ok, first off, I know anyone can get excess skin. However, I was wondering if anyone around my age (19-21) with about a 160 lb loss has experienced bad excess skin?  This is something I absolutely do not want.

I doubt anyone could lose 160lb and not have some excess skin - whatever their age.  

I lost 120lb and mine wasn't too bad at all, but then even though I was 41, I was only MO for about 2 years after a pregnancy.  There is a before picture in my profile if you want to see what mine looked like.  There are all sorts of factors in excess skin: genetics, how long your were MO, where you carry your weight etc

Start saving for plastics is my best advice.

"Start saving for plastics is my best advice."- Oh...I have.  50 bucks per paycheck.  And this rate...I may be able to afford plastics by the time I am 80!!!

I mean I don't mind having some, I just don't want an extreme amount. I know there is going to be some there. I just don't want to go from one body insecurity to another, ya know?

If you're not working with one already, a therapist might be able to help you with the insecurity issues that might crop up as you acquire a different body through the weight loss process!

The first person I ever met who had RNY had it when she was 23 after losing 180 pounds.  She had been overweight since she was a child and had all sorts of extra skin.  She had a full body lift, arms, thighs, and breast lift (no augmentation) done.

The only other person I know who was very young actually had the DS, but lost about 150 pounds and then had a skin removal from the entire abdomen (but no muscle tightening) and a breast augmentation.

Unfortunately, you don't get to choose whether or not you get extra skin.  Much of it depends on age (which works in your favor), how long the skin has been stretched, how much it is stretched (if you carry most of it in your midsection, for example, that skin will be more stretched than of your extra weight is distributed more throughout your body), and your genes (some people just have more elasticity than others).  

About the not thing that can help you predict where you are likely to have excess, lose skin is stretch marks. If you have stretch marks, which are tears in the skin tissue, that skin will not retract much in that particular area.

Lora

As others said - you can't predict if or how much excessive skin you will have. Working with a therapist - to help with body image issues may help. 

Also - you are young - so lose weight and start PS surgery fund.  In 2-3 years- you can afford that if you start saving.  Or maybe insurance can cover some of the skin removal.  

Good luck. 

I have lots of skin with a 130 pound loss. I am not as young as you are -- which may help. I am not a fan of my skin... but it is better than obesity. I would not worry about the future and things you have little control over. If there were a sure fire way to avoid excess skin we would do it. I work out - but it's there. 

Good luck!

I am a bit older at 32, but have plenty of excess skin after losing 164 lbs.  Still have some weight left to go but I can guarantee you, skin is better than fat.  Spanx help!

If its covered in stretch marks it will not go back.  If it worries you keep yourself at the weight you feel you look best at, if that means you weigh 20lbs more then normal so be it, its better then being 160lbs overweight.  Plastics are a miracle, I have perfectly flat abs because of it, and I was MO for twenty years.