Best option to remove loose skin?
CurtisHouse160
Posts: 53 Member
Hi,
I've lost 110 lbs over the past 20 months from 284 down to 174 but there is moderate loose skin, mostly, around my stomach and waist. What is the best option to remove this skin? Surgery or other less invasive procedures like from a dermatologist? Just wondering what would be the next step to take?
I've lost 110 lbs over the past 20 months from 284 down to 174 but there is moderate loose skin, mostly, around my stomach and waist. What is the best option to remove this skin? Surgery or other less invasive procedures like from a dermatologist? Just wondering what would be the next step to take?
1
Replies
-
Once the skin gets down to true loose skin, without a layer of subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep it stretched, it can start to shrink, I believe - not much before. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, maybe like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, like light denim or corduroy. Rolls or folds of a half-inch or more probably still have subcutaneous fat.
There are genetic, age, and overall-health aspects to how willing true loose skin will be to shrink, but I will say that I'm certain mine kept shrinking slowly for a couple of years after losing weight, even though I got to goal at age 60.
Beyond that "allow time" thing, skin is an organ. The things that keep other organs healthy will also tend to keep skin healthy, which means elastic and more willing to adjust, IMO. These include:
* avoiding fast loss along the way (because it's a physical stress to lose fast),
* getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros, especially but not exclusively protein),
* getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength),
* managing all-source life stress,
* hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough),
* avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,
* specific to skin, also avoiding tanning.
People will say all kinds of things about creams, dry-brushing, etc., but personally I'm inclined to think those are mainly ways to pass the time while skin does pretty much what it was going to do anyway. Help a little? Maybe. Big help? I doubt it. But it can feel good to feel like we're doing *something*.
It sounds like you've done really well with weight loss. Many people report some changes in distribution of residual body fat in the first months of maintenance, too, so you could see some of that. I hope/believe you could see some improvement with patience and time at goal, too.
Beyond that, I think surgery can be a good option, though others may have additional ideas.7 -
Once the skin gets down to true loose skin, without a layer of subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep it stretched, it can start to shrink, I believe - not much before. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, maybe like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, like light denim or corduroy. Rolls or folds of a half-inch or more probably still have subcutaneous fat.
ill say that I'm certain mine kept shrinking slowly for a couple of years after losing weight, even though I got to goal at age 60.
Beyond that "allow time" thing, skin is an organ. The things that keep other organs healthy will also tend to keep skin healthy, which means elastic and more willing to adjust, IMO. These include:
* avoiding fast loss along the way (because it's a physical stress to lose fast),
* getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros, especially but not exclusively protein),
* getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength),
* managing all-source life stress,
* hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough),
* avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,
* specific to skin, also avoiding tanning.
People will say all kinds of things about creams, dry-brushing, etc., but personally I'm inclined to think those are mainly ways to pass the time while skin does pretty much what it was going to do anyway. Help a little? Maybe. Big help? I doubt it. But it can feel good to feel like we're doing *something*.
It sounds like you've done really well with weight loss. Many people report some changes in distribution of residual body fat in the first months of maintenance, too, so you could see some of that. I hope/believe you could see some improvement with patience and time at goal, too.
Beyond that, I think surgery can be a good option, though others may have additional ideas.
I do have some of those wrinkles. They are at the very lower area of what is left of my stomach. Not a lot of it but definitely noticeable when I look at that area.
I really do hope the skin does retract some and there is actual fat still in there. That will go away when I exercise more and lose the last bit of weight I'm aiming to lose. Trying to get down to 160.
I really don't want to do surgery because it isn't a LOT of saggy skin. Just mainly my stomach and waist. Everything else I can firm up lifting weights and exercising. Thank you for the informative advice. It is very much appreciated.
1 -
I lost 85 lbs and had a lot of loose skin on my belly. I have had a lot of success with collagen supplements. I get them at Costco.
1 -
CurtisHouse160 wrote: »Once the skin gets down to true loose skin, without a layer of subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep it stretched, it can start to shrink, I believe - not much before. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, maybe like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, like light denim or corduroy. Rolls or folds of a half-inch or more probably still have subcutaneous fat.
ill say that I'm certain mine kept shrinking slowly for a couple of years after losing weight, even though I got to goal at age 60.
Beyond that "allow time" thing, skin is an organ. The things that keep other organs healthy will also tend to keep skin healthy, which means elastic and more willing to adjust, IMO. These include:
* avoiding fast loss along the way (because it's a physical stress to lose fast),
* getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros, especially but not exclusively protein),
* getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength),
* managing all-source life stress,
* hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough),
* avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,
* specific to skin, also avoiding tanning.
People will say all kinds of things about creams, dry-brushing, etc., but personally I'm inclined to think those are mainly ways to pass the time while skin does pretty much what it was going to do anyway. Help a little? Maybe. Big help? I doubt it. But it can feel good to feel like we're doing *something*.
It sounds like you've done really well with weight loss. Many people report some changes in distribution of residual body fat in the first months of maintenance, too, so you could see some of that. I hope/believe you could see some improvement with patience and time at goal, too.
Beyond that, I think surgery can be a good option, though others may have additional ideas.
I do have some of those wrinkles. They are at the very lower area of what is left of my stomach. Not a lot of it but definitely noticeable when I look at that area.
I really do hope the skin does retract some and there is actual fat still in there. That will go away when I exercise more and lose the last bit of weight I'm aiming to lose. Trying to get down to 160.
I really don't want to do surgery because it isn't a LOT of saggy skin. Just mainly my stomach and waist. Everything else I can firm up lifting weights and exercising. Thank you for the informative advice. It is very much appreciated.
Another 14 pounds of fat should - one hopes - get some additional areas to that "thin wrinkles" stage. The shrinkage after is IME a slow, very gradual thing, but I am betting you'll see improvements.
Hang in there, keep doing the good things you're doing!
2 -
CurtisHouse160 wrote: »Once the skin gets down to true loose skin, without a layer of subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep it stretched, it can start to shrink, I believe - not much before. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, maybe like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, like light denim or corduroy. Rolls or folds of a half-inch or more probably still have subcutaneous fat.
ill say that I'm certain mine kept shrinking slowly for a couple of years after losing weight, even though I got to goal at age 60.
Beyond that "allow time" thing, skin is an organ. The things that keep other organs healthy will also tend to keep skin healthy, which means elastic and more willing to adjust, IMO. These include:
* avoiding fast loss along the way (because it's a physical stress to lose fast),
* getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros, especially but not exclusively protein),
* getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength),
* managing all-source life stress,
* hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough),
* avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,
* specific to skin, also avoiding tanning.
People will say all kinds of things about creams, dry-brushing, etc., but personally I'm inclined to think those are mainly ways to pass the time while skin does pretty much what it was going to do anyway. Help a little? Maybe. Big help? I doubt it. But it can feel good to feel like we're doing *something*.
It sounds like you've done really well with weight loss. Many people report some changes in distribution of residual body fat in the first months of maintenance, too, so you could see some of that. I hope/believe you could see some improvement with patience and time at goal, too.
Beyond that, I think surgery can be a good option, though others may have additional ideas.
I do have some of those wrinkles. They are at the very lower area of what is left of my stomach. Not a lot of it but definitely noticeable when I look at that area.
I really do hope the skin does retract some and there is actual fat still in there. That will go away when I exercise more and lose the last bit of weight I'm aiming to lose. Trying to get down to 160.
I really don't want to do surgery because it isn't a LOT of saggy skin. Just mainly my stomach and waist. Everything else I can firm up lifting weights and exercising. Thank you for the informative advice. It is very much appreciated.
Another 14 pounds of fat should - one hopes - get some additional areas to that "thin wrinkles" stage. The shrinkage after is IME a slow, very gradual thing, but I am betting you'll see improvements.
Hang in there, keep doing the good things you're doing!
I was skinny for a long time until about 2001. Then I was, pretty much, overweight until I committed losing this weight. Hopefully my body will go back to its normal size again once all the fat is gone. I can be quite patient when it comes to getting in shape. As long as I see more improvement, no matter how slow, I won't give up.2 -
Thewonderofitall wrote: »I lost 85 lbs and had a lot of loose skin on my belly. I have had a lot of success with collagen supplements. I get them at Costco.
I'll look into it and see the reviews about how its helped people. Thanks for the recommend.0 -
CurtisHouse160 wrote: »Once the skin gets down to true loose skin, without a layer of subcutaneous fat conspiring with gravity to keep it stretched, it can start to shrink, I believe - not much before. True loose skin is thin wrinkles, maybe like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, like light denim or corduroy. Rolls or folds of a half-inch or more probably still have subcutaneous fat.
ill say that I'm certain mine kept shrinking slowly for a couple of years after losing weight, even though I got to goal at age 60.
Beyond that "allow time" thing, skin is an organ. The things that keep other organs healthy will also tend to keep skin healthy, which means elastic and more willing to adjust, IMO. These include:
* avoiding fast loss along the way (because it's a physical stress to lose fast),
* getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros, especially but not exclusively protein),
* getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength),
* managing all-source life stress,
* hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough),
* avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol,
* specific to skin, also avoiding tanning.
People will say all kinds of things about creams, dry-brushing, etc., but personally I'm inclined to think those are mainly ways to pass the time while skin does pretty much what it was going to do anyway. Help a little? Maybe. Big help? I doubt it. But it can feel good to feel like we're doing *something*.
It sounds like you've done really well with weight loss. Many people report some changes in distribution of residual body fat in the first months of maintenance, too, so you could see some of that. I hope/believe you could see some improvement with patience and time at goal, too.
Beyond that, I think surgery can be a good option, though others may have additional ideas.
I do have some of those wrinkles. They are at the very lower area of what is left of my stomach. Not a lot of it but definitely noticeable when I look at that area.
I really do hope the skin does retract some and there is actual fat still in there. That will go away when I exercise more and lose the last bit of weight I'm aiming to lose. Trying to get down to 160.
I really don't want to do surgery because it isn't a LOT of saggy skin. Just mainly my stomach and waist. Everything else I can firm up lifting weights and exercising. Thank you for the informative advice. It is very much appreciated.
Great job!
Other posters here have also said it took a year or two after reaching goal weight for their loose skin to finalize so in your situation I would wait to see where you are then before making any decisions.1 -
I ended up going the surgery route. I got a tummy tuck last summer, I am absolutely thrilled with the results, I had loose skin and still some excess fat, but they also repaired my Diastasis Recti which I had after 3 babies. 100% worth it for me. If you do decide to consider surgery, realself.com is a great place to research, and get real stories of recovery. I also suggest getting consults with multiple doctors first.1
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.4K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.2K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 426 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.7K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions