I want to say first, I really know the weight loss is the most important part, and being healthy in general, but I do have some fears. Is there anyone out there who has lost their weight and who doesn't need plastic surgery? I don't want to have to deal with tummy tucks and lifts and all that stuff. I do hope to one day put on a bikini also, yes I'm a dreamer. Any success story right now of a flat stomach would really motivate me.

There is a thread in the cosmetic and reconstrutive surgery section called "compression garments" that says that wearing a compression garment from the beginning can help prevent loose skin. You may want to check it out.

I reallly know what your feeling..I look at my inner thighs and I have a bad feeling its not going to be pretty. But I like you am doing this for my health..

Hate to say the truth, but yeah you might have some loose skin. I bear a few scars from my weight, just like I have strech marks from being pregnant. BIG DEAL.

Loose skin is going to depend upon your age and condition of skin now. I have seen a couple of people on VST post pictures of what their arms looked like pre and post surgery weightloss (after loosing weight) and skin looked pretty good. Some have to get surgery if skin is overstreched. I have lost almost 75 lbs and will not need surgery and am no spring chicken. I am sure if I work out more some of the skin will look better. I notice a turkey neck when moving certain ways, but none of my "tell it like it is" girlfriends see what I see. So, don't borrow worries. Do what you can, work out those those trouble areas (youtube has great home videos too), moisturize a lot and exfoliate.

My goal was not to wear a mini skirt or bikini to costco, but to be healthy and active. Good luck! No regrets.

I had my Surgery the other day, one of my buddies with had by pass 4 years ago stopped to see me, he was down to 190 lbs, at 6'3", he looked great! I asked him about the extra skin, he said it was there for a while, then he lifted up his shirt, and but if you work out and keep at it, it goes away! Of course he said this with a huge smile because he has no more extra skin, and did not have surgery to remove it.

Many factors come into play here.

Your age - the older you are the less elastic your skin is

Your skin type - some people just have more elastic skin than others

The pre and post size, before and after weight loss. Some people are just luckier and while they weigh heavily they just aren't that big, therefore the skin isn't stretched to such massive proportions.

It's impossible to tell whether you will have sagging skin because of the above and other factors. But remember having saggy skin won't give you diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol but being obese WILL. You can always wear compression garments with longer sleeves or pay the price and have reconstructive surgery.