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Fabulous times. A bra line cuts off the back skin

OMG , have you had the tv on in the last 4 days.. we are being bombarded with commercials showing us how we are supposed to look.. "the fast and effective way to lose weight fast" these bastards make billions of dollars every year off of people just like us who for some reason turn to food for comfort. they prey on us like a lion preys on a wilderbeast. i for one am sick of it... and then in a couple weeks the gym memberships commercials and fitness equiptment commercials will go away and will be replaced with restaurants and fast food commercials driving us insane. Thank god i was banded in late june.. my life has almost completely turned around.. i still have lots of issues to work through emotionally but i am getting there. Here is a warning for all you newly banded.. you are going to feel sexy and wonderful as the weight comes off. that feeling is like a crack addiction you are going to want it more and more.. do not let it consume you. i am down 104lbs and still going i will stop at 200lbs.. it is much slower weight loss now.. but thats ok.. i got into a 36 jean on friday and it was a little loose so even though the scale doesnt seem to budge much.. apparently the inches are still going away.. i have gone from a 4xl shirt to a 2x t shirt that i can actually put in the dryer.. anyway turn off the tv... dont by into any of the bullshit they show and just walk , bike and in general get off your bottom.. and i promise it will happen for you... stay strong

If it's for skin issues, I think what has helped me (along with patience), is resistance (weightlifting) work. Perhaps concentrating on the areas you think you may have a problem with loose skin.....tummy, arms, chest, etc. I was a little worried about a sagging tummy when I got my sleeve, so I did lots of core and oblique exercises like sit ups, planks, deadlifts, etc. It has built up muscle in my torso and has filled in SOME of where I would have had loose skin. Now I'm concentrating on my chest in addition to all of the other lifts I had already been doing. But there's probably only so much that lifting can do to help with possible loose skin. Also patience/time (I'm over a year and a half post op) and many other factors/variables that determine loose skin issues. In fact, I have a link posted on my profile about skin issues....it's simple, yet informative.

I'm wondering the same thing. What's the best approach to minimize excess skin as weight comes off? I've heard one person mention resistance exercises, but I'm not quite sure what that entails. I haven't been cleared for full activity yet... But I'd love to learn about what you're doing activity-wise.

WOW! what a great post! where to start - I mean besides mostly everything that has been said in the above posts... I no longer liked who i was... how i felt... I was so ashamed... I no longer wanted to do anything... besides going to work; I declined invites to do really anything... I too was a hot sweaty mess, legs rubbing together, and just feeling uncomfortable within my own skin. When i would have to use the bathrooms at work, i would pray that the handicap stall would be open... and lets NOT even discuss the whole "trying to wipe my hiney" syndrome!!! Now 5 ½ months later – down 80lbs and I feel better now than I did when I use to be thin… I think this is the BEST I have ever felt!! I am starting to run… (WAIT WHAT?? - ME RUN??? OMG its true!!!) I am healthier, I feel great….. Love being able to shop in any store... I am wearing clothes that haven fit in 10 years! I just can’t believe I got my life back!!!

Well, I do not think you ate anything that will "hurt" you...if it all went down fine....they told us that we were not on starches at first to get us to not "crave" them...you know...concentrate on Protein, fruit and veggies...so...... I think you should call the doc...but also try and limit high caloric foods like mashed potatoes and ice cream...not that we all don't want to eat it but to loose weight....less carbs and less sugar is best....This of course, is from my plan and I am NOT a dr. but.... Bottom line, I doubt you have hurt your band...you are still healing, so take care and remember...the time between banding and a fill is called "bandster hell" because it is not easy! I am actually still there! Oh, to be restricted....soon I hope! Good Luck....protein and healthy carbs! Shelley

Unfortunately when we lose weight, the magazine cover model isn't going to show through because our skin is stretched. But we are getting healthier and taking care of our bodies. Even Cindy Crawford is going to sag eventually right?

Be Patient. Follow the rules, and you will loose like everyone else. Best of luck

Just thought I would ask if anyone else has a weird pattern going. I stall for a week or week and a half, then loose steady for about the same time. Does anyone else have days that they have to force themselves to eat ? and when you have a day like that what do you try to eat ?

I used to do total protein and would always lose quickly but when i gained it back I was "fatter" even though I did not weigh more than when I started. I have since taken a more Atkins or South Beach approach and incorporate vaggies and fruit and every once in awhile bread. My nutritionist would like for me to incorporate bread into every meal, but I can't get my brain around it yet! But this weekend I olet loose and ate a few cookies...I lost more than I had in weeks, 6 pounds!

WEeeelllllll.........I've not asked my surgeon, but I have removed all of mine and replaced them with the plastic ones.... The one in my tongue as well, but I am going to remove that as I know they don't like anything in your mouth which shouldn't be in there! lol If your piercings are in cartilidge then they won't ever close over - the hole may close up quite a bit, but you should always be able to restretch it back out again with taper pins - I even use these for my ear piercings as I rarely wear jewellery in them now. If your hospital stay is only for a couple of nights then you should be fine. The norm is to take off anything metal - I think as if the worst happened and they need to shock you, they prefer to do so without anything metal on your skin....(unless someone knows otherwise). Good luck - If its any different I'll post as soon as I'm back home!! Kathy

So Sorry to hear about your sister. Is it is the hardest decision. I had my consultation and and chose the RNY procedure. My surgeon felt I made the better decision considering the amount of weight I need to loose 180 lbs, but at no time did he influence me. He did say he would say if it felt it was a bad decision based on my health, etc.. After reading your post now I am worried again. The more a person reads the worse it becomes. Worry worry. I might change my mind. Hopefully one can do that.

Hi all. I am 4 weeks post op from a band to sleeve revision. I have heard of people using stomach binders after surgery to protect their incisions but I am wondering if anyone has used them after healing? I am not so much losing pounds but inches for sure and my stomach is becoming saggy and the skin is loose. Any insight?

First, congratulations on your weight loss. Second, skin doesn't weigh very much, so don't expect a change to your scale. My goal of the TT was to get rid of the unwanted skin and have a better appearance to where my clothing would fit better. I'm very pleased with the results. I recommend that you prepare for the same weight, then if you lose a little bit, then that'll be a bonus. A word of advice though, you will have lots of swelling immediately after your procedure, so it's a good idea to wait a week or so before getting on the scale or you might be disappointed. Oh, and I also took measurements (waist, hips) prior to surgery so I would know how much my body had changed since I wasn't expecting a weight loss. It was sort of a mental thing with me just wanting to know that I was spending the money and getting something out of it. I'm down three dress sizes, so HELL YEAH! I got something out of it! Best of luck to you. Keep us posted on your progress!

It's a surgical method where they place extra tension sutures. The extra sutures holds all the skin tighter and prevents excess fluids from pooling. You swell less and there are no drain tubes at all. It takes your PS a little longer in surgery but IMO it's worth it in the end. The only issue I had was a seroma but mine opened up and drained on it's own without needing to be aspirated.

I am looking forward to starting my insurance process for getting a TT. Just curious for those who have had the procedure how much the extra skin weighed? I have a pretty good pannus right now and curious how much I might lose.... Thanks, Katie

@hunneybee81 Are you followed by an orthopedist for the mobility issues? If so, have THAT doc refer you for skin removal, far more effective that the plastic surgeon referring. Possibly a letter from you, as well, stating things like your physical limitations & how exercise & mobility is crucial for maintaining the weight loss & avoiding co-morbidities. If there are any co-morbidities that were resolved by weight loss, mention those, too. With an ortho referral & my letter, my ins. covered 100% of TT/Panni. Most likely, they will not pay for breasts, arms, etc....

Hi all. I'm a 34-year-old mom of 2, dd is 10 and ds is 7. I was banded in August of 2006. Immediately after my port flipped and needed to be repaired. THat should have been my first clue I made the wrong choice! I managed to lose almost 100 pounds with the band in the first 2 years, but it was s-l-o-w. At the end of 2008, my band surgeon said I should get a consult with a plastic surgeon about my huge apron of skin. It was horrible, hung down past my girlie bits, made me look a lot heavier than I was, my skin was constantly tearing and it gave me rashes. So, in Feb of 09 I had a tummy tuck and breast lift. Holy crap what a difference! He took off 16 pounds of extra skin and the surgery took 11 hours. The recovery was horrible. Because of the band, I've had problems with medication working right and it took a bit before we found an oral pain killer that actually worked. I was off work for 6 weeks and the recovery was horriblle. I managed to mess up my knee the day after surgery so it was always going numb and giving out on me. No one knew why. Then I got a stomach virus and puking after a tummy tuck, with a lapband, is it's own special kind of hell. Just as i was starting to feel human again I got scarlet fever. Which I thought went out of style with hoop skirts and mutton chops! Evidentally not though. My pcp said because my system was so screwed up due to the surgery, a strep infection just went haywire. That took another 2 weeks to recover from. I'd finally gotten to a weight that, while it wasn't as low as I wanted, I was happy with my body. I looked good, felt normal for the first time in my life and liked the way I looked in the mirror. I no longer walked into a room and got that horrible feeling of "Oh no, I'm the fattest person here". I felt like people noticed me and not my weight. A couple months ago I started having restriction problems, bouncing between too loose or too tight, and waking up at night with horrible reflux and choking on my stomach contents. Yuck! Had an upper gi done last week after an unfill didn't help matters and surgeon says the band needs to come out. It is extrememly tight, which he said makes no sense because it's empty and I don't feel like I have any restriction (which is why I've gained some weight back ). So, now we start the process of getting insurance approval for the band removal and revision to the sleeve. He said he'll push for the sleeve instead of bypass because bypass does not appeal to me. I'm already deficient in B12 and vit D and take injections and supplements for that. I'm afraid of what would happen if I had the malabsorption issues to deal with too. If insurance (Anthem Blue Cross) wil only cover the removal but not the sleeve, I'm hoping it will be cheap enough for me to self-pay for the sleeve. And I really want to get this done soon! The idea of being on a liquid diet over the holidays is not at all appealing. I've been reading all your stories since finding out I might lose my band and have gotten so much help from them! Thanks for sharing your stories. :001_smile:

Good afternoon everyone! Just wanted to give an update. I got sleeved on 12/15/2011, I was a lapband to sleeve revision. I am loosing slowly but surely and I am currently at 152 lbs. I started with pre Lapband at almost 250 lbs and pre Sleeve at 193 lbs. I work out 3-5 times a week and I also drink my protein shakes as a meal replacement at least once a day and try to limit my carbs and sugars. It has taken a lot of work, but I am very proud of my accomplisments and very happy with myself at this point. A little nip and tuck wouldn't hurt but will look into that in the future!!

I had the Lapband surgery back in 2010. Lost over 120lbs in two years. I had a baby in April 2013 and all fluid was removed from the band during pregnancy. I started to get fills again three months after my baby was born. These fills have not been the same since my pregnanacy. I no longer feel they are working. I have gained back 60lbs total and have had the hardiest time trying to no continue to gain back more. Recently I had an upper GI and no problems with the band. I continuously tell the doctors that I am having bad heart burn/reflux and able to eat EVERYTHING. The just gave me prescription for acid and filled me again. I am at 7.5cc now. Although this is my third fill I have had and now I can't even keep water down at night and must return to have fluid removed. I keep thinking that there may be an erosion or slip because of a weird cold sensation I keep getting in my abdomen area. I have never heard of this feeling for the band before. I am unsure where to go from here. On one hand I need to loose this weight on the other I want this fluid removed because of the issues I am having. And these doctors don't seem to have any accurate answers.

My skin weighed 9 lbs on my tummy tuck, 3 lbs on my arm lift and 5 lbs on my inner thigh lift, my breast lift is tomorrow, i will be interested to see how muck that skin weighs

I went through the same thing. I am smaller than I was in middle school, and I've looked back at pictures. My face is definitely different that it was 25 years ago. I still had chubby cheeks, and my neck was way bigger. But, I now have weight in my abdomen that I didn't have back then. My ribs are visible as is my sternum, and I know those bones didn't show through my skin like they do now. It's kind of weird, but in a "good weird" way ! ! !

If the skin is a problem your doctor needs to document it and then send it in. They don't always cover it though. I see a lot of people go to Mexico

Considering you are really young and less than 100 to lose, you probably wont have an issue with loose skin. With the band, you should lose slowly enough that it will probably bounce back to normal. I gained 75 with my first child and didn't have skin problems after, because I was in my early 20s. NOW, however, I have major saggy going on...:tongue_smilie:

Like I said, I'm not too worried about it - because I plan on having a couple of kids in the future but the loose skin on the arms and legs - i'm a little worried about. Hopefully it will bounce back - but I always expect the worse. :tongue_smilie: