Hello! I'm 20.. I have had my boyfriend for 5 years. He has never really seen me fully naked standing up with the light on etc. I am 3 days post-op, and I was wondering if this ever gets better. I am young and I just don't want to spend the rest of my life so scared of my body. Also I am curious about excess skin. I have been told since I am young that my skin is more likely to not hang but that's not guaranteed. If my skin does hang, what can I do to fix that? Does lipo fix that or what? I know I am getting way ahead of myself but I guess I'm just curious and I've never found someone to talk to about all of this. Thanks

Hi there! These are all great questions that we all think about all the time.

The good news is you are young so your skin is definitely more elastic than those of us that are older. I am 51.

Also, where you carry your weight makes a difference, if you have had children and if you exercise. , for me there are areas where I will need some plastic surgery to help with the skin issue.

The best thing you can do for yourself is exercise regularly, drink plenty of Water and use lotion on your body. You won't know until after you lose the weight whether or not all of your skin will bounce back and where your problem areas are.

The good news is you will be healthier and your body will absolutely look better than it does as a obese person. You can decide after what you want to repair if anything.

Good for you that you decided to take control of your health while you're still young. You are definitely more likely to have enough skin elasticity to avoid the hanging skin problem, especially if you follow @@Djmohr's advice. Not only that, you may prevent a bunch of health troubles that could really degrade your quality of life.

Your body image issues will not magically disappear with your weight loss, no matter how beautiful everyone else thinks you are. To work through that, counseling is very helpful.

I'm 27 and having gastric bypass on April 6th. I know exactly how you feel; I've never been completely comfortable with my body. I don't like to be intimate with the lights on, I don't like to be seen undressed. Those are all issues that you'll have to battle mentally even once you've lost weight. I've lost weight in the past, and in the mirror I still saw a fat girl. Your head has to catch up with your body as far as your self image.

I've also been told by my surgeon and other WLS patients that being younger gives an advantage as far as skin elasticity. Make sure once you're able to really exercise that you incorporate plenty of strength training. Cardio is great for burning fat, but with your new tool you've already got that going for you. Cardio bodies tend to be thin but lack definition and curves (not all, and this isn't meant to insult anyone who just does cardio, every body is different). For women, building lean muscle mass gives us curves and shape, not bulk. And having more muscle keeps your body naturally burning off more fat.

Good luck and congrats on your journey.

Thank you all very much for the advise! That makes me feel a lot better! I am 4 days post-op now and including my liver shrink diet I have lost 15 pounds. I'm looking forward to working out more but as of now I don't have the energy yet. I still have my drain. (CANNOT WAIT TO GET IT OUT) So far everything has gone well and hopefully it continues.

Welcome to the other side. You're in for a roller coaster of emotions and adjustments, but it is definitely worth it. Good luck with your recovery.

Staying hydrated helps the skin bounce back.

Once you start losing weight you will become more confident in showing your body, don't worry. I'm 26 and I've been self conscious bout my body for as long as I can remember, even in front of my husband. But once the weight started coming off I didn't mind my body been seen anymore. Especially if your bf likes what he's sees and you feel confident ans sexyyy, he will eat you up girl! I'll be honest tho it took me getting to a size 12/14 to be in nothing but panties. It just depends on you ya know?

As far as the excess skin, yes you're young and you have good elasticity BUT you need to work out to tone and tighten. Then you'll really feel like gettin. naked! Lol. I've lost 81lbs without exercising and I'm paying for it now that I've started working out, it makes me worry about my "squishy" skin and have to work twice as hard to tone. but it's my fault and I'm still workin on it.

Don't worry so much @@emery_perkins you have your whole life ahead of you and you will be great! The only regret I have is I didn't do it sooner.

Good for you for taking control of your life early in your life. Younger skin bounces back better and quicker!

Do you have stretch marks? If you don't, you're super lucky and your skin will shrink with you. If you do, you have options once you reach your goal weight and stabilize. I had my stomach fixed about 3.5 months ago and am very pleased with the results.

Good luck to you! Water, low-impact cardio and resistance training are your (and your skin's) friends!

Just believe in yourself. Don't let this photoshop society tell you you aren't sexy no matter what your size. If you want to work on you you could start by looking at yourself full on in the mirror while naked. Then pick one thing you like. Just one. make sure not to list the things you dislike or sorta like. When you like you, so do others.

As for the skin sagging, that's really a dice game. It depends on age, genetics, how much weight, etc... You can help by eating right, drinking plenty of Water and moisturizing, but mother nature runs the show in that department.

I know how you feel. However the best favor you can do for yourself is to learn some self acceptance and love regardless of size. Many years a beautiful young woman...truly a "10" who loathed herself taught me that lesson. If you don't change the inner dialog you will never find that happiness with your appearance regardless of size, age, skin etc.

I know how you feel. However the best favor you can do for yourself is to learn some self acceptance and love regardless of size. Many years a beautiful young woman...truly a "10" who loathed herself taught me that lesson. If you don't change the inner dialog you will never find that happiness with your appearance regardless of size, age, skin etc.

THIS.

I say this in all sincerity. I have a long way to go in terms of weight loss, but I like me NOW. I think I am pretty NOW. When I lose weight I will look different. Not better, not worse, just different. This is the one life I have and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend it hating myself.

I just Bought jergens skin tightening lotion, I read it really helps with skin elasticity. I will try anything once, lol. Good luck.