Question:
Is there anything A pt can do prior to surgery to minimize the skin sagging.

I am a few months from getting a surgery date. I was wondering if there is something that one of you have tried that worked on minimizing the sagging of skin. on either the under arms or where ever. Thanks for reading!! Julie    — Julie W. (posted on May 20, 2008)

May 20, 2008
Nothing you can really do until the weight loss starts. Exercise is the most important thing, along with proper hydration.
   — Shirley D.

May 20, 2008
There are many factors that determine how much skin will be sagging.... 1. Age (the older you are the less elasaticity 2. Genetics (nothing u can do about this) 3. The amount of weight u have to lose...if your arms are huge and u lose to your goal weight then chances are u will have saggy skin there) Exercise, eating right and using lotion will all help though. Chris
   — cjjordan

May 20, 2008
Not to disagre with my friends, but there is nothing that can be done to prevent skin sagging because skin elasticity is determined by genetics and the length of time and extent to which it was stretched. From my own experience, I dropped over 250 pounds within my first 11 months (having been morbidly obese for over 10 years prior to surgery)-- my face looks as normal as it can (no hanging jowls), I only needed to have a few pounds removed during a panniculectomy (part of hernia surgery) and don't have a problem with bat wings (as that fat seems to have shifted). Of course, staying hydrated will improve general skin healthy, but won't necessarily preclude over-stretched redundant skin from sagging after a significant weight loss.
   — SteveColarossi

May 20, 2008
I have to agree 100% with the first to replies that you received. Focus on what you are going to do after surgery, don't weight until you are home feeling under the weather from surgery to start planning for the gym, a personal trainer, what are you going to eat and what will it taste like. Learn to take 100Oz. of water a day now, and do it every day. Try the liquid diet as a meal and then try some stage two and three and four meals so you know what you like and what you are going to want to have in stock. Skin will only react as you lose weight. If you are under 35, you most likely will not have an issue if you follow the diet , water, and excersize.
   — William (Bill) wmil

May 20, 2008
The best thing you can do for yourself is exercise but that will not take away all the sagging skin.......keep hydrated.......and see if you can get a personal trainer....it is well worth the money and they can lead you in the right direction...even if you've never exercised before......thier depth of understanding is very good. Pam / Ft Worth Bandster Bites Silverware [email protected]
   — pphillips4720aol.com

May 20, 2008
You can generally expect saggy skin whereever you have stretched marked skin...If you have been MO your entire life, you skin probably has no "memory"...Like a rubber band that just loses elasticity...Eventually it snaps (stretchmarks) Youth plays a huge part. Taking vitamins, supps, water and skin care helps, but there is nothing greater than getting in a lot of protein and exercise to build muscles. If you have no muscle tone, you will have a ton of loose skin no mater how young you are. Muscle takes the place of fat and helps you burn more fat too. It looks nicer too. We all have some problem areas for the most part. It can be quite depressing for many people...I was a lucky one...Dumb luck and lots of hard workouts. Many people have plastics to fix the areas they cannot live with and are more than happy with the results. It was an easy trade off for me...health means soooo much more to me than aesthetics...But I might do a wee little vanity plastics on my little turkey neck thingie! Try a lotion with active copper...Copper has worked amazing on my skin...noticeably, but not super magic...Enough to like myself a little better...Ever watch Biggest Loser? They are no different than us. Only difference is they worked their arses off. Working hard DOES make an ENORMOUS difference in your skin. But there may be areas that no amount of exercise will help. No one can predict how well you will do personally...I was very musclular to begin with and I worked hard long hours to stay that way for the most part.
   — .Anita R.