Scorpion11

Thank you so much for all the info. I am going to get the stuff you suggested. I do feel so alone and like nobody understands so it was nice to hear I am not the only one going through this.

I lost a lot of hair - my stylist and I suspect it was about 30% loss. It was horrifying.
My doc said there isn't much you can do about the loss, but what you lose due to surgery will grow back. I found that to be true. My doc OK'd Biotin and folic acid, but that's for regrowth, not prevention.
I have gone thru 3 bouts of hairless - the first one, about 4 months post-op was the worst. My stylist was surprised when it grew back - she actually said, "It seems like it's growing in thicker!"
I went to a shorter cut to mask the hairloss. I also used a product called Toppik - it works exactly like the videos on their website show. I took my Vitamins, drank my Water and ate my Protein.

I'm 8 months post op VSG and am experiencing severe hair loss! I take lots of Biotin daily, Protein levels are high, feel fantastic otherwise with a 84 pound weight loss, at goal of 150 from 234. Is there anything else I can do to stop this Hair loss? Puddles of hair everywhere, on the pillow, in the bathroom. I had super thick hair to start with so no bald spots yet, but definite thinning at the temples and considerably shorter overall (started with mid back length, now up to shoulders). It is time to start addressing this issue more proactively! HELP!!

Years ago when I used to go the Jack La Lanne gym the trainers there would make everyone to facial excercises in the group excercise classes at then end. Typically this would include saying the vowels, "A E I O U" greatly accentuated, stretching the neck and pursing the lips with the U.....they would also have you put your head up as far as possible and purse the lips. They were saying that the facial muscles are the most underworked muscles on the face and should be added to keep firmness, that facial skin is attached to muscle and that firming the muscles naturally brings the skin tighter. I am just getting back into this routine as I am losing weight.

Take pictures and make notes each an every time you have to go to the doctor or have an occurrence. This is your evidence to use if/when you petition your insurance company for skin removal surgery. My ortho already said if I need it he will write me a letter.

Monistic chafing relief powder gel is the BEST! Ladies you can mix a little with your foundation and your face feels baby soft all day. I have trouble finding it so I just order in bulk from Amazon. But I walk 3-6 miles a shift and my thighs would feel like raw meat until I discovered this. Now my inner thigh skin is never irritated and the skin has healed and looks so much better.

I do insurance and I will honestly say that unless the extra skin is around the belly, insurance looks at it as cosmetic. As a nurse, I will tell you that anything moist you add to it can cause yeast infections so you really have to be careful. I use deodorant for all my extra skin for yeast and chafing.

I use deodorant now under my boobs lol. It's gets.... musty in there lol.
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My Dr said to leave any raw skin untreated and to have them take pictures. Once you have documented health issues related to excess skin, most insurance companies will cover skin removal.

DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Go to the doc to get it documented and insurance may cover it.
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No surgery yet. But I like the Monistat Chafing Relief powder Gel. It provides excellent prevention and relief from chafing on my chub rub. I find Walmart usually offers the best price.

I would talk to my primary doctor, if it's causing irritation and interfering with daily activities, insurance may cover the skin removal.

This is exactly what i an afraid of happening. I am at 265 and am hoping with wls that i get down to about 130-135. I keep hearing stay hydrated and exercise to avoid it happening, but what do you do once its already happened or is hydration and excersize alone arent enough? I dont think kaiser covers the skin removal so i would be SOL here, tryinv to stay ahead of the game.

Hello,
I am 16 months post op. I have lost and maintained a total weight loss of 145 lbs. I went from 275 to 130. Sorry if this is TMI but I am hoping someone can relate and give me tips. I have loose skin on the back of my butt that hang like curtains! They are chafing badly and feel very scaly and have almost caloussed. I have put cortisone creams And all kinds of lotions. Mostly the area stays dry but that is the main problem. It so dry it stays irritated. Any pointer would be great!

I don't know him at all -- I know his sister pretty well though ... he does no free consultations so once I get close to goal, I'll be going to see him to see how much it's going to cost (BOB) ... LOL

Of course she didn't. The garment is marketed both to surgery recoverers (burn victims, plastics surgery and weight loss patients) and also to just people who want lifting and toning products.
The brand is from South America where they worship their asses so of course they are going to choose a model that has an ideal shape their native focus group desires. That doesn't mean the compression garment won't aide in reducing my excess skin.
Compression garments were recommend and this was the only high tension brand that went to the knee and over the shoulder, both important to me as I have worn many uncomfortable control tops in my past and wanted something I wouldn't hate wearing daily. Just because I'll never look like the model doesn't mean the garment doesn't work for lifting toning and slimming.
Plus, why can't we dream of having an ass like that? Isn't that how most of us start looking into wls? Isn't that what helps us through the hard nights? The vision of a happy, healthier, more active self, all with smaller clothing and maybe, just maybe, a nicer ass? Hahahaha! Trust me I don't think many people buying that garment for skin reduction have the delusion that they are going to look like the model.

Sorry to revive this thread haha but just wanted to add something I didn't see anyone else add:
I am still fairly young, would love to lose 100pounds as my goal weight. My surgery is November 12th.
To help my skin rebound I purchased an "after surgery" compression suit. I made sure to get one that goes over my shoulders and to the knee for maximum coverage and to prevent it rolling down or up uncomfortably since ideally I'll be wearing it everyday.
If anyone wants the name of the brand, shoot me an email. They come from South America, I got mine on Amazon for a discounted amount, brand new I might add haha. But after all my research, it was the only one that met all my requirements that Walmart compression pieces just couldn't achieve. You can also work out in them to keep everything where it needs to be during shrinking exercises. I'll attach a photo of the one I ended up going with but they do have different styles to suit different needs.
They go up to a XXXL, they fit extremely tight, so I might have to lose a bit of weight before I can even get into it but it closes on the front and the specific one I chose has a three clip system (exactly like a bra) so as you shrink, you can tighten the garment!
I am so pleased with it once I shrink enough that it doesn't fit I plan to buy a second smaller one
Ps YAY for butt lifting hahaha

How much does it generally cost to remove excess skin? Also how much pain is involved.

I'm 35 had the sleeve 7 months ago. I've lost a total 187 pounds for the year. Very quickly. I hate lose skin inner thighs I have wings under my arms but my tummy is ok

I have lost a total of 126lbs with my sleeve, and excess skin was definately an issue. with dropping the weight in such a quick amount of time (first 90lbs in 7 months) I definately had a large pannus of skin. I had a circular Tummy Tuck this April, which made a huge difference, but not so much in the size of clothing. They removed 13.8lbs of skin off of me but remember that most of this skin is usually what we are used of hanging over our jeans. With the removal of skin, I went from a size 14 pant to a size 12, however made a HUGE difference in how I was able to wear my clothing. Nothing hangs over anymore :)n

I am 28, and I have lost about 106 pounds, and skin is only a very mild issue. I started at 255. Down to 149 now, and the only place it kinda bothers me is my arms but my doctor said it could take a year for things to firm up to what it will be... and then there is always the option of plastic surgery. I plan to have a Tummy Tuck eventually just because I have had two children and that tummy just wont flatten out... even at a size 8 I still have rolls!

I had my sleeve done nearly 3 years ago now and skin is my issue, so I did go to a consult with a plastic surgeon. I was a little sad to hear that I will need a lower body lift instead of just a Tummy Tuck. The only place I have a relaly issue with the loose and sagging extra skin is my stomach. Its a major area of insecurity, so just 16 more pounds to go and I can get that surgery done in February. For loosing over 100 pounds I feel like I am fortunate in the skin department. I really am looking forward to getting it done along with a breast aug because I lost over a cup size during the weight loss.

I'm sad that nothing tightened up for you! And congrats on your 115 pound loss! What an accomplishment! I have about 115-125 pounds to lose, and unfortunately I carry more of my excess weight in my stomach. My mom had a sleeve in December 2012 and just had plastic surgery earlier this week. She's in so much pain, I would be terrified to have any done!

I just attended my monthly support group meeting last week. One of the best plastic surgeons did a presentation there. He is from UCI. He explained that most plastic surgeons do not know or understand that doing plastic surgery on weight loss patients is very different than doing it on regular patients. He has kinda written the book on the differences in weight loss patients and how most surgeons perform the surgeries based on normal weight patients models. The results are usually disastrous and expensive. If you are really bothered by loose skin, make sure you have a surgeon who has LOTS of experience with weight loss patients. There are only about 5 of those in the country!!!! After watching the pros and cons of the surgeries, I will leave my loose skin alone unless it becomes a medical problem. The risks of complications are like 70%. Just my two cents. Good luck to those who are going to do it.

I'm 42 and I am so happy about my choice two years ago. Two years have passed and I'm still a work in progress which actually keeps me motivated to continue. I'm down 125 lbs and want so badly to get what I thought was going to be a Tummy Tuck has turned into a body lift. Oh well it's all worth it. Lose skin is not fun. I need it gone I am a size 8-10 depending on the brand ms I was told with a body lift I would be a 6. Not that clothes size matters in this journey but I don't ever remember being a 6. Lol !!