I am 24 years old going to be 25 when I get my surgery. I am currently 255lbs coming in at 5"3. I haven't had my surgery yet and I am so beyond scared I'll have saggy skin. I have no self esteem now because I'm too fat to do anything. I can't fit into normal chairs, can't cross my legs, and can't even tie my damn shoe....I just found out I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and am diabetic. I refused medications for all of these and have started working out and eating better. Does anyone have any advice? I know I'm doing it so I can live a long healthy life, but I'm just having second thoughts. I'm 4 months into my appointments and am still going but idk anymore. I need help.

@@VSGAnn2014

Not to thread jack, but congrats on reaching goal!

I repeated and am doing what my professional dietician said. Are you a certified dietician? Or are you a Google researcher? Just wondering...

It is a fact that once skin stretches to a certain point, no amount of toning will make it magically snap back. If it hasn't stretched to that point, then it may with exercise and toning. Simple as that.

If toning and exercise always helped with saggy skin,then why do people still have plastics??

I repeated and am doing what my professional dietician said. Are you a certified dietician? Or are you a Google researcher? Just wondering...

I have my own experience as my expertise. I lost 90 pounds in one year in 2010/2011 at the age of 30. 90 pounds in 12 months is no faster than what most of us lose post-sleeve. I drank 14 cups of Water a day and did strength training 6 days a week. I still have all of my logs to prove it. I also supplemented with Vitamin C and E and moisturized daily. I still had to have a tummy tuck and breast lift when all was said and done. So, like I said, it is great to do everything you can as you lose the weight to minimize the loose skin, but there are no guarantees. There are factors that are beyond our control. Had I not done the things I did to avoid loose skin, who knows how much worse it might have been? I am doing all those things again this time around as I re-lose the weight post-sleeve and hopefully I won't need further surgery. So far so good this time.

I repeated and am doing what my professional dietician said. Are you a certified dietician? Or are you a Google researcher? Just wondering...

It is a fact that once skin stretches to a certain point, no amount of toning will make it magically snap back. If it hasn't stretched to that point, then it may with exercise and toning. Simple as that.

If toning and exercise always helped with saggy skin,then why do people still have plastics??

Well I am trying to give positive feedback. I stopped participating on this site due to the negative feedbacks. I come on here and try to give my example of something I can relate to as I had the same worries, and I get knocked down. I am done replying on this site. To the original poster, best of luck and keep your chin up. If u want to chat, direct message me. Thanks everyone.

If I could go back in time and have this surgery I would. You're still young. You have your whole life ahead of you, don't be scared. I was in your position and I let life pass by without joining in because of my weight. My surgery is scheduled for next month... I can't wait! Yes, I'll have sagging skin but I already do. To me, my being overweight is unattractive at least I'll be healthy! Doing this while you're still young is a big leap in the right direction! Good luck to you!

@@Pac-woman

Positive feedback is great, but giving pie in the sky advice that may not necessarily be the case for everyone can be a slippery slope...that's all I'm saying.

Well, if I'm the one that scared @@Pac-woman, then I don't think there was any keeping her here. I think I have a reputation as one of the more positive, nice, and helpful people on these forums. So if *I'M* too harsh for her, then this probably isn't the right place for her to be and express herself. I'm sorry if she felt like she was being attacked. I think it is awesome to give people encouragement and a positive outlook. I try to do that every day myself! But I don't want to lie or misrepresent anything either. Everyone who goes through this journey needs to have real and reasonable expectations. Promising someone they will never have loose skin or that any aspect of this process is going to be 100% sun and roses is just setting them up for potential disappointment.

@@Pac-woman - It's nice to give positive feedback, but honestly is better. It's also absolutely okay if other posters disagree with something you say. Please don't take it personally. Back to the topic, While I do indeed know of at least 3 people who were in the 200 -300 range who lost weight and did not have saggy skin, the reality is it's a crap shoot. We all do the best we can to avoid it, but none of us can give guarantees.

I think I have a reputation as one of the more positive, nice, and helpful people on these forums.

DUH!!! NO!!!!!! That's ME.

I think I have a reputation as one of the more positive, nice, and helpful people on these forums.

DUH!!! NO!!!!!! That's ME.

You are so right! (as usual)

I wanted to throw in my 2 cents. I am 34, I have had 2 children (that alone ruins your skin LOL) I have lost 140 lbs so far and I will be 1 year out of surgery on 4/30 I am very excited. I have gone from a size 26 to a size 10...I have saggy skin, it's not horrible, getting the surgery young helps with the skin elasticity. I have noticed that what was really saggy in the beginnins really getting firmed up now. I do notice that my legs have loose skin and that probably won't change much. I do remember that when they were discussing skin removal surgery they recommend you wait a few years to make sure that everything is back to where it needs to be ahead of that surgery.

It's SOOOOOO worth it. You are beautiful and it's time you see what we all see!! The saggy skin that I do have is something that is hideable, it's not something that anyone can see looking at me. Losing the weight and getting healthy is worth it. Love yourself and don't worry about anyone else.

I just turned 26. The first time I lost 100lbs I was 19, I had virtually no sagging skin, that was without the surgery. Wore a bikini at the jersey shore. This time around after gaining that hundred back and surgery I'm down 70lbs and I definitely am beginning to see my skin is not where it was. My tummy looks a little dimply, my arms are sagging, and I have some excess skin in my thighs currently. But I'm by no means ashamed of it. I thought I'd be embarrassed by it, but I'm not in the least. It's hit or miss, hopefully you won't have any issues. I think had my weight not fluctuated up and down so drastically I wouldn't have any sagging issues. As everybody has previously said, totally worth it regardless.

I was "healthy fat" until I wasn't. I don't mean to sound scary but you developed obesity consequences over 20 years younger than I did. I urge you to make health #1 - obesity was killing me.

When I was about 21 I lost 60# and had zero excess skin, working out left me toned...I wore a bikini with absolutely no "muffin"

When I was late 40s (post sleeve) I lost 160# or so. I am grateful my excess skin wasn't even worse but I had it! I worked out and hit goal with great muscle tone, and yet excess skin.

Really there are many obvious factors (age, amount lost, genetics etc) and you should work out but it doesn't prevent excess skin. All skin looks better of over toned muscle.

I will say that when I was maybe 20-30# heavier the skin was much less of an issue-so one option is to get to a healthier weight without necessarily being "normal weight"

It's hard to predict how your skin will react or your body will reshape, but you are very young. That should really help! A lot of it relates to genetics and your age.

Go into it with the best attitude possible - "Things may not be perfect, but I will do my best to get the best results (strength training, drinking Water, Protein, etc."). Doing our best is all we can do. Set your worries free and relax in that thought - doing your best is all you can do.

Focus on goal #1: getting healthy! Worry about the rest later. One thing at a time. High blood pressure at your age, combined with borderline diabetes is very, very serious in terms of heart health. I can't state that enough - the combination of the three things you mentioned are catastrophic, especially as you age. However you lose the weight, you have to get those things under control. (weight, sodium, exercise, lean protein, low carbs -- don't wait to focus on those things; start right now!) You should be way more scared of that combination than about sagging skin. Sorry to be so harsh.

When I was younger (but still older than you! ~31), I lost 100 lbs and looked fabulous. I am your height and was about 10 lbs less than your weight. I didn't have any skin sag problems when I lost it. I did work out 5 times a week, both aerobic and strength. Unfortunately, eventually, (after I had a baby) I did gain it back. That is why I did the surgery. I don't want to have large ups and downs anymore. I need a more permanent tool to keep the weight down.

I wish you the best! You have a great opportunity before you to turn things around. See if you can find a mantra that will resonate with you to calm your fears. Say it every day, every morning. Our thoughts are very powerful. Best wishes!