Hi guys,

so im having my operation in about a month and i started getting cold feet already. Mostly because of skin sagging that i might face. Im so worried. Im about 200 pounds and want to get to 100. Any ideas? Will skin sag a lot? Will it bearable? Can i do anything to prevent or reduce it? Is it hard to prevent or reduce it? Ow god im panicking

@Girlwithadream welcome to the site.

Getting cold feet is normal as you get closer to your date. Pre surgery anxiety can make you question your decision.

Loose skin is an unknown factor with rapid weight loss. There is no way to know how much you will have until you get closer to goal. Weight lifting can fill in the skin a bit. Plastic surgery is the only way to get rid of it,

Look at the before and after's. For vanity sake, How do people look after weight loss? I would say younger and healthier.......even with loose skin.?

If you're really worried about skin it's best to do exercise early as you can

I would take my loose skin any day over weighing 373 lbs again. ANY DAY! I worried about it, too, but in retrospect i shouldn't have wasted one brain cell worrying about it. I am so much happier without all that excess weight!!!

Edited December 28, 20196 yr by catwoman7

girlwithadream-

The skin sagging varies from person to person and is definitely age related. If you are young your skin will be more elastic and snap back better. But it is a small price to pay for being a healthier weight!

Thanks guys for all the support its just that i am 22 and worried about my sexual life in the future and. How it might be affected. But its a risk i gotta take i guess

#1: it's absolutely normal to have "cold feet" and second thoughts as you come closer to surgery. I know I did. Heck, I was crying as they strapped me to the surgery table!

#2: Sagging skin is kind of a case-by-case situation with many factors contributing such as age, sex, skin type, general health, size/how much weight you have to lose, and possibly how long you've been overweight/obese.

I've been down the weight loss surgery path twice and my personal experience may help.

I had lap band surgery in 2005. I was 35 years old and had 125lbs to lose to get to "ideal" or normal BMI. I lost 90lbs of that. I made it out of the "obese" BMI into "overweight". I felt great and had VERY LITTLE sagging skin.

I had my lap band out in 2009 due to a slip and did well maintaining until 2014. I had some major upheavals in my life and did some comfort and binge eating. By 2016, I had gained ALL of my weight back and was right back where I started before the lap band. I had trouble sticking to diets and knew that my lap band had been successful until the slip, so I decided on the gastric sleeve. To date, I've lost 86 lbs and am about 15 lbs away from my all-time low with the lap band. I'm happy. I feel great. BUT...I'm also almost 15 years older and my skin (a source of pride and joy to me all my life) is letting me down. I joked to my family a week or 2 ago: I'm starting to look like a hairless Shar-pei dog. My neck waddle is OK in some positions, but if gravity is working against me it's downright embarrassing. My arms have developed flappy wings and my thighs look deflated with lumpy protrusions where my chub used to rub.

I'm VERY happy with my weight loss results and I wouldn't change a thing, but for the 1st time in my life plastic surgery seems like a real possibility for me. I started this 2nd weight loss journey with no plans for plastic surgery, even though a friend of mine (also a WLS patient) gave me her plastic surgeon's personal contact info.

My advice: you're young (22), decide what's important to you. You came to this WLS party with a dream or a goal in mind. Don't lose sight of that. Whether or not you get saggy skin, there are options. Best of luck!

Edited December 28, 20196 yr by S@ssen@ch
Correct spelling

3 hours ago, Girlwithadream said:

Thanks guys for all the support its just that i am 22 and worried about my sexual life in the future and. How it might be affected. But its a risk i gotta take i guess

Its great you are having this done at 22, Your skin may recover better than some of us that are older. Being comfortable and confident in your own skin is important. After goal decide what you want to do,

I have backed out of plastics. My skin is not that bad and its livable.

I cant believe how much motivation and support u guys are giving me!! A million thanks! Its helping a lot and getting me much more ready for the procedure

Even though I am no expert I would think at your age of 22 you would have best chance of minimal sagging skin. I’m 65 & just had GS in Sept. so I understand my likelihood of possible sagging. I’ll deal with it when I get to goal. Meanwhile I’m looking forward to getting healthy& extending my life. And FYI - I’m single & this old baby boomer is still conscience of what my body will look like!