I'm thrilled when I get PM's asking if I've had a tummy tuck or arm lift because I look normal...yaay!

would it be the same story if I waited til I was 35 0r 45 to have done this???...I don't know....but by then I could have been 100 pounds heavier and beyond help to ever look normal...so perhaps that's where age is an advantage...

good post!
xxxbecca

the longer you take to lose, the younger you are, the better your genes are, and how you take care of your skin are the factors that really influence this question. Exercise helps. A LOT. I'm right in the middle of my journey, but if my body has this amount of skin when I'm 30 lbs lighter I'm definitely not having PS. my arms are flabby, but my stomach is okay- it's definitely not the most attractive but it doesn't look like gross or like I've lost 75 lbs.

Congrats on your band. Don't be a stranger

Ann

I am 24 and have lost 95lbs in 11 months with the band. My skin is a tiny bit loosy goosy, but not a huge deal. It's tightening up with time and exercise. I am positive that it will tighten up even more in the years to come! Our age helps!!

Yeah I think most everyone covered everything, but I think a lot has to do with stretch marks. I notice that the areas where I had stretch marks are really...loose. Gross even. So sad!

But the pay off is a lot better.

And I don't think it's superficial at all! We are young!! It's important to us how we look...we have a lot of living to do in this body and having that extra flappy skin is just something that would bring our self confidence down. But like everyone said there are ways to at least minimize that damage.

Exercise and water is huge, so I'm hearing. So I'm gonna live by that rule for sure! 

What are your stretchmarks like? those areas will never be the same again without plastics.  I had two babies, my stomach is shot to hell!! But I think even if i were skinny when pregnant it would have been shot to hell.  I know I will need that done.  I am hoping my butt, thighs and arms bounce back (to an extent at least)  Boobs are another story.  I do not want gramma boobies!!   I breast fed both of my kiddos so I am not expecting miracles w/o plastics there either.  My hubby is not to thrilled every time he hears me talk about plastics... he just sees dollar signs floating from his wallet LOL!

I told him that I know myself and i will just hate myself still w/out looking the way i imagine.  I know I will never be a model but i would like to feel beautiful  - he totally gets that and is behind me 100% I feel pretty lucky!

I've never even been pregnant but I have stretch marks. What do they do to get rid of them anyhow?

Nothing gets rid of them - other than cutting them off, and even then you cannot get rid of them all.  They can fade with time -new marks tend to be red but they lighten up to skin color in time.  but they are always there.  This is why I know I will need to have at least a tummy tuck in the end.

stretch marks are just your skin not being able to accomidate the growth/shrinking fast enough. it doesn't have to be when you're pregnant. once you get them, I don't think there's much you can do. water is one of the only preventions, and not gaining/losing too fast (but who has much control over that). Also, some of the pregnancy books I read said vitamin e, but I think the results will be minimal if at all. Some things we just can't control :(