Question:
Does any long terms find that they tan better since WLS?

I am fair skinned, and do not get real dark, but I never tan on my legs, especially from the knee down. I was wondering does loosing weight have any effect on this? I know some may think, after WLS, that being able to take the heat better would cause me to be out in the sun more, thus getting a better tan. But honestly no matter how long I am in the sun I do not tan. I know all of the health issues, and am not a sun-aholic. I would just like to get a little color on my legs if possible. I have noticed that in the before and after pics that a lot of post ops are very tan. Is it the weight loss, or do the just feel more comfortable in the sun?    — [Anonymous] (posted on August 2, 2001)

August 2, 2001
I don't think the weight loss will make a difference in how you tan - if you didn't before you probably won't after. I'm 11 months post-op and yesterday I wore a blue skirt and red top. Everyone kidded me that my white legs rounded off the patriotic look! Of course I live in Phoenix where it's TOO hot to stay out in the sun very much. I am also very concerned about skin cancer as my sister had a melanoma. No tan is worth what she went through!
   — georgiacarol

August 2, 2001
i was 300+ for 5 years and in that time i could not get a tan. before that when i was in the 210-250 range i could tan very easily. i don't know if losing weight really helped me tan better, but it sure did seem like it. now i am 8 weeks post-op and back in the 260's (-47) and am starting to tan again, and i am definately getting darker than i could 5 months ago.
   — Andrea T.

August 2, 2001
yes I remember the tanning booth days when my fat hips hung over the sides of the bed thus making my tan striped. Now I'm heavier and wouldn't dream of laying in the tanning bed nor could I withstand the heat. My legs don't tan from the knees down either. It seems to me that when I was smaller it was easier. Try a tanning exelorater(sp) that seeme to work real well for me. Now on the other hand, I don't tan any more. I am white as a ghost.And thats from being scolded so badly by my dermatologist. He made me take a prescription for NO TANNING back to the store and turn in my subscription to the booth. He said that a tanning booth is a whole lot worse than just laying in the sun. That may be something to think about when you are deciding where to get your sun from. :)
   — K T.

August 2, 2001
I can't see any connection between weight loss and baking your skin. Why would you want to go through the risks or wls, ostensibly, to get healthier and then put yourself at a higher risk for skin cancer???? If you want some color, buy one of the bronzers that are on the market.
   — [Anonymous]