Extra Skin

I have talked with a bunch of people (friends & family) who have had RNY, and they keep telling me that since I'm young (33), the extra skin will "shrink" back compared to if I were older.

Does that make sense?  I'm just wondering if I should expect the same results as someone older?

I'm starting to get closer to the point where they'll give me my date.  I've completed my sleep study, xray, ultrasound, ekg, pft, blood work, pt, psychologist, dietician & (anti-)sleep study.  I have the behavior modification class left, and then hopefully wrap things up to get a surgery date.  

So, before I get there, I figured I'd ask, just to see what I should expect.

TIA!

I have always heard the same thing,Older skin has alot more damage in general so that does make sense.I think it all depends on how you carry your weight and all that.I know mine is worse in my tummy and my arms... but the more I workout and stuff the better it is looking.And I feellike since I started using lotion alot more it is making a differance as well. All and all I feel alittle lose skin is worth it.Good luck to you:)

 Is there a specific brand of lotion you use, or some sort of ingredient to look for in lotion, that helps? Thanks!

sounds crazy, and I havnt looked into it yet, but Ive heard from a friend that wrinkle cream will help tighten the skin....something with Retinoic acid ...aka retin a


I think you can also get a high dose of retin a from a dr...im going to research it a little more but I think its  what ill be putting on my tummy, inner highs and arms soon (I have about 9-12months before date) till I loose the weight.


It worked for my friend...or she just has awesome skin, and it would have turned out that way with or without the cream..hard to say.

 Thanks! I'll have to look into that. I had been on Retin A in my teens (For acne) and it turns out that pure plain ol' Retin A is too harsh for my skin - or at least it was then. Might stick with a wrinkle cream instead of going for the pure stuff. Thanks for the info :)

 I will be honest with you.  The surgery is great and it will be so much better for your health.  I now know that they have us see psychologists for a reason.  The process happens so quickly that it can be challenging mentally, especially when it comes to extra skin.  I was 376 when I had my surgery at 25 years old.  My biggest problem to date is trying to cope with the extra skin.  Nobody else really seems to notice, but I do.  Maybe this is only my personal experience, but don't expect it to "shrink" back.  It will definitely move along with your body size, but there will more than likely be extra skin.  Don't let it discourage you from your surgery though...that is the best thing ever.  I would do it again 100 times if I had to.  Good luck!

 Thank you so much for replying (sorry it took so long for me).

I just finished my pre-op classes, now it's time to meet with the doctor, and then hopefully get my date.  The lotion is a great idea that I will definitely use.  

The extra skin is something that I seem to be most concerned with, and want to do whatever I can to help tighten it up.  I'm not a vain person, but man, would I love to just go out & mow my lawn without my shirt on, or play some basketball & be on the skins team finally.

Thanks again for the info.  Greatly appreciated!

When you first start losing the weight the skin will sag quite a bit but it does tighten up over time.  Will it be nice and smoothe?  Probably not.  I can say that since my surgery my stomach skin isn't tight but it isn't as terrible as I thought it would be. 

I'm not too worried about it not being smooth.  I'm just wondering if I'll have this flap of skin for the rest of my life.  If so, it's something I'll deal with as a "side effect" of the surgery...there's always under armor shirts :)

Just curious & wondering what to expect.

Thank you!!!

 Came across this post and was reading all the replies and responses that was left for you, and in my honest opinion it depends how u as an individual carry you weight before hand.. I honestly don't think anyone above 350 will really and honestly bounce back to that body we once adore. I say this because if u have been a more healthier person than the so called norm..our skin has been stretched beyond it limits for quite some time. I was 500lbs in Mar 2010. then Mar 2011 382 and date of surgery I was weighting at 387 (feb 1, 2012) and honestly i am not looking for my skin to be as is was before hand. But, i did inquire with Dr and he explain to me that in (Georgia) medicaid will pay to have the excess skin removed with a yr or 2. hope this help u out.