Loose skin
anjol35
Posts: 15 Member
i have lost 80lbs and I am very happy about that but I am now left with saggy boobs, a saggy stomach and saggy upper arms. Any maintainers dealing with the same thing? What can I do to fix this outside of nipping and tucking?
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Replies
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I've lost a little more than twice that, so maybe you have more hope than me because your loss wasn't quite as extreme. For your sake I very much hope so. I've been maintaining for about a year and a half and my skin curtains haven't changed a bit.
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There's nothing you can do to fix it unfortunately except surgery. I have the same thing, and mine is really bad. I've lost 87 pounds and have about 50 or so more to go, so mine will get even worse. Some of it may bounce back a bit. I think most people say a year after the weight loss you will see pretty much what you're stuck with. Strength training and building some muscle may fill some of those areas in minimizing the loose skin, but if you are like me, you would have to build up substantial muscles to get rid of it completely. I'd rather have loose skin than look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, lol. 0
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There's nothing you can do to fix it unfortunately except surgery. I have the same thing, and mine is really bad. I've lost 87 pounds and have about 50 or so more to go, so mine will get even worse. Some of it may bounce back a bit. I think most people say a year after the weight loss you will see pretty much what you're stuck with. Strength training and building some muscle may fill some of those areas in minimizing the loose skin, but if you are like me, you would have to build up substantial muscles to get rid of it completely. I'd rather have loose skin than look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, lol.
I agree with this (except for the Arnold part - I would take muscles over bat wings lol) Moisturizing helps the skin's appearance, too. I have lost about 50# and am not happy about the loose, wrinkly skin .... better than the poundage, though
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All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.0
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I lost 80 lbs and had horrible skin flap and saggy boobs. I still have about 100lbs to lose, but they were so severe two surgeons suggested I get it done before I was at goal.
I had a full tummy tuck and breast reduction. It was so incredibly painful and took a good year to actually feel normal (6 months to being OK) But I would do it again in a heartbeat. I did it because if I NEVER make it to goal, I didn't want to look like that anymore. It's been about 2 years since my surgery, and I haven't lost any more weight, been maintaining mostly, but I'm ready to kick it into gear and lose the rest.
I would focus on strength exercise to tone up the muscles. But sometimes it just comes down to genetics and the damage that was already done.0 -
Getting plenty of water, strength training, and great lotion will all help to make the skin look better. I have gone from 230 to 147 in the last 3 yrs, with a majority of the loss in the last 8 months. You need to be patient but the strength training really helps to allow the muscles to hold the skin more taught.0
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All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.
depending on the amount of weight lost, even that won't necessarily help. I have fantastic muscle definition. You just can't see it unless you pull the huge skin drapes tight.
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meganjcallaghan wrote: »All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.
depending on the amount of weight lost, even that won't necessarily help. I have fantastic muscle definition. You just can't see it unless you pull the huge skin drapes tight.
Think youd be the exception rather than the rule (great amount lost btw) and all things being equal think what it would be like if you didnt have the muscle definition.0 -
Sounds like if the skin is bothersome enough you should consult a plastic surgeon. Maybe even a few of them. Consults should be free. RealSelf has some great experiences. I lived with the excess skin from a twin pregnancy for decades. Haven't for a second regretted it. Good luck.
Some people just have better genitics. And may be able to lose and not have that excess, others are just as not that fortunate..
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from what I hear, teaching hospitals with universities are sometimes the cheaper way to go. And going through a teaching hospital doesn't necessarily equate to sacrificing quality of work.0
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Do you suffer from saggy skin? Did you do weight lifting from the start of your diet? What rate did you lose at?
ps the NHS advises slow steady weight loss and if you read my statemet it doesnt say it eliminates it, that was you.0 -
Thanks for all the feedback-guess I was expecting the suggestion of a great excercise or plan but maybe I better look into the surgery.0
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I've lost 70lb last year and although I have some saggy skin around my tummy and my belly bottom is unsmiling, I actually think since I hit goal in December, there has been some significant improvement. I by no stretch of the imagination need surgery and the worst bit is hideable in my knickers. I do exercise a lot and I think this has helped.0
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If it helps ive seen people post recently how its righted itself after a year, so dont lose hope. Ofc as megan pointed out if youve lost a substantial amount then it would be very difficult to deal with the sheer amount of skin.0
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I lost about the same amount in total. There are the lucky ones, that don't have loose skin - good genetics mainly.
I had a skin removal on my bust last october and will have abs and tummy fixed in a few weeks. I'm very happy with the results on my bust and am expecting a similar outcome on my abs. My insurance is covering a wee bit of it, but I fought for that. I have decided to live with the loose skin on my upper/inner arms and thighs, because the incisions are long and I'm worried I would feel the scars during riding or biking. But the tummy and ab flaps have to go.
Lose the weight, do some strength training and some cardio to get strong and fit and decide for yourself, what you want / need to be happy.0 -
Hi - I have lost 50lb and have awful loose skin on my upper arms, thighs and stomach. I have been strength training and now have very muscular arms and shoulders, but I must tell you that it has not made any difference to the loose skin at all. The skin does not seem to be "attached" to anything and the muscles do not "fill it". That said, I am 51 and was a smoker until recently. I do know people who have lost more weight than me and have no loose skin (my mother is one of them ) 0
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Thanks for all the feedback-guess I was expecting the suggestion of a great excercise or plan but maybe I better look into the surgery.
The T25 Videos might be what you need then. You have to start off really slow. Once you get the hang of it, then go hard, and you will see good results in no time. Your skin should bounce back quite a bit.0 -
Nature does a bit, working out does a bit, but if you lose that much weight there will always be some saggy skin. I got the surgery, and it's the best thing I ever did.0
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All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.
Which is exactly what I did. 155 lbs lost over 2.5 years. I have fantastic muscle definition, which is easy to see in my biceps and shoulders, and that's about it. Bat wings, and horrible loose skin on my stomach and legs. There is plenty of muscle underneath, you just can't see it. I've been maintaining for nearly a year now.
Still, I'll take loose skin over being morbidly obese. Surgery here in Australia is far too expensive to be an option.0 -
meganjcallaghan wrote: »from what I hear, teaching hospitals with universities are sometimes the cheaper way to go. And going through a teaching hospital doesn't necessarily equate to sacrificing quality of work.
My nephew is a doctor. He said that everything they do at a teaching hospital is performed under strict supervision.0 -
meganjcallaghan wrote: »All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.
depending on the amount of weight lost, even that won't necessarily help. I have fantastic muscle definition. You just can't see it unless you pull the huge skin drapes tight.
^^This.
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xX_PhoenixRising_Xx wrote: »All the more reason to lose at a steady pace, drink plenty of water and to do resistance training from the start.
Which is exactly what I did. 155 lbs lost over 2.5 years. I have fantastic muscle definition, which is easy to see in my biceps and shoulders, and that's about it. Bat wings, and horrible loose skin on my stomach and legs. There is plenty of muscle underneath, you just can't see it. I've been maintaining for nearly a year now.
Still, I'll take loose skin over being morbidly obese. Surgery here in Australia is far too expensive to be an option.
Obviously there are limits to how much skin will be able to recover, especially if you have been morbidly obese. This point has already been raised and acknowledged above. The OP has lost half that amount.
Btw if anyone can get 4OD, then this issue was covered in a TV series including following the operation. http://www.channel4embarrassingillnesses.com/episodes/episode-guides/embarrassing-fat-bodies/embarrassing-fat-bodies-episode-1/excess-skin/0 -
Thanks for all the feedback-guess I was expecting the suggestion of a great excercise or plan but maybe I better look into the surgery.
Wait!
Wait a bit, if it is mostly for aesthetic reasons that you're considering it. Get down to your goal weight and keep it fairly constant for a year or so.
The reason we get into strength training when loose skin is involved, isn't to add muscle to fill in where fat used to be. It's to melt that subcutaneous fat that is still present even though it may not seem like it now. Depending on area, skin is only a few millimeters thick. Pinch your flabby skin - is it about half an inch or so? --> there is still fat underneath. Until most of that fat is gone, skin has no reason to tighten.
Imagine you are wearing a coat that's 4 sizes too big on you. That is the subcutaneous fat layer. Now, on top of that coat, you have another one, slightly bigger. Skin has to cover your whole body. It can't be tighter than what you have underneath. You want the top coat smaller, get a smaller size for the intermediate layer.0 -
PS: of course results won't be the same for everyone, but depending on age and genetics, anyone can expect their skin to tighten up at least a bit. Depending on weight lost and time, it can also be more or less aparent.
It would be asinine if I were to say it's always possible... But there is hope.0 -
meganjcallaghan wrote: »from what I hear, teaching hospitals with universities are sometimes the cheaper way to go. And going through a teaching hospital doesn't necessarily equate to sacrificing quality of work.
My nephew is a doctor. He said that everything they do at a teaching hospital is performed under strict supervision.
Exactly. I had my kidney yoinked out at a teaching hospital....I'm still kicking' so obviously they do alright. lol
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I have been taking cod liver oil. I also dry brush and use tons of coconut oil. I just lost 50 pounds but I think all of these thing have really helped.0
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Male here with 45 lbs. to lose! Will I also have to contend with lose skin, or is this only a problem when you lose a lot more weight?0
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I lost 100lbs in 2010 and have maintained at around 170lbs since then. The loose skin has never gone away and I don't think it ever will without surgery or putting weight back on. It isn't so bad that I'd consider surgery, people look at my face and can see slightly hanging skin but I'm within what is considered 'average looks' despite the hanging skin. I've now half way through losing another 14lbs so it'll get a bit worse.0
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Thanks for all the feedback-guess I was expecting the suggestion of a great excercise or plan but maybe I better look into the surgery.
Wait!
Wait a bit, if it is mostly for aesthetic reasons that you're considering it. Get down to your goal weight and keep it fairly constant for a year or so.
The reason we get into strength training when loose skin is involved, isn't to add muscle to fill in where fat used to be. It's to melt that subcutaneous fat that is still present even though it may not seem like it now. Depending on area, skin is only a few millimeters thick. Pinch your flabby skin - is it about half an inch or so? --> there is still fat underneath. Until most of that fat is gone, skin has no reason to tighten.
Imagine you are wearing a coat that's 4 sizes too big on you. That is the subcutaneous fat layer. Now, on top of that coat, you have another one, slightly bigger. Skin has to cover your whole body. It can't be tighter than what you have underneath. You want the top coat smaller, get a smaller size for the intermediate layer.
Yeah but that's much easier said than done... I mean, you can't spot reduce. The belly and the hip are the last place I'm losing, for example, and by the time that subcutaneous fat is gone, the rest of my body will be way too skinny and I'll look ill. I really like my legs and my arms and don't really want them to get more muscular looking either, so it's a losing battle frankly... just got to live with it. And let's be honest... it would still look much better if there wasn't any loose skin... fat alone doesn't give you a wrinkled belly pouch, lol.
So yeah... genetics, really.
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