Scared!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
Scared!
5
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 5:01pm

Hi Everybody - This lady at church had gastric bypass surgery and lost about 150 lbs. I'm not sure when she had the surgery, but she just had her 9th (yes you read that right) surgery to remove excess skin. The surgeon really botched the job and messed up one of her breasts. I am scared that as I lose weight I will have excess skin. I know I'm young (30 yrs old), but there still is that possibility that I will have that problem because in total I have to lose about 220 lbs to get to my goal. I have lost 85 lbs so far...the only thing that is sagging on me is my arms in my tricep area which was originallly from being so heavy. My Gram has offered to pay for me to get my arms done when I get to my goal weight (Thank God for Grandmas, huh?). Is anyone else scared of this problem? The minute I see excess skin I am done losing weight. I think I'd rather stay fat than to have that problem.

Scared and not sure what to think,
Jena
395-310-175

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2004
In reply to: floridagirl76
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 6:35pm

Try not to worry too much. My BIL lost about 150 lbs and didn't have a great deal of excess skin. He had a small tummy tuck for vanity reasons, but that was about it. It's been my experience that people who have gastric bypass or other drastic weight loss regimins tend to have the most problems with excess skin because they lose more quickly and often are deficient in vital vitamins and nutrients. I've seen women who have lost over 100 lbs and they have very little excess skin. It's all about body type and your skin. If you've already lost 85 lbs and don't have a huge problem, then you should be fine. Trust me, as time goes on and you do get some excess skin, you will realize that you prefer the little bit of overhang to the fatness. My skin is quite deflated right now in the belly area, but it gets better all the time. Most of mine is because I lost 75 lbs in less than 4 months after giving birth to my DD in May and because my tummy was so stretched out from carrying a 10+ lb baby around for a week past my due date. It annoys me that I have excess skin hanging in my belly area, but I still look 100% better in a bathing suit and even though I keep losing, the excess area gets better all the time. Keep losiing slowly and steadily and your skin should have time to shrink with you. Yes, you will have excess, but I have a feeling you'll start preferring that over being heavy as your clothing sizes continue going down, down, down.

Staci


 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-25-2003
In reply to: floridagirl76
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 7:11pm

Hi Jena

its worth losing the weight. the key to keeping the excess skin at bay is exercise. i have lost 164 pounds and have very little sag. i did exercise an hour a day while losing and now still exercise at least 30 min a day.

even if it sags and you are exercising it should go down esp given your age. don't give up your weight loss ambition for vanity. your health is much more important.

i also think people who undergo bypass gastric surgery lose a lot of weight very quickly and most of them are not exercising.

hopefully you are in this weight loss program for a healthier life not only looks.

Sue
302-138-160

Sue

 

 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2006
In reply to: floridagirl76
Tue, 09-19-2006 - 7:20am

Jena I think it's a common scare, but the more I think about it, the less scared I get. You're 30, so age is definitely on your side here.. and you already lost 85lbs with little sagging!! Also you're losing slow (big key issue).. the problem with sagging skin is closely associated with rapid weight loss (like the woman in your church) because the skin doesn't catch up quickly enough. But when you lose weight slowly you're skin can catch up with you (sometimes a bit slower than you, but still). I had a bad case of saggy skin after my delivery (belly only though).. now: Nothing! My skin caught up and it looks better even with me losing weight. I know I'll never have a six pack, but the way it looks is good enough for me.


Don't let that scare keep you from losing the weight. When you think about all the benefits of being healthier and having more energy and shopping at normal size, I think that even with a worse case scenario, it's worth it!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
In reply to: floridagirl76
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 11:46am
hi Jena,
When I was 17 I went from 225 lbs to 120 lbs . What happened was my arms had alot of extra skin but AI could fit in XS size shirts and not have a problem. Sadly I slowly gained it all back as well as gain more cause I am 318lbs right now. So I thought I would tell you my story and experience. Also my stomack had extra skin but it looked fine I had a great figure. I even wore a size 4 jeans. I thought I would share that. I am 29 now by the way.
Maryanne
322/318/250
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2003
In reply to: floridagirl76
Wed, 09-20-2006 - 1:00pm

I sure know how you feel. I've wondered the same about excess skin. I've come to the conclusion that I'd rather have that then continue to carry all this weight.

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