extra skin

sandeeface518

Is anyone else as worried about extra skin after a massive weight loss? I'm already showing some from after my twins were born and the fear of more could possible be my downfall....any ideas or solutions?

elainegsd

I'd rather see extra skin rather than extra skin full of fat... Wouldn't the fear of more be best addressed by working on losing weight and then maintaining the loss so you don't end up with more extra skin? Not sure what you mean by it being your downfall...

catniss

I have the same concern/worry. I've gained and lost weight throughout my whole life, and I already know I have loose skin where I used to stretch it out--and yes, I would rather have loose skin than the flab that fills it, but it's so discouraging to work so hard to lose weight and then still not be able to wear skimpy clothes 'cause my skin is hanging all around.
I do tell myself that at least you can't see it when I'm dressed.

sandeeface518

I'm worried it will be my downfall by being the thing to keep me from my goal weight. That I may use it as an excuse to give up now so I don't have so much excess skin to the point that I'd need a tummy tuck.

bbygrl5

I can't address the concerns in regards to having had children, because I've not had any, but I have lost 85lbs so far and don't have extra skin. I attribute this to a few different factors, but mostly taking care to lose the weight slowly and in the right way... eating right and working out.

welly5

If you go to "Search" and type in either "loose skin" or "extra skin" there are actually quite a few helpful posts on the topics. one lady was very frank about it and the comments were good too.

good luck!

slindsey137

I have the same worry. From what I have read your skin will go back to its shape with continued exercise. Your skin is as much an organ as anything else, and it will regain its shape, it just might take a little longer than you would like.
Or you can take the shortcut and get a tummy tuck.
Good luck!

believetoachieve

It depends what you define as "massive". Something like 100lbs, you're likely going to have excess skin that won't go back, there's no way around that! But "massive like 30 or 40lbs, your skin should be just fine. Remember that losing weight isn't JUST about being able to "wear skimpy clothes" or look good in a bikini (though I understand that's a huge part!). It's also primarily for your health! Not wanting to have extra skin isn't a good excuse for staying overweight (if applicable!)! Goodluck! :flowerforyou:

MochaMixAZ

It depends on so many things - your skin's elasticity, your genes, all sorts of stuff. I lost almost 250 lbs, and had ridiculous skin leftover. At 30, and after having stretched so far, it was NOT going back. So, after maintaining the loss for 2 years, I had it all chopped off (27 more pounds of skin to be exact).

Since then, I've gained about 30 of it back... and I'm here to lose those 30 plus ten more.

So, for me, there was lots of skin. Exercise didn't fix the issue, and I eventually had surgery to remove it.

Wouldn't change a thing, either! It was worth it!

MacMadame

If your skin is damaged, it's not going to go back. So you can start saving for plastic surgery right now and just operate on the assumption that you'll have it -- as a way to not let the idea sabotage your weight loss. Or you can work on accepting it now so by the time it happens, you'll be okay mentally. Exercise helps too because it gives you some muscles to help fill out the skin.

I have some bad skin around my torso and some days it's discouraging. But I do look pretty awesome with clothes on so I try to concentrate on that.

Katz85340

Is anyone else as worried about extra skin after a massive weight loss? I'm already showing some from after my twins were born and the fear of more could possible be my downfall....any ideas or solutions?

While losing the weight is more important, I too worry about the excess skin. My arms and stomach are the worst. I'd love to hear about ways to reduce the sagging...specific ways. Thanks!

Katz85340

It depends on so many things - your skin's elasticity, your genes, all sorts of stuff. I lost almost 250 lbs, and had ridiculous skin leftover. At 30, and after having stretched so far, it was NOT going back. So, after maintaining the loss for 2 years, I had it all chopped off (27 more pounds of skin to be exact).

Since then, I've gained about 30 of it back... and I'm here to lose those 30 plus ten more.

So, for me, there was lots of skin. Exercise didn't fix the issue, and I eventually had surgery to remove it.

Wouldn't change a thing, either! It was worth it!

Okay...so, how much does something like an arm tuck cost if you don't mind me asking? That's the thing that bugs me the most...my arms.

Katz85340

If you go to "Search" and type in either "loose skin" or "extra skin" there are actually quite a few helpful posts on the topics. one lady was very frank about it and the comments were good too.

good luck!

Thank you!

Mirabilis

There was a thread on here in the last couple of months that had some pretty graphic before and afters... huge scars. The ones I thought were the worst were the arm "tucks". They weren't very tucked, tbh... about 3/8" across the scar, all the way down the underside of the arm. Could you imagine wearing a sleeveless dress in the summer and not getting questions? You couldn't hide it.

I think a tummy tuck would be a lot easier to hide.

elainegsd

I'm worried it will be my downfall by being the thing to keep me from my goal weight. That I may use it as an excuse to give up now so I don't have so much excess skin to the point that I'd need a tummy tuck.

Gotcha. I understand.

Katz85340

There was a thread on here in the last couple of months that had some pretty graphic before and afters... huge scars. The ones I thought were the worst were the arm "tucks". They weren't very tucked, tbh... about 3/8" across the scar, all the way down the underside of the arm. Could you imagine wearing a sleeveless dress in the summer and not getting questions? You couldn't hide it.

I think a tummy tuck would be a lot easier to hide.

I looked at some before and afters on a site last night and you're right, the arm scars were bad. I would want the new procedure that tucks from the armpit. The tummy tucks scars were bad too but at least you can hide those.

legacysh

It depends on so many things - your skin's elasticity, your genes, all sorts of stuff. I lost almost 250 lbs, and had ridiculous skin leftover. At 30, and after having stretched so far, it was NOT going back. So, after maintaining the loss for 2 years, I had it all chopped off (27 more pounds of skin to be exact).

Since then, I've gained about 30 of it back... and I'm here to lose those 30 plus ten more.

So, for me, there was lots of skin. Exercise didn't fix the issue, and I eventually had surgery to remove it.

Wouldn't change a thing, either! It was worth it!

This is a topic near and dear to me....I lost 100lbs and have maintained it, I have sagging skin on my hip area and plan to have it removed in June, but I also have kind of sagging skin in my thigh region. My big challenge in starting this whole MFP thing for me was to see if in 6 months I could effect the Thigh region with a little weight loss and toning. If I can't then Its getting a little tuck too. If I can, well that will be a blessing. The first time I lost 100lbs(i did it twice before i kept it off) the skin bounced back beautifully. But the 2nd time, there was not no hope!