I've heard that excess skin is a side effect of gastric bypass surgery and most people have to get plastic surgery to fix it. Is there a way to prevent loose skin?

it depends on how heavy you are, how long you've been obese, how much you lose, how old you are, etc. If you're talking 100 or more lbs, then you'll almost certainly have excess skin regardless of other factors. Your skin gets stretched out and damaged to the point that it just doesn't bounce back.

I would say most people DON'T have plastic surgery because it's pretty pricey and most insurance policies won't cover it unless there's a medical reason to do it (e.g., if you have chronic rashes because of it that don't respond to conventional treatments). Fortunately, most of us are able to hide it pretty well in clothes. Here I am after a 200+ lb loss, before I had plastic surgery And I had a TON of loose skin - esp on my abdomen. I also want to say that it seems like most pre-ops and early post-ops worry incessantly about loose skin (and I was one of them....), but I think I can speak on behalf for most of us "vets" that in the grand scheme of things, it's kind of a minor thing. Most of us would take our loose skin any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. ANY DAY!

No, not really. If you start out smaller to begin with, you may not have stretched your skin as much, so you will have less loose skin. If you are younger, your skin may have more elasticity, leaving you with less loose skin. Toning exercises can help you build muscle which helps your appearance but doesn't get rid of loose skin. It kind of comes with the territory of losing massive amounts of weight.

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...but I think I can speak on behalf for most of us "vets" that in the grand scheme of things, it's kind of a minor thing. Most of us would take our loose skin any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. ANY DAY!

Amen to that!

Edited February 27, 20215 yr by Jaelzion

Thanks for the quick replies ladies! Much appreciated!

I have lost 77 lbs., and 77% body fat. I am 6 months out. I am 51 yrs. old. I have been overweight almost my entire life. I have not exercised at all. I do not have that much extra skin, which is very surprising as I carry most weight in my belly. I was seriously thinking about plastic surgery, but I don't know if I would want to go thru with it. If I can "hide" it under my clothes, then so be it. If I had the surgery 10-15 yrs. ago, then I most likely would have opted for the plastics. I think that age has a lot to do with this decision. Not that I am old, but at this point in my life, I am just happy to have lost the weight, be healthy, and no longer a diabetic, (the main reason for my surgery).