Skin after WLS in your 30's

I just turned 30 this week (thank you very much lol).  How did you all do with skin after your surgery?  I am a 42 BMI but curious on how everyone is doing in or around this BMI as well... thanks, Lyns

My BMI was higher and I was thinking before surgery that I would not have skin removal.  175 lbs later I know I will have to have it.  I still have to lose another 100 lbs but the skin is sagging!  Best of luck and I hope with your lower BMI you do not:)

skin sagging depends on several things.  Your age, your skin type, how much you weighed to begin with and how long you were at that weight.  If you lose over 100lbs, chances are you will have some saggy skin.

I'm 37 and about 1 1/2 years post op.  I lost 130lbs, now weighing between 165-170lbs (I'm 5'9").  My BMI was 46 now like 28-29.  First thing I lost was the boobs... was DD now B/C.  That was a pretty odd thing for me, so I'm pretty droopy in that dept.  As far as skin, I have some on my belly and I notice my inner thighs, around my knees and upper arms a bit of what I would call loose skin, nothing that makes me feel I need to have surgery, but to some I suppose that could be the case.  I don't get any infections, in fact I had more 'rub rashes' when I was heavy then I do now.   My personal decision was to just deal with it.  I've talked to several who've had the plastic surgery's and pain seems much worse then RNY was.  I opt to stay out of a hospital if I can help it! Good luck! Renee

Do you mean with reagrds to future surgery.Or do you mean skin dryness etc...?

I'm 5'11.5 almost 6' tall, and my thighs look awful.  They don't look as awful as some of the pictures I've seen, but I can't wear a bathingsuit with those wrinkles.  My arms are ok.  I need an inner thigh lift and a tummy tuck.  My breasts are liveable.

For me, I was a heavy weight and knew that there would be no sprining back of the skin for me.  I'm at 128.5lbs lost so far and already my skin is looking pretty bad.  I know that to correct the damage I will need a considerable amount of plastic surgery.  For me, because of the weight I started at, my age didn't help me as far as skin elasticity.  BUT, I do think my face, double chin area, is springing back decently.  :) I suggest you check out public profiles at makemeheal.com There are many post-op, pre-plastics bariatic pictures on the site that you can look at.  That may give you a better idea of what peoples skin looks like. Good luck!

I've been pretty blessed in the loose/lack of loose skin department.  I was 5'7 and 270 pounds pre-op.  Don't get me wrong, there are issues, but not like other WLS loose skin I've seen.  I don't know if it's because of age, but if it is then I'm glad I had my WLS in my 30's!  My REAL problem area was my midsection, and I'm 5 weeks out from a tummy tuck so that is all taken care of.  The excess skin that I have elsewhere isn't too bad and I think will firm up a bit over time.  Here is a pre-plastics picture of my abdomen, I was 138 in this picture.

	Sharing with: Everyone Before TT from my PS, May 2008	Uploaded: May 14, 2008   SEND   DELETE

There's a hernia there too, but you get the picture on how bad it was.  It was very manageable with Spanx, and no one that saw me thought I had skin issues at all, thanks to the power of my awesome Spanx.  The tummy tuck has solved my biggest problem, I'm working on acceptance with the rest of my skin.  Here is a picture at one week out of my tummy tuck I need to do an update picture now at 5 weeks out, the tape is all off and the swelling is going down big time!  It feels so amazing and makes me feel so much better about my body.  Like I said, it isn't that bad at all.  I've heard people say that it's hereditary the way some of our skin bounces back, I've heard it depends on how long we've been obese, whatever the reasons, you'll not know how your skin will be until after your loss.  Lori

Ok, so I turned 30 back in January so I feel your pain. It's a big number to swallow. I just had my initial consult and I brought this up with my doc. I am 47.7 BMI and expressed concern about sagging skin following surgery. She told me it was a possibility but that working out and lifting weights would give the best shot of not having this happen as a side effect. I am skeptical however and if I were you I would resign myself to the good possibility that this is going to be a post-op issue. However, the way I see it, I'm gonna be healthier and maybe even skinny! I'm happy about those prospects! And I don't know many people that would forgo and opportunity like WLS because of the sagging skin possibility. Good luck. Peace, Tim 

I've got the loose skin.....but something strange is also happening.....I go through periods where the loose skin gets a "numb feeling" ......started around the belly area....now it's down by my left thigh.....the feeling doesn't last all day.....but it's completely weird......I'm not anywhere close to goal....so I'm not sure how I feel abt. plastics....I too heard abt. the pain.....but the results are Fabulous!!!!!