If you have lost a massive amount of weight, can you tell me about loose skin?

[Disney1fan2002]

How bad is it? I am 100+ pounds overweight, and I am afraid I won't "feel" thin if I have saggy loose skin hanging off my belly. (that is where all my weight is)

Does the loose skin prevent you from going into a smaller size? I just want to know that if I lose 80-100 pounds, I am going to LOOK thin.

[Geekerbell]

I hope someone who has the answer to this will post. I have been wondering the same thing. I have well over 100 pounds to lose, so I am trying to mentally prepare myself for what will be there when I finally lose it all.

Anyone? Thanks!

[simpilotswife]

One way to reduce the amount of skin that is left is by exercising while dieting. If you are toning your muscles while losing weight your muscles will help to pull back some of it.

[pjlla]

I think that my first question would be... How old are you? The younger you are, the more elastic your skin is and the better it will "snap back". Next question.... have you had any children? Pregnant bellies obviously stretch a lot and if your weight gain coincided with the pregnancy, your skin stretched even more. Last question.... how long have you been overweight? The longer the skin has been stretched,the less likely it is too go back into shape.

The most overweight I have ever been is about 80 pounds (not pregnant)... and that was probably for about 2-3 years. But 40 - 60 pounds has been hanging around a LOT longer!! I also carry most of my extra weight in my lower belly. I always have a waistline and my legs aren't too bad. But that area between my belly button and crotch... YIKES! I currently have another 30 pounds to get to my goal (but I would be happy with 20!!) and I can already tell that I will never have a smooth flat belly again (at least, not without a surgeon's help). (BTW, I am in my early 40's and have had two kids.) The skin is sort of ripply (from the stretch marks) and kind of hangs. I am not opposed to the idea of a tummy tuck some time in my life, but I want to be sure that the weight will be STAYING off before I undergo anything like that.

So anyhooo.... there are lots of factors to consider before you an determine whether you will have a "skin issue". I'm sure that there will be areas of your body that you will be happier with than others, but hopefully it won't be too bady. Don't let the thought of the skin keep you from losing the weight though!! It will be worth it in the long run...................P

[delilah]

I have recently lost a little more than 70lbs. I presently wear a size 4, and I started at a size 16W. I have much less flabby skin than I would have thought I might have. In terms of flabbiness, I think that peaked at about size 12 or so, about 40 lbs ago. I was really worried then. But, now, my tummy is nearly flat. I have another 7-10lbs to go, which I would like to be from around my waist (where I have the remainder of my belly). If it is still there when I reach my goal, I will consider liposuction.

I do strength exercises three times a week in addition to my daily aerobic workout (45-50/day on elliptical). I am 52 years old, and if you are younger than I am, and your skin is in good shape, and you exercise, you should be fine.

[tiggerlover]

I think that my first question would be... How old are you? The younger you are, the more elastic your skin is and the better it will "snap back". Next question.... have you had any children? Pregnant bellies obviously stretch a lot and if your weight gain coincided with the pregnancy, your skin stretched even more. Last question.... how long have you been overweight? The longer the skin has been stretched,the less likely it is too go back into shape.

So anyhooo.... there are lots of factors to consider before you an determine whether you will have a "skin issue". I'm sure that there will be areas of your body that you will be happier with than others, but hopefully it won't be too bady. Don't let the thought of the skin keep you from losing the weight though!! It will be worth it in the long run...................P

pjlla points out some excellent questions, because a lot of factors go into the equation. With that said, if you lost 100 pounds you will definitely look thinner than you are, will you have to wear a larger size to accomodate the loose skin, perhaps (based on your answers to the above questions). Can loose skin be an issue, yes.

My sister lost a little over 100 pounds, she looked wonderful, but the loose skin bothered her, even though in clothes we all thought she looked good, but she was bothered and she opted for a tummy tuck. I have lost 65 pounds, but I lost the weight closer to the age of 40, after having a child and after many, many years of being overweight. Do I have loose skin issues, yes, do I exercise, yes, am I toning, no. I have recently been thinking I would like a tummy tuck, but am not at the point where I am emotionally or financially ready.

I get the feeling from your OP that if loose skin is an issue you may not want to go through the trouble of losing weight. If I am wrong, I am sorry I misread what you said, but I feel losing the weight is the best thing in the world. Although I do not look thin, I look normal instead of fat and I am comfortable with who I am now. I used to be a size 22/24, I am now a 10 or 12. There is nothing like healthy feels, loose skin and all.

[Disney1fan2002]

I get the feeling from your OP that if loose skin is an issue you may not want to go through the trouble of losing weight. If I am wrong, I am sorry I misread what you said, but I feel losing the weight is the best thing in the world. Although I do not look thin, I look normal instead of fat and I am comfortable with who I am now. I used to be a size 22/24, I am now a 10 or 12. There is nothing like healthy feels, loose skin and all.

Thanks for all the input. If my OP makes it sound like I would stay fat over having loose skin, I am sorry it came across that way. I have been overweight my whole life, and I want this to be it. To answer some questions, I am 40, I have had 3 kids in a 4 year span. Most of my current weight came on rapidly, after being put on a high dose of prednisone. (gained 50 pounds in 3 months). I just wonder about loose skin, because I want to know what to expect. I have a self image problem, where I may lose 40 pounds, and look in the mirror, I don't see the difference. My mirror will always show a fat person. The loose skin, if there is any, will not help. Not to say I am not going to lose weight because of it.

I applaud all of you for your achievements, and I can only hope that someday, I can be here someday telling someone about my loose skin and how it isn't all that bad!~

[PaulaSue]

Honestly, I have been overweight my whole life. Fat kid in school all that. My usual was 185-200 marriage, before and after kids, etc...

Last Jan I started my new life, since then I lost 65ish pounds (I was 199 2/2/07). I do have lose skin, not so much my tummy (3 babies) but the strech marks, TG I hardly had any, are worst looking IMO. My tosh and saddlebag area is very flabby/saggy. I am trying to work on it with weights and I do thing time is helping.

BUT I do look thiner, heck how can I not going from 18-20-22 to size 8 pants. I don;t think I will ever be wearing short shorts :rotfl: but I will take a little saggy over fat anyday!:love:

[Dr Pepsi]

I've lost over 100 lbs and I only have a little bit of loose skin on my tummy. It's not any worse than a lot of women wind up with after having gone through a pregnancy. I doubt I'll ever be able to wear low-rise pants, but otherwise it's really not bad.

Besides, this is one of the reasons Spanx made power panties. :thumbsup2

[DznyDreams]

I've lost over 100 lbs and I only have a little bit of loose skin on my tummy. It's not any worse than a lot of women wind up with after having gone through a pregnancy. I doubt I'll ever be able to wear low-rise pants, but otherwise it's really not bad.

Besides, this is one of the reasons Spanx made power panties. :thumbsup2

You've gotta LOVE Spanx! ;)

When I get to goal, I will have lost 179-180 pounds -- I'm just halfway there, but I will make it. I am 40 years old, and have carried this weight for many years. I know I will have sagging skin on my upper arms, thighs and stomach. Does this bother me? A little. Will it stop me from losing more? Absolutely not. I know that losing the weight now is SO important for my health.

I regret that I did not do something about this when I was younger, but I cannot go back in time. I will just continue to look forward, and I will begin by adding some toning exercises to my routine this week! This will certainly not make my sagging skin completely disappear:wizard:, but it will probably help tremendously! :goodvibes

Thanks, OP for starting this thread!!:thumbsup2