Search the Community

Don't know how many of us are still left reading these forums but I miss you all! Just hit my 4 month mark and I'm down a little over 50 pounds, yay! Before surgery I was just hoping that I could hit that goal before my cruise and I did! I have another month before I sail so maybe I'll hit 60 pounds down and that will be the best. Weight loss has slowed down but I did expect that. I'm hoping to keep losing at about 10 pounds per month now which is what I did this month and I also lost 7 inches. My hair is definitely thinning so I cut my almost waist long hair to shoulder length and I actually love it. Scary to see the loss at my temples but I know its temporary so I'm trying not to stress too much. I had my blood tested and all of my levels are good but they do want me to take a little more iron because they want me to be above average. I finally tried on a smaller pair of pants and was surprised to see that I could fit into a 14 and its not even tight. I haven't been this size in over 10 years. My brain still thinks I'm the same size to its nice to be able to put on clothing and see proof of loss. I had to buy ring adjusters because my wedding ring was getting scary loose so now its tight and safe again. I can't believe how much has changed in just 4 months and I'm so happy I had the surgery. I hope you all are well and come back and visit sometime lol

This is all dependent on where you started, and how well your skin bounces back. So your result may be very different than others

I’ve definitely deflated but the leftover skin still takes up an additional cup size than when my weight was here last time.

I had VSG over a dozen years ago. Started at 320. 5'3" and 49 years old. Had surgery at about 300 lbs (sorry, don't remember exactly !) But I count EVERY DARN POUND ! I lost to 165; but never could hold that. No plastics or skin removal. Maintained at 175 to 180 for many years. Then had major surgery, lost my mom, younger brother.... working, raising my own child, and caregiving. I gained to 220. After losing my dad.... I kind of gave up trying....for a while. 5 years later, I decided to lose 10 pounds in a year. That was about 4 years ago. I lost the ten and then another and kept going.... but slowly. Every 5 pounds I would stop and just figure out how to maintain that loss. Because I realized what I missed.... in all those years was HOW TO MAINTAIN - I could lose, but not MAINTAIN where I got. So I would add in a small piece of cake as a treat. Did that do it ? NOPE. A small treat every day ? NOPE. I had to learn what would add a pound or two. We have to adjust to our new insides, and to our bodies and to our new ages and stages of life. We are not static. We change. Our medical needs change. See your doctor. Meet with a nutritionist from time to time. Pay attention to not feeling well. Get it checked out and bring up your surgery and what you are eating and drinking. I did lose back to 173 -175 and kept it there for more than a year. Spent the last 6 months losing another 10 to 12 pounds. For whatever reason it has come off easier this time. I haven't weighed under 165 since college in the late 1970's. I am almost 67. You can get through this. Slowly and do not compare yourself to anyone else. Put on those pants you wore when you started the journey and see how big they are on you now. YOU HAVE moved forward. You ARE doing it. On your own time. Which is always the RIGHT TIME.

To recover skin that has shrunk due to slower weight loss, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly to promote muscle growth and overall skin health. Additionally, staying hydrated and using moisturizing products can help to plump and hydrate the skin. Consultation with a dermatologist is also a good idea to know the best treatment to recover shrinking skin than using any powder.

What does your team say ? That's all that matters. We all travel at our own pace. We are all different by sex, age and levels of activity. For some the road is short because they have less to loose. There will never be an average weight loss per month because of our variables. Just keep plodding on. You will get where you want to be. I think you are doing ok but I don't know your diet or how many calories you are eating or what kind of foods you can manage. Sent from my Lenovo TB-J606F using BariatricPal mobile app

I echo @catwoman7’s comments. The benefits of the surgery which make the initial weight loss much easier don’t last so I wouldn’t deliberately try to slow your weight loss. It will only make it harder to lose the remainder. I don’t have a lot of loose skin. I lost about 90lbs. I didn’t have much at all when I reached my goal (which was always my lowest weight). I think genetics helped as I certainly had my age against me. When I dropped the additional 11kg the loose skin was more noticeable though still not enough for me to justify plastic surgery. They ‘d probably only remove about a kilo of skin if they took it from all over my body. I cover mine very easily with my clothes. I wear body con clothing often & don’t need shape wear to restrain/control my saggy skin. And as catwoman7 said, I’d rather have some loose skin than still be at my higher weight.

My surgery was Dec 20. Luckily I lost 30 lbs in like 11 days. But its been there since. Looking forward to loosing again but I dropped alot quickly.

I don't think it matters that much whether you lose the weight slowly or quickly. That skin was stretched out to cover whatever your heaviest weight was, and once it's stretched out, it's not likely to bounce back. If you're young and not very overweight (maybe 20 or 30 lbs), it could snap back, but at the weight most of us start at, you'll probably have at least *some* loose skin. I'd follow my program and not try to eat more just for fear of loose skin. You want to lose all the weight you can, while still remaining healthy. This is your one opportunity in your lifetime when you have a chance to lose a massive amount of weight with a lot less effort than it took before surgery (granted, it does take effort, but the surgery really helps it along!) I lost over 200 lbs, and I had a TON of loose skin (have since had it removed). Honestly, no one knew it was there except for me and my husband . For most of us, it's pretty easy to hide in clothes. I think I'm speaking on behalf of most/all of the "vets" here who've had to deal with loose skin - we'd take the loose skin any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. ANY DAY!

Hi Sam, that's a really hard question to answer without more information about how far along you are and what surgery you've had! Could you fill out your stats or give us something more to go on please? My understanding is that how our skin adapts to weight loss is a lot to do with genetics/age and much less to do with how we manage that! Do you have specific concerns?

Hi guys after the sleeve could we add a extra scoop powder or more calories so we lose slower to give skin a chance to go back ? Sent from my SM-G986B using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much @Smankyand @Arabesque. This really helps a lot, I know I can’t avoid the stretch marks or the loose skin, but it’s comforting to know I can keep my skin healthy with some products. Thanks again lovelies 💕

Some of what are you are experiencing could be a post surgical effect &/or from the anaesthetic (it’s renown for causing skin & hair dryness). Also there could be some hormonal issues at play too. Slather on a good body lotion & as you start to eat a wider variety of food you may find it decreases. As for loose skin & stretch marks nothing can stop that happening. How much you end up with depends on many factors like age, how long you’ve carried your weight, how long you’ve been at your highest weight & genetics. Think of your skin as a hair band that has been well used & stretched out - ain’t nothing going to make that go back to how it was when it was new. Same with your skin regardless of how many vitamins you take. I’m using a ‘wonder’ cream at the moment that’s supposed to reduce stretch marks. ‘See results in two weeks.’ Well it’s been more than a month & there’s been no change. My skin is a little softer so I guess that’s a win. Won’t be buying it again. Find a good facial oil, with or without collagen. (I love Drunk Elephant’s Marula oil & Charlotte Tilbury’s Collagen superfusion facial oil - wish I could bathe in it.) At the very least you’ll notice a change in the tone & texture of your skin. Then you can join those of us who’ve tried UV, RF & derma needling treatments to help with facial skin laxity. (The treatments have become my new addiction 😁.)

I kept my skin in the best condition I could with collagen support supplements, biotin, hydration and body lotions with actives like retinol in it. Oh and a daily and pedantic application of 50+ SPF. I still have a lot of loose skin (I'm 51, so it's not gonna bounce back much), but the scars are almost gone and my skin is as happy as it can be. There's no escaping at least some loose skin with big weight loss, and unless plastics are an option down the track, leaning to love it is all you can do!

Hello everyone! I’ve just had my sleeve surgery on January 8th of this year and if it helps, I’m 32 years old. I’m less than one week post op and I can already see my skin changing and getting flaky from dehydration. My fluid intake is improving so all is well. What I would really love to know is how can I take care of my skin to minimize dry patches, loss skin, stretch marks,…etc. I think the early I tackle this, the better 😂 Your advice and experience will help me so much - please share any products, habits, vitamins, supplements, exercises…etc. that help you keep your skin healthy

When packing for a hospital stay after bariatric surgery, it's important to remember that you may have limited mobility and may be on a liquid or pureed diet for a period of time. Here are some things to consider bringing: Comfortable clothing and shoes that are easy to get on and off. Loose-fitting clothes that are easy to move in are best. A robe and slippers for walking around your room. A pillow or cushion to help with comfort. A book, magazine, or tablet to keep yourself entertained during your stay. A notebook and pen to keep track of important information and ask any questions you may have. A water bottle or straw cup to help you stay hydrated. Lip balm, lotion, and any other personal hygiene items you may need. A copy of your insurance card, driver's license, and other important documents. A list of medications, vitamins, or supplements you take and their dosages. Some things that might not be necessary to bring: A lot of clothing, as you may not need it. Large amounts of toiletries, since most hospitals, provide them. Large amounts of money or valuables, as you may not need them.

I thought the plastic surgeon who has done all of my skin removal surgeries was making this up lol... I had 19.2 pounds of skin removed from my abdominal and mons area! Now, contrary to what may be some people's experience, that has NEVER been reflected on the scale. Somehow, my weight actually stayed around the same, maybe slightly less. Pretty weird!

It's not uncommon for people to experience changes in their relationship with food and their emotional responses to eating after bariatric surgery. Some people may find that they no longer crave certain foods or that their emotional association with food changes. Reverse behavioral conditioning, as you've described it, is a phenomenon where the physical discomfort associated with eating too much or eating certain foods can change the way a person feels about those foods and their overall relationship with food. This can help to reduce cravings and change the way a person thinks about food, making it easier to maintain a healthy diet and weight in the long-term. It's also common for people to experience a change in the way they feel about their body and their self-esteem. The weight loss and the change in the way they look, can help them to feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin. It's important to note that this process is unique to everyone and some people may not experience a change in their emotional relationship with food. It's important to continue to work with a therapist or a dietitian to help you manage and understand your feelings about food and your relationship with it.

I definitely get a lot of ick seeing diet culture words and phrases slung around on these message boards as well as sentiments I recognize from folks with eating disorders. Things in the same vein/tone as to “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels…etc” Having had a severe ED in the past and otherwise socialize in diet culture for most of my life I can’t help but cringe in seeing people would have made the choice to grow healthy through weight loss surgery choice to clinging to some of the most problematic diet culture undertones. I also get major ick seeing people put down their past selves and bodies. I think it’s amazing to feel and confident in your own skin, but there are so many factors that contribute to weight gain and so many ways fat people are misunderstood, treated unfairly and undermined in our society - something most of us have personally experienced to some degree, I hate to see people acting in ways that contribute negative societal construct.

I was able to receive partial insurance coverage for the panniculectomy portion of my tummy tuck. Essentially, my plastic surgeon's office submitted everything to my insurance company (documents, photos, notes from the surgeon, etc.) and it WAS denied the first time. He's awesome though and he actually did a peer-to-peer review for me; after that, Medical Mutual did cover the panniculectomy, and I paid the additional portion out of pocket for the conversion to a full tummy tuck. My experience (though it may be quite different from others' experience) was this: my plastic surgeon told me in our first consult that he rarely does just a panniculectomy for a bariatric patient. He explained that if there were just minimal apron skin to be removed, it might be sufficient. For my case though, he was very honest and said to me 'If I just do a panniculectomy for you, you are not going to be happy with the results.' He was right and I went with the full abdominoplasty.

I agree with what others have said. My plastic surgeon did pulsed dye laser treatment for my scars after my thigh and arm lifts. We talked about microneedling but honestly, I don't know its effectiveness for improving skin laxity. I have had a standard microneedling treatment done by my dermatologist for acne scarring, but for me, I personally saw better results with the laser treatments.

My hair loss was BAD, I drink two scoops of collagen powder in my coffee and take extra-strength hair-skin-nails gummies every morning and my hair is now thicker than it was before my surgery. A bonus is that both of these products will also improve the texture of your skin and nails.

Hey all: I had what I hope is my last minor skin revision on Friday of last week. I developed a pretty nasty reaction to the steritape used to cover two incisions. I’ve had this reaction before. My plastic surgeon and the CNP in his office determined it was essentially hives. I have removed the steritape and followed the office’s instructions. They called in a Medrol (prednisone) 6 day course of steroids for me. Does anyone have experience with taking short term corticosteroids after RNY? To be safe, I’m taking them with a 20mg Omeprazole and food or milk. Is there a risk of pouch irritation/ulcer for a short term course? I’m 9 years post-op.

Ok, so I have been obese just about my entire life. Here is my take, obesity is a problem at all ages and comes with a plethora of other issues. (mental and physical) But, lets think about us as adults for a minute, how much there is to understand. The rules, the regulations, the understanding of nutrition, counting calories, monitoring protein and fluid intakes, being sure to take all our vitamins... etc! Now, as a child do you think you could keep up with that? Do you think we could have even understood the seriousness of all of it? Of what could happen if we don't take vitamins and become deficient in something? Even, the potential complications from surgery short term or life long? As a child, I feel like it would be up to the parents to monitor and regulate foods, vitamins and comprehend everything that the child would have to maintain. So, why doesn't the parent just do that before surgery is required? If the parent is prepared to do that after surgery than why haven't they before surgery is even needed? If healthy habits are established at the parenting level then they (parents) already understand healthy diets and regulation of calories etc. Which in turn would naturally be passed down to their children. I am not saying this is perfect and some kids refuse to eat anything but mac n cheese.. but those kids aren't going to succeed with WLS anyway if that is the case so why? If the parents do NOT understand healthy eating habits, then how are they prepared to help their child any differently after surgery? As adults, we fail and we have the capacity to understand why. I just don't believe a child is able to maintain this lifestyle without a parents who are prepared to basically do the same exact thing. Although, I do believe some children may really need the help of WLS I just do not believe they can maintain it without the parent taking complete control (up to a certain age). Me as a child or teen I really don't think so. When WLS first became a thing, my best friends dad had bypass and it damn near killed him. He went from 700 lbs to around 100 and in a wheel chair in less than a year. Everything that could have went wrong did. Life long complications. I remember it scared the **** out of me! I remember it was a sole reason I waited so long to have surgery myself. Every time I considered it, he crossed my mind. He was the only person I knew for years that had it and it destroyed him. Then, as time went on I knew other people but literally NONE of them were successful. For whatever reason, lost and gained it all back, didn't loose, didn't follow the plan, didn't understand. I don't know but I know that every story I was aware of was not a positive one. Then my doctor actually suggested it, I started looking into it again. Researched the best surgeon around, researched every potential risk, benefit. Read for months on these forums and every article I could find online. Talked to people I knew, and had very transparent conversations about why they didn't succeed. I learned, and realized that I wasn't those people and decided to move forward. Here I am, 9.5 months later. Kicking a**. But me as a teen, I don't think so. I don't think teens are mature enough(and I was a VERY mature teen) to deal with all the changes and I don't think the parents are prepared to take control or they already would have.

No way! Your sugar "slip" is being NORMAL. Hair loss, from surgery? Again, NORMAL. It took me 3 years to get to have surgery. I weighed 357 at my highest and was treated like it was 753 lbs. I went down 27 lbs on my own. However, I had asthma all my life and my body HURT. I retired from a job I LOVED for 25 years due to fears of working in a COVID spread environment and in order to deal with my weight. My pcp gave me phentermine to reach the arbitrary 315 lbs hurdle goal to get into surgery. Now, 6 weeks post op TODAY, it hurts to eat, I HATE protein shakes and it feels like I'm starving. Still, I feel immensely HAPPY. I am grateful for the surgery! I lost 30 first 2 weeks post op, then nothing more and gained back 4 lbs. Yet, I know it's a blip. You lost weight! You lost 60 pounds! That's like putting down a kid who piggy backed on you for however long. You're sixty pounds LIGHTER. Your hair will grow back! EAT foods high iron, biotin, and vitamins for hair skin and nails. My sister went through same and 5 years later she's back to normal, hair and all. She gains a little on holiday's but goes right back to losing what she gained with more activity and WATER. You are NORMAL. Enjoy what you've accomplished! Plus I just read people with surgery are living LONGER!!!😎🤟