Excess skin question

[Paola 62]

I am going to have my sleeve done soon, and I have a ton of weight to shed, about 200 pounds. To be honest my family is driving me a little crazy talking about sagging skin, and how I will need to have cosmetic surgery done later; what kind of exercises should be done to minimize any excess skin problems after the surgery?

[Indymom 132]

From what I've read here I don't know if there's a lot you can do to avoid the sagging skin if you're prone to it. I'll let the veterans post though based upon their own experiences!

[grannyk 58]

From what I've read here I don't know if there's a lot you can do to avoid the sagging skin if you're prone to it. I'll let the veterans post though based upon their own experiences!

I'm not a veteran, but I'll add my 2 cents. I'm in my early 60's and always said I was too old to consider any cosmetic surgery. However...I have so much baggy skin that I could skydive without a parachute. I think you have to be about 2 years out before considering flop removal, but I'm beginning to think I just might!!! K

[Marie from Michigan 11]

I asked this same question of the Exercise Physiologist just before surgery. I was particularly worried about "bat wings." He said to add arm toning exercising in my exercise plan at about 3 months post op. He said the most important thing was to drink extra fluids. He explained that the skin is an organ that requires Water to maintain elasticity. The more Water, the better the skin can recover from the excess stretching. I am now 18 weeks post op. Yes, I have "bat wings" and they are getting worse as I am losing more weight. I also have very saggy skin on my upper thighs. Stomach is not so bad as of yet, but I have another 60 pounds to lose. I have started the arm toning exercises 5 times a week, but honestly haven't seen any change. I do try to drink a minimum of 64 oz of water each day but its hard even at my stage. I have taken to wearing 3/4 sleeve shirts even in the hot weather because they look better. I suspect that might continue forever. My insurance doesn't cover plastic surgery unless is it deemed medically neccessary so I don't see that in my future.

I will add that I am in my mid-50s. I also lost weight in my 30's and I did not have the saggy skin at that time. I think the younger you are the better. It also probably doesn't help that I have now lost this same amount of weight twice in one lifetime.

[To Be Thin 2011 80]

I too have asked questions about the sagging skin.... I am being told your age, amount of weight loss and skin elasticity have a huge role in how our skin rebounds after losing wieight. Moisturizers, lotions and creams certainly help as well as exercise to firm/tone --but in some situations there is nothing but surgery that can help the sagging skin.

[Paola 62]

I asked this same question of the Exercise Physiologist just before surgery. I was particularly worried about "bat wings." He said to add arm toning exercising in my exercise plan at about 3 months post op. He said the most important thing was to drink extra fluids. He explained that the skin is an organ that requires Water to maintain elasticity. The more Water, the better the skin can recover from the excess stretching. I am now 18 weeks post op. Yes, I have "bat wings" and they are getting worse as I am losing more weight. I also have very saggy skin on my upper thighs. Stomach is not so bad as of yet, but I have another 60 pounds to lose. I have started the arm toning exercises 5 times a week, but honestly haven't seen any change. I do try to drink a minimum of 64 oz of water each day but its hard even at my stage. I have taken to wearing 3/4 sleeve shirts even in the hot weather because they look better. I suspect that might continue forever. My insurance doesn't cover plastic surgery unless is it deemed medically neccessary so I don't see that in my future.

I will add that I am in my mid-50s. I also lost weight in my 30's and I did not have the saggy skin at that time. I think the younger you are the better. It also probably doesn't help that I have now lost this same amount of weight twice in one lifetime.

Thank you, I didn't know about the Fluid

[Paola 62]

I too have asked questions about the sagging skin.... I am being told your age, amount of weight loss and skin elasticity have a huge role in how our skin rebounds after losing wieight. Moisturizers, lotions and creams certainly help as well as exercise to firm/tone --but in some situations there is nothing but surgery that can help the sagging skin.

Thanks for the moisturizers tip