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@@hollisrn76 I had a HUGE belly, similar to the OP. I don't have nearly as big of a panis 'flap' that I'd imagined I'd have. I do still have one, though, but it's getting smaller still also.

I'm in my Early 30's and also wasn't morbidly obese my whole life. I had struggled with my weight yo-yoing through my teenage years, and was a steady slender person from about 18 through my early 20's until I became very depressed and put on at one point over 100 lbs in a 2 month period. Then, there my weight stayed and continued to go up until I had ballooned to my height at 265. I was morbidly obese for about 10 years before I had surgery, but still most of my adult life. I also was worried about loose skin. They say age, genetics, etc are what loose skin depends on. I do have loose skin, but not the gobs and gobs I would imagine I might have after having lost half of myself. Mostly only I can tell the loose skin I have. I am more self concious about it than people actually notice. I have loose upper arms and thighs, where my butt used to be I have some sad wrinkles and my ladys are deflated. I have some turkey neck and a wrinkly pooch which used to be my bloated belly. It sounds WAY worse than it actually is. I can tell you for a fact the best remedy is time. As time has gotten farther out (today is my 2 year surgiversary exactly), my skin has toned and gotten better without me doing anything. I am a firm beleiver in waiting for a period of time after you're at a stable weight to do plastics. Honestly you can't even tell I have loose skin in clothes, and my hubby doesn't mind me naked. I don't look like a super model, but it's certainly not embarrasingly gross. I have a few galleries up, you can see what I look like. I'd tell your hubby not to worry, he can always help you to slather your skin with coconut oil (that's what I use) and skin firming creams if he'd like Loose skin is way more of a scare than it is a realtiy. You'll be fine and look great!!

Wow! 2 years out! I can't beleive how much has happened and how much has changed in these past 2 years! I'm still slowly losing a pound or two here and there, I've gone up a bit and then keep going down a bit. It doesn't get easier, that's for sure! I still have to watch what I eat, I still have to be mindful to go to the gym. This surgery has been a lot of things for me, it certainly hasn't been what I started thinking it would be. Everyone always talked about it being a 'tool' and it really is. There is no easy way out, there is no easy path. I can easily see myself regaining and being big again, but the love I have for my new body is incredible so everyday I wake up and keep on keeping on. Being a Mexico sleever, my Dr. never set a 'goal' for me, so I set myself at 115. I'm not sure that's realistic as I'm pretty comfortable bouncing around the low 130's, but we'll see if I get there. I'm not 'fighting' to lose anymore, I feel happy where I'm at. My real goal I kept in the back of my head is that I wanted to weigh 1/2 of my starting weight, and I do, so if I don't kick these remaining 17 lbs, I'm okay. I'm AMAZED at how relatively little loose skin I have. I have a little turkey chin, and saggy arms, legs and ladies, I have a sad flappy belly pooch and no butt to speak of, but all in all I think I'm VERY lucky as far as loose skin goes. Now that I'm more or less stable, I think I'll wait at least another year or so before doing any plastics, but really it would be for vanity purposes. I think I look amazing in clothes, and my husband doesn't mind me without All this being said, I've always been into Fairies and of course the ultimate fairy being Tinkerbell, this year I decided to go for it! The before pictures are from a plus size fashion show I did 2 weeks before my surgery, and the Tinkerbell pics are from a party I went to last night. I'm still self concious about my legs so I designed and sewed my own costume to keep them still hidden a little. I designed the wings and made them too, THAT was a chore! After losing 1/2 myself, I feel I can do anything now and haven't stopped yet! I hope this inspires some of you to keep going!!

So glad to see another great review from ALighterMe. I'm almost 2 years out, and loved the staff, and my experience with them as well. I wouldn't trade it for the world!!

mama0297, I feel your pain I started out going through all of the hoops, the pre op diet, psych eval, meet with dietician, exercise specialist...it was exhausting the sheer number of appointments and time. Finally it was 2 weeks before I was supposed to schedule surgery...and my husbands insurance changed. 'Don't worry!!' They told me! I could still have surgery, I just had to pay 26k out of pocket! No problem, right?!?! I was SO mad, SO frustrated, SO fed up!! So, I did some research, found an amazing company and surgeon in Mexico and had it done for a fraction of the cost in less than 1 month from when I contacted the company. No regrets, I'm not quite 2 years out and couldn't be happier. My husband's insurance changed again, and he just got sleeved here in the states last week. Best thing I ever did for myself, and so excited to be going down this path with him as well. Don't give up!! There are more than just one path to the sleeve!! Good luck!

Tapdancin, Of course you can get back on track!! Everyday is a new day! You know what you're doing wrong! Stop it! go back to the basics, do what you need to do, do it right and keep on doin it! The weight will start dropping off again in no time! Yes, as we get further out, it becomes more of us doing the work than the sleeve, but the principles remain the same. Protein first, no snacking, 20-30-20, and exercise! Even if it is just getting 10k steps in a day! You can do this and you can finish this journey proud!! Keep on keepin on!!

I'm 5'3", my height weight was 265. There are pics on my profile, my after pic was about 40 lbs ago, having lost half of myself you'd think I'd have rolls of skin. Not the case. Loose skin has a number of factors, those who exercise more have less of it, genetics and age coem into play, and how long you've been obese. People that meet me now, if I don't tell them I lost half of myself, they'd never know. I look fabulous in clothes. That being said, yes I do have a little roll on my belly, I have 'bet wing' arms, but not as bad as one might imagine, my thighs are sad, my girls are sagging and we won't even begin to talk about the rump with wrinkles. However, who see's you neked besides your significant other? My hubby still loves me and always will. I may have plastics in the future, but they say don't do it until you're stable for a full 2 years because your skin continues to shrink. I'm a little over 18 months out, and I am loving it and still slowly losing. Loose skin is SO not a thing!

My favorite NSV is probably that I can go shopping in 'normal' stores and not have to worry about the clothes not fitting, or be exhausted to try clothes on in the fitting room, I also love when I try something on and it's too big. I like having the problem taht all of the little sizes are sold out in a atyle and all they have are sizes that are too big left instead of the opposite problem. I've always been a clothes whore...now it's twice as bad, but my budget is 4 times as big, because I'm not spending the money on food and high end clothes, and smaller clothes are about half the price. P.S. I also LOVE that my thighs no longer rub!!!

I never had a band, and I think I'm fairly lucky with my sleeve. Eveyone is different. I don't have anything that I 'can't tolerate'. I eat everything, white meat, dark meat, chicken meat, beef meat...lol, you get the idea The drier things are (white meat chicken) the heavier they sit in my stomach, I always liked my meat rare, now I like it bloody rare. I get an overly bloated puffy feeling if I eat too many carbs such as bread an Pasta, but I can still eat them. The worst thing for me is carbonation, it's a blessing and a curse really. It's a blessing because I can't drink soda anymore, but a curse because evey now and then there is an occasion that calls for champagne and I can only swirl my glass until it's practically flat before drinking a few sips. Some people have GERD and heartburn, others, like myself do not. If I eat too much, I puke. I haven't puked more than 5 times in almost 19 months, most of the time it was early out, I think once was from just being dumb and not listening to my body. I don't have hunger anymore. I have a little bit of ghrelin now, but nothing like I used to. The grehlin comes back after the first year or so, but by then I was already in control of my portions. I still drink one Protein shake a day to meet my requirements, but otherwise I just eat whatever, I subscribe to protein first then veggies followed by carbs if there is room. I don't drink while eating, and I do still occasionally have a treat like ice cream or cake or a bite of dessert. Id' talk to your Dr. and see if he thinks sleeve might be right for you, based on your history with the band, only he can probably help you make the right choice. Good luck!!

I'm almost 2 years out from surgery, and still losing in drips and dribbles, I've loved almost every aspect of having WLS. I've loved the smaller clothes, the CUTER clothes, the stares, the compliments, ALL of it!! EXCEPT! I would like to write a memo to the designers of pants, blue jeans in particular. Dear Blue Jean Designer People, I love your product! It is roomy, durable, comfy, can withstand multiple uses without washing, it truly is the universal napkin! My only complaint (and it really is quite a serious and big one) is pockets. I have gone from a 24 to a 4. My legs have shrunk, my thighs have shrunk, all of the junk in my trunk...has shrunk. HOWEVER, the items that I like to carry in my pockets...HAS NOT SHRUNK!! When I was a 24, I could happily carry my cell phone, my keys, chap stick, I'm convinced I could have even smuggled small animals and children in my jeans pockets. I loved it!! If I didn't want to carry it, I popped it in my pocket! My HANDS even fit in my pocket!! Now, I'm lucky if I can squeeze a toothpick and half a penny in the pockets that you make for the size of jeans I wear now. I am thouroughly disguisted! Yes, I AM SERIOUS! I cannot tell you how many times since wearing size 10 jeans and under I have left my cell phone somewhere, been left with parched dry lips because I didn't have/couldn't fit my chapstick in the tiny fold of fabric that you try to pass off as a 'pocket'. I have wasted at least 16 hours of my life digging for keys that are lost somewhere in the bottom of my gigantic purse while juggling groceries, and simotaniously sweating/freezing the death. I am convinced that you are now in cahoots with the purse industry. Since I have been able to buy smaller jeans, instead of being able to cherish the extra funds, I've had to spend it on Much. Larger. Purses. I'm onto you, and your shenannigans! Don't think that everyone is complacent about your lack of design and the sham that you are pulling! I have almost enough mind to cut out your 'pockets' and sew in my own!! I'm watching, I know, and I am spreading the word!! Give me my pockets back!! Sincerely, One Pocket Lovin' Lady

Congrats!! It is such a liberating feeling, isn't it?!!? I remember how I felt when I hit 100! It's crazy to see how easy it was after the sleeve to get that 100 pounds off! You can make that final 30!!

Yay, a.conners!! What you're describing are things we sleevers refer to as 'nsv's (non-scale victories). search the page for NSV inspiration Some of my first included also not having to adjust my seat or steering wheel so my thighs didn't touch the wheel, being able to bend over and tie my shoes without feeling like I was going to die of suffocation, and being able to walk a flight of stairs without sweating and panting. There are far too many to list in one post, but NSV's are a big part of your surgery vicotry! Welcome to the losers bench!

I will be 2 years in November. Feel free to PM. I'm helping my husband through his 6 month diet right now. I love my sleeve, and am happy to halp anyone acheive their goals with WLS.

I have told very few people about my surgery. When people ask how I am losing weight, I tell them taht it's the same old fashion way, eating less and exercising more, which isn't a lie!! Also, when people notice a big jump in my loss, which would happen a lot at the beginning, I tell people, I've been losing for awhile, but just got new clothes so it's more noticable, which also isn't a lie! People will talk, and people will say what they want. Bottom line is it's your story and your journey. Take along the people you want, and leave the rest behind. Just remember though, eveyone will have an opinion whether you ask them for one or not. Welcome to the losers bench!