Question:
I need to get some honest feedback on skin elasticity...

I am currently awaiting my surgery date and I am needing some honest answers about long-term post-op skin elasticity. I do not plan on having cosmetic surgery down the road, and I am wondering how bad I need to anticipate that my body will look. I am 5'8" and I currently weigh about 305 pounds. I want to lose about 160 pounds. I am 23 years old, and I am planning to drink a lot of water post-op and exercise often. Do you think that those steps in conjunction with some firming lotions could be enough to make my skin look normal again? If anyone who hasn't had cosmetic surgery has pictures of their body that they would be willing to show me, that would be great too.    — kristynush (posted on June 9, 2003)

June 9, 2003
Take a small rubber band and put it around something that is twice it's size so that it's really stretched...check it after a week or two and you'll notice that it never goes back to it original shape or size again and is often weakened. Our skin isn't nearly that bad, since it's alive. BUT it does has elastic strands in it and when they break they stay broke. The do not heal and do not grow back together. Do you have a LOT of stretch marks? Have you been excessively over-weight a long time? Do you keep well hydrated normally? These will all have a bearing on how well your skin will recover post-op as the weight comes off. I really doubt your skin will ever look "normal" again, but it could be passing fair. Just depends on your body. Good luck to you!
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 9, 2003
Well, I can tell you that your youth is on your side or at least will help some. It also will depend on genes, how much you work out helps, lots of water helps and the heavier you are the more skin you have b/c we lose so fast. I am 5'5 27 and was 267 now 146 8mo post-op and I have problem areas, but my worst is my stomach(but I also just had 3kids in a row). I did not want to go for RS, but now that im pretty much done losing and work out like a bandit, im just giving in if my insurance will pay for the tummy tuck....it's getting done:o) I really am flabby in some areas, but it's not all that bad. My stomach, upper arms underneath, butt and upper thighs. Clothes do hide all that well! Good luck to you!
   — Sandy M.

June 9, 2003
When I had my surgery last year I was 31, 5'8" and 268 pounds. I did have a tt. Did I "need" it? No. I had also had four children and had really deep stretch marks on my stomach from the pregnancies. And my tummy was a little on the squishy side. It did not hang but it was squishy. My arms and legs are fine as you can see from my pic on my profile. Your age will help and so will water. Make sure you get in a lot of protein from day one. Remember some of the "sagging" that post ops get is caused from the underlying muscle tissue breaking down from lack of protein. There are links in my profile to studies about this. I would be happy to email you my TT before and after pictures so you can see.
   — Linda A.

June 9, 2003
Looking at other's pictures will have no bearing on how well you do, even if you find someone your age and starting weight. We are all different. There is no answer for you about whether you will need plastics and what your post-op skin elasticity will be. Whether you will need it or not is a combination of age (younger is better), water (more is better), if you have stretch marks currently (stretch marks are not good), whether you have had kids (pregnancy is not good), how fast you lose (slower is better), how long you have been obese (the shorter the better) and your genes. Firming lotions do not help with skin elasticity.
   — Cindy R.

June 9, 2003
I'm 23 as well and had LAP RNY a year ago. I am now 125lbs (was 250) and my skin looks pretty good overall. I had a few things on my side- age and I wasn't overweight my whole life. My neck, arms, legs and toosh look good. My stomach isn't too bad, I hate it, but in clothes it looks pretty flat and don't really need a TT. My boobs are another story though lol Sag City! So, there are many factors, and I think alot of it is just luck! But I've heard from plastic surgeons that the more stretch marks you have the less elasticity your skin has. Exercise can help to firm, but if there is excess skin, nothing but surgery can take that away unfortunately. Goodluck to you :-)
   — Lezlie Y.