I'm just starting my journey and trying to read as many horror stories as possible (maybe that's bad, but I KNOW the positives; it's the negatives I'm trying to wrap my mind around!) like understanding how hard the pre-op and post-op diets are... but if I can't do that then I can't make the change necessary to live with the sleeve, right? Because it's not like you go back to eating "normally" (normal for an overweight person I guess I should say...), right?

My new fear is the loose skin after the weight loss is complete. I'm not against having cosmetic surgery on one spot, but am I really going to have saggy thighs, saggy arms and a saggy belly??!! I'm 5' 4" and 228 lbs.

Thanks everyone; just a little scared!

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@@staceface

I am 5"5 and my op weight was 222.2 Ib (101 kg)

I am also lot older than you are

I have lost 70.4 Ib so far (6 1/2 months post op), and the only loose skin I notice is in my upper arms, plus a bit in the pubic area. Everywhere else is OK.

I know I have to do more arm exercises, but really, I have been wearing sleeveless tops, and the bit of loose skin doesn't really look too bad.

I'd rather have bit of loose skin than being obese.

As to post op diet, the fluids/liquids only phase was tough for me, for the first 2 weeks, then it got progressively better and easier.

My stomach capacity has changed, I can't tolerate certain foods, and this is fine with me, I lost many cravings, and my taste buds have changed a bit.

So, I can still eat most of the foods but in smaller amounts.

And I don't crave bread, Pasta, potatoes or rice.

I am happy with healthy Protein and non-starchy veggies.

And melons became my best friends.

Good luck to you!

Thank you sooo much. I needed to hear that right now. I know - at least I'm DETERMINED - to do everything it takes to do this right, to follow all instructions, to exercise and try to tone my skin back... but as I know from years of experience, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Ok, maybe that's a little harsh lol

But you give me hope. Thank you SO MUCH!!

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@@staceface

You will be given pre and post op instructions, and here on this forum there is lot of great support and wisdom.

Just take One Day at a Time, don't awfulise too much as the negative results/complications are a small minority.

I had many surgeries in the past, and this one was easier to recover from, and much less painful.

It is a journey, a process, a journey of discovery and amazing transformation.

Have a read in the Gastric Sleeve Success Stories forum. Lots of great examples there.

So aim for progress and not perfection.

I fell off the wagon few times with ice-cream, but then hopped straight back on the program and healthy eating.

It is a new and exciting phase/new chapter in one's life.

Once you start seeing results, it will keep you motivated to keep going

I'm 40 and had surgery 1/14/16. "I'm 5'2" , my HW was 242, SW 225 CW ~148. I have bat wings ( but not too bad, still wear sleeveless shirts), a little bit of saggy skin on thighs and stomach. Saggiest body part are my boobs, but a push up bra takes care of that lol"

Same excess skin here plus I've got sag above my belly button and below it too. Even so I look better now, droops and all, than before. The right clothes can cover it.

Edited September 30, 20169 yr by erp

@@erp

You look fabulous! Well done and Congratulations !!!

^^^ Thank you! ^^^

In the spirit of transparency, a glimpse of low belly sag mostly hidden by this peplum top.

Arm sag, it happens.

????is there hope for me, my lower arms are thin already as are my hands, I have the angel wing flapper upper arms, my inner thighs look like bad pantyhose and I've naturally had panni tummy for a while so what do I have to look forward to, more floppy skin? No wonder some of us consider suicide. Not active about that, passive but if Death Angel showed up , I'd open the door and say " Not you TOO" and give him a lopsided smile. Pulled out panty hose cause my legs were cold only 2 out of a dozen fit. Wahhhh!????????????????????????????????

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I'm 40 and had surgery 1/14/16. "I'm 5'2" , my HW was 242, SW 225 CW ~148. I have bat wings ( but not too bad, still wear sleeveless shirts), a little bit of saggy skin on thighs and stomach. Saggiest body part are my boobs, but a push up bra takes care of that lol"

Same excess skin here plus I've got sag above my belly button and below it too. Even so I look better now, droops and all, than before. The right clothes can cover it. ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1475212375.512124.jpg

You look fabulous!

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I'm a saggy mess, my thighs look like wrinkled elephant trunks. I am almost at my goal weight and its bad BUT, I rather be in this skin than the skin almost 100 lbs ago. I have a IDGAF attitude throw on my swimsuit and live my life. I do need surgery but i don't care enough at this point for that trauma. I'm happy to not have the weight of a 15 year old kid strapped to my back.

I am smaller now that I was in 6th grade and I look FABULOUS in clothes, will I be modeling for Victoria Secret? Na, but its okay.

=)

^^^ Thank you! ^^^

In the spirit of transparency, a glimpse of low belly sag mostly hidden by this peplum top.

ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1475230087.944734.jpg

I call that my kangaroo pouch

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Well I have it a little on my arms and I can see my stomach begins to sag. I'm 10 days out and I'm on my last couple of days of Clear liquids, before I go to purée.

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I'm just starting my journey and trying to read as many horror stories as possible (maybe that's bad, but I KNOW the positives; it's the negatives I'm trying to wrap my mind around!) like understanding how hard the pre-op and post-op diets are... but if I can't do that then I can't make the change necessary to live with the sleeve, right? Because it's not like you go back to eating "normally" (normal for an overweight person I guess I should say...), right?

My new fear is the loose skin after the weight loss is complete. I'm not against having cosmetic surgery on one spot, but am I really going to have saggy thighs, saggy arms and a saggy belly??!! I'm 5' 4" and 228 lbs.

Thanks everyone; just a little scared!

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SO everyone as I'm sure you know by now is different. Not sure where you are in your journey but sounds like you are a pre op lower BMI. If I were you I would start working on strengthening and toning exercises now. Resistance bands, light dumbells, push ups, planks etc all pre op. I'm not having issues with saggy skin just yet BUT I'm sure I will. I am 13 weeks post op today annnnnnd I workout on average of 4 days a week. I do strengthening and toning during every workout coupled with about 30 min cardio. Now that my abs are stronger I do at least 300 crunches each workout, 30 min cardio and I work on 2 other areas like legs and butt, or arms and back. I'm a pear so I carry mostly in my hips and thighs but finally started gaining in my arms when the fat had nowhere else to go.

There will be saggy skin in my thighs but I think my arms and belly will be ok. I'm in the low 200's and my stomach is almost flat. There's a little pooch but I think once I get to goal I can live with any remaining skin there. My arms appear to be toning, I've increased my weights during exercise but not sure that I will be able to tone them enough not to end up with "wings" but I won't worry about it. Now my thighs-- that's another issue. When I lift one leg up to put on lotion, my inner thigh has some drooping that resembles those you tube videos of saggy skin. Like you I'm willing to get cosmetic surgery on 1 or 2 areas my plan is for breast lift and a repair of my worse area (thighs or arms or belly).

Yeah, @@Candygyrl, you put a lot of my thoughts into words. Shouldn't I try now? Not wait for the loose skin to appear? Thank you for all of your feedback.

I have a BMI of 38, so that might be considered "lower" so maybe I'll have LESS loose skin, but of course I fear the worst and it will take work on my part to have the best results possible.

I have always carried my weight around my middle, but like you, my arms started to get bigger when the fat needed to find new places...

I'm going to get working on myself now and make whatever improvements I can. Thanks again girl!

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@@staceface Yes chile if I were you... I would start slow. I'm sure you have some time before you get on the table but it will be here before you know it. So ease into it. Do a 10 minute arm workout with 3 lb weights. do a few squats, leg lifts. If you're feeling motivated after a couple days step it up you can use resistance bands I keep one at my desk and while I'm on a call, I'll do about 20 here and there. A little goes a long way. You are a little smaller but depending on where you carry your weight saggy skin in places but maybe not too bad. Remember post op to get your Protein in so that you don't lose any muscle tone. Keep at it and don't give up. You'll have a year to lose but if you can get a head start on it now. The longer you take to lose it, the more time your body will have to adjust. Oh and be sure to be good to your skin. Water Water Water and find a good moisturizer. Good Luck!

I was 29, 5'2 and I started at 237 pounds. I looked like an empty bag of skin when I had lost weight. It was still better than being fat. I then had 3 plastics procedures and I am now in a body that never even since I was a kid could I have imagined. It is so weird to be able to put on a tight, sheath dress and not worry about my stomach pooch...or to be able to zip a pair of tight pants closed and feel only bone and skin on my hips, without worrying about my love handles.

Ultimately, you may have extra skin and you may need to consider secondary procedures after this one, but first you have to get to that point and having saggy skin should not be a deterrent for losing weight. I am probably one of the most shallow people on this board when it comes to my looks (I have fake boobs, fake hair, fake teeth, a fake butt, and I'm basically Barbie without being hot), and I can still say that losing weight and being healthy should be the goal, and you can worry about the rest later.