So, I've made it through the approval process and will have surgery 09/24. I'm on my preop diet and things are going fine... I'm constantly hungry, but I'm coping! (sugar free Jello and sugar free Popsicles are my saving grace) but this isn't what I'm soooo stressed about!!

I'm 29 and I currently weigh 260 at 5'5" (that's 11 lbs less than my highest... Thank you preop diet) and I am scared out of my mind that I will lose all this weight and have huge amounts of ugly loose skin... I need to know what I can do to prevent some of this???

I hope this doesn't sound horribly vain.. But I'm single now (partially because I am sooo unhappy with my size that I don't like to go out.... Or maybe it's because I am so self conscience about being too large to find that special someone) but my fear is that having the lose skin will make these matters worse!!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! I think about this quite often and I just need to know what others have done or are doing now...

i've heard you have to give it time and the skin will shrink some.. and there is always a tummy tuck. i worked in surgery for 9 years and already have my list of things i'm having done if needed... lol

i've heard you have to give it time and the skin will shrink some.. and there is always a tummy tuck. i worked in surgery for 9 years and already have my list of things i'm having done if needed... lol

Yea... I am hoping my skin will recover and I'm seriously hoping I don't have to resort to another surgery... But it might have to happen...

You will be happier with your body even if you do have some loose skin. I think that you do have your young age on your side though--- and relatively less weight to lose than some people who really have a lot of skin.

You will find many things to worry about during the process but if you can try to relax it would be wonderful because nothing bad I worried about happened to me. Good luck- you're on your way to more happiness (and dates) than you can imagine. I use this stuff from Vitamin Shoppe for pregnant women to not get stretch marks but most say it's genetics, fast losing and the amount of pounds and length of time your skin has been stretched out that determines loose skin. But...again, nothing's worse than the weight.

I'm bigger than you and worried about skin too. I'm going to exercise and lift weights and use some good moisturizing lotion and hope its not too bad. If it is, I might consider surgery to fix it.

You are totally right!!!! This is going to bring more happiness than I could ever imagine... So why worry about something that might not even happen (or be as bad as I am thinking) I already take good care of my skin.. So I will just keep this up, maybe visit the Vitamin shopw for the stuff you mentioned and then be serious about toning... So much to think about!!! And all of it is exciting-- I have a chance to start over and I just need to relax and stop letting outsiders create such worry in my mind!!

(yea I left that part out... My close friend is the one creating this worry)

she needs to be supportive and not be stressing you out... i'm being very selective in who i'm telling and one of my very close friends is actually doing this with me. you just gotta relax and deal with the issues when they come up.. as my granny would say, "stop borrowing trouble." lol

I'm bigger than you and worried about skin too. I'm going to exercise and lift weights and use some good moisturizing lotion and hope its not too bad. If it is' date=' I might consider surgery to fix it.[/quote']

Yea- mayo feel like I will become close friends with the gym!!! I have read that Water aerobics is a great way to fight it, but the chlorine is harsh kn the skin!! So much to think about

she needs to be supportive and not be stressing you out... i'm being very selective in who i'm telling and one of my very close friends is actually doing this with me. you just gotta relax and deal with the issues when they come up.. as my granny would say' date=' "stop borrowing trouble." lol[/quote']

I think I love your Granny saying!!! She is totally right!!! And for the most part she (my friend) is very supportive... She is just concerned that if I have the skin issue I will be totally unhappy and back in this same in house rutt...

Oh pu..lease-- don't let those negative nellies bother you!! Everyone will think of something that you should think about. I don't know if it's thinking they have to help, wanting to show they know soooo much..but eyes on the prize and remember you have to live in your (pardon the pun) skin and you're ready to be all you can.

I have yucky batwings- I call them bubby arms (like a grandmom...a very very old grandmom lol)- had them since I was a teenager even when I was a size 6 and never ever have worn a tank top. So I get it.

But I'm still loving my body getting smaller. I have good genetics so I may not have too much skin but I'll do plastic surgery if it is uncomfortable or makes me feel bad about myself.

I am 5'7", weighed 255 and was 40 when I had my surgery. I don't have a problem with skin. My belly is loose but not hanging. I also gave birth to 4 kids, so my stomach was never going to be perfect. My arms were a little saggy, but weight lifting can make a difference fast.

I've had people I do not really know ask my daughter whether I had loose skin. They were overweight, and I suspect wanted to use it as a reason not to get the surgery. Don't let this stop you.

Linda

Hello

I had my surgery on Jan 5th of this year and it is the best thing I have ever done for myself! I love my sleeve and have not one regret. Ok having said that I can say I do have the lower belly and arm skin to deal with. I am an Aesthetician and work in the spa business and am a massage therapist so I see lots of skin and we are all different in how our bodies deal with the process of weihgt loss and yes your genetics have so much to do with it.

If you do have skin your are unhappy with there is a fix for that and some insurances will help depending on many factors. Please don’t let that scare you off form the surgery. You will get 10,000 more good feeling and results form having the surgery . I am 5’2 and my start weight was 248 I am now 165 and never thought I could get to this weight again In my life. I am 44 years old and have a five year old and nine year old and had lots of weight on me while preg. I knew my body would never be the same and yes I to think your age is on your side. The weight bearing work outs will help some to. I had a surgeon say the reconstructive surgery should not happen until at least a year out and at goal weight for a good while before having the surgery. Best of luck and it is wonderful.

Don't fret about loose skin. You are still young and your skin still has quite a bit of elasticity left to it. Do exercises specific to those trouble areas and you will be fine -- you will love the way you look as compared to before.

As for what others think about your skin later on..., your new found confidence with the new contours should bring out the best of who you are. This "new you" will attract the right person and as long as you keep your clothes on by the time you are intimate and take them off he won't care about a little excess skin because he will already be in love with you! :wub:

Good luck and enjoy the journey -- besides worrying and stressing cause lines and wrinkles!

LIFT WEIGHTS LIFT WEIGHTS LIFT WEIGHTS!!!!! Everyone, especially women, concentrate solely on cardio. Which, yes cardio is important to lose weight, but if you want to change the shape of your body and combat excess skin you have to weight train. You'll still probably have some - but your age is on your side and if you lift weights the excess skin may not be that bad.

google "dry skin brushing" http://t-tapp.com/success/michellep/index.html

Take lots of photos because you may miss the gradual changes.

I need to start brushing, surgery is in 13 days!!!

The younger you are, the more elastic your skin is, so some of it will "retreat" back to normal. Think of your loose skin as a badge of courage.