To all the mommies, did your "loose skin" tighten up?

Irishfaerie86

So I'm a mother of 1 and I did a very poor job monitoring my weight when I was pregnant. I treated being pregnant and as a great excuse to eat whatever I wanted. As a result, I was 5'2 and almost 200 lbs. After I had my daughter I had that dreaded loose skin flab that just hangs there. I am starting to see real definition in my upper abs but what I want to know is when you are starting to lose weight and tone your abs does all of that loose skin tighten up and "look normal" I guess you could say? My mom said it will never be and that if I ever wanted my stomach to look normal id have to have a tummy tuck to get rid of the loose skin. I just find it hard to believe that all these mommies out there didn't have that loose skin after a baby and after working out and transforming, they went to get a tummy tuck lol. So does it tighten up or just doesn't go away unles you do a surgical procedure?

naturesfempower

17 years later I still have some loose skin, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. Much like my grey hair, I earned it through hard work.

SapiensPisces

It depends.

Some women's skin tightens back up, and some women don't. Mine, unfortunately, is very loose, but still better than it used to be.

You have to give it a while. It can take years to tighten if it will.

missiontofitness

I haven't had a child, so I am not speaking from experience.

But one tip I have is to lose the weight slowly. Whenever you see stories of people losing weight dramatically and quickly, there's always the issue of loose skin that comes after. In some cases, you need to have it surgically removed because it just won't tighten back up.

I would say to continue what you are doing, continue to do so slow and steady, and if your skin does not "bounce back" or remains loose, you may have to pursue surgical options to get rid of it.

Good luck!

KiwipowaRoo

THIS
Um, mine definitely is getting better. I think a lot of it will go, you just need to reduce your fat down a lot first. I was 5'3" and 196 when my daughter was born (21months ago)., now I'm 129 and the skin is really tightening, it's just a lot loser than I'd have liked at this stage. Remember skin is 6months behind weight loss. So in 6 months your skin will be a lot tighter for this weight. If you lose more weight, it'll have to tighten further, but it's a slow process.

irishangeldw

Mine is pretty good my children and 30 and 34 years old and I am 52 , it is my legs I have a problem with

liesevanlingen

Depends on a lot of things--age, total weight gain, baby size, genetics, etc. I'm 42 and I've had four children. The youngest is eight and I've been working on getting into shape (off and on a bit, due to multiple family medical issues) for about two years. Four large pregnancies in nine years (two of my babies were over 9 lbs) kind of trashed my stomach muscles. I've still got a flabby belly but it's better than it was. I am hoping for further improvement.

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marieamethyst

In fairness, I think nursing made all the difference in the world as I had a friend who formula fed and ended up with a significant amount of loose skin, even though she returned to her previous weight/size.

100% formula-fed mommy that did not breastfeed a single time - with no loose skin and an almost flat tummy again. :drinker: It may help the uterus return to normal size more quickly in the beginning, but some women just can't bounce back completely post-birth, depending on weight/genetics/age/etc.

sistrsprkl

I had my 2d baby almost 2 yrs ago (10lb baby). I've lost over 50lbs and my stomach is slowly getting flatting and firmer. Here's a pic I took a few weeks ago. Getting there, it does happen but takes time.

katmix

I had twins in April of 1997 and had gained 27 pounds with the multiple pregnancy. By June, I was back to a size two and my stomach was completely back to before the pregnancy. Back then I was eating a plants based diet and walked several miles of hilly terrain a day. In December of 2000, I had my second son and while it was a very difficult birth, I again lost the twelve pounds gained and returned to a flat stomach within twelve weeks time. In December 2006, I had my fourth child and lost the twenty two gained and my stomach again flattened to it's original state. Unfortunately, since then I have gained 40 pounds and am struggling to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 117. In fairness, I think nursing made all the difference in the world as I had a friend who formula fed and ended up with a significant amount of loose skin, even though she returned to her previous weight/size. If you look at my profile pictures, there is one taken of me in a bikini at 8 months pregnant with my last child. This photo shows how healthy my skin looked after several pregnancies. So please don't worry too much and allow your body to catch up with the marathon it just completed. Also, a personal trainer told me that while women think they have loose skin after delivering it is usually simply fat that has yet to be lost. If this is the case, walking and good diet should carry you the rest of the way. Good luck and enjoy your beautiful daughter!

Goodness, Girl! Reading your post regarding your minimal weight gains during pregnancy (I gained 60 and 45, and they were both single births), I had to read your bio...kudos to wanting to be your very best 50! Also, my goal...and will hit this in December! I weighed in at 116lbs this morning-and that is with a 2lb gain over vacation! I will say that my tri-ceps are what really need work...

As far as the belly-after 2 c-sections, mine is a lost cause. I did seek the opinion of a surgeon, but decided I'd feel silly dying on the table-for vanity's sake. My solution has been to increase the squats (which really DO help both belly and bum) cut back on the carbs, and wear Ralph Lauren dresses with great side ruching; they make your figure (flawless or not) look uber amazing!

KiwipowaRoo

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smittysgal7

I just had my first baby in May so I'm currently working on post baby weight loss and dealing with skin. I've heard that exfoliating the places with loose skin helps. I use a sugar scrub every day.

thatjosiegirl

I have two children (ages 10 &12) and my stomach was just never the same. It does seem to be getting a little better as I lose weight, but I still have the small amount of loose skin that drives me up the wall.

vsecret921

You were my exact height and weight when my son was born 15 months ago. How did you get down to 125? Any tips? Im currently at 169 now but I want to get in the 130's

husseycd

My son is now 18. I had him at 20 and gained 50 lbs. I still have loose skin on my lower abs where the stretchmarks are. It's pretty tight when standing, but it has never fully tightened and never will. It certainly isn't awful, but it is there.

vsecret921

THIS
Um, mine definitely is getting better. I think a lot of it will go, you just need to reduce your fat down a lot first. I was 5'3" and 196 when my daughter was born (21months ago)., now I'm 129 and the skin is really tightening, it's just a lot loser than I'd have liked at this stage. Remember skin is 6months behind weight loss. So in 6 months your skin will be a lot tighter for this weight. If you lose more weight, it'll have to tighten further, but it's a slow process.

I was your exact height and weight when my son was born 15 months ago. I'm down to 169 now but want to be in the 130's. Any tips? How did you lose all that weight?

bebeblues

8 wks PP and am wondering how it's going to go. This pregnancy was so different. I didn't show a ton with my first because I was a lot bigger in general. With my second I was smaller and showed significantly. He was also 1.5 lbs heavier than my first. I was going to "wrap" but couldn't afford one so here I am now. I am hoping that it will all eventually go back to something like normal. I don't mind the stretch marks, but the overhang has got to go.

WrkinProg55

17 years later I still have some loose skin, but it's nothing to be ashamed of. Much like my grey hair, I earned it through hard work.

I agree with her. I have stretch marks and loose skin. It has tightened up but will never be the same, nor should it! We created life that's pretty damn awesome! Having a baby and losing weight is NOT easy give yourself a high five!

sonyahadder42

"As far as the belly-after 2 c-sections, mine is a lost cause. I did seek the opinion of a surgeon, but decided I'd feel silly dying on the table-for vanity's sake. My solution has been to increase the squats (which really DO help both belly and bum) cut back on the carbs, and wear Ralph Lauren dresses with great side ruching; they make your figure (flawless or not) look uber amazing! wink "

1st of all I love your attitude! But a question about your concerns about the surgery. Did the surgeon tell you something that caused the concern? Is it a risky surgery? Asking because I know at my age and the amount of "flap" that would be the only way to get rid of it. Been thinking hard about a tummy tuck as a reward once goal weight is accomplished but your comment kinda scared me. :laugh:

Mischievous_Rascal

Mine did to a point, but the amount of elasticity in your skin and how much it snaps back is based on genetics, sorry.

You can absolutely minimize this, however. Lifting and eating well was the key to getting it as good as I could on my own. After I was done losing weight, I was left with a small "apron" on the very bottom of my belly. (I had to get to 16% BF, though, and it took time.) I had Diastasis recti and had to have my abdominal wall sewn back together, so the surgeon removed the extra skin while I was getting that done. No lipo, so it was pure loose skin without any excess fat under it, but it wouldn't have gone anywhere without surgery. (But it could be hidden, even in a bikini.)

Also, my surgeon said whenever he has a patient like me - with just a bit of a shelf left - it is always the same story. Lifting and diet gets the best results you can achieve without surgery. Best of luck!

Brownskinbeauty_811

I'm SO glad I found this forum. I am a mother of a 13 month old boy and I have yet to lose the remaining 30 lbs from my pregnancy. I gained 46 in all so you do the math. I have always struggled with my weight and prior to getting pregnant I lost 25 lbs that I worked extremely hard to lose before my wedding. My slow process in losing baby weight is due to a period of not feeling my best and poor eating habits while being a stay at home mom. I have made the decision to finally buckle down and lose the weight so that I can be healthy for my family and carrying more babies in the future! :happy: I have found myself becoming very down about my slow progress in losing weight because my child is over a year old. I don't have a lot of loose skin per say, but the skin does look rather different from pre-pregnancy! Your stories and struggles have inspired me to let me know I am not alone! Thanks so much!

katmix

"As far as the belly-after 2 c-sections, mine is a lost cause. I did seek the opinion of a surgeon, but decided I'd feel silly dying on the table-for vanity's sake. My solution has been to increase the squats (which really DO help both belly and bum) cut back on the carbs, and wear Ralph Lauren dresses with great side ruching; they make your figure (flawless or not) look uber amazing! wink "

1st of all I love your attitude! But a question about your concerns about the surgery. Did the surgeon tell you something that caused the concern? Is it a risky surgery? Asking because I know at my age and the amount of "flap" that would be the only way to get rid of it. Been thinking hard about a tummy tuck as a reward once goal weight is accomplished but your comment kinda scared me. :laugh:

I'm not "opposed" to surgery (I know some people are adamantly opposed to anything seemingly unnatural to get to a place where they are comfortable in their skin.)

I did not have easy c-sections (okay, second one was definitely not as hard-but then I popped myself open before I left the hospital, and took some time to completely heal.)

I've pondered surgery for a number of years (spent countless hours online researching, visited Portland's top surgeon, etc) and was told I would be a candidate for a mini tummy tuck. Several things made me hold off... First, my hubby has been more than loving and accepting of my "new" post-baby body, and tells me that when he sees my tummy-he sees our children. (Big, awwww...) also, I am more than a little afraid of being totally "out" during surgery (heart problems have been the number 1 killer of women in my family), and reading horror stories of women who have died on the table (while having cosmetic surgery) has inspired me to forgo surgery, work to get healthy and fit as I can, and be around to raise my kidlets (which, as you can see in my profile pic, done!)

Lastly, and while I haven't seen this for myself, one of the moms at school told me her friend had a tummy tuck. Looked great. And when she put on weight, it didn't go to her belly-but rather created weird bulges in other areas on her body. What's up with that?



Read pro's and cons online (people post their stories, pictures), talk to people that you know have had it done...and I would definitely seek out the best dr in the field in your area.

sljohnson1207

I think most of this issue is genetics and age related collagen loss.

I had my daughter at age 23. I gained 70 lbs. mostly due to an impossible to treat during pregnancy, life-threatening condition called dilated cardiomyopathy that caused congestive heart failure during and after my pregnancy. I ended up very high risk, and was lucky to live through it, as at the time statistics were 4/5 died during or shortly after the birth.

My skin on my belly had zero stretch marks and bounced back very well. My breasts, hips, and thighs esp. were not as lucky. I have a fair amount of looser skin on my legs, and as I age, it seems to be getting worse. So, how did I manage to have a pregnancy gain of 70 lbs. and not get loose skin on my belly? the only thing that I can really find any information in books and online has to do with genetics and collagen production.

Apparently, if you have good collagen and basically good skin structure genetically, you may get by with none of the loose saggy skin after birthing children. I also read that waiting to have children, which many folks do now, increases the likelihood of the loose belly skin due to the natural loss of collagen as we get older.

It's unfortunate, and some wear it as a badge of honor, while it really bothers others. I can see both sides. However, I have to say, I am glad my tummy didn't get the loose skin, and sad my legs did. Can't win them all, I suppose.