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One year after hitting goal, not one year from surgery. You may not feel it right now, but you have great skin, and it may surprise you!! Good luck!!

Nah. I’m one year out. Not even near my goal weight and am already dealing with loose skin issues

The good news is that you are 18. You still have GREAT skin!!! I would not be surprised that after maintaining your goal weight for 1 years, you don't even need surgery. Take measurements, and check your progress!!! I might have $$ for plastic surgery but it's only b/c I'm older which means I have the old lady skin that goes with it. I'd rather be young and broke!! LOL!!! Seriously, I think you will be fine!!

Nope. From my consults and research skin issues such as candida rashes that require nystatin powder (or other types) would count but a time frame (6/12 months) of continued use without improvement is necessary in order for insurance to consider it & It must be WELL documented. For breast reductions, a specific amount (tissue, not skin) needs to be removed/removable for insurance to cover it. This is the process my Bariatric Surgeon started but I decided to self pay to expedite the process.

that would be mainly if you have medical issues because of the excess skin - e.g., chronic rashes that don't clear up with conventional treatments. So if you have something like this, make sure it's documented so it can be submitted to the insurance company. unfortunately, I never had any issues like this, so I had to pay out-of-pocket

Most insurance will pay for some skin removal but your doctor(s) have to document the need so start there. Otherwise here are my tips for raising funds: + second or third job + crowdsourcing + side hustles + estate sale + lottery + inheritance + sugar daddy 😂 Good Luck

Where to get the money 😭😭 seriously. Insurance should cover for this. It’s not like I want to I’m prove my looks. (I do of course) but I literally walk around hanging all over the place. I am uncomfortable and get skin chafing all over the place. It’s overall quit depressing

I really don't understand the low fat emphasis except the higher calories content. Reasonable amount of fat is necessary to absorb fat soluble Vitamins, help with dry skin and deal with constipation. Even saturated fat isn't bad (hangover from decades of misinformation about cholesterol). Many people are successfully losing weight on ketogenic diet which is very high fat, low carb. Most of us are high Protein, low carb with limited fat. I suspect high protein, medium fat, limited carb would be best post WLS diet from my own research. I have been high protein (at least 80g), limited fat, limited carb (less than 50g total carbs which includes fiber). In the beginning, no caffiene, no carbonated beverages, no raw fruit, avoid fruit with seeds. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211.

When did you start Biotin? Also, how much Protein is your goal. My bariatric center says 80g per day. I have been taking 10,000 mcg Biotin since day after surgery and 90g Protein per day. Am only 8 weeks postop so probably have a month yet to see how bad my Hair loss will be. I heard limiting hair washing and brushing as much as possible will help from pulling out hair. Don't think Biotin Shampoo will be helpful as biotin not absorbed through skin. It is just part of the process. Do the best you can and know that it will be over in couple months. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

First round - LBL, exterior thigh, bumb reconstruction with fat transfer, stomach muscle, and breast lift Round two arm lift round three inner thigh lift. 11 or 13 hours on the first surgery, then 4 and 6 or 7 respectively. Both hospitals he uses are top notch with extremely minimal infection rates. Finally in regards to aftercare - it was hell. He is extremely good super responsive and I literally got in touch with him at all hours - also he can refer you to personal care nurses. In my final surgery this was super helpful and I wish I done it for all my surgeries. I would consider an Airbnb, with nurse support. They do this all the time so talk with the office staff. Honestly the aftercare part I was nervous about but feel pretty comfortable with. Round one and two went just fine. Inner thigh lift had complications - The complication rate is 50 to 75% and I knew this going into it. I also know that I can be a type a personality when it comes to medical procedures and I absolutely needed a response of staff and a doctor I could reach personally. Once I apologize for being a difficult patient- and he pointed out that is why he gets paid the really big box! Well his surgical skills are good and I like his bedside manner that hospital he practices at was a contributing factor - positive. I would highly recommend getting a consultation and seeing if he is a good fit for you chat with office staff as well. I think the times are right but it’s been a few years - The after care was smooth and even if I wasn’t local I would choose this doctor knowing what I know now. I would do it all over again too. As a note - he would not do the inner thigh left with the LBL as the skin pulls in different directions. The same is true of breast work with Arm lift.

I was told to avoid caffeine during the liquid and soft phases after that it was as tolerated. I was also told to avoid skin and seeds on fruits and veggies, fried foods, high fat meat and dairy, and pasta which I rarely ate pre-surgery. Best advice is to follow what your surgeon has outlined for you because what works for one might not work for the next.

The scars on my arms are not noticeable and every day type movement but I am still very aware of them. At the beach and yoga class... because of the SAG craving the vertical incisions are necessary on extremely thin skin. For me when running the extra skin was super irritating Plus the same was true for my inner thigh lift. It has been almost painful bump when moving rapidly. Yeah I’ve got some scars like a roadmap and trade I have a healthy active life - it’s worth a trade for me

Another quick update because it's been 5 days since my extended brachioplasty. I saw the surgeon and nurse today for my follow up appointment. The bandages are off and the drains are out! I'm allowed to shower again! I feel like a new woman! YAY!!! I haven't taken any pain killers at all today. Things are a bit itchy, my skin has small rashes from where the compression bandages are (this is just my pale sensitive skin doing its thing), so I'm supposed to use body lotion - except on the incisions. I also got a new compression garment. I'm tempted to order another one on Amazon so that I don't have to frantically wash it all the time, but we'll see. My surgeon's clinic also gave me a cute gift bag with a nice note, products and some fancy chocolate. Feeling so happy and thankful. Hope everyone else is doing well!

RYou look fabulous @Dtrain84. And Jake, you always look great. So lovely to welcome our new comers too. Hope you’ll become frequent posters. By the way, has anyone heard from Angiebear? I hope she’s ok. Because we had to cancel our girls’ trip to Spain, we’ve decided to do a weekend away at an upmarket retreat in the mountains here in Queensland in September. We’ve decided to go all out & will be helicoptering up & back (45min trip). The views will be spectacular & we’re very excited. Anyway, our private lodge has a spa on the deck so I’ve been forced to buy some swimwear - first time in 18yrs. Thought you’d be amused by my choice - ain’t no one seeing my saggy baggy skin & I am very fair so there is some sensible logic in my choice.

I thought I would share more about my Brachioplasty. I know that I scoured these forums and reddit trying to get info and advice before hand, so it only seemed fair to share my story too. I had the surgery a few days ago. Despite concerns around scarring, nerve damage and the surgery triggering an autoimmune response (I dealt with a ton of horrible illnesses after my VSG), I decided to go through with it. My first consultation was July 7th and I had the surgery on the 23rd of July when a slot became available (probably due to a cancellation from the pandemic). I felt like the universe was giving me a nudge and I had to take it!! While I'm only a few days post op, I'm so thankful that it went well. Minimal pain (particularly compared to my VSG). I was so relieved that I could still move my arms a bit, I was concerned I wouldn't even be able to feed myself! I can't lift anything heavy, but I could drink from a glass of water after the surgery. I actually ended up staying the night in hospital. I could have gone home, but the general made me pretty groggy so the nurse suggested I stay. My family was quite relieved as my VSG was quite tough on my body - my blood pressure wouldn't go down and then my body freaked out with a range of autoimmune disorders from the shock a week or two later. While the drains are pretty gross, it's manageable. I've been able to sleep really well in my bed (I read about people having to sleep upright in a chair but I didn't have to do this). There also hasn't been any horror movie style blood on my sheets (OK, a few small spots through my PJs). My hands are a bit less swollen today so that's exciting. It really feels like I'm already on the mend and it's only been a few days. I'm looking forward to getting the drains out in the next few days. I can't wait to walk the dogs again. I know that I've got a lot of work ahead in terms of scar management, but I'm hopeful that they won't be so noticeable with time. I've been so busy the last few years, that it's felt weird to just lie in bed and watch Netflix. Even with the quarantine, I was working crazy hours from home. Never just relaxing. Then I started a series of projects at home. I went through my closet, organised the pantry, took longer walks, did craft, cooked and baked etc, helped a friend with her studies, etc. There's always somewhere to be, something to do. After a few days, I'm starting to enjoy this forced rest and relaxation. I don't need to be busy all the time, I can be still. I'm so thankful that I found a surgeon and anaesthetist who took such great care of me. Even though, I have (diagnosed) anxiety, I was able to get through it all because they kindly answered all my questions. My key learnings from surgery: Keep the old button up PJs and zip up hoodies when they get too big for you as you lose weight. They might come in handy for plastics - they're easy to put on and fit loosely around drains and swelling. Have a surgery plan (people to take you to hospital, meals in the freezer, someone to care for pets, children, plants). Have lozenges on hand (my throat still hurts from the surgery), lip balm, a good book, pack light for the hospital (someone else will have to carry your bag). Find the right surgeon, go to multiple consultations. Make a list of questions. Call them up with more questions. Keep up hydration and walking after surgery. Hope everyone is doing well at the moment! Much love to my bariatric pals. Other than some of my family, I don't share that I had the sleeve and plastics. Sometimes I feel really weird about my "secret life" that I keep from everyone, but that's what makes me comfortable. Here with you wonderful people, I feel less lonely. I'm one of the many vets who dropped off a bit. You start living life and it gets busy! However, right at the time in my life, I'm happy to be in this community with such supportive, lovely ladies (some of the guys here are OK too). Anyway, wow - that felt like an essay. Whew! Some pics below in case anyone is interested.

No such thing as losing too fast... Everyone is different.. I lost over 150lbs in just 8 months now been maintaining that for almost 3 months and feel amazing... But some ppl worry about excess skin.. again I think I was lucky..

I didn’t need much — I didn’t even use my chapstick (but I don’t regret bringing it since it doesn’t take up much space). I definitely recommend loose, comfy pants (and underwear) to wear under the hospital gown while walking the hallways. I brought my iPad to keep myself occupied. I brought a travel toiletry kit but didn’t use anything but toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush. I was only there for one night and didn’t feel the need to take a shower (plus, the shower was gross). I brought Listerine strips and was glad I had them, but I regret it because I overused them and ended up with oral thrush (which can happen if you kill too much of the good bacteria in your mouth). i didn’t bring a pillow from home and didn’t need one. The hospital provides pillows, which aren’t great, but they’re fine, and I didn’t even use the hospital pillow because I could tilt the head of the bed (and I am normally the type who likes a lot of pillows). I thought about bringing a pillow to hold over my stomach on the ride home, but I decided to use a folded up shirt or sweatpants instead, and didn’t even need to do that, anyway.

Silly Kitty makes a very good point here. Each surgeon needs to evaluate one's age, health, skin type, pain threshold and flesh amount to be removed. For myself, I had stretched my petite frame beyond extreme at 5 feet. Even a few inches would have spread the wealth. LOL. Surgery for tummy + breast lifts past December was six hours from prep to recovery. My recovery was smooth, concise and without issue. Close to 6 - 7 pounds of skin removed! Interestingly, while my weight loss had stabilized - my body responded positively in other ways to the plastic surgery procedure. Day of surgery - I weighed 130 pounds. 1 1/2 months later - I settled in at 118. Now, 115. My arm lifts are scheduled 7 months from December surgery. I have very heavy upper arms, and suspect each may weigh 1 pound!? Soooo, that might mean a final weight of 113 pounds in the end. Do not plan on inner thigh skin to be removed. I can manage and conceal that pretty well. That being said, I am amazed at the Art and Science - Skill + Talents available to us with WLS and plastics to help us arrive at our best selves! So thankful and at awe of all our wonderful transformations! Other than the COVID thing - I'm really enjoying my slimmest happiest summer of adult lifetime. Game changer, indeed!

if people have 100+ lbs to lose, they're almost certainly have some loose skin regardless of how fast or slow the weight comes on. It gets to the point where it's so stretched that it's just not going to bounce back. You're right - he's never dealt with this, so he has no idea what he's talking about.

Just got off the phone with an old friend whom I haven't seen in years (since I was normal weight), and he was telling me about his current life plans/ projects (quitting drinking and smoking). I should have listened to myself and not mentioned my surgical plans, but I did. Silly me. He had a lot of opinions about it and how I should just do the diet and exercise thing again (knowing I have debilitating back issues that preclude me from doing a lot of exercises, though I do try.) I didn't tell him just how much I have to lose because I'm rather sensitive about it in my in person life. (I live away from my "home" area now and don't have too many in person friends anymore, so I just haven't posted any pics of myself publicly in a while.) He was well-meaning, but he claimed that regular slow diet and exercise means you won't have loose skin.... he has NO IDEA wtf he's talking about. He has a super fast metabolism and has NEVER been a BMI over 24.9 in his entire life. He recently lost 30lbs going from 24.9 to like a 22 and thinks that the reason he doesn't have loose skin is because he did it by being active... I tried explaining that 30lbs doesn't really cause loose skin, but he was insistent. I even explained that I was already saving $ for my PS surgery after but he was insistent that if I did it HIS way I wouldn't need it- even after I reminded him about when I lost 95lbs THAT way (working out about 2 hours per day) and still had loose skin anyway! Thankfully, he picked up on my frustration and changed the subject, but UGH!!! THIS is why I don't tell people- SO. DAMN. FRUSTRATING. Also, mansplaining, wtf?

I took the time before I received a surgery date to figure out which shakes I liked best. I also tried eating certain meals as if I was post op. For example, I made very loose farina for the second post op stage. I also chewed more thoroughly to get used to doing that instead of eating fast. Practicing sipping water is important too because I read that we can get pain afterwards if we gulp. There’s really plenty to work. One last thing I did was to listen to Bariatric themed podcasts by Reeger Cortell. She is a nurse practitioner for a Bariatric program and she has these lengthy podcasts on subjects of interest to those seeking weight loss surgery. Before you know it your surgery date will be on the horizon!

Doc said he removed a total of 400g (0.88 lbs) across the 3 procedures, and it was mostly skin. Funny how removal of a measly 400g of skin could make such a difference in appearance. I have no idea if my surgery day size factored into the length of time doc needed to do his thing...though it makes a little bit if sense as there wasn’t alot for him to remove (i.e., not as much “material” to spend time on to have to cut off? I dunno...

Three weeks since I came home. I have been hurting since Tuesday. Not "give me narcotics" hurting, but enough to be taking regular doses of Tylenol. My insides feel tight, like I'm wearing a corset under my skin, and every once in a while there is a little stabby pain. Mostly I don't notice it when I'm awake but when I try to sleep it interferes. I'm not vomiting, nauseated, constipated, dehydrated, or unable to pass gas so I'm pretty sure everything is okay inside and I'm just feeling things healing, probably some adhesion formation too. In contrast to the sleeve, this surgery feels like my insides were rearranged. So far I've been able to eat anything I've tried, I had some boiled rice and some ground pork with hoisin sauce, some peanut butter, some chicken salad, all good. I might try some oatmeal soon. I lost another pound last week but as I add more calories back I think I will be okay. I'm still waking up with a dry mouth but not as bad as it was.

Guess I'm lucky also with minimal skin issues but I'm young and drink a ton of water. Just keep positive and focused.

Yes, I have to constantly remind myself that I am not going to drop the weight as fast as people with a higher BMI. Seeing people lose so much weight rapidly makes me jealous - I am not going to lie. I read someone else's post that said the benefit of slower weight loss is less loose skin... so maybe you can keep that in mind when you get frustrated. Thank you for the chart -- that was helpful. I am screenshotting to keep as a reminder.