Question:
Will I always be this pale?

I'm 2 weeks post-op from open RNY. I'm very fair-skinned, but used to a rosy glow on my cheeks. I've been very pale since surgery, obviously from the trauma of it all. But as time goes on, will I regain my rosy cheeks?    — Christine L. (posted on April 21, 2002)

April 21, 2002
Hi, I am also a very fair skined person. I lost my "glow" after surgery, open RNY, as well. About 4 or 5 weeks later I noticed I looked better. People were also telling me that I looked very healthy. I have never looked pasty after that month. My skin is now very clear as well. I have very dark hair so I really looked like I was a vampire for a while but it will get better soon!
   — Andrea P.

April 21, 2002
Yes, you will regain your glow. I am also a fair skinned person and looked quite pasty for a few weeks after surgery. Only natural, I suppose. After all, I spent most of my time indoors and I guess all of my blood and cells and good stuff was working on getting my insides and incision healed and had no time time to hang around my face. :) Now, at nine weeks I am trying to figure out how to put the brakes on my daily developing freckles. I walk five miles every day and even with SPF 15 the sun is taking it's toll on my skin. By mid-April I was already sporting the look of a mid-summer beach bum. Good luck, soon you'll get your good skin back and so much more!
   — PaulaM

April 21, 2002
I'm about as naturally pale as you can get. If you check out my web site, you'll see I was very rosy pre-op, from lots of broken capillaries. Then I get oh-so-pale as I get to goal, then the color comes back until now I am normal pale for a redhead. HAHAH! Once you have your protein & iron & other nurition levels all smoothed out, pushed 'em up toward the higher end of their ranges, your color & skin tone will settle in and your normal lovely color will return. It just takes time to get yoru labs in, tweak a bit, change the timing, improve your regimen. AND as your co-morbs fall away, it's even better!
   — vitalady

April 22, 2002
I'm fair skinned too and I thought I looked like casper the friendly ghost for the first month after surgery!! I was as white as a sheet of paper. I have gotten my normal skin tone back and I even had a woman at work tell me last week that my skin looks better since I've lost weight!! Not that I've ever had a problem with my skin she just said it looked softer. I never even noticed that until she said something.
   — Patty H.