Extra/Loose Skin?
VaingloriousVictoria
Posts: 137 Member
Over the past year and a half, I have lost 150+ pounds. Yay me! Unfortunately, I do have quite a bit of extra skin on my inner thighs, arms, and stomach. I know there have been some really successful people on here, and I am wondering what you have done (w/o surgery) to help with the issue. I could care less about stretch marks. I've earned my stripes...I would just like the hanging skin to cinch up.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I am cross posting this on the "sleevers" group too.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. I am cross posting this on the "sleevers" group too.
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Replies
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Congrats on your success!! Exercise and building muscle will make your body look better under the skin but nothing except plastic surgery will get rid of the skin.0
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Laura, Were you able to have plastic surgery? If so, how far from your WLS? Did your insurance cover it?0
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Great topic!
In my experience (after losing 217 pounds) there's not much that will help with my loose hanging skin. I think stretching it to max (399#) for 10+ years killed any elasticity it may have had left :noway:
Best of luck to you. I would agree that the exercise and toning is a great first step if you think you will be able to have the skin removal at some point. It will set you up for the best possible results after the loose skin is gone!
PS - I am waiting on the "are we having a second baby or not" decision to be made before I pursue the panniculectomy.0 -
Laura, Were you able to have plastic surgery? If so, how far from your WLS? Did your insurance cover it?
I had my arms done right after I got to goal (about 15 months post-op). I could not live with old-lady arms. I had a lower body lift and breast lift when I was about 3 years out. I wanted to make sure I could maintain my weight. I hid the skin around my middle well with shapewear and did not go down a single size post-plastics. The skin messed with my head mentally and I had to get it removed. Now I feel "whole" again. Insurance did not pay for any of it.0 -
Thank you for all of the replies. As of right now, my husband and I are looking to start a family, so I definitely want to wait until after we have at least two children. (I'm not so secretly hoping for twins, so I can be pregnant only once. Ha!) With that being said, plastics will probably not be in my future for at least 5+ years at this point.
I am looking into hiring a personal trainer to help me tone specific body parts b/c I do have problem spots. My arms and inner thighs are the worst parts IMO, but my stomach can be hidden pretty well with the shape wear. 0 -
Contact a burn hospital and sometimes they will accept your loose skin as a donation for burn victims. If they do it will be a free or very low cost to you. Imagine if a burn victim could have a complete new skin over their burn areas. Its a wonderful gift.0
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I think some is genetics. I have lost 120 lbs. and my legs and arms are pretty tight, not perfect. I do drink a good bit of water and use skin firming lotion (Nivea). Yesterday at Jazzercise a women commented on how my skin has tightened up recently (13mths post surgery). Exercise is a must, daily pushups and running (3-4 times per week has helped tone the muscles). I am meeting with the Body Contour Specialist (Plastics) on Monday to talk about the loose skin below the belly button and sagging boobs (insurance will cover the tummy).0
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This is an urban legend. Our skin is not of good quality and would not be useful.Contact a burn hospital and sometimes they will accept your loose skin as a donation for burn victims. If they do it will be a free or very low cost to you. Imagine if a burn victim could have a complete new skin over their burn areas. Its a wonderful gift.0 -
Odd because several of my surgeon's RNY patients have gone to Galveston's burn unit and donated their loose skin. This is what I was told to do and have an appointment in March with them. Not sure if I am doing it because I am kind of fond of my skin, and I've noticed it tightening up a good bit on its own.0
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I asked my plastic surgeon about in oct when he removed 7 pounds of skin, and he said it may or m not be used, but that it was not a way do defray the cost do surgery. Sort of like donating blood, nice, but no $$$ compensation. May be different in other places.0
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My PCP (not WL surgeon) said that he can submit all the yeast infection treatments I have had pre-RNY and see if the insurance company will accept it as a reason for a panniculectomy now. However, he can't promise the insurance company will accept anything from the past. I have had NO yeast infections since my surgery. perhaps due to the fact that I've used cocoa butter & Vit E skin therapy oil on my entire stomach/abdomen after every shower since my RNY 2 years ago. I've had some flare up during summer, but they clear up quickly with a shower and the oil - hence I don't need to buy medication ointment.
If you are getting yeast infections within the folds of the extra/hanging skin, make sure you call your PCP and get it documented. That will help you get insurance to pay for that skin removal.
Christine0 -
Are yeast infections those brown things that feel like scabs, but aren't?0
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I really don't know what that is you are describing, PaulaKro.
Any yeast infection I've had is an angry red rash spread out along the surface of the skin between/underneath the folds of the hanging skin. It can have some itch and smell to it, but most of the time its very sore and angry looking. Powder and/or Vaseline is only a bandaid for the problem and the red infection can spread as well as worsen. Most MD's prescribe an ointment to be applied to the area after it is cleaned and dried, several times a day. People can get this infection under the breasts, the fat pads of the abdomen and between the upper thighs. If you get that condition, call your PCP for a prescription.
This condition keeps coming back because those areas are hot and moist. It is a big reason for hanging skin removal and many insurance companies recognize the condition and can approve abdominoplasty or panniculectory surgery to prevent it coming back.0 -
Yeah, that sounds different. Thanks!0
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.My INS will cover stomach, nothing else. I will most likely need to do my arms on my dime.0
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I received that information from my nutritionist / dietitian Ill have to let her know. I was approved for the gastric bypass by I am foregoing it to lose weight naturally and slow and steady. I heard hydration really helps with loose skin as you lose. I know though after being a high of 447 that Ill be a healthy mess.0
