Excess skin?

[Cliff]

Hi, I have been considering getting banded for quite sometime now, and my main concern is the possibility of having large amounts of excess skin hanging after I lose the weight. I'm 24 years old, 5'9" and weigh 350lbs. I have heard that it depends on your size and the elasticity of your skin, but I was wondering if there is anyone on here that has had issues with this, if it is to be expected or if it is only circumstancial. If it's not a definite thing, is there anyway you can work your body into looking normal after such drastic weight loss? Please help! Thank you!

[CalKev]

Hi, I have been considering getting banded for quite sometime now, and my main concern is the possibility of having large amounts of excess skin hanging after I lose the weight. I'm 24 years old, 5'9" and weigh 350lbs. I have heard that it depends on your size and the elasticity of your skin, but I was wondering if there is anyone on here that has had issues with this, if it is to be expected or if it is only circumstancial. If it's not a definite thing, is there anyway you can work your body into looking normal after such drastic weight loss? Please help! Thank you!

Hello Cliff, I was banded on October 16th by Dr. Ortiz. I am a big guy (getting smaller), 5"9 and 43 years old. I have slowly put the weight on over many years but was a big teen. While I was at the Obesity Control Center on the 16th I spoke to Dr. Martinez about this very subject. He said they had performed the band procedure on teenagers with a high BMI and each had different amounts of excess skin after hitting their goal weight. So in his opinion age is not an issue as much as genetics, how fast you lose your weight, and how much you exercise along with nutrition. He said the key indicator of whether you will have a large amount of excess skin is to look at yourself once you have lost %50 of your weight. So it is more of a wait and see than anything you can predict. If you do have a large amount of excess skin after losing %50 that will tell you to start saving to visit the plastic surgeon so it can be removed. Dr. Ortiz can refer you to one if he does your procedure. Best of luck and don't worry so much about the excess skin as losing the weight and getting healthy! Call the Obecity Control Center and they will answer all questions you have. Good Luck and keep us updated on your decision. Kevin

[LoriBecky]

Hi

Sorry I haven't been on the board as much lately, Dr. Ortiz has been keeping me very busy!

I would be very happy to answer any questions you have about the Lap Band procedure. Feel free to call or email me anytime!

I'm also happy to give information about a wonderful plastic surgeon in Tijuana that Dr. Ortiz recommends.

[Canada Julie]

Hi, I have been considering getting banded for quite sometime now, and my main concern is the possibility of having large amounts of excess skin hanging after I lose the weight. I'm 24 years old, 5'9" and weigh 350lbs. I have heard that it depends on your size and the elasticity of your skin, but I was wondering if there is anyone on here that has had issues with this, if it is to be expected or if it is only circumstancial. If it's not a definite thing, is there anyway you can work your body into looking normal after such drastic weight loss? Please help! Thank you!

I look at all the other health issues I have and all the ones I am in line to get if I don't lose the weight, and loose skin has become one of the least of my worries. Heart attacks, strokes, diabetis, hight blood pressure, joint pain, etc. are all my greatest concerns. I figure clothes can hide a "multitude of skin."

Julie