Why do you need skin removal surgery? Why don’t you just lose more weight? Your skin will tighten up. Is it really worth $18,850? Aren’t there other options?
Five days left of my fundraiser, y’all. I know giving is hard right now and I don’t expect any of you to give. I do hope you’ll share my story, though. Sharing my story doesn’t just raise awareness for me, but for others like me as well. Weight control is a challenge so many people face. It is deeply personal, and entirely in our control, yet is so overwhelming and seems entirely unattainable.
Reaching a healthy weight and maintaining it is something many people struggle with and few succeed at accomplishing—doing so with no fad diets, paid programs, gym memberships, or weight loss surgeries is even more challenging.
I worked very hard to get where I am. I am still challenging myself daily to eat healthy, maintain my weight, and keep up my strength with exercise. I am still overweight, according to most medical standards, but for the first time in my life, I am happy with my size. I love the shape of me and look of me when clothed. I wear mediums and smalls, a size 6/8 dress, a size 10 jean, and I even dropped shoe and ring sizes.
At the end of the day, my surgery is mostly cosmetic. I hate how I look in underwear or a bathing suit. I do have a few rashes, very poor skin laxity, and my skin tugs at me painfully when I run. However, I don’t get the sores and infections many encounter after rapid weight loss. Do I have to lift my skin when I bathe? Yes. Can I pick it up and fold it over? Yes. Does it hang like a deflated balloon when I do yoga? Yes. My body may tighten up a bit more, but it is never going to go back into shape. It never had a shape, because as it was forming one, I was stretching it out beyond its capacity.
I could live with all these things if I chose. The thing is, I don’t. I choose to move forward. I choose to start with a clean slate, a smooth canvas that will show the new health I’ve painted for myself. Are there other solutions for me? No. Is $18,850 worth it? Yes. It’s a a down payment on a home that I will live in, that will carry me in all my travels, for the rest of my life.
And getting this surgery, sharing my story as it continues, will let others know they can do it, too. That there are options for them. That I believe in them, that others believe in them, and with hard work and sweat, they can soon be here, too, on the brink of a brave new body.
The Brave New Body Project
$3871 of $15,500 raised
Share my story or donate by visiting the link above.
sarah ellis bates 