So I have surgery this month on the 20th and today I spent the whole kids' nap time watching YouTube videos about pple who've had WLS and not regretted it but hate their loose skin and are getting tummy tucks! It just kind of rocked me and made me scared that I am never gonna be good enough! I'll loose the weight get the counseling, and still not feel okay bcuz of loose skin! It may sound dumb but it just left me feeling down hearted like there's always gonna be something I need to change! Any advice or skin stories or anything to get my pep and excitement back would be awesome!! Thanks in advance!

Edited March 4, 201511 yr by amz85

I love the title of this thread. Obviously, tummy tucks or other procedures are a personal decision. I loved how I looked before surgery, and I'm loving the positive changes in the mirror. I am so hoping that I don't "need" a procedure when all my excess is gone. The hospitals can save that IV and anesthesia for someone else, thank you. Bring on the Spanx!

@@AvaFern I suspect when you are a bit further out and your scars fade more you will feel better. My arms for example - I go sleeveless alot and people don't really notice the scars.

There are very few women my age -or most ages - that look perfect in a bikini without airbrush. We have created an idea of perfection that will never be found.

I find that if a man is attracted to you as a full package details like imperfect thighs or even scars don't matter.

I am my own worst critic...well, I used to be, but I don't do that anymore. I am proud of my body, my hair I am even beginning to accept my face. I am not making this up, but as soon as I started liking my looks I got prettier.

I accepted the moment I made the decision to have my bypass (7/1/13) that I would also have a certain amount of plastic surgery after (5/21/15). I began this journey 2 years ago at almost 320 lbs. I got down to 195 and stalled. I held onto that weight and was thrilled for 8 months. I was so much happier and healthier. I was also working towards my skin removal. I knew I needed it, with or without insurance approval I was getting it done.

My wonderful surgeon recommended that I not only get a panniculectomy (skin removal from the belly button down) but also an abdominoplasty (belly button up with the muscle repair) and circumferential lower body lift (360 degrees skin and fat removal). It is not uncommon for insurance companies to cover a panniculectomy when you can prove there is a medical need but the rest is very unlikely to unheard of. My doc felt with my situation he could make a good case so we went for it. We documented infection after infection and submitted a ton of photos. They came back with a yes to 2 of the 3 procedures. My surgeons office worked up a quote for my share of the third procedure plus a little light lipo under the chin and bra line. It was a no brainer for me, I had to make it happen. Before my surgery my doctor predicted he would be able to remove 8 lbs at most of extra skin and tissue. When I woke up he informed me it was closer to 15 (14.8lbs). Tonight I am 5 weeks post-op and I would do it again. I have had no major complications however I am still in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, especially at the end of the day. I have had a disappointing libido response but I am hoping that's because I am still healing. I am down to 178 lbs and I love the way I'm looking so far. I feel confident that at 8-12 weeks post op when I am released to really exercise, I will finally reach my goal weight of 165.

We are all different and this weight loss effects each of our bodies very differently. I think it's important that you are happy with your own personal choices and who you have become.

Christy

I've been thinking about WLS since I was 16, and for me, one of the big things always holding me back was the loose skin. I kept saying "I'd rather be fat than have a big thing of loose skin" and I couldn't even imagine it. Then, at the end of last year, I knew I was ready for WLS because I got to the point where I was thinking, "I honestly don't care, I just want to be healthier, I can't be like this anymore. Anything's better than being like this." Once I got to the point where something as benign as loose skin (yes, it's hurtful for self esteem and confidence, but it won't kill you) didn't matter to me anymore, I knew I needed to pursue it.

Coming back to this thread after commenting on it 3 months ago.

Now, all I think about this topic is this: Why does it matter to "you" what others want to do? Let them do what they want to do. And you do what you want to do.

This is only one of millions of topics / decisions about which there's no universal right or wrong.

Peace out!

I was freaked out when I saw the YouTube videos on loose skin. But I powered through it and am glad I had the surgery. I lost 51 pounds before surgery and am down another 40 lbs since surgery. Sure I have saggy skin. My husband doesn't care. He Is just happy I am healthy. You can do it too!

Once the extra WEIGHT is off & I can stand on my feet & workout w/o feeling like I am going to DIE there r exercises that will shrink ur skin

I am doing WLS for my overall health & self esteem.

1 step at a TIME

@lovingmomof3

I don't know of any exercises that shrink your skin.

And I used to be a bodybuilder.

Our "shrinkles" will continue to shrink a bit for a year or two after we reach our goal and maintain there (says a plastic surgeon I talked to).

@lovingmomof3

I don't know of any exercises that shrink your skin.

And I used to be a bodybuilder.

Our "shrinkles" will continue to shrink a bit for a year or two after we reach our goal and maintain there (says a plastic surgeon I talked to).

Tone is the word I quess I should have used

I have a friend that lost all the sagging skin on her arms after being over 595 lbs now down to 295 with exercise

@@lovingmomof3

That's great about your friend, but 295 is still morbidly obese. I don't think her skin will shrink or tone up after she gets down to 195....185... etc....

It's just a matter of physics. Skin stretches so far out, but it can only bounce back so much after a certain amount of stretching.

The sagging skin is just a reality for those of us who were/are morbidly obese and then lose most or all of the weight. How much it bounces back depends on lots of things....age, how much weight lost, how fast weight was lost, did I say age???

But if we want to be truthful, most of us have some form of sagging skin we have to contend with, and nothing will fix it aside from surgical intervention, which some will choose to do.

And some of us choose to just deal with it. No right or wrong answer.

My friend used to put plastic wrap around her arms and legs under her sweat suit when using the gym. She lost a lot of the excess skin.

It boils down to a few key elements-age, genetics and skin elasticity, how long you were obese, how obese you were, and how much weight you lost. Losing slowly doesn't help, and drinking Water won't impact it either.

Exercise, creams, magic potions, wraps or injections will not shrink your skin. If you are lucky enough to have great genes, you might not end up with much loose skin. Either way, exercise can give you a better look.

My skin has no elasticity - at all, according to my plastic surgeon. I'm 53 and was super morbidly obese a really long time. However, I did notice some mild improvements in my face and neck over time, but none in my body. It was just too far gone. My daughter who is in her 20's, lost 100 pounds recently and you can't really tell she was ever overweight. She lost most of that weight in about 6 months, and her skin was fine all throughout the loss.

At the end of the day, loose skin is way better than skin filled in with lots of extra fat.