Question:
Thinking of surgery and have some fears

I am 37 and 280 at 5'6 and am seriously thinking of having the surgery but have some concerns about the possiblity of excess skin. Does everyone wind up with excess skin and require plastic surgery? Can you still have a child safely after the surgery? I have been looking up a lot of info and I admit I'm a little scared. I feel more at ease after reading so many positive stories from all of you and the great before and after pictures are very encouraging, along with some of your homepages with constant updates or your whole ordeals. I am feeling less alone after all the reading I have done tonight on this site. Thank you, Donna    — Donna M. (posted on August 14, 2005)

August 14, 2005
The PO patient without some hanging skin is rare. If you have a ballon stretched with air in it for a long time then you deflate it, it will not go back to the original size that it was when it was brand new. That is the same thing with the obese person's skin, we stretch it beyond its ability to shrink back to normal. If the person is young and has the genetic background to really good skin tone then that person may not have many issues with excess skin. My husband and I just had our excess skin removed; he had a panniculectomy and I had a belt lipecotomy with in the last 30 days. He lost 150+# and I lost 113#. He had 19# in excess skin removed and I had less than 5#. I have excess skin all over and need more surgery on my upper arms, thighs and breasts. I carried my weight differently than he did. In answer to your having a baby afterwards, yes there are many women that have babies and do fine. Your OB/GYN just needs to adjust your diet, calories, care, vitamins etc accordingly. As far as PS for you because you would like to have children, you should then wait until you are finished having babies so you do not undo the work the plastic surgeon does.
   — ChristineB

August 14, 2005
Donna, everyone ends up with some extra skin..it all depends on what you are comfortable with looking at. You will not have the perfect 19 year old body, that is guaranteed. However, I started at 265 and about your height..I don't have serious issues with skin. It's not pretty by any means, but it doesn't cause a problem and you can't see a big gut in my pants. Ya I would like to get it fixed, but I have a hard time paying for PS instead of a new kitchen. :P
   — RebeccaP

August 14, 2005
at 280 lbs you are not that heavy starting out, so I believe that if you start exercising right away, you should be able to work that skin back to where it belongs. You might have some, but if you work at it you should be fine. There is a lot of women that have had baby's after surgery. you OBGYN just need to be aware that you have had thesurgery & what kind you had so they can adjust your diet accordingly. Good lick & this won't be a bad decision should you choose this way. I have lost 140 lbs and would do it again in a heart beat. It has brought a life I never had before. It is your decision & you have to be ready for this step it is not a cure just a means to help with weight loss. Good Luck to you!!
   — Marilyn C.

August 15, 2005
Our stats were very similar. I was 36, 286, 5'7. I was also worried about being able to be pregnant. I can tell you that I ended up with skin on my stomach that I don't like, but I can live it with for now. My arms and legs are OK - more cellulite than I like, but no where near where I was. The way I look at it is that I abused my body a lot over the years - I probably lost and gained well over 1,000 lbs with all the diets I went on. After almost 2 years, I still wear an 8-10 in most clothes. I'll just live with the skin until after we find out if I can carry a pregnancy full term. I lost a baby in February, but it probably has more to do with my age than anything. We are trying again. But don't be discouraged. Many on here have had successful pregnancies. My OB/Gyn told me that he has never had a pregnancy complication related to a patient being post-op. He wanted us to be careful about nutrition and supplementation, but other than that he wasn't worried. Good luck and God bless! Debra
   — Debra R.

August 15, 2005
I was 270 pounds and 5'5". I had my surgery a little more than a year and a half ago. I've lost 120 pounds. I'm down to a size 8/9. I feel great and I haven't needed any plastic surgery for lose skin. I'm 43 years old and don't know if my skin is still young enough so I had good elasticity or if I've just been lucky. But no plastic surgery needed. Cindy Heath
   — cindyheath

August 15, 2005
I was 270 pounds and 5'5". I had my surgery a little more than a year and a half ago. I've lost 120 pounds. I'm down to a size 8/9. I feel great and I haven't needed any plastic surgery for lose skin. I'm 43 years old and don't know if my skin is still young enough so I had good elasticity or if I've just been lucky. But no plastic surgery needed. Cindy Heath
   — cindyheath

August 15, 2005
Like all the other posters, we have similar start stats. I was 275, 5'6" and I have lost a total of 134 lbs. I exercised and drank all my water and my skin is not that bad. I definitely want a tummy tuck after I have another baby but if I don't get one, it won't be the end of the world. I wear a size 8 even with the excess tummy skin. That being said I wouldn't trade the extra skin for the extra 134 lbs for anything in the world! Good luck!!
   — Michelle_S