Question:
how will i look after loosing all my weight?
i am 40 yrs old and 6 feet at 300 lbs. i am going for the lapband,after waitnig 2 yrs for approval. anyone out there when we loose the weight does your body look like a deflated balloon? besides cos. surg. what can be done to provent this. — ihatebeingfat11 (posted on August 14, 2008)
August 14, 2008
I've lost 95 pounds so far and am about 10 pounds away from goal. A lot of
it depends on your genetics. If you have fairly elastic skin, you might
end up with less loose skin than other people. The key things to maximize
skin shrinkage are keeping yourself hydrated both inside and out, exfoliate
regularly and EXERCISE.
— Shirley D.
August 14, 2008
If you are under the age of 45 and your starting body mass is under 50 BMI
then you will most likely not need to have plastic surgery to remove the
excess skin from weight loss. There are other factors that may play into
this. If you are a Sun Worshiper (IE: if you spent a good portion of your
life in the sun getting a tan or went to tanning salons) you may have
damaged your skin's ability to rebound and it may not be elastic enough to
shrink. You may require surgery even if you fall into the category above.
There are those that have genetic issues that would keep them from having
skin that is elastic enough to rebound and not need surgery. There are
other possible issues that would keep the skin from rebounding, but I am
not an expert on the subject and you would need to consult with a plastic
surgeon or a skin care expert about this to learn more. I only know this
because my wife is a Nurse Practitioner, and she researched the subject
when she was looking at the surgery for ME. This is what she discovered
and told me when she made her discovery. There is no NEED to have the skin
removed after weight loss. The issue is usually a matter that is
considered a cosmetic problem and not a health risk.
I hope this helps,
Hugh
— hubarlow
August 14, 2008
I don't know your target wt you want to reach, but starting at 300 pounds,
it may be difficult to get down to 200 with a lapband. From hearing
lectures by a renown plastic surgeon, lapband is a surgery designed for
60-80 lb wt loss, and takes up to 2 years. Some do get a little over 100
pounds, but you have to be very regimented in your eating and exercise. I
was 345, and 6' 3" in ht. I wanted to get to around 225. I only
considered the RNY because of this. Also if you have type II diabetes, this
disease goes away within 2-3 months in about 85% of patients, maybe more.
Lapband won't have success in this department. Exercise, genetics, and age
are all factors in how much skin hangs around after wt loss. The younger
you are, the more elasticity is in your skin, and the better chances of not
having as much hanging skin. Nothing can be done to prevent it--you can do
what you can by exercising to help the situation. Some patients do have
plastics, some don't--it's a personal decision, another operation, and
likely it will have to be paid for by you, because insurance companies
normally do not cover cosmetic surgeries. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
August 14, 2008
It does all depend on the individual person. Some people's skin goes back
to firm without surgery. As everyone else stated, it depends.
Contrary to some thoughts, it is very possible to lose 100+ pounds with lap
band surgery. I had my Lapband on7/7/08 and have lost 45 lbs already. I
have had two fills and feel great. In my support group and on other
websites, I know many people who have lost 100+ with adjustable lapband.
It may take longer than other WLS but it is adjustable so that if you stop
losing or start gaining, you can get an adjustment. You cannot stretch
your pouch like with other surgeries so you keep it off easier and there is
less chance for needing surgical revisions. It is also MUCH LESS INVASIVE
than any other WLS.
Statistics prove all this. Do some investigating. I did a lot before I
was banded. Feel free to ask me anything else.
— barb12590
August 14, 2008
I am a 62 year old Male that has lost over 120 Lbs since surgery 8 months
ago and 40 lbs prior to RNY WLS. I have saging skin on my arms and upper
legs, but not as bad as I expected. My stomach has no sagging skin because
of water, over 100 oz a day since surgery and EXERCISE! I excercise 6 days
a week for more than one hur each day. I watch my diet very carfully and
make sure that 70 percent of my calories come from protien, lean protien,
and the balance from fruit and vegatables. I still eat almost no carbs. I
find that any carbs can make you tired, and in my care, much harder to do
my excercise routine. Also you are much younger and there will be a better
chance for your skin to respond on your arms and legs with proper
excercise. Best of success to you!
— William (Bill) wmil
August 14, 2008
Well, I have to disagree with Dave C.'s response - - you can lose the
weight with the lapband and it DOES cure diabetes. I was banded on April
29, 2008 and was discharged on April 30th - all ready off my diabetes and
fluid meds. As of two weeks ago, I was taken off my blood pressure and
cholesterol meds. An acquaintance of mine who had lapband done two years
ago is well past the 100 pound mark and is still losing. Lapband may not
be as fast as RNY but it is as successfull as RNY and the sleeve - people
need to support each other's choices instead of slamming them. Good luck
with your new journey in life, you will succeed at losing the weight and
toning up.
— Monte57
August 15, 2008
THIS IS THE BEST ARTICLE EVER!!!! Please read it:
http://www.ehow.com/printarticle.html?id=2135049
Oh and I started at 390 with a LapBand and I'm down 42 pounds in less than
4 months. Congratulations on your approval.
— Maranathas
August 15, 2008
Some of us have more memory in our skin or we have very elastic skin that
snaps back fairly well. Chances are if you have a lot of damaged skin
(stretch marks) it will always be looser in those areas...If you've been MO
most of your life, that too can mean your skin is just stretched beyond
where it would fit like a glove. I have loose skin around my legs and arms
because those were always my trouble areas even as a kid. I am 5'4 and 165
lbs...Down 150 lbs from 315+lbs. It took a good 2 years before my skin
tightened up. I could not exercise for 6 months because I had open RNY and
bad arthritis in my knees. (Walked with a cane) I did whatever I could
though. Once I began swimming, my muscles and skin just began to firm
finally. And my arthritis went away completely! RARE mild flares now and
then.... I had a belly FLAP for two years...and I upped my protein and
began weights and toning (I do not jump or run, not on my knees!) My tummy
is jiggly...and a little round and even wrinkly near birth-stretchmarks on
my lower belly, but it is quite a nice toned belly. A lot can be hidden in
a tiny pair of panties too! LOL Muscle inproves the look of your
physique...but some of us are just stretched in odd places that just will
not go back. It's quite unfortunate, but can be fixed/ improved with
costly surgery.(usually out of pocket...Just start saving if it worries
you) If you end up not needing surgery....use the money for new clothes!
I never expected perfection. I just wanted my health back. And I would have
been happy to weight 200 lbs and be rid of my pain and
comorbidities.....but I did get quite lucky and much of it is dumb luck and
good genes, I guess....But I did work HARD to tone up muscles and I think
it shows. You've got a foot on my height and less weight too. I was 39
when I had my surgery almost 4 years ago....I think I look better now at 44
than at 34...Getting older by the day though! EEK!
— .Anita R.
August 15, 2008
I am 48 years old and 6'1". Before I had my gastric bypass on May 6 I
weighed 289, so I'm not too different from you. There's not too many women
6 feet tall!!! I've lost 60 lbs and want to get down to about 180 lbs. I
wore clothes in size 22-26, and now I'm wearing size 18-22 (I am
pear-shaped). So far my upper arms are a bit flabby, and every where else
is loose, too. I have been walking 1-3 miles several times a week for
exercise. I plan on joining a gym or exercise studio to get my muscles
toned up asap.
I don't know if I will have plastic surgery; I guess I will have to cross
that bridge when I come to it.
Ultimately I knew beforehand that this would happen, but I wanted to
improve my health and stop being obese!!! Good luck with your plans!
Therese
— therese H.
August 15, 2008
Just wanted to say to the lapband doubter ..I am 10 months out from having
my band and have lost 110 pounds. It very much CAN be done, I know plenty
of banders who have lost more than me. It takes being disciplined and
dedicated but you can achieve amazing results with the band even if you
need to lose more than 60-80 pounds!
— HoosierDoula
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