What are the odds that I'll be able to get to a point where I'm comfortable with my shirt off WITHOUT surgery?

For the record, I'm 39 y.o. male with a BMI of 42. I have a big tummy, but it doesn't droop down over my waistband. I have some stretch marks from a rapid weight loss/regain in my teens.

What I'm HOPING is that with sufficient exercise (and eventually weight lifting) I can avoid most of the super-invasive plastic surgeries. However, I'm trying to figure out how realistic my hope is, or if I should set my sights a little lower...

The odds of me having tens of thousands of dollars for plastic surgery any time soon are... slim to none.

Will that's hilarious!! Although in my case, I'm hoping to keep my boobs I don't have any tattoos to worry about for post op, but I think I might just get one if I reach my goal

I'll take saggy skin as long as I lose my man boobs! It's either wls or buying a bra.

Luckily I have oily native american skin so there is hope things will snap back.

I saw a really cool tattoo someone had on their appendectomy scar. It was a closed zipper. Might look cool on stretch marks.

Will

I have a few tattoos (shoulder and back) and have a bunch more I want/plan to get. I want one that goes down my back and around my hips. I wonder if it would be better (read less painful) to get it when I still have some "meat" on my bones than when I get to goal. So, maybe when I still have 20 or so pounds to lose. My goal weight is still technically "overweight" according to those BMI things, but I don't care. I've seen virtual images of what someone my height would look at a "healthy" (read BS) weight and I would look like a boney twig. Curves are sexy and I definitely plan on keeping mine.

I too worry about the excess and flabby skin. I hear pretty much the same things: stay hydrated, moisturize, lose gradually, work out...plus it will depend upon your skin type, age, etc. I won't have any money left after I pay for this surgery so I hope I don't need plastic surgery.

My entire back is tattooed, LOL and I keep wondering what is going to be there or where? My friend was like so is that butterfly going to be a bird? I wish I knew how its going to play out but I guess that is so far away it doesnt matter.

Phatcurves, I hope you are still watching these boards. I too have large awesome Tattoos on my back and have been wondering what quick weightloss is going to do to them. I am 5 6" and 240lbs so have about 110 to loose and was just wondering what to expect. My sleeve date isn't till 4/11/11.

this is a really old post but I feel I have to respond! Two things that extremely helped some of my extreme weight loss buddies (and myself the first time I lost a bunch of weight...which I regained :3 ) is heavy weight-lifting/cardio and moisturizing with a blend of oils I made at home. For exercise, most of us completed the P90 dvd's (and a few other Beachbody DVD's). It's tiring but at the end you look so toned and pretty much all cellulite is eliminated/faded. One of my male friends (weighed 330 pounds, now around 180) got so BUFF...he has zero loose skin, except for a tiny patch under his belly. He no longer has mitties (male ti...you know >.>). I know I sound like a sleazy salesman but the oils really helped fade a lot of my scars and smooth out my skin. They didn't work miracles, and the scars/looseness weren't completely gone but this certainly helped a lot. For the oils I used a blend of Vitamin E oil, Cocoa Butter Oil, and (the most important) a lot of pure organic Emu Oil. I bought the first two oils at a grocery store and the Emu Oil online. Anyway it might not work for everyone, but I think it was amazing for both my skin and hair. It's a lot of hard work to constantly do the exercises and use the oils at least once a day, but you'll never get incredible results with minimal efforts. The sad truth is we'll always have loose skin (if we don't opt for surgery), but there are so many things we can do to make it look the absolute best it can be.

Ha, pretty interesting. My husband has the p90x. I might have to give that a try once I am released to get my butt kicked by my surgeon. The oils sound pretty cool. I've heard the vitamin E is supposed to help with minimizing scarring and the coco butter is good for stretch marks. Thanks for the info!

I have the Slim in 6 DVD's but have not used them in a while. I should put them back in. In the past, when I've stuck with them, I do tone up very well.

Yes I agree with above.

this is a really old post but I feel I have to respond! Two things that extremely helped some of my extreme weight loss buddies (and myself the first time I lost a bunch of weight...which I regained :3 ) is heavy weight-lifting/cardio and moisturizing with a blend of oils I made at home. For exercise, most of us completed the P90 dvd's (and a few other Beachbody DVD's). It's tiring but at the end you look so toned and pretty much all cellulite is eliminated/faded. One of my male friends (weighed 330 pounds, now around 180) got so BUFF...he has zero loose skin, except for a tiny patch under his belly. He no longer has mitties (male ti...you know >.>). I know I sound like a sleazy salesman but the oils really helped fade a lot of my scars and smooth out my skin. They didn't work miracles, and the scars/looseness weren't completely gone but this certainly helped a lot. For the oils I used a blend of Vitamin E oil, Cocoa Butter Oil, and (the most important) a lot of pure organic Emu Oil. I bought the first two oils at a grocery store and the Emu Oil online. Anyway it might not work for everyone, but I think it was amazing for both my skin and hair. It's a lot of hard work to constantly do the exercises and use the oils at least once a day, but you'll never get incredible results with minimal efforts. The sad truth is we'll always have loose skin (if we don't opt for surgery), but there are so many things we can do to make it look the absolute best it can be.

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience with us, its sad but skin becomes non elastic at certain age.

I think you'll probably be ok. Do you watch the Biggest Loser? Sam on there was WAYYYY bigger than you are and he's lost a ton of weight. I think they lose faster on there than after surgery. (I'm still a hopeful pre-op by the way) Anyway, he has alot of skin but in my opinion, he is still attractive with his shirt off and like I said he had to have had a BMI of way over the 42 that you are at. So, I'm sure you may have some but I bet you'll look better than what you are thinking you will. Especially since you will be exercising.

I rep for a company that has products that I will be using if I have surgery all along the way to combat that and if I wind up not being approved after this sleep study thing then I'll be striking out again on the road of exercising and strict dieting and I'll use the products then too. We've got some reps who've had WLS and used the products before becoming reps and it helped them tremendously. Their pics are pretty cool.

Wishing you lots of success! I know from your posts that you are big time ready to start the next phase of your life. Have fun on the ride!!!

Hello,I was sleeved in May,I have alot of saggy skin.I knew I would have,it was saggy before surgery.I talked to a plastic surgion before surgery,he told me I had no elastictisity in my skin.My guestion is what products do you sell that help with this.I would love to avoid more surgery.Ive lost 48lbs. exercise 4 days every week no matter how I feel but not toning up,just hanging around haha.my email is michellshumpert@yahoo.com thanks

I lost about 85 lbs and at least 78 inches (maybe more) with my lapband so I already have saggy skin going into my revision- I'm hopeful that when I loose some more and feel better I can get better situated in a gym and actually tone easier but right now it is even hard where i'm at... Surgery for me is inevitable but I will just wait until I'v plateaued at last 1 year...

I look good without a shirt on, but I want my skin to be tight. I work out, run and lift some. But will I ever look great?

What kind of surgery can you get to tighten up the skin?

I'll take saggy skin as long as I lose my man boobs! It's either wls or buying a bra.

Luckily I have oily native american skin so there is hope things will snap back.

I saw a really cool tattoo someone had on their appendectomy scar. It was a closed zipper. Might look cool on stretch marks.

Will

Like the zipper idea .... maybe with a little guy stepping out of it! Something quirky.

Hi, I see that you had your surgery at Puget Sound Surgical Center. I am having mine there also on the 9th of February. How were they? Are they Friendly? Is there any Hotels near the Center? It's so cool finding someone else who's had their surgery there also.