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How bad is dealing with the excess skin after weight loss? I'm afraid I will be hating the way I look in shorts, swimsuit, with my hubby. Is it a turn off or is it not that bad? I weigh 250 lbs and 5'4" now and 9 days away from being sleeved. I know I won't be able to afford body contouring surgery. Any suggestions on how to minimize the skin?

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I don't really think there is anything you can do. It is part genetics, age, starting weight,babies or no babies, speed of loss and just plain luck. I do know skin or no skin you will be happy with the results

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Exercise can help with toning too, still may leave you with some loose skin though. Like apricot said- genetics can play a key. The plastics doc at our seminar said there may be a chance it is covered by insurance as well if the excess skin causes medical problems...like rashes and such

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And it depends on how you carried your fat. Here's a visual for you: I was 360ish and I carry my weight in my upper arms. When I was young and thin, I was athletic so muscular in that area. So with the weight loss, I now have what --- and I'm not kidding -- looks like testicles hanging on my arm in the bicep area. That's why I will be having the surgery.

I know, that's a real sexy visual isn't it. But I can hide it under sleeves until I get the finances together for the surgery. And two members of my support group had it done last year and said it was a breeze...more itchy as you healed than anything.

But I am extreme. I was huge and older. I do think some of the body firming lotions help so start trying them now. The one I loved is no longer on the market. But no lotion was going to remove my bicep testicles. It's just the cost of doing business in the 350+ pound world. : (

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Biceps testicles! Love it!

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Exercise is not going to tone your skin but improve your muscle underneath it. As others have said, your skin elasticity is genetic and age, race, babies all have a factor. I think if you have alot to lose you may have loose skin, it is inevitable. The good thing is when wearing clothes you will look fantastic! I now know why they have invented bathing suits with skirted bottoms; to hide my droopy thighs!!

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I have heard from others here that if you have loose skin that it can get somewhat better over time. That we lose weight so fast that it takes awhile for our skin to catch up. So I think we have to remember that we didn't put the weight on overnight so our skin may not bounce back right away. The standard I've heard is consider plastics only after a year of maintaining your new weight.

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Exercise is not going to tone your skin but improve your muscle underneath it. As others have said, your skin elasticity is genetic and age, race, babies all have a factor. I think if you have alot to lose you may have loose skin, it is inevitable. The good thing is when wearing clothes you will look fantastic! I now know why they have invented bathing suits with skirted bottoms; to hide my droopy thighs!!

I should have said it this clearly...toning is not of the skin but the underlying muscles.

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And it depends on how you carried your fat. Here's a visual for you: I was 360ish and I carry my weight in my upper arms. When I was young and thin' date=' I was athletic so muscular in that area. So with the weight loss, I now have what --- and I'm not kidding -- looks like testicles hanging on my arm in the bicep area. That's why I will be having the surgery.

I know, that's a real sexy visual isn't it. But I can hide it under sleeves until I get the finances together for the surgery. And two members of my support group had it done last year and said it was a breeze...more itchy as you healed than anything.

But I am extreme. I was huge and older. I do think some of the body firming lotions help so start trying them now. The one I loved is no longer on the market. But no lotion was going to remove my bicep testicles. It's just the cost of doing business in the 350+ pound world. : ([/quote']

Haha that is a classic!

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:rolleyes:

I tell people it's why my boyfriend dumped me shortly after the surgery. He was jealous mine were bigger than his. lol

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:rolleyes:

I tell people it's why my boyfriend dumped me shortly after the surgery. He was jealous mine were bigger than his. lol

Haha. I think I love you. Well at least your sense of humor.

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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