I've read some posts about maintaining the band after goals are reached, do you keep it in or not ? Does everyone end up having plastic surgery/tummy tucks? lm 40 things are not where they used to be lol. If everything works out for me this surgery will be out of pocket, so now I'm also having financial worries.

Is this decision difficult or I'm i over thinking this?

To me the band is forever. I could always loose weight. I lost 100 lbs 3 times in my life only to regain. I'm 43 and pre and post op have lost about 170 lbs. I do have another 50 to go but I don't have hanging skin.

lost about 170 lbs. ..................... I don't have hanging skin.

Man I am really having trouble picturing this. What is your secret to magic skin?

Good question

The band is meant to be forever so unless you have serious complications removal shouldn't be an issue.

As for skin, it depends entirely on your age, skin elasticity, how much you have to lose, and how long you've been that size. Some people do great with minimal skin and others have a lot.

I won't lie, I look like a freak'n Shar Pei naked. I have lost 185 pounds and have a ton of excess skin. Thank God I'll be getting the tummy skin removed before this summer.

I to have lost and gained two times in my life 80 pound the first time and 60 the second and never had any loose skin to me the trick is ensuring that you do weight training while you are losing weight. However I am the type of person who if I gain weight it is distributed all over my body and not mainly in one spot. Also lots of water helps with elasticity in the skin along with vitamins and skin firming lotions.

I would say lose your weight before you start worrying about the cosmetics of it. Lose it right - slowly and with exercise and you might not have bad hanging skin.

But if I had the money and the guts - I would get the bat-wings under my arms done...and maybe my back-furters. LOL