How to deal with loose skin after weight loss?

weight training ... enough said

Need to also drink lots of water while weight training. Best way is to weight lift while losing it tightens everything as losing so there is less lose skin at the end!

Only plastic surgery can remove excess skin. It will tighten some on its own with proper exercise, but once the skin is stretched, it will not ever go back to the way it was.

Only plastic surgery can remove excess skin. It will tighten some on its own with proper exercise, but once the skin is stretched, it will not ever go back to the way it was.

I'd have to disagree....I believe yes some people require plastic surgery but not all. I've lost 100 lbs so far and my skin isn't as loose as I thought it would be. I find that it's from lifting more instead of only cardio, but this is only my opinion.

weight training ... enough said

As much as I resisted this...I now wholeheartedly agree. It has really tightened up my tummy in a short time!

What she said! I was very very resistant to the idea of weight training but oh my goodness, it tightened things up QUICK. Not perfect by any means, but a massive difference within a couple of weeks.
And make sure you are eating enough .

Only plastic surgery can remove excess skin. It will tighten some on its own with proper exercise, but once the skin is stretched, it will not ever go back to the way it was.

I'd have to disagree....I believe yes some people require plastic surgery but not all. I've lost 100 lbs so far and my skin isn't as loose as I thought it would be. I find that it's from lifting more instead of only cardio, but this is only my opinion.

I have very loose skin after losing 165 lbs over about 2 years (I didn't weight training during this time).. In the last few years I have done weight training (such as heavy lifts, squats/deadlifts and also circuit training and other forms of fitness).. it has made no difference. My loose skin is not going anywhere. I will consider plastic surgery when I'm at my goal weight but I hear it's pretty expensive. If you go overseas it's about 20k.

Thank you everyone!

ever need anything send me a message , i think I could give you some great advice

Only plastic surgery can remove excess skin. It will tighten some on its own with proper exercise, but once the skin is stretched, it will not ever go back to the way it was.

I'd have to disagree....I believe yes some people require plastic surgery but not all. I've lost 100 lbs so far and my skin isn't as loose as I thought it would be. I find that it's from lifting more instead of only cardio, but this is only my opinion.

I have very loose skin after losing 165 lbs over about 2 years (I didn't weight training during this time).. In the last few years I have done weight training (such as heavy lifts, squats/deadlifts and also circuit training and other forms of fitness).. it has made no difference. My loose skin is not going anywhere. I will consider plastic surgery when I'm at my goal weight but I hear it's pretty expensive. If you go overseas it's about 20k.

excessive weight loss will leave your skin loose and most likely beyond normal repair. I'm not surprised it never recovered after you lost 165lb, but good for you for losing all that weight.

If someone loses 20-30lb and are still relatively young then their skin will tighten up over time, it just takes a while longer. The skin is a living organ just like anything else, not an elastic band.

Thanks. Yep - I am sure if the OP has only lost a bit of weight it'll be fine. But for sure large amounts of weight loss will lead to excess skin which may not be fixed easily.

I was only 23 when I lost the weight so it wasn't like I was older or anything. I have spoken with a plastic surgeon and they said I'm carrying probably around 6kg (or 13 lbs) of excess skin.

I would love to know of anybody who has had similar loss and had their excess skin go away after a while.

Years ago when I was actually thin, I ONLY did cardio. I was never toned though. I am overweight now and have splurged on getting a personal trainer. She drills in my my head a few things to slim up, tone up, and help prevent the sagginess. Lots of protein, vegetables, water, and weight training. She is 53 and looks about 40 with an amazing body. I have been with her a couple months now. I am not always consistent with my diet or training, but I can definitely tell a difference in my legs and arms. I have lost several inches total and it is definitely not just hanging there.

I think sometimes if a person loses A LOT of weight quickly it will sag much easier. My mom had lost about a 100lbs on the Slim Fast diet. She was about 40yo. She only walked, no strength training, nor was the diet healthy. She had terrible saggy skin once she got older in her arms and neck. That was also from years of losing and gaining. I guess my point is, don't try to rush it. Work hard, eat well, and take care of yourself. It will come off, but it's best to gradually lose weight.

Many issues got into excessive skin. Age being the biggest one. Yes, from time to time weight training can help tighten up excessive skin...also known as skin sag. For me, my WLS surgeon said nothing but plastic surgery will help. I'm 50 and have lost 104 pounds...with 57 more to go.

I am going to start weight training on a BowFlex. But I don't have much hope of it tightening up my skin. There is no way weight training will tighen up all the skin sag I have.

He is 25yo male. I think his skin still has plenty of resiliency left. Unfortunately, age does decrease the collagen in the skin. Honestly, If I lost a ton of weight and was very unpleased with excessive saggy skin, I'd make the leap and save money to have it removed.

When I had my surgery there was very little fat... the apron of skin was removed, the broken muscle repaired and I was only 3 pounds lighter when all was said and done. I didn't have excess fat... only excess skin. Even after regaining some weight and losing it again I haven't had a return problem of excess skin, but I only regained 17 of the nearly 70 I'd lost before I had the surgery. I also waited 2 years after losing and keeping it off, plus doing everything else that had been suggested to me to help reduce the problem before deciding on the surgical option. It isn't cheap, but I saved up the money and my sick and vacation time at work and I am very happy with the result. It wasn't a short cut... it was a last resort, but one that I feel was 100% worth it.

When I had my surgery there was very little fat... the apron of skin was removed, the broken muscle repaired and I was only 3 pounds lighter when all was said and done. I didn't have excess fat... only excess skin. Even after regaining some weight and losing it again I haven't had a return problem of excess skin, but I only regained 17 of the nearly 70 I'd lost before I had the surgery. I also waited 2 years after losing and keeping it off, plus doing everything else that had been suggested to me to help reduce the problem before deciding on the surgical option. It isn't cheap, but I saved up the money and my sick and vacation time at work and I am very happy with the result. It wasn't a short cut... it was a last resort, but one that I feel was 100% worth it.

what did the surgeons tell you before having the surgery? did they say it was never going to go away without the surgery? if so, was it because of your age? or any other factors??

i am curious about this subject since there is not much about it online. it's hard to even find before/after photos of people who have had the surgery. from what i've seen on that Extreme Makeover show, the argument in favor of the surgery is always that the excess skin is causing skin rashes and getting in the way of exercise, but i don't recall them ever showing a doctor saying that surgery was the only way to get rid of the loose skin, just the fastest way.

My family doctor and I had long discussions about it both during and after my weight loss. Both she and the surgeon agreed I had done all I could to improve the situation on my own and if this loose, hanging apron of skin bothered me, surgery would be the only way to get rid of it. Part of it was just plain genetics and the rest circumstances and age. I was 57 when I had the surgery, but truly the issue started at 19 after I had my first baby and got worse with each following pregnancy and then after that big weight loss. For SOME women, the abdominal muscles cleave due to pregnancy. No exercise will repair that. My mother weighed 105 pounds and had that apron of skin and broken muscles. My sisters both have it. I had it and chose to deal with it. I never got rashes, but it was very embarrassing for me. Could I have gone on like that for the rest of my life? Sure! It wasn't going to kill me, but it was something, like losing weight, that I could fix, if not by exercise then by having surgery. I am a very self-confident person in every way, but doing this for ME gave me even more confidence, especially when I found myself off in the dating world again. I think it's a personal choice when all other options have failed. I did a lot of research online... lots of before and after pictures.... what the procedure entailed.... what it would achieve and what it wouldn't. It's not for everyone, and as I said, I feel all other options should be attempted FIRST.

Editing to add that if you google "tummy tuck" or "abdominoplasty" you will see examples of what some women deal with and why they chose this procedure.