so worried about excess skin!

Just tell me one thing. If I lost the weight naturally (no surgery) would the excess skin be as bad. I thought the excess skin would be less if you had the lapband but our doctor said during a meeting that it hasnt been proven that you have less with the lapband than you do with the gastric bypass. I have to admit that is the one and only reason stopping me from having the surgery.

I look at it this way -- just one of my battle scars. I will eventually have plastic surgery to remove the skin to complete my process but its something you just have to know will happen. There are some that are lucky and don't get too much. I can say that at 101lbs lost since surgery mine is not really bad except for my batwings on my arms which I already had due to stretching my skin out before and loosing weight. I would rather have the extra skin in a heart beat than carry around that extra weight.

just one thing all this makes me say "oh my God what have I done to my body?"

Please don't let the fear of excess skin deter you from having this surgery that has saved so many of us. I lost a total of 193 pounds and had lots of skin, it wasn't pretty and I'm not going to lie I hated it, but I definitely hated being obese more. I have now had extensive plastics and couldn't be happier. Good luck to you!

That's one of the things I'm worried about too but my surgeon already told me I'll be having a panectomy so I'm expecting the after stuff.

The only thing I have to ask. Did it hurt a lot? Getting the skin removed? I heard it's a pain like no other. I'm sure incredibly worth it but having experienced horrible long term pain before it's something that really worries me.

-Annie

i am worried about it too!!  my dr said there really is no way to avoid it. i heard if you excercise a lot your skin wont be as bad.
i am giving that part a try. like the about post i can get the skin off, but i am so uncomfortable now i jsut want to get this weight off so i can live better.

I had the lap-band last August, I have lost 115 lbs including pre-op and I have wrinkly skin more than actual excess, and I am nearly at goal.  I lost weight quickly with the band and my skin is just as bad as RNY or DS at my size.  I could use a TT but it isn't uncomfortable or physically difficult to wear in clothes or anything like that.

I have lost about 110 since surgery. The majority of my excess skin is around my torso. It's not that bad, for a number of reasons: I exercised A LOT, I drink my water...I have never been a smoker, I'm still in my 30's (relatively young)...and I think some of it is just my genes. I notice that women of color have a little more stretch in their skin.

However, I would take on DOUBLE the extra skin instead of living another day as an obese person.  Don't let the possibilty of something that might not even happen keep you from a healthy life of freedom. 

 

I had RNY on January 12.  I've lost 63 pounds so far.  I've been exercising and lifting weights like crazy but have noticed now that my arms are a little droopy.  I know I'm still early in the process and I was wondering if the hanging skin ever improved when people were at their goal weight? 

I lost 105 lbs in 2005 from eating healthy and exercising my butt off! lol.. I did still have loose sagging skin, but it really was not so bad.  It was mostly my belly area and inner thighs.  No matter how many crunches I did the belly would not go away.  This time around I am def still planning on weight training, but that does not get rid of excess skin.  I look at it this way I would rather have some excess saggy skin than be overweight and unhealthy