Whether or not you get loose skin and how much is such a crap shoot. I started with a low BMI and lost about 80 lbs... a relatively small amount for WLS patients... but I ended up with so much loose skin. I'm at my Ideal Body Weight with 18.2% body fat, and I still look like I have a tummy because it's all loose skin. Even after losing all the weight, I'm still not comfortable going without a shirt. I look terrific in clothes, but naked... oh my.
I might get surgery. I don't know. It's expensive, painful, and carries risk. And for me, the only reason would be cosmetic. The loose skin doesn't affect me in any other way.
Still... I will take loose skin over being fat all day every day!
Hi @John40! The skin issue is very varied. Elasticity can relate to age and weight and gender and general health and genetics. So, some of us have lots of leftover skin, and some barely any at all. As a post menopausal pasty face lady I have lots of extra skin that I find annoying but not a hindrance or life threatening. I’ve decided to treat it like a war scar to remind me of what I have overcome. I wear what I want and toning up my muscles has made me look firm and stand up tall and straight. Some here have gotten skin surgery, and they look great too. It’s very personal to you how much extra skin you have. It’s also very personal to each how the extra skin allows them to move or fit in their clothing. You might not know until you get there.
Most insurance does not cover skin removal. Document your sores and limited mobility from extra skin to try and get insurance coverage if you think this will be a real issue! I have friends where mobility and sores were still very impacted by the extra skin. Document it early and throughout with doctors, nurses, bills, pictures with everything dated. I don’t know where you’re at with your journey but best of luck!
