Question:
What will happen to my stretch marks post WLS?

I'm African American with tons of stretch marks on my shoulders, arms, tummy and mid-riff. I know they wont go away :(, but what can I expect? Will they be more pronounced? My skin is brown and the marks are yellowish in color, will that change? The ones on my mid riff are darker than my skin, will they lighten? I wanna go strap-less post WLS :)) Thanks for any comments!!    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on April 7, 2003)

April 7, 2003
They might get a little darker but they are still there and probably worse looking to you than to anyone else. I had to learn that I was my worse critic. I never went sleeveless and now I am trying to let that go because even smaller folks have stretch marks from muscle building. I am darker skinned and my stomach marks are dark brown and the ones on my arms are yellowish too. I am just calling it a day and not gonna worry about them anymore (girl I used to have bad dreams about these things!). But I tell you what, once I went from a size 28 to a size 10, I just don't care as much. I still care, don't get me wrong, but I am learning that women are more critical of other women, and that men don't pay attention to that stuff (and I was trying to look cute for the men...ha ha). good luck on your surgery and feel free to ask me any other AA issues at [email protected]
   — Kimberly L.

April 7, 2003
to try to reduce the look you can use something called "mother's friend" i used it when i was pregnant and it does seem to work.....you should be able to get it at your pharmacy (i hope they still sell it cause i am going to need it again. if not cocoa butter is always good. pure cocoa butter, not the lotion with cocoa butter in it...good luck to you.
   — monica R.