Hello, I am 19 and I just had my bypass on Thursday June 21 with a starting weight of 273. I am doing well so far, although I am still very sore.

Does anyone know if having excess skin after WLS can be avoided or minimized due to exercising and/or age?

It is kind of discouraging to have to go through this surgery knowing that after I lose all of the weight I will probably still have to deal with the burden of loose skin and plastic surgery, which is something I am not looking forward to.

Congrat's on your surgery!

I will be having bypass surgery later this summer.

I have know several people who have undergone this proceedure also.

Being that you are 19, I think you will fair much better with the skin sagging situation than someone who is 20 years older and had a couple of kids.

Do you have alot of stretch marks? This is just my opinion, but I think people who are prone to stretch marks (like myself) have less elastic skin and may have more of an issue with sagging skin.

I've seen post-op WLS patients who's skin really isn't at all bad, but their low self-esteem makes them super critical of themselves.
As you may have heard it said, "this surgery fixes your stomach, but not your brain."

Your self image greatly effects how you will see yourself post-op.

I suggest incorporating a strength training routine in with whatever other exercise you plan to do one you got your doctor's ok. And I think a good body firming moisturizer is a good idea too.

Best Wishes,
Jeanne

I know that there are many contributing factors that vary in to whether or not you will have loose skin. I have heard that exercise helps A LOT. I am pretty sure that I will have to have the plastic surgery and am not looking forward to it at all. I have a very high pain tolerance but looking at coverage of people that have had the body tuck done, it looks to me like it just plain out hurts.

The factors that help determine whether or not you will have loose skin are your age, total amount of weight lost, number of years you were overweight, and the number of weight gain/loss cycles you have had (including pregnancy.)

So a young person who has not been heavy all of their life, who does not lose too much weight, may not have much skin excess.

Many patients who lose over 100bs do have some areas of excess however.

Diet and excercise to keep the skin (the body's largest organ) healthy can help. Building up the buttocks can help "fil" sagginess in this area too.

Best Wishes,

John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Houston, Texas

www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com

I am one year out and had the same date you did. I am 41 female and exercise ALLOT. I lost 115 lbs. I am thankful I don't have much excess skin- my stomach and my arms are the worst areas.

But I am thankful for very little excess skin any where else.

quote:

Originally posted by drlomonaco:
The factors that help determine whether or not you will have loose skin are your age, total amount of weight lost, number of years you were overweight, and the number of weight gain/loss cycles you have had (including pregnancy.)

Quick question doc:

Do you think speed of the weight loss has anything to do with excess skin? I know genetics plays a role as well as the issues you listed but does a person who loses 200 lbs in 1 year have the same amount of excess skin as a person who loses the weight in 2 years (all other things being equal) in your opinion?

Hi kingstu. I don't really see the speed of the loss affecting the amount of excess skin too much.

My observation has been that the skin "follows" the weight loss for some time, then begins to sag when the person reaches a certain size.

Areas like the buttocka and inner thighs can eb partially helped by building muscle in those areas, but remember that for people who have been heavy since childhood, the excess skin has literally "grown" with them, not simply stretched.

Best wishes,

John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Plastic Surgery
Houston, Texas

www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com

Hi Doc!
Can you give a "ballpark" figure on what the procedures cost. All inclusive is possible.
Body Lift
Breast Lift
Legs
Arms
Booty Lift

Thanks for the reply Dr LoMonaco.

Hi. It's nearly impossible to estimate the costs for plastics because the time involved varies so widely, and there are so many different body types. You may contact me through the Quick Contact box at www.BodyLiftHouston.com and we can do a sort of virtual consult under more private circumstances!

Best,

Dr. L.

www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com

Hi. I'm new to watching the show, just a couple weeks now and I love it. I have lost a total of 105lbs. without surgery. This is my second time around, the first being 6 years ago when I lost a total of 120 lbs, gained 60 lbs back and am now back on track. The first go around was SO devestating for me because of the loose skin I had on my body after working so hard for so long and I STILL didn't look like a normal person. I was just so disappointed and disgusted at myself I just gave up. This time I know what to expect but it is not making it much easier. I would love to have a facelift even though I need the full gamut of procedures. My face is SO saggy and my neck is just terrible. I'm 54 years old and have been overweight ALL my life and I guess it's what I get for not losing weight before my skin lost it's elasticity.
Would love to hear from someone that has undergone plastic surgery.
Thanks,
Obesa

Hi obesa50. Many patients feel as though the loose skin is an unpleasant reminder of their former selves. Some also feel that removing the skin to restore the more normal contours of the body is soemhting they deserve after all the hard work.

You might check out http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/plasticsurgery/posts.html where hundreds of weight loss patients share their plastic surgery experiences.

Best wishes,

John LoMonaco, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Plastic Surgery
Houston, Texas

www.DrLoMonaco.com
www.BodyLiftHouston.com

Thank you for your reply Dr. LoMonaco. I've checked out before and after pictures on your website and I must say I'm very impressed. You've made people like me look normal. It would be a dream to have all the surgeries and finally be able to stand nude in front of my husband after 36 years of marriage. Unfortunately, one surgery is all I can manage financially and I guess that would have to be a facelift. I can hide my tummy, legs, and arms with clothing but my face is not so easy. I feel so young and wonderful inside, I look at my face in a mirror and it just brings me back to reality....it's really very depressing. I just never realized that 120lbs of weight would stretch my skin so horribly. If you have a patient like me that can only have one surgery....which one would you suggest?
Thanks so much,
Obesa