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.

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.

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).

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.

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.
Christine

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.

.My INS will cover stomach, nothing else. I will most likely need to do my arms on my dime.