It has been a while since my Sleeve (which I've named Steve). Sept 23, 2011 will always be remembered by me, long after I forget my own birthday! What I want to know is this: How long after surgery should I begin to look seriously into skin surgery? To date I am down 135lb but I am still at 306lb. Now, in talking with my doctor, having hydrostatic bodyfat testing and looking visually at myself my goal is 255-270lb. That's merely 36-51lb away. By my guesstimation I have around 15-20lb of loose skin on me. I am in no danger of rash or infection, but the skin is not appealing.

I could really use the advice of VST as y'all have first-hand knowledge of what I mean. Some of you have gone through it. My areas of "looseness" are probably typical: arms (bat wings), inner-thighs, pannus and chest.

It never hurts to go ahead with a consult now. At the consult the surgeon will tell you how close you need to be before the surgery can be done.

This is something I've been considering myself. I always thought I need to be at my goal of 160 before I considered it, but I'm at 179 now and there does seem to be an awful lot of skin down there. I don't think mine would be as much as 15lbs, but I'm no expert! I'm thinking about at least consulting a surgeon to price it up etc. Be interested to know other people's experiences

My surgeon said one year at goal weight before any skin surgery could be done.

My surgeon said one year at goal weight before any skin surgery could be done.

This is good advice. From everything I've read, skin will continue to shrink & tighten for up to 2 years before its done. So assuming it takes 1year+- to reach goal. I think by getting cosmetic surgery before this could very well be paying someone to fix something that your body might have been able to take care of itself.

Of course this wouldn't apply to "medically necessary" skin removal.