Your skin is fairly elastic until middle age (notice how it expands and shrinks
with pregnancy). However, the older you are and the longer you have been
heavy, the less chance there is that it will return to normal. About 15 percent of
people who lose over 100 pounds will benefit from plastic surgery to remove
excess skin from the lower abdomen, upper arms or upper thighs. You must be
at a stable weight for three months before we consider this. Usually this occurs
about 18 months after your stapling. Many insurance companies can be
convinced to pay for a large part of this additional surgery.