Question:
I am 388 5'5- 26 years old, what can I expect as far as loose skin is concerned?

Has anyone with in my age had sagging skin? I am in fear that after I have the surgery I will have to have alot of plastic surgery from losing so much weight....has anyone been lucky and your skin stretched back??? Thanks everyone!! Tracey    — TRACEY W. (posted on January 12, 2003)


January 12, 2003
Sorry to let ya down...but you'll need it. I exercised like a nut, drank my water, took my vitamins, and was "only 22"...and I still look like a deflated elephant. I started at 390 pounds and 5'7". I'm now like 230 and still losing, and I look great with clothes on, but my once huge perky boobs are now huge baseballs at the end of tube socks if you get my drift, my stomach is all mushy and if I did the chicken dance and flapped my arms and legs I would either get whiplash or take off. Was there some stretching back? Hmm...hard to say, but my chin(s) have gone away and I don't have turkey neck, so maybe. I know I will be putting some plastic surgeon's kid through college with all my work needed. lol
   — Paula Prichard

January 12, 2003
Im a little bit older - Im 30 and started off at 391 and 5'8" tall. I thought I wasnt going to have any problems because of my age and the fact that genetically, every woman in my family has really nice skin. My mom is 60 and looks like she's 40. However, Im now 5 months post op, down 130 pounds and already freaking out about the way my body is starting to sag. My arms are horrible and so is my stomach. I already know that I will DEFINITELY have to have plastic surgery on my stomach for health reasons. Ill probably have my arms done too and pay for it out of my own pocket. I just dont think I can go the rest of my life with bat wings. Especially since I am fairly young. Good luck to you. I have heard of patients in their 20s not having any plastic surgery done. It all depends on age, genetics and how quickly you lose.
   — c B.

January 12, 2003
I am 30, 5'5 and started at 321 pounds. I had my lap rny on 9/20/02 (4 months ago) and am already down 98 pounds. My inner thighs are horrific. My belly isn't far behind as well as my boobs. I had always said that I wouldn't care about my upper arms because I have had surgery in the arm pit of both and I thought I would never wear a tank top or sleeveless dress anyways. Well, now I am thinking differently. The skin is really bad there too and I still have bout 60 pounds to loose. I was playing with my 4 year old the other day and was clapping and there was an echo! The excess skin under my arms was slapping my boobs!!...There is always that possiblity that you will not tucks, pulls, nibs....thats IF you are not to concerned with <i>some</i> excess skin. I have yet to read anyone say that their skin was just fine after losing 100 or more pounds. If there is such person out there, they must have incredible elasticity in their skin!! Good luck to you!
   — karmiausnic

January 12, 2003
Hi all, I have to say ya'll cracked me up this morning. I love what Karen said ( I too clap my boobs!!) and the deflated elephant!!! I HAVE to use that one. Anyhoo, I am just like the rest of you but older (46) But I was told something by a plastic surgeon. It could take up to 2 years for our skin to "catch up" with with our weight loss. Now that by all means does not mean it will srink back up. But he says we can help minimize the extra stretching it goes through by hanging there. He suggested I buy long "bike" pants ( spandex) and a bike shirt. This will hold up the skin so we can fight gravity a little. I got a pair of calf length spandex undergarnments at Walmart for 10 bucks. It actually feels comfortable!! ANd hold everything in. I was told I could get a short sleeve shirt ( for those bat wings ) at Sports Authority. I hope this helps. I wish you ALL the best!!!
   — Gina D.

January 12, 2003
Your all's post cracked me up this morning--I laughed so hard I almost cried!!! Well I do believe I did have a few tears anyway. I have often worried about the same thing I am 5'5" and I started out at 438--I cannot even believe I put down that number--I know I will be putting the surgeons grandkids through college with all the work I am going to need. I don't think I have alot of skin right now, but I have only lost 70pounds since my surgery on 9/4/02--(I know I am a slow looser!)but I believe I will have alot of extra skin problems, my boobs are really starting to sag now--yeah like baseball in tube socks--that is a really good way to put it.
   — Donna T.

January 13, 2003
I started at 365#, 5'8", 27 y.o. At a loss of 180#, I couldn't stand the loose skin. It would literally FLOAT in the tub. I paid out of pocket for skin removal on my stomach, back, and inner thighs. I went from wearing a size 22 jean to wearing a 12. Just from all the skin hanging around. Prepare for plastic surgery! Today, I am about 160 pounds, wearing size 12 pants, size L shirts, and my boyfriend picks me up and tosses me around like a sack of potatoes.. I am not complaining.
   — Anna F.

January 13, 2003
I am 5'5", and weighed 388lbs the day of my surgery, July 8th, 2002. I have lost 119 pounds, and I must tell you there is no doubt I will need plastic surgery. I have a large apron, and bat flaps you would not believe. And don't even get me started on my boobs. I feel like I went from a 50DD to a 46 double long! The one area that doesn't too bad is my thighs. They are not the firmest in the world, but the skin isn't sagging. I can totally relate to all of you ladies. Just the other day I was at work and I was running late. The elevator takes forever so I decided to take the stairs. I was rushing down the stairwell, and I heard a funny noise. Imagine my embarassment when I realized IT WAS MY STOMACH SLAPPING AGAINST THE TOP OF MY LEGS! I guess I should just be glad I was alone! LOL
   — Jenny S.

January 13, 2003
I forgot to mention I am 25 years old.
   — Jenny S.

January 13, 2003
Look at it this way - your skin has stretched to almost three-times its intended size to accomodate the excess weight - its got elasticity but not that much and it is highly unlikely that it's going to bounce back enough - even if you were a teenager. Skin has "threads" of elastic in it and once a thread breaks it's gone for good. It won't heal back. Stretch marks are broken threads of elastic in the skin. Sure it will shrink some, but not enough. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 14, 2003
I needed these laughs today, had a death in the family, leak in our house ruined everything, so this was much needed. I was crawling in bed one night before surgery and heard this flapping and realized it was my stomach flapping against my legs, oh boy, did have tt/hernia surgery 8 months out and touch up lipo last week. open oct01, tt june 02 278/150 5'5 thanks girls for the laughs, Susie
   — lostitall




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