Skin Issues...

OK, I've seen and heard all about the "saggage" issues afterwards but most people I have talked to have been much older and have been very large for quite some time. My questions is this: I am 28, 400 lbs and 6 ft 3 in tall. Being that "we" are younger and maybe haven't been as heavy for as long, are the skin sagging problems as much as an issue?? Obviously, my hope is that it is not, but just want to be realistic. Anyone have any photos (men, particularly) who are of maybe the same build and age who can show what they did (or are) dealing with? Thanks Blake

Blake, Hi! Well the realistic view is that yes your going to have loose skin. Most likely quite a bit too. Our age plays a minimal part in our sking going back. Think about it your carrying around the weight of another person and your going to loose weight rapidally especially being male they loose faster. So my best suggestion is to start saving for plastic surgery. I'm sorry I don't have any pictures of my skin. I'm 6'0 26 yrs old and have lost 144 lbs. I have a ton of loose wrinkly skin. Best of luck to you! Michelle

Hiya Blake. Everyone's skin issues are different. As far as I'm concerned, age plays a very *tiny* part in the whole scheme of things. (I am 21 years old, never had children... My breasts are far far lower (saggier) than my 53 year old mother's are. And she had (and breast fed!) 4 children!) So yeah, it's bad. You have about 200 pounds to lose. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less, depending on your personal goals/preferences. I HAVE read about people who started *light* weight training as soon as they could after surgery, and *****ally really were serious about NOT getting plastic surgery. They have not. Yes, they do have loose skin, but their philosophy about it was: work out as much as possible to try to reduce it, and then live with the result. For me, personally, I know no matter how much I work out now at this point, my arms, breasts, and tummy (I'm thinking backside too) are too far gone. lol I'm currently working on myself: WLS is such a HUGE emotional change, it's not even funny. As I'm doing that, and the weight is slowly coming off, I also plan on saving some money for my plastic surgery. (Which will be in Brazil when the time comes. Hopefully after marriage and children... But hopefully soon! lol) Best of luck to you, Blake. Remember, you will have some sort of reminder that your body was obese at one point in time. Whether that is saggy skin, or plastic surgery scars... Just try to lessen it however much you can, and forget about the rest! PS) It also depends on where you carry the bulk of your weight. Is your waist/tummy big but your legs and arms are pretty much normal? Then yeah, you'd have a tummy-skin hang/flap. Which, being a man, certain *acts* will be a bit easier to perform if that is gone. hehe ;o) (Or, being a woman too I guess... that way I won't have to hold mine up and out of the way while I'm trying to be sexy! haha) Amanda in Akron (Ohio)

Thanks Michelle and Amanda. I pretty much knew the answer but wishful thinking never hurts! I am planning on staying active as much as possible after surgery. I currently do a bout 2 miles a night walking on the treadmill but want to incorporate lifting again whenever the doc gives the ok... I carry most of my weight in my belly and thighs so it could be an interesting result... Thanks again

Blake, My dad had RYN in Dec. 2004 and lost 160 lbs. He's 50+ but his body has adjusted really well. Guys have so much less skin issues than women, really. He's got a little looser skin around the under arm area that's really all that is noticable. He's somewhere around 6 ft. and started surgery at 350 lbs. - not too far away from where you are now. I will say that the guys in my support group who weight lift right after surgery have the best post-opp bodies, that's for sure! But then, we all *know* exercise is good for us, right? -Kari

Hello Blake. I am almost 7 months post op and have lost 118 pounds. I am starting to see skin issues now. My dad has two male friends that have lost a lot of weight. One had gastric bypass and the other didn't, however, they both have skin problems. I also thought that youth would be on my side, but it's not. I don't exercise like I am supposed to either, but that is my fault. I would say the key is exercise, but at some point, when you're so big, I think you will have some skin reguardless. When I was working out, I realized that and that's probably why I don't do it as much anymore. Good luck! ~clarissa~

Hey, Blake. My name is Zed. Check this dude out: http://babybassethound81381.tripod.com/index.html I've been reading his site for awhile, now. He's one of my inspirations in doing this thing especially since were so close in weight if not in height (I'm 6'). Hopefully this helps.

I just had my lap-band surgery last week. Since I had to fork out $11,000 I'm hoping that I'll lose slow enough that if I work out I won't need plastic surgery. ;) Kristin 3/8/06 Highest: 298 Surgery: 261 Current: 251 Goal: 140