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Excess skin in African Americans?!



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Hi! I was approved for the surgery! So I guess I will have the surgery within the next 2 months! But I am afraid of the excess skin! I'm African American and was told by WLS African Americans patients our skin bounce back more! Is this true? Also, if my skin does not "bounce back" so to speak what kind if post surgery am I looking at? Breast lifts? Tummy Tuck? Arms and thighs???!!! I have a goal to loose 160lbs!!!

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I was sleeved on June 18, 2013 at 365 pounds. This morning I weighed in at 275. I walk for an hour about 5 times a week and I also do a high impact cardio workout daily. I was told that AA's skin bounce back quickly, but after losing 90 pounds, I'm certain that I am going to need plastics. Other factors such as age, genetics and health also play a huge part in the skin's ability to bounce back. I plan on getting a personal trainer to guide me as far as weight training, but my doc told me that after your skin has been stretched out so far, it's nearly impossible to get it back to its original state.

Edited by erica5754

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i have the same fear.....So i have started early taking care of my skin. I use the palmers stretch mark massage oil and the lotion. I also exfoliate really good! I use firming lotions and doing skin firming treatments plus ive already started toning everything. I have surgery Novemeber 19th I have about 90lbs to get to my ideal weight i have a thick mid section so I fear that will be my most problem area. Start taking care of your skin now.......Firm , firm, firm now

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Thanks for the tips and ideas ladies!! I think working out now is a good idea to start toning and firming! I'm so afraid of this experience!! It's so new to me and I've been big all my life, from childhood to adulthood and now I have 4 little children ages 6 and below!! I just want I be there for them and at my healthiest!! I am their sole provider!

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I worry about this all the time but my mom constantly tells me that I'm young it will bounce back **I'm 23** cardio will burn fat I know that for sure but I don't know anything to tone my body so my research on toning exercise is my mission so when Im cleared to go to the gym

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Hi! I was approved for the surgery! So I guess I will have the surgery within the next 2 months! But I am afraid of the excess skin! I'm African American and was told by WLS African Americans patients our skin bounce back more! Is this true? Also' date=' if my skin does not "bounce back" so to speak what kind if post surgery am I looking at? Breast lifts? Tummy Tuck? Arms and thighs???!!! I have a goal to loose 160lbs!!![/quote']

Ive lost 74 lbs so far my skin isnt excess i just tone and work out i have a 95lb goal...to make my tummy completely flat id need a tummy tuck but i havent had kids yet so imma wait til after

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I was sleeved on June 18' date=' 2013 at 365 pounds. This morning I weighed in at 275. I walk for an hour about 5 times a week and I also do a high impact cardio workout daily. I was told that AA's skin bounce back quickly, but after losing 90 pounds, I'm certain that I am going to need plastics. Other factors such as age, genetics and health also play a huge part in the skin's ability to bounce back. I plan on getting a personal trainer to guide me as far as weight training, but my doc told me that after your skin has been stretched out so far, it's nearly impossible to get it back to its original state.[/quote']

I was told by my nurse that if you exfoliate and use plenty of skin cream it helps with the blood circulation and elasticity in your skin. Plus drinking plenty of Water. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

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Thanks for the advice. I definitely thought that my skin would bounce back since I'm only 32, but boy was I wrong. It's not horrible or noticeable in clothing, but my goal is to look good naked.

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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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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