Anyone considering/have had WLS in your 20's?
dollyboston
Posts: 2 Member
Hi, I'm 23 years old (24 in January) and I am in the process for WLS. I have already met with dieticians and my surgeon and essentially have to lose 15 lbs before my next appointment on January 7th or else they won't give me a date for my surgery. I have to be down 25 pounds before surgery and am actually trying to reach that goal by January 7th as I'm already down 12.5 lbs in the last three weeks! I'm exercising 5-6 times a week and keeping my calorie intake in between 1500 and 1700 while eating more balanced and healthy meals/staying hydrated. We will see...
Anyway, I've been trying to find testimonies on line from people who have had surgery in their twenties. I am just so nervous for so many reasons. I am getting this surgery done for my health but I am so afraid of losing my breasts! (Isn't that silly?!) I'm just wondering what it was like dealing with the weight loss and body issues from the perspective of somebody in their 20s or somebody who had the surgery while in their 20s. I know that regardless of how I lose weight I will have excess skin and I am not naive about that fact and from what I understand, most people don't mind that being the price for trading in their big bodies. A lot of the testimonials I see though tend to be from people ages 30+. As an FYI I have about 150 lbs of excess weight.
Anyway, I've been trying to find testimonies on line from people who have had surgery in their twenties. I am just so nervous for so many reasons. I am getting this surgery done for my health but I am so afraid of losing my breasts! (Isn't that silly?!) I'm just wondering what it was like dealing with the weight loss and body issues from the perspective of somebody in their 20s or somebody who had the surgery while in their 20s. I know that regardless of how I lose weight I will have excess skin and I am not naive about that fact and from what I understand, most people don't mind that being the price for trading in their big bodies. A lot of the testimonials I see though tend to be from people ages 30+. As an FYI I have about 150 lbs of excess weight.
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I was 30, so I can't offer much in the way of the perspective of a 20 something. I think you will find that the testimonials will be the same from 24 year olds and 34 year olds. I wish you the best of luck. You might consider going to the support groups offered in your area for more personal testimonials and stories. Maybe you will find people your age there that you can form a relationship with and get some answers through the support group.
As for the breasts -- if that is a serious consideration of yours, you might start saving now for a boob job down the road. And, I am not actually joking here. I have often said if I had the extra money I would not get my arms done, I would skip the thighs.... I would definitely have my boobs fixed! Rapid, massive weight loss is a death sentence for boobs - because they are all fat.
I lost 215 pounds and I have more skin hanging than you can shake a stick at! It's 100%, no doubt about it, worth every ounce of what I deal with now to be where I am vs where I was.0 -
Are you still considering? I am 26 and just had surgery three weeks ago. I originally went to the doctor for a consultation at 24- then a surgeon at 25, then made my decision a few months after my 26th birthday.
I wish things would have been a little different and I could have afforded it at 24 and I was ready for the change. But now I know I am really committed. One of my friends had the surgery at the same age, and we both agree the healing is a better process in your 20s. That is also what my surgeon said- and I feel relatively normal after 3 weeks. It is projected that since we are younger, our body will adapt more to the rapid weight loss too- if you're worried about loose skin. We have more elasticity in our skin that diminishes when we age (wrinkles, much?)
I will say the biggest reason I did it now and stopped waiting was knowing I did not want to put my body through any more time as an obese person. I want to live now and enjoy the now, and sometimes that's just not possible with obesity limiting you.0 -
I was 26 when I had my surgery. It was a big change for me, in so many ways. I did lose my boobs. For me it was worth it. I just wear an extra supportive bra, and that does the trick for clothes. (I was a DD before surgery and am now a C, but a lot of that is just excess skin.)
As far as body image goes, I know a lot of people just feel so great about their new bodies that they have no problems. I had a lot of problems when I hit about 150lbs lost. I started hating myself in the mirror and not being able to be intimate with my husband because I was so embarrassed by my body. I started seeing my pre-surgery psychologist again and that helped me tremendously. I've now lost ~190lbs and I feel pretty darn good about my body. I do wear shapers under my clothes to conceal the skin, (this is extra important when exercising because loose skin flapping on jumping jacks HURTS) and a lot of lingerie to bed just to boost my confidence some.
My only regret about the surgery is not having it sooner. I considered it when I was 23 and had just had my first son but decided to try the "natural" way first due to family pressure. I am so glad I finally did it, and I can do so many things I never considered before. If you look back through the forums a few posts you can see my before/after pictures which I just posted today.
I hope this helps and feel free to message/friend me if you have any questions I might be able to help with!0 -
MY DAUGHTER HAD WLS AT 19 OR 20. WHILE I DO NOT KNOW HER TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS, SHE WENT FROM A 3X TO A MISSES LARGE. HER SURGERY WAS RESTRICTION ONLY, NO MALABSORPTION. NEAR SIX YEARS POST OP SHE IS STILL LOOSING. THERE HAVE BEEN UPS AND DOWNS LIKE REGAIN AND RELOSS DUE TO CARELESSNESS; RAPID WEIGHT GAIN DUE TO STEROIDS; AND THE STRUGGLE TO LOOSE THAT TOUGH STEROID FAT.
SLOW WL WAS HER DELIBERATE CHOICE. SHE'S STILL FAT BUT SO MUCH LESS FAT THAN SHE WAS. HER WEIGHT LOSS CONTINUES AND SHE HAS NO REGRETS. IF ITS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO LOOSE WEIGHT GO FOR IT. THE YOUNGER YOU ARE WHEN YOU REACH A HEALTHY WEIGHT THE LESSER THE ISSUES OF COMPLICATIONS FROM OBESITY OVER THE LONG TERM.
AS FOR BOOBS... I LOST MINE. MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINS ABOUT LOOSING HER BOOBS BUT THEY ARE STILL FULL. WE CAN'T CONTROL WHERE THE FAT COMES OFF BUT WHO CARES IF WE ARE IN BETTER HEALTH. THE RIGHT UNDER GARMENTS CAN DO MIRACLES.
NO SHOUTING, JUST HARD OF SEEING. ;-)0 -
MY DAUGHTER HAD WLS AT 19 OR 20. WHILE I DO NOT KNOW HER TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS, SHE WENT FROM A 3X TO A MISSES LARGE. HER SURGERY WAS RESTRICTION ONLY, NO MALABSORPTION. NEAR SIX YEARS POST OP SHE IS STILL LOOSING. THERE HAVE BEEN UPS AND DOWNS LIKE REGAIN AND RELOSS DUE TO CARELESSNESS; RAPID WEIGHT GAIN DUE TO STEROIDS; AND THE STRUGGLE TO LOOSE THAT TOUGH STEROID FAT.
SLOW WL WAS HER DELIBERATE CHOICE. SHE'S STILL FAT BUT SO MUCH LESS FAT THAN SHE WAS. HER WEIGHT LOSS CONTINUES AND SHE HAS NO REGRETS. IF ITS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO LOOSE WEIGHT GO FOR IT. THE YOUNGER YOU ARE WHEN YOU REACH A HEALTHY WEIGHT THE LESSER THE ISSUES OF COMPLICATIONS FROM OBESITY OVER THE LONG TERM.
AS FOR BOOBS... I LOST MINE. MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINS ABOUT LOOSING HER BOOBS BUT THEY ARE STILL FULL. WE CAN'T CONTROL WHERE THE FAT COMES OFF BUT WHO CARES IF WE ARE IN BETTER HEALTH. THE RIGHT UNDER GARMENTS CAN DO MIRACLES.
NO SHOUTING, JUST HARD OF SEEING. ;-)
SHE'S IN A 'LARGE MISS' AND YOU'RE STILL CALLING HER FAT. THAT'S FAR FROM FAT.
Try Obesityhelp.com, great stories, testimonies, and loads of information. I had surgery when I turned 25. My skin bounced back and almost 9 years later I have no complications. I did regain about 65lbs after 6 years and 2 kids, but have lost that now. Best of luck to you.0 -
SHE'S IN A 'LARGE MISS' AND YOU'RE STILL CALLING HER FAT. THAT'S FAR FROM FAT.
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SIZE LARGE IS NOT FAT FOR EVERYONE BUT IT IS FOR MOST WOMEN IN MY FAMILY. I WISH I COULD SAY OTHERWISE. WE HAIL FROM A LONG LINE OF SHORT, SMALL FRAMED PEOPLE. SIZE AS IT RELATES TO BODY TYPE MAKES SIZE TOO LARGE.
FOLKS OF OUR STATURE SHOULD BE SMALL TO MEDIUM IN CLOTHING. WHEN AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT WE FIT JUNIORS FOR LIFE OR SHOP THE PETITES. CARRYING AN EXTRA TWENTY POUNDS, TODAY I'M WEARING A JUNIORS ESPIRIT 5/6 SKIRT WITH A TUMMY BULGE.
WITH HEREDITARY HYPERTENSION I NEED TO STAY IN MY OLD NAVY/ GAP SIZE 0-2 JEANS. FROM A 1/2 TO A 5/6 RAISES MY BLOOD PRESSURE. HER GOAL IS TO GET THE FAT OFF SO SHE NEVER FACES THIS. SIZE LARGE DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE FAT. HOWEVER. WHEN FAMILY BARELY MAKE IT TO FIVE FEET AND US "TALL GIRLS" FIT PETITES, MISSES SIZE LARGE IS TOO LARGE.
NO YELLING, HARD OF SEEING ;-)
BTW - BEEN ON OH FOR AGES BUT I NO LONGER POST REGULARLY. IT WAS ONCE HELPFUL BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, NOT SO MUCH. FORTUNATELY MANY OH FRIENDS ARE NOW REAL LIFE FRIENDS. AN OH FRIEND DIRECTED ME HERE WHEN THE SITE STARTED CHANGING. HOPEFULLY IT WILL RETURN TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS. MORE SUPPORT, LESS FLAMING, & AN END TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CLIQUE STYLE BEHAVIOR. YOU CAN FIND ME BY THE SAME USER NAME BUT ITS BEEN AGES SINCE I POSTED.0 -
Hi. I originally had roux en y gastric bypass 19 years ago when I was 24 years old. I lost 135 pounds. There were no support services (nutritionist, therapy, exercise specialists) when I had surgery. On 12/3/13, I had revision surgery to correct some issue from the first surgery. I had gained back up to 306 pounds when I went to see the surgery last July and started his program for insurance approval. Not eh day of surgery, I weighed in at 248 pounds. I did this all through diet and exercise and tracking my food and activities. As of today, seven and a half weeks out from surgery, I am down to 210 pounds and I feel fantastic. I am exercising at least an hour a day at the gym - six days a week. I have about 30 more pounds to go to make my goal. I had a second chance to do the hard work and make the permanent lifestyle change necessary to be successful after surgery. I am not squandering it. I hope my story helps.0
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I had my surgery when I was 28. (now 30). I was big busted and most people knew me as "the twins." Yes I am now a more manageable b/c cup. At first it was a bit de-womanizing, (if that is a word). I felt like without boobs, what would they call me now? Well, it was more my issue than anybody elses. I just had to have some talks with myself and know that I am more than a chest. Besides, I can always buy new ones!0
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I am terrified. Like absolutely terrified. I don't know why either. I guess I am afraid of having to take vitamins for the rest of my life, which surgery to get, what can I eat, and the dumbest reason thus far is that I will never be able to eat Cap'n Crunch again.0
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I have a sleeve. I can eat whatever I want just very small amounts at a time. I still eat my favourite foods just not as much and not as often. I don't take multivitamins obsessively now and don't need to. I reccomend doing your research and talking to those who have had wls to find out much about them as you can.0
