Questions From a Pre-Op Patient

[Spitfireash 12]

So I have a few questions for those of you that have already had the surgery or have the knowledge. These are just questions which are zipping through my mind constantly.

1. Scarring. What kinds of scars to expect and the location of the scars.

2.How long does it take for the incisions to heal? How many incisions are there normally?

3. Excess skin. Is there a lot of excess skin after weight loss? Is there a way to avoid it?

4. Exercise. What kinds of exercise besides walking is good for post-op

5. When they say liquid diet pre-op, is it all liquids or only Clear Liquids?

[GradyCat 3,695]

1 hour ago, Spitfireash said:

1. Scarring. What kinds of scars to expect and the location of the scars. My scars are barely noticeable. They're midway between my belly button and my breasts. Two small holes. I used bio-oil and they really look like moles or freckles now.

2.How long does it take for the incisions to heal? How many incisions are there normally? Two. Three weeks initially.

3. Excess skin. Is there a lot of excess skin after weight loss? Is there a way to avoid it? I don't have a lot of it. Way better than the fat I used to have.

4. Exercise. What kinds of exercise besides walking is good for post-op. Cardio. No heavy weight lifting (more than 10 lbs) for a couple of monthe post-op.

5. When they say liquid diet pre-op, is it all liquids or only Clear Liquids? Any liquid, other than RED colored liquid, including sugar-free pudding, sugar-free popsicles, etc.

[Spitfireash 12]

4 hours ago, GradyCat said:

Thank you for sharing. I appreciate it.

[catwoman7 11,212]

I had RNY (I think there's one wound with the VSG that's a bit bigger - the one they pull your stomach through - but the rest are really small - like all of mine were). They were tiny, and I can't see them at all anymore.

amount of excess skin depends on a lot of factors - your age, how overweight you were, how LONG you were overweight - as well as others. Most of us have at least SOME (I lost over 200 lbs, so I had A LOT). However, you're likely the only one who will notice. I eventually had mine removed because it was driving me nuts, but my husband was the only person who ever knew it was there. You couldn't tell at all when I was wearing clothes. Here I am BEFORE I had it removed. Most of mine was on my abs (although I had it on my arms and boobs, too), but I just tucked the ab skin into my pants and then wore slightly oversized, long-ish tops to hide it. Ta da! No more loose skin...

honestly, most people worry A LOT about the loose skin when they're pre-op or early post-op (I did, too), but most of us who are out a ways wonder why we worried so much about it. It's kind of a minor thing in the grand scheme of things, and it's usually not noticeable to others. And if it really bothers YOU, there's always plastic surgery. I think most of us would take the loose skin any day of the week over being morbidly obese again. I know I would!

[FindYourFire 41]

• I think the number of incisions depends on your surgeon, and your surgery. I had a sleeve. My surgeon mentioned there would be 5 incisions, but I only ended up with 4 for me. Usually heavier people have fatty livers, and the liver is retracted during the procedure for better visibility for making the cuts. However, my liver was so small that they didn't need to retract it at all so they skipped that incision. Part of the purpose of the liquid diet is to help shrink your liver. So be strict on your liquid diet as it makes the surgery easier on your surgeon, increasing the results of an issue-free surgery.

• The healing doesn't take long in terms of closing up, and depending on when your surgery is, it's not really a big deal for anything (mine was smack in the middle of summer so I didn't get to swim for the second half of summer, but that's no issues for winter patients! )

• Exercise, and moisturizing will help your skin as much as anything else. Keep a tight strong core - start working out before your surgery. Excess skin was something I was so insecure about in the beginning (thinking about having it made me not want the surgery), but now after having the surgery I'm not nearly as worried about it because I feel SO much better about myself (that said, I don't yet have any loose skin yet, maybe I'll sing a different song when it becomes an issue.) My mother who also had the surgery said it well once. Something to the effect of "You may still feel insecure out of your clothes because of your skin, but I can tell you I feel infinitely more confident in my clothes than I ever have."

• Early on, just walking is going to be great exercise. I sort of rolled my eyes at this answer pre-op because I love to lift, run, etc. The surgery itself will WEAR YOU OUT. For the first week post-op I joked that my shower was my daily workout. Literally just washing my hair would make me need to lay down and rest after my shower. Don't rush it and listen to your body. Now at 5 months out I do crossfit with no restriction or issues.. However, I can tell that I've lost muscle from the limited Protein intake. I feel like I'm starting all over again building strength!

• Others have answered this - you're going to be drinking lots of protein!

[Arabesque 7,271]

I had five incisions in line with my belly button. They were small 10-15mm. They healed over a couple of weeks. I used bio oil too & now I have to look hard to see the scars: they’re little faint lines.

Yes, you’ll have saggy skin. It stretched out carrying your weight. Factors like your age, gender, genetics, how long you were at your highest weight, how overweight you were all impact how much sagging you’ll have. As catwoman7 said saggy skin is better than being obese & unhealthy & you can have skin removal. I didn’t have much loose skin when I reached my goal weight but I do have more on my upper inner thighs & upper arms now that I’ve lost more. I just don’t wear short shorts or strappy or strapless tops. I’m just wearing ordinary cotton hipster briefs under this dress. Oh, & my breasts are pretty deflated.

Walking is excellent post surgery. Start walking at the hospital to help get rid of the gas they fill your abdomen with during surgery. Your surgical team will probably advise when you can start to increase your activity or introduce other options.

I was put on a Keto diet for 2 1/2 weeks pre surgery so I can’t advise on what your diet requires. Your dietician or surgeon should have given you a plan to follow.

Good luck.

[STLoser 1,099]

I have 5 incisions. 3 are tiny and 2 are about an inch long. I. Had a Loop DS. I'll be 5 months out next week and the scars are sort of purplish but barely noticeable to me now. I have lost 102 pounds (about 70 since surgery), and while I don't have a lot of loose skin yet, I imagine I will have a lot since I have about 100 pounds more to lose. I know my lower stomach and upper thighs will be the worst. My arms have always been small for my size and I don't think they'll have much. I don't care..I will consider surgery if any of it is cumbersome or uncomfortable but at 49 years old I am not too worried about it. I would prefer not to have more surgery. I'll gladly take loose skin to be healthy.
My liquid diet was 2 weeks and it was clear liquids and 3 Protein Shakes a day. I was also on the same liquid diet for 2 weeks post op and then a week of full liquids.

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[STLoser 1,099]

Oh, healing took a couple weeks and it was relatively painless. I had my gallbladder out 6 months before the surgery and that was worse than my wls.
For exercise, I just walk.. I do plan to add some other exercise in soon though. Resistance training and stuff.

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