Skin Issue Question
Hello All, I just have a couple of questions. I am having my surgery (Sleeve) on April 12'th and to say I am nervous is a severe understatement! I was totally calm cool and collected until this morning when I got the call confirming my pre-op app. Question # 1 at my last app my Surgeon suggested I have the sleeve instead of the by-pass for a few reasons first one is my age andHe says there will be less ristrictions and possible complications down the road. So I am wondering if anyone else in this forum ran into the same thing. Second is loose/sagging skin issues. My surgeon and a few of the others in the gastric surgery department have all assured me that again due to my age and my size I weight 250 lbs and I am 5'5 there shouldnt me loose skin or if there is it will be minimal. they have also said because of my body shape ( I gained my weight all over not just in certain areas) it really shouldnt be an issue. I am just wondering if they are just trying to allay my fears pre-op. Has anyone had major skin issues who is about my size? Does anyone know if the sleeve oppsed to by-pass is slower or is there less weight loss? Anyway I would appreciate any feed back! thanx
Not sure how old you are but based on the fact that you are on this forum I am guessing you are in your 20s 
but to choose a surgery based on age seems a bit strange to me. I haven't had my surgery yet but I've spoken with many who have had different procedures and have done a lot of research. Make sure you pick a surgery you are comfortable with for the rest of your life. Make sure you've done research on all of the types available as it is better to think twice, cut once.
Any surgery has a chance of having complications. Make sure your surgeon is experienced in the procedure you are getting.
As for the excess skin, again I haven't had the procedure myself but I have spoken with a plastic surgeon before and he told me that it depends how fast you lose and how long you have been overweight. The way I see it is I'd rather be healthy and have excess skin than to be unhealthy and obese. There is always spanks that help hide it, creams that may or may not work, or skin removal surgery down the line.
Hope this helps and maybe others will chime in too.
but to choose a surgery based on age seems a bit strange to me. I haven't had my surgery yet but I've spoken with many who have had different procedures and have done a lot of research. Make sure you pick a surgery you are comfortable with for the rest of your life. Make sure you've done research on all of the types available as it is better to think twice, cut once. Any surgery has a chance of having complications. Make sure your surgeon is experienced in the procedure you are getting.
As for the excess skin, again I haven't had the procedure myself but I have spoken with a plastic surgeon before and he told me that it depends how fast you lose and how long you have been overweight. The way I see it is I'd rather be healthy and have excess skin than to be unhealthy and obese. There is always spanks that help hide it, creams that may or may not work, or skin removal surgery down the line.
Hope this helps and maybe others will chime in too.
I'll put it point blank....your surgeon is blowing smoke up your ass.
#1) Only YOU should decided what prodecure. Look over all 4! Pick a surgery THEN a surgeon. Most surgeons only do certain procedures. So a VSG doc wont advise the RNY or DS. Basically would you go a Cadillac dealer to buy a Toyota? I didnt let my surgeon pick my surgery I picked the surgery that I knew I could live with. And thats the big mistake many do. 99.9% of WLS surgeons dont have to live with the surgery they do, so you need to find what works for you. NOT what they tell you will work, only you really know you. Im 6.5+ years post-op DS. I regret nothing!
#2) Age has NOTHING to do with whether you skin will rebound. That is ALL GENETICS! Exercise doesnt "tone" loose skin either.
#1) Only YOU should decided what prodecure. Look over all 4! Pick a surgery THEN a surgeon. Most surgeons only do certain procedures. So a VSG doc wont advise the RNY or DS. Basically would you go a Cadillac dealer to buy a Toyota? I didnt let my surgeon pick my surgery I picked the surgery that I knew I could live with. And thats the big mistake many do. 99.9% of WLS surgeons dont have to live with the surgery they do, so you need to find what works for you. NOT what they tell you will work, only you really know you. Im 6.5+ years post-op DS. I regret nothing!
#2) Age has NOTHING to do with whether you skin will rebound. That is ALL GENETICS! Exercise doesnt "tone" loose skin either.
DS Aug 15th,2005 @ goal, living life and loving it.
"An Arabian will take care of its owner as no other horse will, for it has not only been raised to physical perfection, but has been instilled with a spirit of loyalty unparalleled by that of any other breed."
i'm 5'0 and started at 252, so shorter but around the same weight, and have a lot of skin. i was 24 when i had surgery so age meant nothing. (although i will say the majority of my weight was in my boobs and stomach and while they are the worst, i still have excess skin on my arms, and thighs).
<3 jen <3
<3 starting weight: 252 <3 goal weight: 135 <3 current weight: 151 <3
RNY: 9/27/10 <3 Extended Tummy Tuck w/hip & thigh lipo: 6/6/13
Well first of all, As one previous person said its your surgery so you ultimately decide what surgery you want. Just do some research. I actually had the same thing kind of happen. Originally I wanted the band but after consulting with my surgeon a few times I was thinking RnY and he suggested VSG (he said it would maybe be better because there are less complications, less invasive, and blah blah). I went home and did a little research and by the time I went back to him a few weeks later I decided to get the sleeve anyway lol I don't regret it at all though, I love it. So glad I didn't get the band...I was always kind of weirdly afraid of having a foreign object in my body...
Anyways as for the skin issue...once again, I agree with the previous replies it is ALL about genetics. Age can help some, yes but really each person's situation with excess skin will be different even if they are around the same size as you. Personally I started at a much higher pre-op weight than you, I was 324 at my highest and I'm 5'4. My doc said I probably wouldn't have too much issues with excess skin because of my age (I was 20 when I had the surgey I just 22 last month) but if I had some we would deal with it later down the road. Ummm yeah No. I definitely have bat wings and a lovely apron of wrinkly belly skin to owe to my surgery lol And exercise really will NOT shrink excess skin or make it go away. You may not have as much skin hanging as me since you are starting off smaller but really you won't know til you get there. So that is something to think about. My excess skin is not unbareable to live with but it is annoying when fitting into clothes and its not very pretty but luckily we live in a society where its not socially acceptable to walk around nude so no one has to see it but me :)
As far as comparing weightloss with the sleeve and the bypass, oblviously I wouldn't know for sure aboutt he bypass since I had a sleeve but I have been told that on average (though every person's experience is different) the bypass will help you lose a little more than the sleeve. I can't really speak to the rate at which weight is lost much but I think there are quick and "slower" losers in both camps. It depends not only on your surgery but on your body, your habits, and what now. I for one consider myself a slower loser as I've heard of many people losing 100 or more 1lbs in like 6 months post surgery (both sleevers and bypassers) but I'm only just getting to 132lbs lost now at 18 months post op. SO just do your research really, both are great surgeries for their purpose. They both have their downsides and upsides and risks of complication. You just have to figure which is best for you. I hope that was helpful and good luck getting ready for surgery. Whatever surgery you choose, remember its still just a tool and how well you do while utilizing it is all up to you.
Best wishes and if you ever have any questions or anything (sleeve or non sleeve related) feel free to ask. I'm by no means an expert or a poster child but I'm always glad to help :)
Anyways as for the skin issue...once again, I agree with the previous replies it is ALL about genetics. Age can help some, yes but really each person's situation with excess skin will be different even if they are around the same size as you. Personally I started at a much higher pre-op weight than you, I was 324 at my highest and I'm 5'4. My doc said I probably wouldn't have too much issues with excess skin because of my age (I was 20 when I had the surgey I just 22 last month) but if I had some we would deal with it later down the road. Ummm yeah No. I definitely have bat wings and a lovely apron of wrinkly belly skin to owe to my surgery lol And exercise really will NOT shrink excess skin or make it go away. You may not have as much skin hanging as me since you are starting off smaller but really you won't know til you get there. So that is something to think about. My excess skin is not unbareable to live with but it is annoying when fitting into clothes and its not very pretty but luckily we live in a society where its not socially acceptable to walk around nude so no one has to see it but me :)
As far as comparing weightloss with the sleeve and the bypass, oblviously I wouldn't know for sure aboutt he bypass since I had a sleeve but I have been told that on average (though every person's experience is different) the bypass will help you lose a little more than the sleeve. I can't really speak to the rate at which weight is lost much but I think there are quick and "slower" losers in both camps. It depends not only on your surgery but on your body, your habits, and what now. I for one consider myself a slower loser as I've heard of many people losing 100 or more 1lbs in like 6 months post surgery (both sleevers and bypassers) but I'm only just getting to 132lbs lost now at 18 months post op. SO just do your research really, both are great surgeries for their purpose. They both have their downsides and upsides and risks of complication. You just have to figure which is best for you. I hope that was helpful and good luck getting ready for surgery. Whatever surgery you choose, remember its still just a tool and how well you do while utilizing it is all up to you.
Best wishes and if you ever have any questions or anything (sleeve or non sleeve related) feel free to ask. I'm by no means an expert or a poster child but I'm always glad to help :)
HW/SW/CW/GW
324 /317 /170 /165 
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