Skin issues and older sleevers

[akusah 67]

I am 68 and will be sleeved on Oct. 22. I have been reading a lot of the forums here and there is a lot of discussion re: loose skin, bat wings, etc. How has this age group done with the skin issue? I definitely know my skin doesn't have as much elasticity.

[lilijo 187]

Great question! I'm 64 and pre-op and have concerns about my skin too.

[gmanbat 5,889]

Varies with the individual. I am 64 and I have loose skin under arms, between legs but most prominently, at the belly. It is gradually getting better but I expect I will never look like a 20 year old again.

I don't care. It does me no physical harm and I am not interested in trying to convince anyone but my wife that I am desirable...and she already knows that.

My Bruce Lee pose: Enter The Sleever...

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

I'm 56 and yep loose skin is an issues. Nothing that Spanx doesn't cure, except the bat wings. I'm not up for putting my poor sorry body through any more surgery, but if I were to do any it would be the arms because it's hard to hide.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

I am 61 here, and expecting mid-November sleeve. I am going into this surgery fighting loose skin every inch of the way. Everyday I am exfoliating in the shower to regenerate new skin cells. I bought some exfoliating gloves at the corner drugstore (which are great)and I use an exfoliating scrub. I suppose any moisturizer with collagen would help, but I after I dry off I am rubbing in sweet almond oil. My belly may be fat, but it is as soft as a new baby. Plus, I am doing that dreaded strength training to videos here at home. I work with the hand weights and stretch bands, but I also have a favorite video with a boxing routine I can do in a chair. Plus they sent me some one pound boxing mitts that are not bulky like what the professionals use. These just go on with wrap around ease, and the fingertips are exposed. I am counting on that to minimize the bat wings. There are several senior level workout videos for those of us who don't want the gym culture. From what I understand, strong muscles will help fill out some of the loose skin. So, I am hoping this effort will at least minimize the problem. If nothing else, the exercise is good for me in many other ways.

[CA712 111]

Great topic, so glad that someone has posted this discussion. I had my WLS on March 11th 2013, it has been 6 months and I am down 90 pounds with 90 more to go. I am in my early 60's and I am seeing bat wings on my arms and belly skin is just starting to hang pretty darn good. I am hoping in time that some of this will firm up but I know not all of it will go away and some type of surgerical intervention will be needed. I am getting real concerned about my arms since I live in Florida and most tops are short sleeves or sleeveless. I know I will need to take care of this and have just started to put a little money aside each month for surgery. I have seen pictures of arm lifts and I do not like the idea of have a scar from my arm pit to my elbow on the bottom side of the arms. Does anyone out there now of any procedures that will not give you such a large scar? Please share if you do, and I am just wondering if Lipo would help in time. Since I still have a long road ahead of me I am looking for answers or any suggestions. Good luck on all upcoming surgeries folks.

[akusah 67]

I am 61 here' date=' and expecting mid-November sleeve. I am going into this surgery fighting loose skin every inch of the way. Everyday I am exfoliating in the shower to regenerate new skin cells. I bought some exfoliating gloves at the corner drugstore (which are great)and I use an exfoliating scrub. I suppose any moisturizer with collagen would help, but I after I dry off I am rubbing in sweet almond oil. My belly may be fat, but it is as soft as a new baby. Plus, I am doing that dreaded strength training to videos here at home. I work with the hand weights and stretch bands, but I also have a favorite video with a boxing routine I can do in a chair. Plus they sent me some one pound boxing mitts that are not bulky like what the professionals use. These just go on with wrap around ease, and the fingertips are exposed. I am counting on that to minimize the bat wings. There are several senior level workout videos for those of us who don't want the gym culture. From what I understand, strong muscles will help fill out some of the loose skin. So, I am hoping this effort will at least minimize the problem. If nothing else, the exercise is good for me in many other ways.[/quote']

Great. Thanks for your information. I do work out through a Silver Sneakers program. But, my arms already swing so I think this will be my most visible skin issue.

[AmyInOrlando 348]

Spandex is my best friend. 7 years ago I lost 150 pounds with just diet and exercise. Dressed, I looked great in a petite size 4. Naked, I looked like a Sharpei puppy (much cuter visual then a 90 year old woman). Since this isn't my first rodeo, I imagine things will be the same (or worse) when I reach my goal of 125 this time. I'll trade the skin for the weight anytime. I don't wear shorts or anything sleeveless now (and I live in FL, which sucks), but that's the price I have to pay for years of abusing my body. I hope to have skin removal surgery this time, so I'll be trading the skin for scars, but again... I can't turn the clock back...

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

My surgeon told me I'm a candidate for the short scar technique and that's hidden in the armpit. You would have to see a surgeon in order to find out which would work best on your underarms.

[Peggy D 124]

I'll be 64 next Tuesday & am almost 5 weeks post-op. But having loose skin is not something I'm really concerned about since I know things can be done. I know I will need a panniculectomy once I get to goal. I've had a very big "apron" for as long as I can remember. It's not getting any smaller, just flattening. But I don't think that I'll want a full Tummy Tuck where they tighten up the abdominal muscles (unless my insurance will pay for it).

My hope is that losing this huge abdomen will help with the chronic pain I have in my right sacroiliac joint. I know that the pulling by my apron makes it worse. I lost 44 pounds before surgery & 11 since & I do notice an improvement in the pain, although the last couple of days it has been acting up, but nowhere near what it was 55 pounds ago.

[Nana2 0]

I am 65 years old and had the sleeve 2 years ago. Sagging skin is a bit of an issue, but I have been doing Water aerobics for the past five years. This has helped with muscle toning. I swim three nights a week. I alternate between shallow Water jogging with weights and deep water aerobics. Swimming has also helped me keep the 90+ pounds I lost off. I would like to lose at least 10 more pounds, but I know that will be slow going.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I'm 57 going on 58 years old and I struggle with my jaw line. I have jowls that bother me. I also have bat wings and some skin on my stomach which bothers me. I look really good in cloths though so that makes me happy. I know most is in my head but I do want to get a face lift.....

[keepingmysecrets 36]

My weight loss of 164 pounds has left me with terrible looking upper arms and a lot of loose skin on my stomach. I still want to lose between 87 and 100 more pounds. My bariatric surgeon will take off the stomach skin eventually if I can pass the surgical exam at by then age 67 or so. My insurance requires documentation of the skin causing problems like rashes and/or interference in agility, and also a two year wait with 6 months of documentation of a stable weight.

Once I get the sleeve surgery, I will likely have more accelerated weight lost with accelerated skin saggyness.

The surgeon will not fix the upper arms and I cannot afford cosmetic surgery so I fear that I will have those forever. Still, I would rather have the loose skin over the filled in skin filled with fat.