Question:
Will I HAVE to have plastic surgery?

I would like to hear from those who have had WLS and have their expected body results without plastic surgery. I feel I am going to be putting my family through so much for the WLS that I don't ever want to have surgery again after. Is a firm and healthy body possible w/o more surgery?    — Jennifer C (posted on January 25, 2002)

January 24, 2002
Not EVERYONE needs plastic surgery. It depends on a lot of factors - your age, how heavy you are before surgery, how long have you been heavy? The older you are, the less elasticity your skin will have naturally. The heavier you are, and if you've been heavy for a long time, it's unrealistic to expect that skin to snap back to it's original firmness. Exercise will help to a certain extent. Keeping your skin hydrated with a good moisturizer will also help. I'll happily trade my excess weight for some excess skin right now. I'll worry about the excess skin further down the road. Good luck!
   — Pam S.

January 24, 2002
I am asking myself those same questions at 7 months post-op open RNY. started at 266 at 5ft 4in and have now lost 100 pounds! Very excited and feeling great, but some saggy skin.My doc also echoed Barb's opinion about our lower BMIs and that he expected me to not need surgery. At this point as I have started to analyze "how I look" compared to others at the gym...my triceps are loose as are most women's so I don't think I stand out too much there. My abdomen is loose, but I did have 4 c-sections so it will never be the same anyway (Ha!) and I have lost 14 12 inches in my waist. My chin is a little loose, but my sister who is 44 and 18 months older than me said hey look at mine...it's loose too! My thighs seem a little loose and noticeable to me, but I have lost 7 inches there and I think they will firm up. Overall, I told my husband this morning I am feeling okay with it and he said that whatever I want to do down the line is fine with him, insurance or not. I still am in the ind set that you mentioned about not wanting more surgery...I have seen the plastic surgery pics on this website and I am not interested (yet).. too soon to think of recovery again. I wish you the best and email me f you have further questions.
   — Molly S.