diamondkized

Oh, I'm with you... I just bought a bunch of creams and I'm planning on working out once I'm cleared. Loose skin freaks me out. To be honest, I'm afraid my husband won't be attracted to me if I have it. He hasn't been negative or anything... but, I'm still worried.

I agree with you about the skin. I think my husband would be grossed out by it which would make my insecurities increase. I am hoping that it doesn't get that bad so as of right now I am putting myself on a pre surgery plan. I already mentioned that I was starting to tighten but I have been lazy. I need to get serious. I don't want to see the skin either so I need to do what gotta do.

I was a size 32 or 4x and I'm in a 16 and I'm looking for size 10/12. I'm pretty muscular, with big thighs and a booty (just my body shape). It's an amazing feeling so far!

When you say muscular, is that your build or did you work at it?

I really relate to your posting. We're almost the same in height/age/weight and my surgery is in Dec! Hopefully we both stay "sag free"... but, like everyone's been saying, it's probably better to have loose skin than be fat!

I agree but just in case I am going to push harder at some presurgery tightening- I figure that it cant hurt.

If you have insurance, you may be able to get a panniculectomy covered by the insurance. It's a surgery that removes excess skin from the abdominal area. It's not exactly a Tummy Tuck, because tummy tucks also involve tightening the muscles underneath the skin, so the results aren't AS good as a tummy tuck, but if cost is an issue, it's definitely a decent alternative to hanging skin. It's a good idea to wait until you've been a goal for a year before you consider surgery, though. Your skin needs time to adapt to the weight loss.

I'm still pre-op, but I already know that this tool is what YOU make of it. If you exercise, you will see more results, which is true of any weight loss plan, surgery or not. You can't predict how your skin will react, so there really is no point in guessing and stressing over it. Focus on what you can control (your diet, your exercise regime, etc) and stick with it!

Good luck to you!

My insurance comes from my job who made sure to put in huge letters that they rarely cover panniculectomy. They claim that there has got to be a major reason and it is usually denied. I have it my head that I will probably have to get a chest lift or something like that. I like the fact that you focus on the goal at hand and that you don't focus on the maybes/

Its funny, I havent had the procedure and my surgery date is on December 10th but my husband has shown some signs that he is not all that happy about it. At first he was saying that he would support me and that he just wants me to be happy but then my mother in law told me he said that I am going to change. I think that a man knows your self esteem better than you do. I think that when you are big, you spend so much time wanting to be small that it shows so it plays on your self esteem and they know it. I for one have defintely allowed my esteem to defeat me and other people notice it too. You have to decide what is best for you and maybe you need to tell him how you feel that he is not being as supportive as you need him to be.

I AGREE!! This would be a total splurge but next year this time if i- I'm sorry when I make my goal I am going to buy me a nice coat. I was thinking something furry!

I think that I am going to go for a 10 or a 12 too. I am only 5 foot 3 so i think that it would be a good size. I am not sure if you can see my pic next to my postings but i was a size 17/18 there but it was all in my hips and my chest. i would love to be a size 12 with the same build.

Yeap, that's what I doing too. I'm getting my mind prepared for the liquid phase my drinking liquids one day

That's a good idea. I am going to try that!

I have been trying to exercise and eat a little better. I want to be as toned as possible.

I'm hoping to gain a shape!!

Hopefully, thats possible!

I am 5'8 and boxy, kinda apple shaped...I have no butt, no hips, but a large chest. I know I have went down a cup size already (I refuse to acknowledge it lol), but thats ok, I guess.

I learned that you can rock it with any shape it's about how you carry yourself. I have a 46dd chest, I have big hips and butt but I wish I could just be proportioned nicely.

Help! I just decided I'm going to get the sleeve and not the Lapband but I'm scared bcuz I don't want to loose my curves :/ I love my butt & boobs. Has anyone kept their butt and boobs? All I hear is people say they lost theirs. But was it big to begin with? And how much has everyone lost? Can I lose too much?

You sound like me! I have always had hips and a full sized chest and i am not sure how i would look without them. I am definitely nervous about that.

Jogging @ one week post- op? Seems to me that would be pushing the limits of your healing. You may feel great, but no clue what damage you may be doing to your surgery site. Scary thought... Be careful. They don't tell you to take it easy just to be wasting air. There's a reason!

DiamondKized! I had the band and went down to 104lbs and had excess skin. Now that I'm back to being obese.. I'd give anything to have the excess skin again. I'm 55 and my BFF is Spanx ;D ... you're young and may not even have a problem. Focus first on the weight loss and then begin the toning. Good luck

I guess i never thought about it like that. I contemplated going to get the band but I think that the sleeve is better for me. I thought that the band had less risks of getting the excess skin but after watching a few of the videos i see differently.

Oh honey lol. There are people that post right after surgery. Unless there are complications I've read the pain isn't that bad

I am hoping that I am one of those lucky people!!

Wow!!! I assumed i would be in too much pain!! Good for you!

I like the idea of starting a fund. I might have to steal your idea. One week post op, wow and you are posting?!

Arcus, its amazing how people would prefer being fat but i get it. I am on crunch time trying to get toned as much as possible. I don't want the skin but i don't want the fat either.

I am going to Amazon to get one thanks for the info!

Hey ladies. I'm also in my 50's. 57 to be exact. I'm doing cardio and weight training to minimize my saggy skin. Whatever sag I have I'll live it for awhile because it will change over a couple of years.

There are some good articles out there about dry brushing and I do that too. Amazon has an excellent selection of brushes to revitilize and engergize this important, forgotten organ. I'm hoping that will also help.

I bought my goal outfit right before my surgery. Yup, I was a size 18/20 pants and 2X top and I bought a size 6 dress!!!! In a way it seemed silly but I'm less than 4 months post op and my size 16 jeans are loose! Dream big, lose big. Good luck to you!

Wow!!! I can't picture myself as a size 6!!!!! Right now I am a 20 and I am a hippy lady so I would be happy in a 10-12. I think that losing this weight is the primary goal and talking to you ladies have made me feel better. I don't know anyone else having this surgery but I am tired of getting all of this "advice" it's nice to talk to people who understand.

Hilarious!! Omg.. That was fuunnny! Lol. Ive heard a few ppl talk about it on here.. I googled it and thought it was worth a try. It cant hurt. Theres quite a bit out there about it, im sure google can give a better explanation than me..

Yes i agree.. Milestones should be celebrated. One of my good friends said i should buy a "goal outfit"... Im thinking about it. I have so far to go, but a journey begins with one step...

Your friend is right!! Ok it's settled- goal outfit it is. I was thinking about buying cute winter coats when they go on clearance for next year but how do u know what size to buy? For now I would buy a jumpsuit for spring as my goal outfit.

Yeah, i want to start some kind of routine now too, but its a bit hard bc i have lower back pain really bad. I want to at least start squats daily and some dry brushing and daily moisturizing to maybe help a little. Im just about a month away and im nervous as heck! But im still excited about the possibilities of a new life. Im ready to get this weight off, get my energy back, and live my life to the fullest!

I hear you girl!!! What is dry brushing, I know that I am a little pig cause I immediately thought about about a dry rub or some sort of meat lol. I thought about buying me a gift for every milestone as an incentive.

Im worried as well. Im 5'1" and 255 and my surgery is 12/3... I soooooo dont want the saggy skin, but I want this weight off even more. I just think about it this way, ill deal with it when the time comes... For now, I just want to be healthy... Best wishes to u girlie!

December for you too!!!! It's good to see someone else will be getting it done around the same time. I wonder if toning up now will do anything. I have been trying to lift weights and do lunges but it's hard..

I was 5'3" and 330. I'm going to be 50. I lost a lot of weight and still have about 30-40 pounds to go and I do have some excess skin. I am working out as much as I can to tighten what I can and it's helping some.

I mentioned the unhappiness I have about the skin with my nurse and she said, would you rather have all that skin there, with a bunch of fat underneath it, or a little extra skin, without all that excess fat.

You are worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet, which detracts from your goal at hand. You are spending energy and time focusing on something negative that may end up happening in the future, when during this process you need to focus on the positive.

You are still young. I lost a lot of weight once on my own when I was in my 30's and I had no saggy skin but I did step aerobics which firmed my bottom, I lifted weights which firmed my arms and I did crunches which firmed my belly.

If you consistently work out during this process and you lose slowly but surely you will have less excess skin. You have age on your side, that's a blessing. I'm going on 50 and I can tell you, I would rather have a little lose skin, then all that excess fat and I am vain and I do care about what I look like so I do realize how you feel, it's not stupid but it's wasted worry, but let it go, focus on the here and now and getting to your goal.

Good luck to you.

Thank you for the insight. I didn't look at it that way. Right now I am not happy with my weight and to top it off I work in the bariatric research department at the Cleveland clinic-talk about being a hypocrite. I think that my goal is to live a longer life byany means necessary.

Not stupid at all. I am sure a ton of people (I definitely am) were concerned about the saggy skin for both vanity reasons and health concerns.

I am hoping since I am young and my skin is in pretty good condition, that it won't sag too bad. If it does, then I will consider plastics.

I know that plastic surgery would be out of the question for me. It's so expensive and I couldn't afford to take the time off work.

I am having surgery on December 10th. And although I am looking forward to it I am getting more and more afraid of how I will look afterwards. I am about 5 foot 4 and I am ashamed to say that I weight almost 260 which is the highest I have ever been in my life. Just think last year I weighed 160 but after I had a baby and the weight won't come off. I lost weight before on the modified fast and I looked fine- thats when i got down to the 160 which was about 75 lbs in 6 months.Other than my chest went from a 46ddd to 36dd I didn't have saggy skin. I am just scared of how I will look after the fact. Is this stupid?

Was going to get mine December 3 but the nurse told me I wouldnt be able to eat for thanksgiving so...... Me being me I pushed it back a week. I am getting it on December 10th!!!