Will surgery after certain age make you look haggard?

[Nancy E. 44]

Hi, I will be 59 years old this month and will hopefully have a surgery date for early August. I've seen NUT, had psych eval and passed, am on 2nd month of 3 month supervised diet. I am curious if anyone feels that having this surgery and loosing the weight fast verses a slow version diet makes you look more old and "hallowed out"?

I am so ready to be healthy and feel this is my best option, but have a few friends and relatives telling me how big a mistake I am making because of my age.

I'm so tired of difficulty standing up, being out of breath with just a few steps, being unable to put my shoes on let alone tie them. I'm tired of having no energy and needing naps each day as well as many other weight related issues. I want off my bi-pap machine so bad!!

Anyway, any comments on the subject would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[DeniseNCC1701 306]

"I'm so tired of difficulty standing up, being out of breath with just a few steps, being unable to put my shoes on let alone tie them. I'm tired of having no energy and needing naps each day as well as many other weight related issues. I want off my bi-pap machine so bad!!"

Nancy: take a moment, right now, and picture yourself 6 months post op. You would have lost a significant amount of weight. You can bend over and tie your shoes. There's a spring in your step as you walk over to the garbage pail with your bi-pap machine. Think of how vibrant you'll be. How much healthier. How much happier.

Now, take a moment and think of yourself right now. How do you feel? Do you feel old and haggard. Right now?

You're not that old, hon. And only you know if you can "do it on your own" over a longer period of time. But… something bought you here. Something triggered you to start this process for WLS. Something is motivating you to take your efforts to the next level. Reflect on those motivations. And then repeat the exercise above.

Be well…

[Chelly 364]

I'm 52 and everyone who has seen me says that I look younger.

I look at the before and progression picture I posted under my name and I can see I look younger too.

Since I've lost the weight I exercise 9+ miles on the stationary bicycle without being out of breath 4x a week.

I can walk longer and longer distances.

I can go up and down the stairs with less of a problem.

I'm off CPAP and most of my meds.

No more high blood pressure, no diabetes, no high cholesterol.

So don't let the doubting people in your life deter you from having this surgery because you will be so glad you did it in the long run.

Best of luck to you with your up coming surgery.

[B-52 7,113]

I am now 62 years old....had one heart attack, resulting in Cardiac surgery.....

Lost ALL my excess weight, have a very low body fat %...in the "Fit-Athletic" range....

My skin and muscle tone has tightened (no loose skin)

I work out and run as much as possible...water and Protein daily....

Yes I'm a man and I treat myself to facials at the spa....wife and I buy packages for a discount....

I can now purchase and wear ANY clothes I wish, and can be as fashionable (or not) as I choose to be....

People - strangers...are just so much more friendly and sociable. (welcome to their club?)

I have not looked or felt this good in over 20 years....I get compliments all the time, and not just from people who know I have lost weight. People who never knew I was fat.......I look at other men my age and I can't believe what I see....

My Cardiologist refers to me as Liam Neeson...who also happens to be the same age and does his own stunts in his movies...

You can NEVER go wrong with turning your life around...only wish I did this a long time ago....

[Nancy E. 44]

Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. They are just what I needed to hear and I'm sure I will come back to read them over and over. Bless you all!

[Judyr 57]

Im going to be 70 in July. This is the best thing that every happened to me. I am off 8 medications. I can tie my shoes, sit in the recliner with my feet in the chair. Not big on exercise because of bad back. My skin is loose right now, but it has only been 5 1/2 months and I have high hope for some toning. Even if not, this is fantastic. I weigh less than what my drivers license says (lol). I am running out of clothes from my skinny days (30+ years ago). Someone said to me the other day, "what hapened to the other half of you." This is so wonderful. Be positive and know you can do it. Be positive about your Protein shakes because they will be with you the rest of your life. The rewards are beyond imagination. I am healthy!!!

[Maineman 14]

Yes to what everyone has been saying. No cpap, normal sugar levels, chloresterol, bp. At 54, I feel better than I had in the last twenty years!

[Multifacet 66]

I worried about wrinkles on my face more than anything. After all, it was stretched out and smooth before, LOL!! I'm so pleased! I'm 53 and agree with all the previous posts. I'm so much more mobile and free of so many medications. It's just thrilling! All the best to you!!

[peteyrulz 82]

Hi Nancy E! looks like we're on similar timelines. I'm also on my 2nd month (of 3) on my supervised diet, hopefully looking at Jul or Aug. I'm 57 and asked myself the same questions about the ol' skin. someone said, on this board or another(?),

"nothing looks as good as healthy feels".

Amen to that!! I'm REALLY looking forward to it!

[James Marusek 5,244]

I am 65 years old. I am 1 year post-op. Many of my medical problems went into remission after the surgery. Although I wouldn't use the term having more energy to describe my post op state, I think the more appropriate term is more stamina. My driveway is almost 1000 feet long and this winter we had several snowstorms, so I spent most of the winter shoveling or blowing snow. And I didn't even break a sweat. I did notice that the skin on my face became more wrinkled after the surgery. My wife suggested that I use a product called Bio-Oil on my face. I went down to CVS and bought some and it seemed to do the trick. The wrinkles went away.

[BigGirlPanties 957]

@Chelly we are almost equal...!!!

I have RA so that was another benefit for losing weight...

You will FEEL younger, therefore you will BE younger

Enjoy

[terry1118 1,274]

I'm 54 and had rny on 5/30/13. I'm 5' tall. I weighed 233lbs, had high cholesterol (was on meds that affected my liver so they took me off them temporarily), I had constant pain in my back, knees, and feet, I couldn't climb stairs, and I was winded after only a few minutes of any activity. My endocrinologist said I was on my way to type two diabetes. I looked terrible and felt terrible. I was miserable and would rather die than continue my life the way I was. Since surgery I've lost 115lbs and am in a size 6 pants and a small top. My cholesterol is normal (all my labs are good) and ALL my pain is gone. I have tons of energy! I have a saggy belly and batwings on my arms. I see more wrinkling on my face but that was already starting when I was heavy. I would rather have saggy skin and batwings and feel as good as I do now, than be heavy, in pain, and on my way to an early grave. And if the wrinkles are a little more pronounced because there's no fat filling them out, so what? I'm almost 55 after all - I'm not young. But I look good in clothes and I love to shop for then now! :-)

[SisterSandy 8]

Glad to hear that I actually may not look any older after the surgery than I do now. Probably will be sometime in early June. I have lost 60 lbs. since last summer and feel better already, Have been able to stop glucophage for now and will hopefully never need it again. I don't care about wrinkles nor sagging skin, looking forward to being able to walk uphill without passing out!

By the way I am new here, Havent even picked a photo yet. hope to get to know everyone well.

Oh, yeah. I am 63 years old. Took a long time for me to get the courage to try this.

Edited May 27, 2014 by SisterSandy

[DelayedGratification 14]

No, you'll look and feel great! Go for it.

[terry1118 1,274]

Someone came into my bank today and told me I looked younger. :-)