The Post Gastric Bypass Skin Situation…..

*Please note this post contains some photos that you might not want to see. If you’re at all squeamish then turn back now. If you don’t want to see my post gastric bypass skin don’t say I didn’t warn you! Also please ignore my RBF in these pics I just wasn’t feeling smiley the day we took them.

If there is one thing the others considering some sort of bariatric surgery want to ask about it’s how has my skin fared through this progress. Having a gastric bypass and losing heaps of weight has been great for my health and body in many ways but I have to say, my skin will never be the same again. In this post I’m going to be laying things bare with photographs so if you’d rather not know (Hey certain family members that’s you!) then turn back now, you have been warned.

In considering having bariatric surgery the potential skin left over goes firmly on the ‘con’ list. There has to be a downside to losing so much weight so quickly and unfortunately the condition your skin might be left in is it. I did have my age on my side and while I was morbidly obese I wasn’t in the highest weight range of people who have bariatric surgery so didn’t think it would turn out too bad.

Honestly, I don’t think my skin has fared too badly through this whole thing. I didn’t expect much and I think that makes the few bits I’m not thrilled about easier to deal with mentally. I’ve also had a c-section so in terms of my tummy really did not expect it to end up perfectly flat anyway.

If there’s one word for parts of my skin now it is baggy. There’s just a bit much at the top and inside of my arms, top and inside of my legs, around the bottom of my tummy and my boobs, well they will never be the same again. I won’t be posting pictures of my boobs but just imagine a tennis ball in the bottom of a long baggy stocking and you get the drift. Also in my armpits and around my sides where my bra sits there’s just a bit extra. The good news about all of this is that its easy to hide with clothes and if you didn’t see me naked you’d never know.

Arms and armpits: Considering how bad my arms could have turned out I’m actually surprised they aren’t so bad. The bit that annoys me the most is the bits that poke out from my armpits and it means I feel uncomfortable with tops that sit on the shoulders. I make a conscious effort to wear things now that at least have little sleeves so you can’t see the extra bits spilling out.

Post gastric bypass skin

My tummy: It’s a bit wrinkly and I do have a bit of an overhang as you can see. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an apron but there’s definitely bits that need to be held in with clothes. In all honesty if I could afford surgery to fix this and I had finished having kids I would do it. It’s not something I’m going to make an effort to save for of anything but it’s on my list if I ever win lotto.

post gastric bypass skin

My Legs: I was trying on clothes at my mum’s house the first day I ever noticed how the skin in between my legs now looks. I was standing with no pants on, looked down and was thinking, “What the …..” This is the bit of skin I’m least bothered by and really apart from the look of it, it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t really look at the top insides of my legs often so this really doesn’t bother me. I can’t get a picture of my legs that isn’t TMI so I’ll save it for another day!

I have found that exercise helps my skin and it’s still getting better as time goes on. It will look the same for a few months and then suddenly I will realise that it looks a bit better than it did. The overhang on my tummy reduces every now and then and the bit on my sides where it starts occasionally moves slightly closer around to the front so is steadily reducing still as well I think.

post gastric bypass skin

The other thing I can suggest is to really look after your skin and give it all the help and nutrients it needs to rearrange itself down to fit your new shape. I gave done a post on skin care after surgery and you can check it out here.

IMG_1491

I’m glad I didn’t let worries about how my skin would turn out hold me back from surgery. It is something that has a different outcome for all us and you need to assess it from your point of view and what the likely outcome is for yourself. I would do this all over again because my skin doesn’t really bother me. Next time though I would start strength training earlier and my skin care from pre surgery so if you are pre-op start now!! I’ve put in pictures in comparable positions clothed so you can see how unnoticeable my skin actually is when I’m fully dressed.

Let me know in the comments below if these pictures are what you expected keeping in mind I lost 70 kgs after my gastric bypass, I’d love to know what you think.

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There are 18 comments for this article
  1. Anastasia at 11:58 am

    Hi Melissa
    You are such an inspiration!!!! Even though i didn’t go through what you have been (the surgery i mean), i find it quite interesting to read about your new eating habits and the foods that you choose to eat now.
    You are very strong, beautiful women and i am sure a lot of women out there who has gone through the same or similar journey would be able to relate. And for those who are still thinking about it, the post might help to get rid of worries or be more realistic about their expectations and not to be disappointed later.
    I am sure as your journey continues, with the right diet and exercise and perhaps other beauty tricks 😉 your skin will improve even more, as you already see improvements even now.
    you go girl!!!!

  2. Joye at 4:58 pm

    Melissa like I said yesterday you are so brave and an inspiration I worried a little bit about the sag factor as well heading into surgery but I figured if that’s the price I have to pay for being healthy and slim then so be it, Thank you for sharing everything you share on here

  3. Maccine at 7:31 pm

    You have done so well. Very proud of you for showing your body like that. I probably wouldn’t have the courage to do that. You look beautiful xxxxx

  4. Kirsty at 7:50 pm

    I’m so impressed by you showing this! Go you!
    I’m actually really impressed, I don’t think your skin looks bad at all and you dress extremely well for your shape.

    • Melissa Peaks Author at 8:06 pm

      Thanks Kirsty! I was a bit scared to post them to begin with but it’s what people really want to know. I agree and don’t think it’s as bad as I initially expected it to be.

  5. Kim at 9:36 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing Melissa. You are a very strong amazing young lady and helping alot of people by sharing your journey. xx

  6. Michelle at 9:39 pm

    You are incredibly brave for posting this, and just as beautiful. Anyone who doesn’t think it’s not bad/to be expected can suck it because for me, it shows all that work you put in post-surgery to make it the success it is xx.

  7. Maria | Happy Mum Happy Child at 4:44 am

    Well done you for doing this post – I would never have guessed you had “baggy” skin! And it hardly looks bad at all, I have seen so much worse. I have read all of the comments on here and agree 100% with everyone – you’re amazing 😀

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