Question:
saggy skin after wls

is there any one here who had wls and work out on a consistant basic , such as arobic, weightlifting, cardio5 days a week . if so i would like to no did your skinn sag? if yours didnt please tell me your method . so far im not sagging yet, but i want to try to keep my skin tight. i excercise 5 days a week 3 days of weight lifting.    — yvettetas (posted on May 16, 2007)

May 16, 2007
When did you have your surgery? and what kind of surgery did you have?
   — YVETTE121

May 16, 2007
I would think that it depends on what your BMI was and how old you are. I was told that if you have a BMI of 45 or less than you have a good chance of firming but if your more than 45 then your chance increase for the need for the treaded tummy tuck. My BMI was 38 and I'm 52 years old. My surgery was on March 15 I have lost 26 lbs and am working my tail off to firm things up. The rate at which you lose weight is also a determing factor. Good luck and keep us posted. Doris
   — spiritedsoul

May 16, 2007
I'm suffering from the skin sag, too. Am only 5 weeks out, but had a "skirt" going from all the yo-yo dieting already. Going to a day spa this weekend to try the "body wrap"... I've heard it can help. Hoping that if I keep doing them throughout the weightloss process, it will stay in check. Will keep you posted.
   — karen G.

May 17, 2007
Yvette, I exercised from 2 weeks post op until I had all my weight off, and I didn't have a ton of skin on my stomach, but I did sag. My theighs look like charpea puppies, I call them mut and jeff, and my arms sag. In clothing you cannot tell I had wls, my face and neck are slender, but naked, well that is another sad story. I am just glad for my health and take my saggy skin in stride. I am 46, and I think this has something to do with it as well las 3 huge babies and being obese for so long. These are factors for me. I almost always wear 3/4 sleeves to cover my arms and spandex is my friend and keeps my sagging theighs from shaking too much in public. I am not a surgery freak, so I don't plan to fix it all, but it does exist. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

May 17, 2007
I HEARD THAT DRINKING MILK ALSO IS GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN. I DDRINK ONE GLASS EVERY DAY.
   — DDBEAR458

May 17, 2007
Alright I am sorry to be the party pooper but here it goes....some degree of skin sagging is unavoidable. I regularly attend support meetings with people that are years out more than I am (I am 1.5 yrs) and the general concenus is that no ammount of workout will stop it from happening. How big you were at the start seems to be a key factor, but then again I have heard stories from those that lost just over 100lbs. I have lost near 200lbs and sit around 150lbs now. I was 26 y/o when this started and am having a tummy tuck (panniculectomy) this fall. I am also excited to announce my insurance has approved it. I truely feel blessed and knew going in skin was going to be an issue. My motto no is I am not fat, I am floppy. Oh well, floppy is healthier and way more fun than my heavier times. Good luck and best wishes.-Heather
   — tazthewiz23

May 17, 2007
I think it depends how where your weight started, your age, and how long you were overweight. Skin loses its elastictity (sp) over time. I started at age 47 and 260 lbs, now at 150ish. I have some hanging skin, but I look okay in my clothes. My main hanging skin is below my belly button. I do exercise with walking, swimming aerobics, regular aerobics, and riding a bicycle, 3-5 times a week. Just keep exercising and eating right and hopefully it will snap back, but keep an open mind because many WLS people have plastic surgery to help. I have heard that some insurance will pay for a panni if the skin hangs below the pubic area. Good luck.
   — Danita S.