Question:
I am worried that if I have surgery, I will look older and age faster
I have noticed (forgive me) that SOME (a limited few) actually look older after having weight loss surgery. Some people look as if they are sicker and paler. Is this the norm?? I am worried that the skin in my face won't bounce back, and that I will still have a double chin (although I have one now, it is not a HUGE double chin, just the beginnings of one) Only this time it will be hanging skin and might just look yucky. I am only 25 years old, and I am worried about losing my youthful appearance. I am 5'5" and weigh 279 pounds. I have only noticed my face getting bigger in the last year maybe. Will the skin in my face bounce back? What about looking pale and/or sickly? How about getting wrinkles faster? I could really use some reassuraces here, and I apologize if I have offended anyone here. I am sorry! — [Anonymous] (posted on May 31, 2000)
May 31, 2000
My gut feeling is that you'll fare better getting the surgery, losing the
weight and dealing with some slight side effects. If you are 25 then I
really wouldn't worry about your face. The elasticity in your skin right
now is about the same it was when you were 15. I'm 28 and have no hanging
skin or apron. I think you are at a vantage point with your age and have
no reason to panic.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 31, 2000
As a young looking 36 y.o. I was worried about the same thing. After
losing 67# in the last 4 months I look a lot younger now. My hands look
older but who cares. I get a lot of people telling me i look younger and
strangers guess me to be about 27 or 28. Looks are of course nothing
compared to health but hey we all want to look our best. I was thrilled to
hear my 15 y.o. daughter tell her friend that her softball team voted me
prettiest mom last week! Well i can tell you that would never have
happened 67# ago.
At your age everything should spring back nicely especially your face!
Good luck to you!
Diana G.
[email protected] (if you want to talk)
— Diana G.
May 31, 2000
Well, the "old" lady of 40will speak. Just kidding. I've
lost 64 pounds since Jan. 2000. I feel great and am looking
great. Folks tell me I look 10 years younger. I don't think
you'll have any problems with your skin at a young age. I
just moisturize and drink plenty of fluids and exercise.
Good luck. Lou Ann
— Lou Ann J.
May 31, 2000
It'll help you bounce back faster if you are well nourished with plenty of
the right protein and vitamin supplements for your surgery. We all look a
little bit gaunt when we've lost 100+ lbs. AT FIRST. Just hang in there,
don't panic when your freinds say you're too thin, or gaunt or wirnkly. OF
COURSE YOU ARE! At first. Wait 6 months and check again. Keep the
protein supplement flowing to hold as much muscle as you can. You want to
lose the fat, retain the muscle, feed the skin with dry vitamin E.
— vitalady
May 31, 2000
you're going to look fabulous ! youth is a wonderful asset for weight loss.
at 36 i lost 80 lbs on phen -fen. my face looked great. like the previous
answer said use moisturizer and drink lots of water. good luck !
— shelly R.
May 31, 2000
I'm 50 years old and have lost 111 pounds. according to my family, friends
and others that I look like I'm in the mid 30's range.. My neck, chin and
jaws firmed right up no problem at all.. Now the loose skin on my
tummy is another matter, however, I will have that taken care of after I
loose another 40 pounds... Now as far as the pale part.. right after
surgery the first 8 weeks I did look a little pasty and dark
circles under my eyes but that soon went away.. Check out my before and
after PICS..
<p>
<a
href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/Vbowenweightloss/index.html">Picture
Journal of my weight loss</a><br>
<p>
<a
href="http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen/index.html">Gastric
Bypass Information, Recipes and Support</a><br>
— Victoria B.
May 31, 2000
I am 29, was 28 when I had surgery and I can honestly say that the only
problem I have with saggy skin is on my tummy and my boobs. As for my
face, my face firmed up right nicely and I have no evidence of a previous
"yucky" double chin. Being in your mid 20's, you should have no
problem with "bounce back" skin LOL You will look fabulous!!!
Good Luck =)
— Marni
May 31, 2000
I forgot to mention, the "pale" appearance that you mentioned
could be directly related to that person being anemic. If a person is
anemic, they tend to look pale. I know one of my friends commented to me
that I was 'VERY' pale and come to find out that I was anemic. After I
up'd my iron supplements I got my nice "rosey" color back =)
— Marni
June 1, 2000
HI there. I am at the stage that others are talking about where you look
gaunt and alittle bit older. I have just had my one year anniversary from
surgery yesterday and I started where you are. I was 280 and am down to
116. I honestly believe that at 25 you will have no problems. I am 41 and
my face bounced back very nicely. No wrinkles to speak of at all. My body
is another story. I look like a sharpai puppy on my arms and legs and
belly but, I have talked to many people including Michelle Curan and all
have said that it takes time for the body to readjust and fill in. I am
hoping. At 25 you won't have these problems I am sure. Your skin is so
much more elastic at that age. I don't want to scare you but as everyone
knows on this site, I am usually brutally honest about myself and what has
transpired since surgery. I don't usually like to sugar coat things as I
doubt that that will help you. I sincerely feel that at your age there
will be nothing to worry about at all. If you had been my age or above,
you might have experienced the skin problems alittle bit more. I really
think that exercise and water are the key issues to looking good. In any
event, you are probably not happy with the way you look now, so anything is
better. Also, more than the way you look, it's the way you will feel after
surgery. You will be able to do so many things that you cannot probably do
now or you do with alot of effort and heavy breathing. I don't even
remember what that is like anymore. This surgery should be done for you
health more than anything. At 279, you are getting to the point of putting
yourself in danger of many co-morbidities. Don't worry about the skin as
that will take care of itself. Worry about the healthy and beautiful YOU
that you know you can be.
Barb
— BARBARA R.
June 29, 2000
You will have nothing to worry about at 25. Your skin is very elastic in
your 20's. Excercise, toning, massage, lots of water, protien and healthy
diet will ensure rapid skin snap back. Having my bypass at the ancient age
of 41 and a 98 pound weight loss in five months, I do not have
"yucky" saggy facial skin. There was a little sag over my cheeks
after the first rapid 50 pound drop, but it tightened up very quickly. Of
course everything else is sagging and wagging in the wind, but I can easily
deal with it. At 279 pounds at 25 years you need to be concerned about the
real issues of developing co-morbidities and not be so concerned about a
big double chin and looking "yucky". At 279 I had a nicely shaped
face, I thought. Not according to co-workers. They nicknamed me troll and
MiMi (ever watch The Drew Carey Show?). When I added another 60 pounds I
had three chins and a face so large and misporportioned from the weight I
did not look like myself anymore. I was really pale and had terrible black
circles around my eyes from all the co-morbidities I was suffering. I
looked older than my mother. That was pre-op. Now I have lost about half
the weight I need to lose. I am looking younger (excess weight makes you
look older), rosier, no more dark circles, and a lot happier. I am looking
forward to a lot more sag and bag in the near future, LOL. Good luck.
@->- :) ----- J
— Jackie L.
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