DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - 18 years old, lost 85 pounds, 65 to go, surgery questions

**alanamosteller** · 06-19-2008, 06:07 PM

Hi, Atkinsnewb,

Congratulations on your great weight loss! I'm glad you are working with a doctor. I made sure to see a doctor before starting my weight loss program also, although I'm going a different route than you (just Atkins and exercise).

I sympathize with you about the excess skin. I've lost 75 lbs and have excess skin on my underarms, thighs and stomach. I've been considering plastic surgery also.

In my opinion, you should definitely wait until you have lost the weight and you are at a stable weight for at least six months (a year would be better) before getting the surgery. Since you are young, your body has a pretty amazing ability to adapt.

One idea, in the meantime, would be to wear the kind of supportive garments that people use after plastic surgery to encourage the skin to adhere to your muscles. The parts of your body where excess skin hangs tend to be where gravity forces the skin down and away from the muscle. Also, building muscle in those areas couldn't hurt, but it sounds like you're already doing that.

I'm glad you've joined us here. Let us know how it goes.

06-19-2008, 06:07 PM	#5
alanamosteller Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 404 Senior Member	Hi, Atkinsnewb, Congratulations on your great weight loss! I'm glad you are working with a doctor. I made sure to see a doctor before starting my weight loss program also, although I'm going a different route than you (just Atkins and exercise). I sympathize with you about the excess skin. I've lost 75 lbs and have excess skin on my underarms, thighs and stomach. I've been considering plastic surgery also. In my opinion, you should definitely wait until you have lost the weight and you are at a stable weight for at least six months (a year would be better) before getting the surgery. Since you are young, your body has a pretty amazing ability to adapt. One idea, in the meantime, would be to wear the kind of supportive garments that people use after plastic surgery to encourage the skin to adhere to your muscles. The parts of your body where excess skin hangs tend to be where gravity forces the skin down and away from the muscle. Also, building muscle in those areas couldn't hurt, but it sounds like you're already doing that. I'm glad you've joined us here. Let us know how it goes.
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