I would really like some information from those of you who have already had the surgery in regards to excess skin from the weight. I know that the health benefits are greater than the issue of excess skin, but I have to be honest and say that it has definetly crossed my mind a few times here in my pre-op stage. My surgery is set for 2/5/09.

Unfortunately, for those of who have a substantial amount of weight to lose, loose skin is unavoidable. I have been diligent with exercise since having the surgery; running and lifting weights, and I still have loose skin. I am planning on some kind of plastics to help with it. I kind of look at it like the stretch marks I have from pregnancy (x4)... they aren't real pretty and I can't do anything about them but the reasons for them are priceless!

I will be brutally honest and tell you i have a TON of excess skin from my loss thus far. When you have an extreme weight loss exercise alone will not snap all that skin back to its former glory. When i reach my goal of losing 200 lbs i will have an estimated 10-15 pounds of extra skin that could be removed. Once i reach my goal i will do some plastic surgery in stages to remove some of it. I look great clothed......naked i pretty much look like a train wreck, but i feel GREAT and thats all that matters at this point.

Exercise will help keep things more toned than if you didn't exercise. But, you will have excess skin as you lose weight. A lot of people who have lost 50 pounds will rejoice about how they don't have any, but the truth is, the more you have to lose, and the closer you get to goal, the more excess you will have. I didn't notice any major excess until I was about 70 pounds down. I definitely have a saggy tummy... No bikini for me. But, I look way better clothed... I wouldn't trade my size 6 jeans in for unsaggy skin... You can plan on plastics, if you have the money. DH and I planned on that, but have decided to divert that money to a sleeve fund. We just don't think the band will last forever...