Question:
Has anyone lost over 200 lbs and kept their apron? I haven't had surgery yet and

have a full apron now. My stomach has been hanging since I had my son 13 yrs. ago. I'm 47 and worry it will hand to my knees! What will I do with it? My surgery was approved by my Insurance company the last day before it discontinued it as a benefit. I don't think it will want me to have a tuck. I have been wearing long shirts long pant and sleeves for years. What will I wear when my wings hang to my wrist, my thighs hang to my calfs, my fat a** knees hang to my ankles and my stomach hangs to my knees? Not to mention the stuff on the backside. I have a 13 year old son I want to live to see become a man. I will probably look worse than I do now but at least if I break my leg they will be able to pick me up.    — obsessivekompulsive (posted on September 4, 2002)

September 4, 2002
I know what you're feeling. I too have the very same problem. But after a loss of 110 lbs (yup, it's good but I still have a long way to go), I can tell you that everything shrinks in realtive proportion. Check out the before and after pictures, hopefully this will make you feel a little bit more at ease. Good luck and be at peace, the journey is worth a little sag.
   — laklosterman

September 4, 2002
Hi! I had a very large apron (or at least I felt like I did) even though I was a lightweight starting at only 250 pounds. Once it began to hang lower and lower I simply wore a panty girdle. It was actually quite comfortable and made me feel much better about myself. Also, once you lose your weight if you have medical issues as a result of the hanging skin the majority of policies will cover reconstruction. It's common for them to deny benefits on the first submission and then approve after appeal. You might even find that you don't sag EVERYWHERE. I was fortunate with my arms and chin area. Now the tummy, boobs and thighs are another story. However, I had a panniculectomy and my breasts done and I just don't wear shorts. I'd take the saggy skin any day over the extra weight. You're going to look great so don't worry! Best wishes.
   — ronascott

September 5, 2002
Resa, I'm glad you know you're doing it for the right reasons. And I have to agree with the poster, if the sagging is truly bad chances of reconstruction being paid for by your insurance is pretty good. If not look at it this way, if you're really uncomfortable about a part of your body and insurance won't pay, save up to have it done yourself. I've never been happy with my stomach. No matter what I weighed, and even when I was a little girl, I always had a belly. Realizing I wasn't willing to live with it anymore and that I needed to make finding the money for that a priority right then was what made it happen for me. My figure is better than when I weighed 70lbs less than now (the least I'd EVER weighed in my teenage & adult life) and I'm glad I had it done. So don't worry. Things that are truly important to us find a way. And besides, getting that weight off for you is the first step, a BIGGY. Good luck & take care.
   — Shelly S.

September 7, 2002
Boy do I know how you feel. I've lost proportionately the most weight from my head and the least from my calves. My double chin isn't bad and my boobs are drooping, but a bra helps that. My apron is huge. I do wear a panty girdle type thing and that keeps it in a little. At least it doesn't flap when I walk. I do get tired of wearing it though, especially when it is so hot out. My thighs have lost some inches, but I think it is because they've dropped to my knees. My knees are as big as my thighs. My calves have hardly changed at all. My calves actually prevent me from wearing a smaller pants size. I had open rny on 3/6/02 and have lost 103 lbs. I want to lose another 85 and then have an abdomioplasty, thigh lift, and brachioplasty. (I forgot to say when I lift my arms up the skin still hangs in my armpits.) I do get depressed at times. After losing so much weight, I still am so gross. I do walk and work out at Curves for women, but I don't see where that is going to be enough for all my sagging skin.
   — jan M.