Middle aged ladies who have lost a lot - does the skin improve?

Alatariel75

Definitely not looking for product recommendations, I like my money where it is and know there's no miracles.

Just looking for feedback from women who have lost a lot of weight (I've lost about 95lbs, got another 10-20 to go, depending how I feel with size) and whether the stretched skin gets better over time.

I am super proud of what I've done, I am fitter, healthier and stronger than ever and looking great in a bikini was never a top 5 motivation for me, but it does make me a bit sad to look this good in clothes and that bad in the nudd haha.

I hydrate well, moisturize, and acknowledge that I did lose a lot of the weight fairly rapidly (about 11 months) but I wonder from those of you who lost and maintained - does the skin bounce back at all over time, or is 'deflated balloon' my new unclothed look for ever?

AnnPT77

I didn't lose that much, only around 50 pounds. But I was older than middle age, at least as I think of middle age: I was 60 when I reached goal weight.

Over the course of at least the first two years of maintenance, there was quite significant shrinkage of loose skin. It may've gone on longer, even, but since the rate of shrinkage gradually slowed, it was harder to tell.

Since various people had asked me about it on my friend feed, by DM, or occasionally on threads here, I made a thread about it. Rather than yammer on here about some of the stuff covered, I'll link it. It's not pretty, but it's pretty honest. 😉😆

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10809632/loose-skin-50lbs-loss-at-60-4-years-maintenance

Face is probably worst, but I'm not sure it's all about weight loss, since my dad and his mom had some similarities to how I look now (jowls, neck and such). Dad lost weight at one point in his 60s, not sure how much, but the aspects I'm thinking of didn't appear then; and I don't think his mom had lost any major amount of weight anywhere along the way.

Other people talk about their experiences on the thread linked above, too, to some extent.

I'm sure you realize that different people will have different experiences, since genetics are a factor, not to mention other aspects of health and personal history.

Another possible source of information is this thread, even though it's not the point of the thread, and admittedly you'd have to browse through it looking for middle-aged women.

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1167854/photo-only-success-stories

Alatariel75

Thank you so much Ann! I should have known you would be all over this already, you're such a legend for the amount of work you put in to being informative and supportive here :)

I'm reassured that you had noticeable tightening in the years after loss, I'm hoping for the same. Genetically, I have my mum's rather papery skin which scars and stretchmarks quite easily, so I'm not going to get too hopeful but I would like it to improve a bit!

Lietchi

Well, not to discourage you, but I lost 75lbs starting from 2019 to 2021 which was in my late thirties: perhaps there was a bit of improvement very slowly, but overall it still looks the same.

No dramatic loose skin that would require surgery, but enough to not be happy with it - my 'flab' feels more appropriate for someone 60+ rather than 42 years old. (Still better than being obese though!) I have horrible skin though, lots of stretch marks everywhere from puberty as well as weight gain.

cmriverside

I lost 80ish pounds. 2008 or around there. It was the second time I had lost significant weight in ten years. First time was due to illness.

The only place I'm not happy about is my midback, like around the bra line. That's the saggy place. In the scheme of things I'm not complaining and no one really sees it. I won't be wearing any backless evening gowns and my bathing suits are one piece now - but one of the good things about being older is I no longer think I'm going to impress someone with my dazzling good looks. . . and that's fine with me!

yirara

I never lost that much. I did have a fairly major liposuction in the inside thighs to get rid of a whole village of lipomas settling there. Took about 2 years for the skin to 'fit' again, and possibly another 1-2 years to look nice.

age_is_just_a_number

You are all rock stars!!

spiriteagle99

I lost 55 lbs. in my mid-50s. Most of my skin seems to have tightened up except the back of my arms (I don't do weights, which would have helped) and my thighs. When I walk or run, I jiggle. At 68, not a big deal.

alicejstrader8828

Maybe you could try firming lotion. It’s supposed to help with sagging skin from aging, but it may help with loose skin. Also, congratulations on your journey!!

Alatariel75

Thank you so much for your insights, all!

@Lietchi it sounds like your skin and mine are quite similar, which is why I'm steeling myself to just having to put up with the sag haha.

I guess the chips will fall where they may, and I can't undo rapid loss now (I'm not about to put it back on to fill the sag!) but it's hopeful to know that maybe somewhere in my genetic makeup is something that might tighten stuff up :)