Just watched Skin Tight... Completely freaking out now!

Cynsonya

OK, the show Skin Tight on TLC has me terrified.

Just saw my first episode. I plan to lose a total of 186-190 pounds. I know my skin is stretched and it will likely never have that tight, toned skin of days gone by. But does EVERYONE who loses this amount of weight end up with draping, floor dragging skin? I'm sure skin removal surgery isn't covered by my insurance plan and at $16,000 - $20,000 per surgery (yes it can take more than one) it likely isn't an option. Am I needlessly freaking out or is it to be expected with this amount of weight loss? I hadn't even considered this..... Ughhhh

ilex70

The truth is you are likely to have excess skin. How much will depend on how long you have carried the excess weight, your age and genetics.

I don't know about dragging the floor though. You are most likely to have excess skin on your upper arm, upper leg, and abdomen. The general wisdom is that you need to maintain for 2 years to see how much your skin rebounds.

I wouldn't let that be a reason to keep the weight on. Maybe a reason to start saving for surgery now.

I lost 100 around age 40 with a long history of being obese. The extra skin isn't nice. Only nice thing about regain was having less extra. But I'm still working on taking it off again and very much planning to at least get my upper arms done.

Cynsonya

I'm definitely not going to stop because if this but I just wonder if there's anything to do it better. Minimize the damage so to speak. Like losing the weight more slowly for example. Instead of 3-4 pounds a week, maybe eat more and lose a consistent 1 pound a week.

Francl27

Cynsonya wrote: »

I'm definitely not going to stop because if this but I just wonder if there's anything to do it better. Minimize the damage so to speak. Like losing the weight more slowly for example. Instead of 3-4 pounds a week, maybe eat more and lose a consistent 1 pound a week.

I don't think it matters how fast you lose the weight. Supposedly, it takes 2 years for skin to bounce back anyway, and mine hasn't changed one bit in 2 years so... don't put your health at risk by losing more slowly just to avoid loose skin, which is pretty much unavoidable with such a weight loss.

queenliz99

You could start a savings account.

Cynsonya

queenliz99 wrote: »

You could start a savings account.

If I did I'd buy a new car. Mine's 22 years old.

queenliz99

Get a few more years out of your car. You can do it. I know it sounds like a lot but scrimp somewhere.

afatpersonwholikesfood

I looked at your profile briefly to see your age. At 41 with that amount to lose, yes, you're going to have loose skin. I don't know about the show because I've never seen it. It's probably the worst of the worst case scenarios, so it may or may not be you.

I'm 30, and I'm at 140 pounds lost with about 50 more to go. I lost weight in the past without much excess skin, but I was in my teens (much lower starting weight) and very early twenties (same starting weight). The last time, it just barely started on my upper inner thighs at -125 and I kinda lost it mentally. Pretty ridiculous to think back on now. This time, it's not just my upper inner thighs. It's nothing horrific at the moment, but it's there.

I can wear shorts and standard short sleeves, but I will not be wearing anything sleeveless or any swimsuits without coverups. I wasn't wearing sleeveless tops or swimsuits before, though, so it's not like I can't deal with that. My back/rear/back of my legs all look great. My boobs are normal. They've never been huge, though. My belly is going to be a wrinkly mess, but nothing is going to be hanging to the floor. My face is still my face - no weird aging from losing, just much slimmer.

So, batwings aside, there are so many positives.

* I may not be wearing any bikinis, but away from public eyes, I'm happy with matching bras and undies because I have a definite shape! My husband isn't complaining. Also, candlelight fixes everything in my experience, lol.
* I can walk up multiple flights of stairs.
* I can jog.
* I can even jog up stairs!
* I can do many things with a lot more ease.
* My blood pressure is completely normal now.
* Controlling for other factors such as stray buses or serial killers, I might not die before I'm old. All my skin will be wrinkled then, anyway.
* I am increasingly able to just put on the first outfit I grab from my closet and be appropriately dressed and comfortable at the same time.
* I am not afraid of breaking chairs or that I won't fit into certain spaces.

Wetcoaster

* I may not be wearing any bikinis, but away from public eyes, I'm happy with matching bras and undies because I have a definite shape! My husband isn't complaining. Also, candlelight fixes everything in my experience, lol.
* I can walk up multiple flights of stairs.
* I can jog.
* I can even jog up stairs!
* I can do many things with a lot more ease.
* My blood pressure is completely normal now.
* Controlling for other factors such as stray buses or serial killers, I might not die before I'm old. All my skin will be wrinkled then, anyway.
* I am increasingly able to just put on the first outfit I grab from my closet and be appropriately dressed and comfortable at the same time.
* I am not afraid of breaking chairs or that I won't fit into certain spaces.









Well said.

queenliz99

Wetcoaster wrote: »

* I may not be wearing any bikinis, but away from public eyes, I'm happy with matching bras and undies because I have a definite shape! My husband isn't complaining. Also, candlelight fixes everything in my experience, lol.
* I can walk up multiple flights of stairs.
* I can jog.
* I can even jog up stairs!
* I can do many things with a lot more ease.
* My blood pressure is completely normal now.
* Controlling for other factors such as stray buses or serial killers, I might not die before I'm old. All my skin will be wrinkled then, anyway.
* I am increasingly able to just put on the first outfit I grab from my closet and be appropriately dressed and comfortable at the same time.
* I am not afraid of breaking chairs or that I won't fit into certain spaces.









Well said.

+1

MelaniaTrump

Spanx. XXL+
http://www.spanx.com/size-charts

Cynsonya

I love you guys and this site. While still horrified yinz have talked me down appropriately.

I'm sure the cases on the show are the most extreme of the extreme cases they could find. One lady had two feet of hanging stomach skin that caused skin breakage between the folds and constantly set up infection. I know the skin I'll be left with won't be pretty. I just didn't want two feet of hanging, infected stomach skin.

Cynsonya

JanetYellen wrote: »

Spanx. XXL+
http://www.spanx.com/size-charts

For sure

Lourdesong

I haven't seen a single person featured on that show who had attained a healthy weight. They're all still overweight or obese, and their skin surgeries are not skin surgeries, they are flab-ectomies.

Cynsonya

Lourdesong wrote: »

I haven't seen a single person featured on that show who had attained a healthy weight. They're all still overweight or obese, and their skin surgeries are not skin surgeries, they are flab-ectomies.

I agree. If I ever could get the skin surgery I wouldn't be getting it at 190lbs. I'd wait until I was completely finished losing. Then work on muscle tone for a while before getting it done.

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx

I lost 155 lbs in my mid 30s having always been obese. Been maintaining nearly two years. Never had a skin infection, I do have loose skin but mainly on my stomach also from going full term with twins while morbidly obese. (I'm 175 lbs lighter than I was at that point). It's not pretty but it also doesn't hang down that far. I look completely fine with clothes on.

Apart from that I have loose skin on upper thighs, at the back of my knees and I did have some on my calves but that has shrunk a lot while maintaining. I wear knee length but no shorter. Bat wings, yes, but not bad enough to stop me wearing sleeveless tops. I also lift weights and I have some nice muscle that I like to show off

Cynsonya

xX_PhoenixRising_Xx wrote: »

I lost 155 lbs in my mid 30s having always been obese. Been maintaining nearly two years. Never had a skin infection, I do have loose skin but mainly on my stomach also from going full term with twins while morbidly obese. (I'm 175 lbs lighter than I was at that point). It's not pretty but it also doesn't hang down that far. I look completely fine with clothes on.

Apart from that I have loose skin on upper thighs, at the back of my knees and I did have some on my calves but that has shrunk a lot while maintaining. I wear knee length but no shorter. Bat wings, yes, but not bad enough to stop me wearing sleeveless tops. I also lift weights and I have some nice muscle that I like to show off

You're an inspiration! Thank you!!

RaeBeeBaby

Lourdesong wrote: »

I haven't seen a single person featured on that show who had attained a healthy weight. They're all still overweight or obese, and their skin surgeries are not skin surgeries, they are flab-ectomies.

I think the young man (23 year old) had reached a pretty healthy weight. However, the lady featured on that same episode definitely had not lost the full amount of weight she should have prior to surgery. I believe she had 3 surgeries during the course of the show and was contemplating a 4th!

I wonder how these people can afford these (very expensive) surgeries?! Does the show foot the bill? I don't know many 23 year olds who have that kind of money. Also, (so far) the homes these people live in appear fairly modest, so they don't look like folks with a lot of discretionary income for plastic surgery.

Cynsonya

RaeBeeBaby wrote: »

Lourdesong wrote: »

I haven't seen a single person featured on that show who had attained a healthy weight. They're all still overweight or obese, and their skin surgeries are not skin surgeries, they are flab-ectomies.

I think the young man (23 year old) had reached a pretty healthy weight. However, the lady featured on that same episode definitely had not lost the full amount of weight she should have prior to surgery. I believe she had 3 surgeries during the course of the show and was contemplating a 4th!

I wonder how these people can afford these (very expensive) surgeries?! Does the show foot the bill? I don't know many 23 year olds who have that kind of money. Also, (so far) the homes these people live in appear fairly modest, so they don't look like folks with a lot of discretionary income for plastic surgery.

I think the show pays for them.

lorib642

OP I am not sure if you have seen this video about loose skin from the Obese to Beast YouTube channel. It isn't new. He does have a lot of loose skin, but It is fairly hidden when he is dressed. http://youtu.be/CpKDteQ3FIQ

Cynsonya

It's just heartbreaking what some of us have done to our bodies.

lorib642

Cynsonya wrote: »

It's just heartbreaking what some of us have done to our bodies.

kshama2001

It's partially genetics and age, but these measures should help:
1. Not losing weight too fast ( at your current weight, I think you could safely lose 3 pounds per week for a while.)
2. Strength training or bodyweight routines while you lose weight
3. Eating adequate protein

Other posters have said they'd been at their goal weight for a year or two before their skin finished tightening up.

http://vitals.lifehacker.com/how-to-minimize-loose-skin-during-weight-loss-1696145766

Cynsonya

kshama2001 wrote: »

It's partially genetics and age, but these measures should help:
1. Not losing weight too fast ( at your current weight, I think you could safely lose 3 pounds per week for a while.)
2. Strength training or bodyweight routines while you lose weight
3. Eating adequate protein

Other posters have said they'd been at their goal weight for a year or two before their skin finished tightening up.

http://vitals.lifehacker.com/how-to-minimize-loose-skin-during-weight-loss-1696145766

Thank you!!! I knew there had to be SOMETHING that could at least help a little.

jeepinshawn

I lost 110lbs last year been maintaining/slowly losing a few more lbs the last 2 months. I'm a 39yo male. My nips hang loosely about 3 inches below my pecs and I have loose soon around my neck and butt. I won't lie, it sucks. I have worked my *kitten* off to get here and I still look like hell with my shirt off. That said I'm healthy, I can run for an hour, I can do pull ups and squats and walk all the stairs in the world. I'm glad I lost the weight and wouldn't change that, but still sucks to see my saggy chest and tummy skin.

angelexperiment

Just so you know the people on these shows lose weight very rapidly and not always healthfully ( we don't know all the behind the scenes stuff)

So as I have researched this topic I have found a few things. Lose weight at a normal pace not accelerated. Keep hydrated to keep the skin elasticity. Moisturizer daily. Massage daily. Do toning exercise like weight lifting/ interval train or hiit. After you lose it all it can take two years for skin to tighten or up to 6. It majorly has to do with genetics some people have it others do not!

I would not stress over it. There are other things to worry over.

Christine_72

@Cynsonya Look into Gelatin/collagen. Obviously it wont eliminate loose skin, but it may give you a helping hand. Great Lakes are a decent brand.

Google gelatin+skin benefits or gelatin+loose skin, and you can decide for yourself if it's something you want to try.

Sued0nim

there is no commercially available potion, pill or supplement that is going to help this ..

unless that potion, pill or supplement reinforces your patience and commitment of course

why waste money on unproved marketing hype? hope over reality unfortunately

Francl27

Cynsonya wrote: »

I love you guys and this site. While still horrified yinz have talked me down appropriately.

I'm sure the cases on the show are the most extreme of the extreme cases they could find. One lady had two feet of hanging stomach skin that caused skin breakage between the folds and constantly set up infection. I know the skin I'll be left with won't be pretty. I just didn't want two feet of hanging, infected stomach skin.

Well if it's that bad, I believe that most insurances will pay for it. So, that's something..

But I hear you OP. It's tough. But still worth it.

Cynsonya

Francl27 wrote: »

Cynsonya wrote: »

I love you guys and this site. While still horrified yinz have talked me down appropriately.

I'm sure the cases on the show are the most extreme of the extreme cases they could find. One lady had two feet of hanging stomach skin that caused skin breakage between the folds and constantly set up infection. I know the skin I'll be left with won't be pretty. I just didn't want two feet of hanging, infected stomach skin.

Well if it's that bad, I believe that most insurances will pay for it. So, that's something..

But I hear you OP. It's tough. But still worth it.

Yes, it is. I can't wait to be in Onederland again, lol.

Colorscheme

Which would you rather have? loose skin that can be fixed surgically, or feeling like you're not living to the best of your ability because of your weight? I'd choose the first option.

Also a common factor that I've seen from the show is that most of the people have gastric bypass. That's rapid weight loss in a quick amount of time initially, no wonder they have loose skin. Yes, you can still get loose skin even if you don't have the surgery, but that's really beyond your control. Also if it's very bad most insurance companies will cover it because the loose skin can cause issues like irritation/rubbing/extra weight.