I was banded 16th Sept, weighing 365LB with my weight sitting mostly on my butt, thighs, titties and arms. I'd be really interested to talk to other "heavy weights" in their 20s who might have some tips so I can get this right from the start.

My main concern at the moment is excess skin. My mum was banded 3 years ago and subsequently had a tummy tuck 2 months ago. She had major complications and spent an extra month in hospital - so understandably I would like to avoid having to have anything tucked once I reach my goal.

I get that each body is different but surely there must be some things I can start doing now that can help minimise my chances!

The fact you're young is definitely on your side, but anytime you have a lot to lose it's common to have excess skin.

Age, genes, the amount of weight to lose, whether or not you smoke, and even hydration play a big part in it. It's unfortunate but some people are going to have excess skin no matter what they do.

The best way to try to minimize it is toning, building muscle, not smoking, good lotion, and keeping well hydrated.

Speaking as someone who has lost a lot of weight and does have excess skin- I'll take the excess skin over the excess fat any day. I can easily hide the skin but there was no hiding over 200 pounds of fat.

Best wishes

I'm so glad you made this thread because I'm 24 years old and 360lbs I'm curious about this also.

The fact you're young is definitely on your side' date=' but anytime you have a lot to lose it's common to have excess skin. Age, genes, the amount of weight to lose, whether or not you smoke, and even hydration play a big part in it. It's unfortunate but some people are going to have excess skin no matter what they do. The best way to try to minimize it is toning, building muscle, not smoking, good lotion, and keeping well hydrated. Speaking as someone who has lost a lot of weight and does have excess skin- I'll take the excess skin over the excess fat any day. I can easily hide the skin but there was no hiding over 200 pounds of fat. Best wishes[/quote']

What kind of lotion do you use Mis73? I also want to say you and a couple of others like carolinagirl and catfish are awesome on here! Y'all are easy to talk to and don't mind sharing tips that y'all have learned along the way! :-D

What kind of lotion do you use Mis73? I also want to say you and a couple of others like carolinagirl and catfish are awesome on here! Y'all are easy to talk to and don't mind sharing tips that y'all have learned along the way! :-D

I use Jergens Skin Firming Lotion, but like I said I still have excess skin despite it. In fact, I just had over 12 pounds of skin removed from my tummy this past May.

I'm really hoping your age will work in your favor and you won't have a lot of it. At 40 years old, over 400 pounds, and having two kids (one via c-section) I was pretty much screwed lol.

I use Jergens Skin Firming Lotion' date=' but like I said I still have excess skin despite it. In fact, I just had over 12 pounds of skin removed from my tummy this past May. I'm really hoping your age will work in your favor and you won't have a lot of it. At 40 years old, over 400 pounds, and having two kids (one via c-section) I was pretty much screwed lol.[/quote']

Lol well I haven't had any kids yet thank goodness so maybe that and being a tad bit young will help haha! I sure hope so anyways.

I had a little girl 14 months ago. Before I got pregnant I was always around 190lbs and actually shrunk back to that in the month or two after giving birth. I put on 60lbs didn't get any stretch marks and my tummy returned almost immediately to its pre pregnancy flatness...(well, it was never flat, but you get the idea...). I put on the 160lbs over about a year and still have no stretch marks on my tummy, I do have a few on my arms though. Do you think all this is a good or bad thing for the goal weight skin?

I have lots of excess skin, will have surgery next spring. But I did find out after the fact that there were some things I could have done to have helped with it. One was taking large doses of vitamin E and D. I was taking the D but not the E. I started out at 421 and I am now 208, but hey I'd rather have excess skin than fill it out again!! LOL But I think you have time on your side, your age and if you have not had children yet that helps as well. I always tell people that the suit is wrinkled!! Oh well!!

I'm so glad you made this thread because I'm 24 years old and 360lbs I'm curious about this also.

Have you already had the band put in? Or just checking out your options?

I have lots of excess skin' date=' will have surgery next spring. But I did find out after the fact that there were some things I could have done to have helped with it. One was taking large doses of Vitamin E and D. I was taking the D but not the E. I started out at 421 and I am now 208, but hey I'd rather have excess skin than fill it out again!! LOL But I think you have time on your side, your age and if you have not had children yet that helps as well. I always tell people that the suit is wrinkled!! Oh well!![/quote']

Hadn't heard of the Vitamins being a help! Thanks! =)

Have you already had the band put in? Or just checking out your options?

Been banded since April 12 2013 and I started at 393. :-)

I had a little girl 14 months ago. Before I got pregnant I was always around 190lbs and actually shrunk back to that in the month or two after giving birth. I put on 60lbs didn't get any stretch marks and my tummy returned almost immediately to its pre pregnancy flatness...(well, it was never flat, but you get the idea...). I put on the 160lbs over about a year and still have no stretch marks on my tummy, I do have a few on my arms though. Do you think all this is a good or bad thing for the goal weight skin?

No one can say for sure, but the fact your skin snapped back after pregnancy without even stretch is a very good thing. Again, I don't know for certain but I think your skin must be pretty elastic since you were able to do that.

To give you an idea- I had my first baby at 21 years old and had a TON of stretch marks and a pooch after. Neither ever went away (until the tummy tuck this past spring lol)

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

saggy is as saggy does

and i agree with miss and others.....def take sag over how tight/super obese that i was...which meant me not moving..

just this past weekend, i got down on myself..i looked in mirror after i got out of tan bed and saw the frontal view and saw my legs and did a major ick factor.....and got very sad/depressed and i started thinking of how much i have lost.......and was thinking i have done well and seeing those giant tree trunks with the skin hanging got to me...

in my past, i would have had a major binge on drive thru items followed by alot of beer and even more self whine as*s pity..and say i cant do this and why why why......but i just went and did my step aerobics class, pushed myself harder and got on with it..

i will happily take what i am right now......over what i was in green in june 2012, size 30 pants to now 16...and if that includes alot of sag, then it does....its slowly getting smaller and i can live with that...i dont like it much and if i am able to have surgery later on, i will welcome it but i wont let it define me and who i am

ok, nuff preaching.....

sag or not, we all are GORGEOUS

and whomever dont like it can look the other way and F*k off..

Have you already had the band put in? Or just checking out your options?

I already have my band. April 2013 was my month and I'm down 105 lbs