Question:
anyone else getting self concious/depressed over excess skin?

I know this is going to sound strange to some of you - but I am nearly 1 year post op and have lost 200 lbs. I have about 60 more to go. I have so much excess skin that I am beginning to look deformed, everything hangs by several inches. It is difficult to look at and I find myself becoming overly self concious and a little depressed about my appearance. I know, I know - its still better than the 438lb body I started with!!! but seriously, I am really having some issues with this. Has anyone else experienced this?    — pattyincali (posted on January 20, 2003)

January 19, 2003
Patricia, Congratulations on your weight loss! As far as the excess skin goes, I believe this is why so many of us opt for plastic surgery. It can do wonders for your self-esteem and body shape. If your insurance doesn't cover any of it (you'll be lucky if they do cover it), it can be expensive, but I would rather have scars than hanging skin! Go see a plastic surgeon. They can lift anything! Good luck, Sarah
   — Sarah S.

January 19, 2003
I know how you feel. I had hoped to lose 190 lbs, but it seems my body has settled on 160. I too am greatful for the loss but am really deformed looking, especially in my thighs and pubic area. I doubt my insurance will cover skin removal and I'm having emotional issues with my skin issue too.
   — Danmark

January 20, 2003
Hi there. I completely understand your frustrations. I teach a preparation for bariatric surgery class each Monday and one of the things I tell them is to be prepared to look great in your clothes but accept that you'll be a train wreck underneath. For me - it may have been easier. My husband loved me when I was morbidly obese and he loves me now. I had double mastectomy and two reconstructive procedures so far. I have had a tummy tuck but the jiggly thighs are just plain gross. Insurance would probably pay to fix them but I'm just all surgeried out at this point - maybe in the future I'll do it. Some of the best advice I ever got was to go to a bike shop and purchase bike shorts and bike tops in a size smaller than I'd normally wear. They're not uncomfortable at all and really help with the jiggles in the tummy, thighs, bat wings, etc. They've become like a security blanket for me. If the tummy is the main area of concern you can wear Flexees which you can purchase at finer department stores. They're also wonderful. There's no perfect solution for us but I think we're finding new and more inovative solutions to our unusual problems at each step of our journey. Best wishes to you and CONGRATS on the phenomenal weight loss.
   — ronascott

January 20, 2003
You betcha I've been there! I started at 494 and lost over 260 pounds when I started my reconstructive surgery. I called myself a walking waterbed because of the swinging skin...it was actually worse for exercise. However, I will be three years post op in May (my how time has flown!) and last summer, I had a mastopexy (breast reduction and lift), panniculectomy (removal of the excess belly skin), lateral and medial thighplasty on both legs and brachioplasty (excess skin removal on my arms from mid forearm all the way down to the lower portion of my ribcage, thus eliminating the excess skin that hung on my back). The only thing left to do is a face lift/neck skin removal, which I am delaying for a couple of years to gather a few more wrinkles. I can wear teeshirts and shorts now without scaring small children. I look like a pieced together person because of the scars, but I look very normal now. I am sooooo darn glad I had WLS and reconstructive surgery. I just started a new job and wowed my new co-workers with my story. As fellow voc rehab counselors, they are used to seeing the transformation of disability to functionality, but even so the difference in my appearance is dramatic. I am working to get a new picture on my profile, so hang on...it's coming! Good luck to you and just hang in there (no pun intended). Life and your appearance will get better with time. By the way, the insurance picked up the hospitalization for all of it, and I am fighting for them to pick up the tab for the doctor's fee for the legs (about $6500). If I win, I will post a copy of the letter that I sent to the state appeals board that worked for me. My out of pocket expenses for fees and supplies not covered by insurance for the reconstructive surgery has been about $10,000. Worth every damn penny~!
   — merri B.

January 20, 2003
Although I've lost much less weight than some responding here (down 94 lbs, about 25 lbs. to goal), I also have pretty severe problems with self-image because of excess skin. By the way, Merri Busch, you are an INSPIRATION to everyone on this board! This lady has done some incredible stuff (read her profile) and all the while, and I mean ALL THE WHILE, keeping us laughing and smiling with her wonderfully positive outlook on life. She has never left the Q&A board...she posts here all the time. And I thank you, Merri, for your valuable insights and info on this board. <P> Getting back to skin stuff....I would think with that amount of excess skin there would be some mechanical problems or rashes? I am assuming your insurance co. will cover reconstructive surgeries since you have had such a massive weight loss. Perhaps that is something you can look into and begin to look forward to. My insurance co, Kaiser, won't cover any reconstructive for someone like me. But, as silly as it sounds, going from a double chin, and still always looking 5 years younger than my age, to now this turkey wattle under there that makes me look 10 years older...well it's pretty depressing. I'm 49 now, divorced, and would like to date again. I am VERY self-conscious not only about the visible stuff (the neck/chin area), but what about the breasts, arms, tummy, thighs? I haven't dated in almost 5 years and I dread being intimate with someone again. I think this area of body image is something that is not talked about enough, and that doctors are not well-informed enough about. I think the effects of dealing these bodily changes can be major, along with all we're going through with the weight loss itself. I would start looking into reconstructive surgery if I were you (just my humble opinion)...even just researching it can give you a better outlook as you'll feel you're "doing something" about your current problem, even if it's going to happen in the future. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 20, 2003
hi patricia, im with ya girl! ill be 1 year out on feb 8. started at 370 now weigh 189, feeling great looking greaT but oh man when i see the skin, i get really depressed and self concious. your not alone. please keep smilin and be proud of your amazing progress. hopfully a tt will be in our futures! :)
   — carrie M.

January 20, 2003
I am glad to know that I am not the only one! I had my surgery about 1 year ago and have lose 165 pounds, half of my orginal weight. I look good in clothes but I can not stand the thought of looking at myself in the mirror. Skin is hanging everywhere. I am not only a little depressed about it I am now becoming obsessed with want to have the plastic surgery.
   — Christina L.

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