Did anyone had difficult with your excess skin

[April petrea]

Did anyone had difficult with your excess skin, for me since I lost 200 lbs my stomach hangs down to my knees that makes it hard for me to walk and enjoy life

 

[Fosgate]

I agree with what Dianseattle suggested. Typically insurance will pre approve if deemed medically necessary (infections (see here), rash, etc) and that your weight stabilized. I've already got a pre planned tummy tuck a year out with the surgeon due to abdominal hernia pre bariatric and I have documented history already of being seen for infections in the pores on my waist line, tried treatments like Betasept Antiseptic Surgical Scrub, Defense Soap etc. It's not difficult to get the process started. If you sweat, pores of skin touching other skin become easily infected. When you show signs of pimples, hard lumps etc in the folds, go see your doctor and start getting treatments on record. These types of infections are very difficult to eliminate.

 

[Elizabeth Bird]

I had sleeve surgery in 2019 and experienced Gerd so in April 2021 I had a gastric bypass and now I have developed ulcers and I still have heartburn . Did anyone else have issues like this? My starting weight was 225 and I am currently at 155 , having lost 12 pounds after the bypass.

 

[Fosgate]

I used to get heartburn all the time (pre bariatric) until I got a CPAP. You don't have to be big to need a CPAP, just the right type of tissue in the back of the throat. After my bariatric a month ago I started to get acid reflux and DR would not let me have any meds for it. Instead brewed caffeine free mint tea. Outside of that be conscious of foods that are acidic (tomatoes, wine sauces, etc) and counter them with things that will neutralize the acid naturally

 

[Elizabeth Bird]

I used to get heartburn all the time (pre bariatric) until I got a CPAP. You don't have to be big to need a CPAP, just the right type of tissue in the back of the throat. After my bariatric a month ago I started to get acid reflux and DR would not let me have any meds for it. Instead brewed caffeine free mint tea. Outside of that be conscious of foods that are acidic (tomatoes, wine sauces, etc) and counter them with things that will neutralize the acid naturally

I have been using CPAP since my first surgery. I don't like tea or coffee so it 's not a caffeine issue

 

[3momchaos]

The areas I have the most trouble with are my upper arms and (unfortunately) butt cheeks. My abdominal skin does hang, but not as low as I thought it would. I’ll have skin removal eventually, but it’ll all be self pay (unfortunately again).

 

[Roni]

I put money into certificate of deposit at bank to use for loose skin after a year out. My folds sweat to the point where they turn red and itch and burn

 

[sportsdad]

I had my one year check up with my surgeon and I had asked about the surgery and he said that I would not qualify for insurance to pay for it. While I do not have any rashes, hard deposits etc as has been mentioned in this thread I notice that my back kills when I am running above 6 mph which i attribute to my stomach/apron/excess skin literally moving all over the place. Started a year ago at 490 and now at 239.

 

[JudyNY]

I had my one year check up with my surgeon and I had asked about the surgery and he said that I would not qualify for insurance to pay for it. While I do not have any rashes, hard deposits etc as has been mentioned in this thread I notice that my back kills when I am running above 6 mph which i attribute to my stomach/apron/excess skin literally moving all over the place. Started a year ago at 490 and now at 239.

Congratulations on your weight loss! That is amazing! I'm sorry that insurance won't cover the excess skin removal for you but who knows down the road if that might change. Don't give up!

 

[Roni]

I don’t understand why the dr is not pushing the insurance to get you the surgery. I would make appeal.

 

[missyinacage]

I haven't had any physical issues with loose skin, as far as rashes etc. And I was pretty certain that I would never even consider skin removal surgery, since it's expensive, painful and I was never in this for the perfect body anyway. Mostly don't mind the belly; its the only part of my body I recognize. And I even took a video of my underarm skin flapping in the wind on my road trip and sent it to my cousin (who had the sleeve), cuz it's ridiculous honestly kind of hysterical. But my legs are really starting to bug me. I have these skinny legs and saggy knees. Like, who has saggy knees?!? They look like they are 100's of years old. What a dumb thing to get hung up on. And yet here I am.

 

[Qweensgambit]

I haven't had any physical issues with loose skin, as far as rashes etc. And I was pretty certain that I would never even consider skin removal surgery, since it's expensive, painful and I was never in this for the perfect body anyway. Mostly don't mind the belly; its the only part of my body I recognize. And I even took a video of my underarm skin flapping in the wind on my road trip and sent it to my cousin (who had the sleeve), cuz it's ridiculous honestly kind of hysterical. But my legs are really starting to bug me. I have these skinny legs and saggy knees. Like, who has saggy knees?!? They look like they are 100's of years old. What a dumb thing to get hung up on. And yet here I am.

I can totally relate. I don’t like the loose skin I have on my arms and legs.. My butt is saggy and that bothers me. It’s moved down a few inches, what little is left of it. I’m sitting on bones! LOL. My stomach is saggy too, but that’s from having 3 babies. I’m not quite a year out so maybe it will tighten up a little. I’d can’t complain though. I’d rather be like this than be heavy again.

 

[JudyNY]

I can totally relate. I don’t like the loose skin I have on my arms and legs.. My butt is saggy and that bothers me. It’s moved down a few inches, what little is left of it. I’m sitting on bones! LOL. My stomach is saggy too, but that’s from having 3 babies. I’m not quite a year out so maybe it will tighten up a little. I’d can’t complain though. I’d rather be like this than be heavy again.

That's the way I think about it. Sagging is better than carrying the extra weight.

 

[Qweensgambit]

Agreed.

But....is there any effective way to tighten up loose skin, short of surgery? I’ve tried some collagen/elastin cream I bought online but I don’t think it’s helping.
I haven’t really heard anything that sounds hopeful. (Yet. Hope springs eternal!)

 

[3momchaos]

My doctor told me that the 6 months of required weight stability required by most plastic surgeons is not just to maintain weight, but to give the skin a chance to “bounce back”. She said it won’t be a lot, but I can a little. After having twins I figured my abdominal skin would hang lower, but it’s not. I really want my arms done more than anything.

 

[Qweensgambit]

Well, that’s good news. A little is better than nothing.
I read that skin removal is super expensive. Also, it leaves scars.
I spent a couple of hours one night googling pictures of scars after skin removal surgery and I’m not sure I’d want it even if I could afford it.
Unless there’s a way they can disguise the scars or hide them in a place that’s not obvious. Could be the pictures I saw were worse case scenarios. Perhaps there are a lot of people who don’t have scars, therefore, nothing to take a picture of so that’s why I didn’t see them.

 

[Pink Julie]

Well, that’s good news. A little is better than nothing.
I read that skin removal is super expensive. Also, it leaves scars.
I spent a couple of hours one night googling pictures of scars after skin removal surgery and I’m not sure I’d want it even if I could afford it.
Unless there’s a way they can disguise the scars or hide them in a place that’s not obvious. Could be the pictures I saw were worse case scenarios. Perhaps there are a lot of people who don’t have scars, therefore, nothing to take a picture of so that’s why I didn’t see them.

Over 2 years out here and there’s been no bouncing back! Lol I’m 56 and I’ve been married over 30 years, my husband couldn’t care less about my saggy butt! The scars are pretty extensive, did you see Brenda’s photos?

 

[3momchaos]

I wouldn’t mind the scars, they’d just be part of my body’s journey.

 

[Pink Julie]

I wouldn’t mind the scars, they’d just be part of my body’s journey.

Good for you, that’s great! I’m sure I might feel different if I was younger, now I’m a granny I’m not so bothered. I went through a lot of surgeries in the last few years, I really couldn’t face it again unless it was life or death.

 

[JudyNY]

Good for you, that’s great! I’m sure I might feel different if I was younger, now I’m a granny I’m not so bothered. I went through a lot of surgeries in the last few years, I really couldn’t face it again unless it was life or death.

Same here for me Julie. At some point I may need another hernia surgery and I'm not even liking that. But age has a lot to do with it, so for me I just wear shirts with sleeves down to my elbows or just past the elbows. I never liked to wear sleeveless anyway because I was always conscience about the size of my arms.