Hi Bandsters,

For those of you who have reached or are approaching goal weight, I'm wondering...how many of you have loose skin, and how loose/how much?

Please answer with how much weight you lost and whether you wanted/needed/considered plastic surgery.

Thank you for your input.

Mslynn

I have loose skin on my arms, My breast are saggy lol..My tummy and inner thighs, I do plan on getting nipped and tucked sometime soon. Starting with TT hopefully by end of this year? If i can save up enough money next year i want to get my boobs lifted and implanted. But we will see

~Kristen

My understanding is that the amount of saggy skin you have is based on

(1)how long you were obese

(2)how much weight you lost

(3)how quickly you lost it

If you were obese for a long time, then lose a lot of weight in a short period of time, you're more likely to have elephant skin. I think that's one reason why body contouring is so much more prevalent for bypassers, since they tend to lose weight much faster than bandsters.

I have loose skin on my upper and lower tummy area. My thighs are a bit jiggly too. I am having a tummy tuck in July.

I have loose skin on my upper and lower tummy area. My thighs are a bit jiggly too. I am having a tummy tuck in July.

I have been loosing at a very slow pace and my doc keeps telling me that's excellent to avoid sagging loose skin. Weight lifting does help to improve skin condition (I'm not working on volume or trying to get big muscles, just on definition and toning up) and I can notice a slight difference on arms, stomach and thighs. I know stretch marks will never come off but I can live well with that. Sometime later and after I've reached my goal (I'm still quite far) I intend to have my boobs done.

Genetics and skin type play a major role on your skin bouncing back or not, independently on all the creams and lotions you use or all the gallons of water you drink, or all the exercise you do. Evidently it's also up to us to give all the extra help we can for a good skin and muscle condition.

niki

I consider myself extremely lucky, and also set, (reset) my goal weight with this issue in mind. I am at my three times adjusted goal weight, and have lost a total of 220 pounds with very little if any loose skin issue.

I have a tiny bit around the mid section, however I think looks like someone who is just a little out of shape and not "draping".

I think with a little more gym time, within the next year wil probably be even less.

Life is good!

2 years 2 months post op.

Starting weight of 430, 210 now,

and totally at goal!

Hi,

So how did you get your flabby arms to go away....

I have lost my first 40 pds and need 110 more to and I have noticed my arms and the flabby skin. My question is can Exercise help this and if so what should I being doing?....

thanks for your help

Jacqui,

You look great for 39!!!!!!!!!!

Julie

I'm sorry, not that 39 is old, believe me its not, I am a few years away from that. I just meant you don't look your age.

I am still 40 pounds fom goal and have a huge amount of loose skin. Mostly in my stomach area. Once we have decided whether we are going to have more children or not I am going to get a tummy tuck. I am so sick of the roll of skin..... blah....

:cry

I'm 50 and have been obese 99% of my adult life. I'm scheduled for a panniculectomy in August only because I'm having a hysterectomy and it just makes sense to do it at the same time.

I have an apron of considerable size that's unattractive but not horrible. It's the rashes and irritations that bother me more. The only one who sees my belly besides me is my husband and we've been through so much together he's fine with it.

I think if it wasn't for the other surgery, I may not have persued the PS. If the insurance hadn't decided to approve it, I definately wouldn't have paid out of pocket.

I'm sure I'll be happy with the results and look forward to losing the excess skin that right now sits on my upper thighs like a dead cat.

I'm 60 lbs down, but know that I know I will want to have corrective surgery...

I see droopiness and stretching in my lower stomache, arms... inner thighs and a little in my booty.

I have a small apron, so I'll let me PS tell me wich option is best for me... I'm trying to tone my upper belley wich just wants to stay put! darnit!.. I may or may not want to have my arms done... I kinda believe I can tone them a little more... but my girls, my poor poor girls... have just given up the fight and they are DROOPY :w00t: While I'm thinking Breast lift... I need an implant to fill up the hollowness... and nipple reshaping.... I know TMI huh? LOL

I have lost 135 and have huge bat wings. My upper thighs look like elepahant legs. My belly is surprisingly good. Tiny pannus, abdomen jiggly but flat. I try to stay positive about the skin. I really do not want to do plastics. I am afraid at some point I may have to address the skin on my arms as it is quite abundant. At least the loose skin is no longer filled with fat!

My experience with losing large amounts of weight is that your skin will keep tightening up after you get to goal. Eventually that stops or maybe it won't be enough, but I'm hoping that it will be for my arms and legs, at least as I really try to avoid surgery at all costs. (It took a lot to get me to the point of even considering WLS for that reason.)

I've lost about 50 lbs since my January 2008 surgery (i'll update my ticker after my next dr. appt). I don't have any loose skin or hair loss. Am I the lucky exception?

I should add that I do exercise heavily throughout the week and have lost a very signicant number of inches (8" waist, 6" chest, etc.) rather than huge amounts weight. My doc says it's becoming muscle.