The topic I didn't want to discuss - loose skin
NovusDies
Posts: 8,940 Member
So I really didn't want to discuss this on MFP at all. I am an extremely private person by nature and this is a very public forum. However this group is for this very kind of discussion because I won't be the only one to go through this.
So my upcoming surgery... yep. Because of how I carried so much of my weight in my mid-section it has created quite an impediment for me as the weight has come off. I have to be so careful with it because gravity - poor blood flow keeps it from healing well if it gets injured. I have to do everything slower. It is also a mental impediment for me. I can't ever feel like I am at the weight I currently am because I am so much bigger than that still.
Normally people wait until they have been at goal at least 12 months before even considering this. The reason is that skin will tighten up over time for some people. Genetics and skin quality are factors. Considering how much I weighed my skin there is in pretty terrible shape and my PCP has wanted it gone for some time now but I didn't qualify as it is not life threatening. I also didn't want to get it done back then because what my skinny doctor doesn't understand is that the more weight you carry the harder everything is and that would more than include recovery from a fairly significant surgery.
I am ill-at-ease for several reasons but when I was posting about not being ready for maintenance I didn't want to say that I am about to jump 30 pounds (surgeon's estimate) forward. You would think I would find the idea relieving because that is weight I don't have to lose but I find it troubling. I understand that most of this is lean weight that I would have lost anyway but since a portion of it will be fat I really wrestled with it. Ultimately this is a quality of life issue and ultimately I have put in the work and I deserve to move freely. I am always saying be kind to yourself... I suppose this qualifies.
I am not sure how much more there is to know right now. Recovery will be difficult because I am getting cut most of the way around my body. I will try to share what I believe is relevant about recovery for the next person who will face this. Hopefully I will be the only one that does before goal because my extra weight will still make my recovery more difficult than if it had been gone.
So my upcoming surgery... yep. Because of how I carried so much of my weight in my mid-section it has created quite an impediment for me as the weight has come off. I have to be so careful with it because gravity - poor blood flow keeps it from healing well if it gets injured. I have to do everything slower. It is also a mental impediment for me. I can't ever feel like I am at the weight I currently am because I am so much bigger than that still.
Normally people wait until they have been at goal at least 12 months before even considering this. The reason is that skin will tighten up over time for some people. Genetics and skin quality are factors. Considering how much I weighed my skin there is in pretty terrible shape and my PCP has wanted it gone for some time now but I didn't qualify as it is not life threatening. I also didn't want to get it done back then because what my skinny doctor doesn't understand is that the more weight you carry the harder everything is and that would more than include recovery from a fairly significant surgery.
I am ill-at-ease for several reasons but when I was posting about not being ready for maintenance I didn't want to say that I am about to jump 30 pounds (surgeon's estimate) forward. You would think I would find the idea relieving because that is weight I don't have to lose but I find it troubling. I understand that most of this is lean weight that I would have lost anyway but since a portion of it will be fat I really wrestled with it. Ultimately this is a quality of life issue and ultimately I have put in the work and I deserve to move freely. I am always saying be kind to yourself... I suppose this qualifies.
I am not sure how much more there is to know right now. Recovery will be difficult because I am getting cut most of the way around my body. I will try to share what I believe is relevant about recovery for the next person who will face this. Hopefully I will be the only one that does before goal because my extra weight will still make my recovery more difficult than if it had been gone.
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I wish you the best and prayers for a speedy recovery.0
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I was curious about what the surgery was that you've talked about, but didn't want to pry. Thanks for sharing -- I know how hard that can be sometimes.
I'm sure I'll have loose skin by the time I'm through, but I have no idea how much to expect or how much it'll impact me. It's something I think about often, though.
Do you have the procedure scheduled?0 -
I was curious about what the surgery was that you've talked about, but didn't want to pry. Thanks for sharing -- I know how hard that can be sometimes.
I'm sure I'll have loose skin by the time I'm through, but I have no idea how much to expect or how much it'll impact me. It's something I think about often, though.
Do you have the procedure scheduled?
The procedure is scheduled but there are some loose ends to tie up like making the weight and getting cardio clearance. I should be fine on the clearance assuming I can get the appt schedule. The biggest issue with the weight is that it will run very tight and I need a buffer for weight fluctuations. I could go very low carb if it gets close but that is a last resort because my eating is typically low on fat and jacking up that macro could make me feel pretty ill.
I initially read all that I could on loose skin prevention. There isn't much you can do. They say moisturizing helps. I have done it even though I knew I would still need surgery but as I mentioned keeping that area free of injury is a high priority for me. When something happens it typically gushes blood and it takes 3 weeks to heal. Also, because conventional adhesive tape for bandages are not strong enough to hold I have to use duct tape to keep the bandage on. It is mightily unpleasant but I think my situation is a little more unique because of my very uneven fat distribution.0 -
@NovusDies Good luck with your surgery and for a quick recovery.2
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For some reason I assumed your surgery was on your feet or your knees. I have no idea where I got that from. I hope that this goes well for you. Any surgery is a big decision, but hopefully this will make your life easier once you have been through it. Good luck, and I hope your body heals quickly and heals well. Kia kaha. Kia manawanui. (Be strong. Be of big heart.)0
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I think it's only natural to feel ill-at-ease when going into something like this.
I am not sure if you use Instagram (you can still view without an account anyway) at all but there's a girl I follow who lost a massive amount of weight (312 pounds in 2 years) and has posted about her loose skin surgeries.
https://www.instagram.com/fatgirlfedup/
https://www.facebook.com/Fatgirlfedup/
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kosseychick wrote: »@NovusDies Good luck with your surgery and for a quick recovery.
Thanks!0 -
maiomaio71 wrote: »For some reason I assumed your surgery was on your feet or your knees. I have no idea where I got that from. I hope that this goes well for you. Any surgery is a big decision, but hopefully this will make your life easier once you have been through it. Good luck, and I hope your body heals quickly and heals well. Kia kaha. Kia manawanui. (Be strong. Be of big heart.)
That would be a great guess and considering my right knee and right ankle are often unhappy one of them is likely to see the knife in the future. I am actually planning on getting a referral on the knee next time I see my PCP. I have been putting that off because I have been hoping the weight reduction would take care of it but I am starting to feel that is unlikely.0 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »I think it's only natural to feel ill-at-ease when going into something like this.
I am not sure if you use Instagram (you can still view without an account anyway) at all but there's a girl I follow who lost a massive amount of weight (312 pounds in 2 years) and has posted about her loose skin surgeries.
https://www.instagram.com/fatgirlfedup/
https://www.facebook.com/Fatgirlfedup/
I have never used instagram but it might be worth a check.0 -
Thank you for plucking up the courage to share, it is something that I worry about a lot so I would find your story interesting. Best of luck in your surgery, I hope it all works out to plan and you have a speedy recovery.0
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The procedure is scheduled but there are some loose ends to tie up like making the weight and getting cardio clearance. I should be fine on the clearance assuming I can get the appt schedule. The biggest issue with the weight is that it will run very tight and I need a buffer for weight fluctuations. I could go very low carb if it gets close but that is a last resort because my eating is typically low on fat and jacking up that macro could make me feel pretty ill.
Sounds stressful, but I have a feeling you will do fine. From what I've gathered, you're a pretty determined individual! I'll be following what you choose to share on this and will be rooting for you.1 -
Good luck with your surgery, I will be praying everything goes smoothly. This is something I worry about a lot, especially with about 150 lbs to lose. That is part of why I want to incorporate exercise, and why I know taking it slow is best. I also know that it is pretty much inevitable that I will deal with it at least to some extent. I know you are very private, but I think we all appreciate you opening up about this. Hopefully your journey with this now will be helpful to some of us down the road.0
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surgery is stressful, no matter what it is. it sounds like there's a strong potential for life improving change here. getting rid of tissues that are causing more harm than help will be awesome in the long run. I had my thyroid removed last year--turns out it was atrophied and nonfunctional--and man... I was the most stressed I've been in my life. but, eventually, I got to a much better place. it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you're near the start, but you'll get there.
and! you've built a great set of skills for handling life, and you'll keep building them moving forward. you've got this.
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@NovusDies First, thank you for sharing. I'm also pretty private and baring anything online (even in the guise of anonymity) is daunting. So, thank you for taking the leap and sharing some details. Second, I truly hope your surgery goes well and that recovery is quick. I also hope that once it's all said and done and you're through recovery that the improvement is so great and you can move so much better that you might just do a little jig in glee!
Thirdly, don't forget to take mental breaks in worrying and be kind to yourself. Tell yourself how awesome you are that you've lost the weight. That you're working towards bettering your life. That you're AWESOME. This dragon, you'll slay it and take its loot pile as a reward and that reward will be a life made better.
Good luck!! Each dawn is a new opportunity to make our lives better!0 -
The procedure is scheduled but there are some loose ends to tie up like making the weight and getting cardio clearance. I should be fine on the clearance assuming I can get the appt schedule. The biggest issue with the weight is that it will run very tight and I need a buffer for weight fluctuations. I could go very low carb if it gets close but that is a last resort because my eating is typically low on fat and jacking up that macro could make me feel pretty ill.
Sounds stressful, but I have a feeling you will do fine. From what I've gathered, you're a pretty determined individual! I'll be following what you choose to share on this and will be rooting for you.
@merph518 pretty much summed up my thoughts. I would also add that as someone currently recovering from major surgery that has been slow and with complications that included a 911 call and an ambulance to the hospital, I’m so glad I listened to my doctor and had the surgery. I was suffering in ways I didn’t even realize prior to the surgery. I think that you may be surprised by how good that immediate 30 lb weight loss feels. I’m personally excited for you and wish you the best while you recover! I can also recommend some good tv shows and books to read while you rest up afterwards!1 -
tinkerbellang83 wrote: »I think it's only natural to feel ill-at-ease when going into something like this.
I am not sure if you use Instagram (you can still view without an account anyway) at all but there's a girl I follow who lost a massive amount of weight (312 pounds in 2 years) and has posted about her loose skin surgeries.
https://www.instagram.com/fatgirlfedup/
https://www.facebook.com/Fatgirlfedup/
I follow her on Instagram, and ‘70lbsoflife’ I find them quite motivating2 -
Thanks @amkita, @dhiammarath, and @real_change
I find that I deal with stress best by being super prepared for things. Even though it is still over a month away I will spend this weekend making a really good soup broth because I have to be a on liquid diet for 2 days post-op. The more prepared I am for the things I can control the less I will stress.
I am also going to be making food and freezing it for my recovery because I will be eating maintenance for 2 to 3 weeks. I am assuming by the second week I will be feeling decent enough to at least enjoy what I am eating. I will try to figure my maintenance based on sedentary and then perhaps add 100 calories just to make sure I am eating enough.
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Got my cardio clearance today. I wasn't really worried about it because I was just thoroughly tested in November but it is nice to have that off the list.
Looking at my weight loss progress and where I *should* be the day before the surgery I believe this is going to happen on schedule. I just have to keep making smart choices and keep my foot on the gas pedal a little longer.9 -
Sounds like a difficult push for this last mile, but I have a feeling you'll make it. Keep it up 3
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So I really didn't want to discuss this on MFP at all. I am an extremely private person by nature and this is a very public forum. However this group is for this very kind of discussion because I won't be the only one to go through this.
So my upcoming surgery... yep. Because of how I carried so much of my weight in my mid-section it has created quite an impediment for me as the weight has come off. I have to be so careful with it because gravity - poor blood flow keeps it from healing well if it gets injured. I have to do everything slower. It is also a mental impediment for me. I can't ever feel like I am at the weight I currently am because I am so much bigger than that still.
Normally people wait until they have been at goal at least 12 months before even considering this. The reason is that skin will tighten up over time for some people. Genetics and skin quality are factors. Considering how much I weighed my skin there is in pretty terrible shape and my PCP has wanted it gone for some time now but I didn't qualify as it is not life threatening. I also didn't want to get it done back then because what my skinny doctor doesn't understand is that the more weight you carry the harder everything is and that would more than include recovery from a fairly significant surgery.
I am ill-at-ease for several reasons but when I was posting about not being ready for maintenance I didn't want to say that I am about to jump 30 pounds (surgeon's estimate) forward. You would think I would find the idea relieving because that is weight I don't have to lose but I find it troubling. I understand that most of this is lean weight that I would have lost anyway but since a portion of it will be fat I really wrestled with it. Ultimately this is a quality of life issue and ultimately I have put in the work and I deserve to move freely. I am always saying be kind to yourself... I suppose this qualifies.
I am not sure how much more there is to know right now. Recovery will be difficult because I am getting cut most of the way around my body. I will try to share what I believe is relevant about recovery for the next person who will face this. Hopefully I will be the only one that does before goal because my extra weight will still make my recovery more difficult than if it had been gone.
Thank you for sharing! The fear of the issue with loose skin is *one* of the many reasons that I have allowed myself to relapse previously on diets. It scares me a lot. When I was 18 I was in a car accident that resulted in a small portion of skin being removed from my left knee. Since then my knee has felt weird. For example, that section of skin is "skipped" if I move my fingers from one end of the scar to the other. Part of my fear of the loose skin thing is worrying if I will have the same kind of sensation if I were to lose all this excess weight (nearly 200 pounds if I were to go with what is considered healthy for my height) and then have to have the surgery.
Please keep us updated after your surgery and as you heal!1 -
jafinnearty wrote: »So I really didn't want to discuss this on MFP at all. I am an extremely private person by nature and this is a very public forum. However this group is for this very kind of discussion because I won't be the only one to go through this.
So my upcoming surgery... yep. Because of how I carried so much of my weight in my mid-section it has created quite an impediment for me as the weight has come off. I have to be so careful with it because gravity - poor blood flow keeps it from healing well if it gets injured. I have to do everything slower. It is also a mental impediment for me. I can't ever feel like I am at the weight I currently am because I am so much bigger than that still.
Normally people wait until they have been at goal at least 12 months before even considering this. The reason is that skin will tighten up over time for some people. Genetics and skin quality are factors. Considering how much I weighed my skin there is in pretty terrible shape and my PCP has wanted it gone for some time now but I didn't qualify as it is not life threatening. I also didn't want to get it done back then because what my skinny doctor doesn't understand is that the more weight you carry the harder everything is and that would more than include recovery from a fairly significant surgery.
I am ill-at-ease for several reasons but when I was posting about not being ready for maintenance I didn't want to say that I am about to jump 30 pounds (surgeon's estimate) forward. You would think I would find the idea relieving because that is weight I don't have to lose but I find it troubling. I understand that most of this is lean weight that I would have lost anyway but since a portion of it will be fat I really wrestled with it. Ultimately this is a quality of life issue and ultimately I have put in the work and I deserve to move freely. I am always saying be kind to yourself... I suppose this qualifies.
I am not sure how much more there is to know right now. Recovery will be difficult because I am getting cut most of the way around my body. I will try to share what I believe is relevant about recovery for the next person who will face this. Hopefully I will be the only one that does before goal because my extra weight will still make my recovery more difficult than if it had been gone.
Thank you for sharing! The fear of the issue with loose skin is *one* of the many reasons that I have allowed myself to relapse previously on diets. It scares me a lot. When I was 18 I was in a car accident that resulted in a small portion of skin being removed from my left knee. Since then my knee has felt weird. For example, that section of skin is "skipped" if I move my fingers from one end of the scar to the other. Part of my fear of the loose skin thing is worrying if I will have the same kind of sensation if I were to lose all this excess weight (nearly 200 pounds if I were to go with what is considered healthy for my height) and then have to have the surgery.
Please keep us updated after your surgery and as you heal!
I do not believe for one moment I will ever fall in love with the results. The scar will fade in time but it will always be there and it will be joined by a second one later on as I will require 2 surgeries on the same area.
The alternative though is to live with all that extra weight and allow it to continue to impair my freedom and most likely end my life prematurely at some point. I am so very fortunate to only be on the very early stages of heart disease. The thing is I do have heart disease which means continuing the way I was before would mean it keeps getting worse and probably in a snowballing fashion.6 -
My surgery is getting closer now.
Still have about 6 pounds to lose which should not be a problem other than I am feeling quite mentally fatigued. I am also feeling a little cabin feverish which is probably stemming from the same problem. I may need a short trip after the surgery though as soon as I am able.
Over the next couple of days I am going to try and figure out what size clothing I might be post-op. I am mostly concerned about pants. I am not allowed to drive for a full after so I really just need something I can wear around the house. I don't want to send a bunch of things back so I think I will get maybe 2 pairs of something in 2 sizes. As soon as I have a clearer picture of my size I can rush order some more. I guess that is a good idea.
I have to wear a compression garment (think spandex) full time for 3 months and part-time for 3 months after that. I am not sure how drastically that will affect my clothing size or if will at all. If anyone has experience with that I would appreciate input.2 -
@NovusDies I've worn spanx (maybe similar?) and it did not change my size at all, really. It kept everything smoothed up, but you won't see a massive size difference between spanx and non-spanx (in my experience).
I've had a couple of friends on my feed who went through stomach skin removal and I think the first month or so, what dictates size is the swelling. So having a couple of sizes is a good thing (and also will be comfortable!). I don't think you'll get a real adequate state of your size until the swelling goes down... but that's conjecture as I do not have personal experience in this arena.1 -
I was really concerned about loose skin a year ago, now down 120 with 85 to go, and not seeing a huge problem. I have a large frame, no batwings on my arms, chest and belly are loose but I don't intend to pose for any nude calendar pics. Once I reach my target weight I will of course know more, but doc says hang in there and see how much of it gets metabolized in the two years after I reach 220. Unless it becomes a real problem, my intention now is to just let it hang.0
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@dhiammarath That is a good point about the swelling. I think if I buy the next 2 sizes down I will be covered figuratively and literally. The ones I am in are too big so I am hoping they hold on for 6ish more pounds so I don't moon the neighborhood (again).
This kind of stuff is hard to think about for some reason.
@jim_pipkin If your fat is/was really well distributed you might end up with very little and it is recommended under normal circumstances not to do anything for 2 years. My fat was/is very poorly distributed and I started with around 300 to lose so... you know... the knife was always going to be part of my road map. While I thought it was way too soon when I was just under 100 down my PCP sent me to see a plastic surgeon who gave me the news that nothing was going to help because of my age and the quality of my skin in that region. While bad news once I embraced it, it became less of a looming threat.
You don't think about it but I know a guy whose biggest problem is the loose skin on his rear. It makes it uncomfortable for him to sit and very uncomfortable to try and get in a car. He has not gone into details but I imagine it is getting pinched a lot and probably abrased often. It is not a concern for me because I gained next to nothing back there but that would be challenging I imagine.2 -
I have placed orders for everything but the compression suit. The post-op drainage stuff should prove oozy and challenging for a person with OCD tendencies.
I am allowed caffeine for 8 more days and then no more for a month. My nicotine restriction began 3 weeks ago but I only smoke a tobacco pipe or a cigar very occasionally so not at all addicted. Even still, knowing I can't have anything makes me want something even though I often go months in between smoking and sometimes more than a year. My inner child hates restrictions.1 -
@NovusDies re: drainage stuff and personal experience. So, short version of a longer story, my husband had "drainage stuff" for the closure of a really long open wound (18+ inches, stem to stern, post cardiac surgery) that I managed at home.
It wasn't gross. It wasn't oozy. At various points around his now sutured wound, a small incision was made to seat a tube, which had two sutures to hold it in place. The tube was fitted with a small, perhaps 2.5 inch diameter, clear plastic bulb. One tube had a larger bulb, they come in various sizes. My job, for a week, was to wash my hands, remove the bulb and record the amount of fluid and because I am OCD, make comments on the color and clarity (which I put in a spreadsheet because I love eXcel). Ok, stop laughing - either because you get it (!) or because you think I'm nuts, lol.
Initially I was doing this six times a day, or about every four hours, which tapered down to two or three times a day by the end of the week. At the end of the week, at the follow up appointment, the drains were removed. Band-Aids covered the small incisions and within another week were completely healed (closed).
I'm guessing that depending on the drain placement, your compression garment may or may not be a "Go".
Lemme know if you want my spreadsheet....ok, I'm nuts.0
