I am pre-band, I will be getting it in the next 2 weeks, however, I am putting EVERYTHING that I have into the surgery. Right now I am 5'7 and 320 lbs, I would like to lose 150 pounds, and I plan to work out with weights and cardio while being on the band. I was wondering if anyone doing the same had a big problem with loose skin. I can't afford plastic surgery after I lose the weight, and I was wondering if weightlifting or anything else helped with the excess skin after weight loss. Should I start saving now for post weight lose surgery?

I started at 244 pounds and I am 5'4" or 5'5". I have been awful about exercising. I have not had a steady exercise routine for more than a couple days at a time through the last eleven months. I am now down just over a hundred pounds and am at my doctor's goal weight. I personally still want to lose another 20 pounds or so. I have virtually no excess skin. What I do have is a little bit in my abdomen area that I could easily tone up if I would just get off my rear and exercise My doctor said that a lot of it depends on how old you are. He said that since I'm young (don't feel so young, lol) that we have more collagen in our skin that improves the elasticity of it. I was banded at age 33 and am now 34. I think if you exercise you will be just fine Good luck to you on your journey!!!

I lost 120 (but i only started at a bmi of 36) and i dont have a huge problem with excess skin, however my rear and thighs will never be as firm as they would have been, and i do have some pooch on my tummy. You say "perfect body"- I dont believe that is possible without plastic surgery after weight loss, but a nice body sure is, if you can live with a few imperfections. I have nice shape, good tone, but i just need to shrink my skin half a size all over.

I don't think a perfect body is achievable without plastic surgery even for those who haven't had WLS. Look at all those actors,models etc that you see in mags and on screen. You will be hardpushed to find one that hasn't had some kind of plastic surgery and then of course the images are digitally altered and airbrushed as well.

I didn't say perfect, I said ideal. I meant ideal to you as an individual. Not necessarily what society sees as ideal. I have a realistic weight loss goal but I'm afraid that once I get there I will have saggy loose skin .

Well that depend in how you define ideal. Odds are you will have some loose skin and theres nothing you can do to prevent that, loose skin is already there before you lose weight, it happened while you were getting fat, unfortunately. Do you have a lot of stretchmarks? That skin usually doesnt recover. Genetics play a big part too.

Trust me, you'll learn to except a little loose skin for how great you'll feel skinny. Sorry, but the skin is effected by exercise at all (age, genetics, and how much weight you've lost from what areas are the factors). I've lost over 100, and at 49 (52 now) it's not too bad (can wear a modest bikini/skirted). We're all built differently. -BG

I am 52 and getting ready for a tummy tuck as my abdomen and love handles resemble Jabba the Hutt or a shar pei puppy. Just to give you a mental picture. I am not complaining as I lost 100 pounds getting ready for surgery then another 60 since my lapband. So I have nothing to complain about. Starting a savings plan is never a bad idea. I wish you the best.

Tazzy

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I haven't been banded yet and while I am going to work out with weights and try to fill in the skin, drink plenty of water to hydrate my skin, and apply lotion frequently, I am realistic in knowing that I have had 2 babies back to back, which included a 50lbs weight gain with the last one, and both were c-section. It's not ever gonna look like abs of steal. My fiance is prepared to pay for a tummy tuck and a breast lift once I am at goal and I am completely ok with that!

I am pre-band' date=' I will be getting it in the next 2 weeks, however, I am putting EVERYTHING that I have into the surgery. Right now I am 5'7 and 320 lbs, I would like to lose 150 pounds, and I plan to work out with weights and cardio while being on the band. I was wondering if anyone doing the same had a big problem with loose skin. I can't afford plastic surgery after I lose the weight, and I was wondering if weightlifting or anything else helped with the excess skin after weight loss. Should I start saving now for post weight lose surgery?[/quote']

As muelle said depending on your age has a lot to do with the elasticity of your skin, but are you going thru insurance? Because if so and worst case scenario you need surgery most insurances pay forit because it's then considered reconstructive surgery not plastic surgery

I also think it depends on where you carry your fat. I "look" fatter than most anyone I know because I carry it all around my waist, the whole spare tire thing. I think there is a very good change I will always have flap there because even if I lose it, it's been stretched out so far it will never be the same as it was. But I have really tiny wrists and ankles, as small as my sisters who weigh only 98 pounds (we used to all look similar although I've always been the biggest/tallest). So as per your question, I think I'll have a body I can live with and be glad about but I'm never going to look like a supermodel. My idea of the "perfect" body is one that I can keep until old age, can run around after my kids, can sit without being uncomfortable, run and not be weary, etc. but my idea will NEVER be what Hollywood's idea is. Even if I had the money for plastic surgery, I wouldn't do it. To each his own?

My idea of the perfect body at the moment would be one that had enough iron, enough energy, perfect cholesterol levels and wasnt freezing cold all the damn time, lol. Just now I wouldnt care what it actually looked like.