After weight loss, loose skin issues.

[Mountaln Gal 5]

Hey everyone!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I am still researching weight loss surgery and wondered about the following...

Just curious about the loose skin after having lost so much weight. I know there is a Tummy Tuck that is normally covered. Has anyone heard of other areas being covered; such as the arms and legs? Is there such a procedure for the arms and legs to remove excess skin? I have quite a bit of weight to loose and know most areas will need some form of "tuck" attention.

Thanks for reading this and providing your stories of experience.

Take care.

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[Mountaln Gal 5]

P.s. what is a "stricture"?

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[catwoman7 10,856]

a stricture is when you have overgrown scar tissue that blocks the entrance to the small intestine. It happens to about 5% of RNY patients, and almost always within the first 3 months post-surgery (they're pretty rare after that). I had two of them. Easy fix - they just do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out a bit. You're knocked out so you don't feel anything - and you feel 100% better afterward

[catwoman7 10,856]

re: loose skin. I used to worry about this incessantly pre-surgery, but now that I'm down over 200 lbs, i can tell you that I'd take my loose skin *any day* over weighing almost 400 lbs!! It's really not as bad as I thought it would be. If I wear elbow-length sleeves (or longer), a good bra, and tuck my abdominal skin into my jeans or tummy-control leggings, no one notices it but me.

Insurance will sometimes cover the panniculectomy part (the apron of loose skin that hangs around your abs) IF it's causing you problems, like chronic rash or infections (so if you have those, make sure you have it documented by your doctor), but it's kind of rare that they'd cover anything else.

[catwoman7 10,856]

and yes - you can have skin removal from just about anywhere - including arms and legs

[VivaciousViv 6]

I am welcoming some wrinkles and lose skin! I'm down almost 100#!!

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[Greensleevie 451]

I notice most people who worry about loose skin are pre op. Once people actually have the surgery and lose weight, it becomes so much less of an issue for most. It can be a pain sometimes, but then you find ways to deal with it whether it be shape wear, surgery, or exercise. Being thinner and healthier is much more important to most people than some loose skin. Obviously there are different degrees of loose skin, and it can sometimes become a physical hindrance, so that is a valid concern. For most of us, though, it's strictly cosmetic.