I will have loose skin.

cherilyn666
cherilyn666 Posts: 50 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I used to be morbidly obese and now I am simply overweight with BMI of 27.

My tits are gone and there is no skin around there.

However, I am not confident I will have some skin under and around my bellybutton.

What does one do to get rid of it? Is surgery the only option?
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Replies

  • janestoaster
    janestoaster Posts: 7 Member
    Hello,

    Not sure, so please don't take this as gospel but I was told that if you lose weigh at a gradual, sensible pace the skins elastic will mean you shouldn't have too much lose skin, but if you lose it too quick you will. Again, not sure if this is right and if anyone else know please let me know too cause I have to admit, I'm a bit worried about this too.
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    I lost 90 lbs and have no loose skin whatsoever.

    So no, it is not your destiny. It's possible of course since everybody is different, there is absolutely a chance you won't have any.
  • Dulcemami4ever
    Dulcemami4ever Posts: 344 Member
    Not everyone will get loose skin. I think its based on genetics and how long you have been that way. I hear using an exfoliator scrub and vitamin E oil or capsules will help in repairing loose skin. But a lot of it is also time. They say to wait a bit after losing weight so that the skin has the chance to go back to normal. By the way congratz on your weight loss :) GL to you! :flowerforyou:
  • IIISpartacusIII
    IIISpartacusIII Posts: 252 Member
    At 23 there's a very good chance you won't have any loose skin at all. Your skin is still very elastic and can adapt to your smaller size and tighten up. You'll have to keep the stretch marks unless you have some laser surgery though they really aren't that bad. I have some stretch marks on my arms from when I once bulked up to try to add some more muscle. I found out that it was much better to gain slowly and not have to diet off the rest but I got stuck with some stretch marks but they really don't bother me.
  • rebbylicious
    rebbylicious Posts: 621 Member
    I wondered that too but here is my thinking... loose skin or big belly? I would rather have the loose skin
  • Onaughmae
    Onaughmae Posts: 873 Member
    Alot of it is based on genetics, and how long you were overweight. Everyone is different. Keep hydrated and moisturized. What is going to go back..will. If it doesn't all go back there is always surgery...or live with it. I have loose skin now and it gets worse daily :happy: I figure its better than fat filled skin any day of the week. For me, what doesnt go back a year after I get to goal will just get surgically removed!
  • Seaglass1123
    Seaglass1123 Posts: 500 Member
    I lost 90 lbs and have no loose skin whatsoever.

    So no, it is not your destiny. It's possible of course since everybody is different, there is absolutely a chance you won't have any.

    This. I lost 113 lbs and have very little loose saggy skin. My body is not perfect but I am toning up and I think I look oretty damn good considering. Try strength training to help with it. It also does depend on how long you were overweight and how quickly you lost it.
  • epie2098
    epie2098 Posts: 224 Member
    I have some loose skin, but my skin is not very elastic... the slower you lose the weight, the better, and skin does resolve a lot of looseness over time. Even though I have some loose skin, I still look smoking hot!
  • simplynaturalfarm
    simplynaturalfarm Posts: 73 Member
    I wondered that too but here is my thinking... loose skin or big belly? I would rather have the loose skin

    I was gonna say this - LIKE!
  • djc315
    djc315 Posts: 585 Member
    This is also a concern of mine.

    So far, I am good. Although I still have about 40-50 pounds to go (for a total of 80-90 pounds). I've noticed recently that my arms are like bat wings, or will be, so I started to do some arm exercises. I plan on starting weights soon too.
  • simplynaturalfarm
    simplynaturalfarm Posts: 73 Member
    ;
  • cherilyn666
    cherilyn666 Posts: 50 Member
    I used to have a BIG gut, as you can see from the picture. I don't think it can tighten up.

    And I don't want it to look like a giant *kitten*. I have two of those already.

    fatpeopler.jpg
  • djc315
    djc315 Posts: 585 Member
    I used to have a BIG gut, as you can see from the picture. I don't think it can tighten up.

    And I don't want it to look like a giant *kitten*. I have two of those already.

    fatpeopler.jpg

    You look great! You don't think you can tighten up? I bet you could!
  • jzammetti
    jzammetti Posts: 1,956 Member
    I lost my first 50 pounds too fast (1200 calorie diet!) so I do have some loose skin at my lower abdomen. I have read up on this a lot and most reputable sources say it can take up to 2 years after your loss for your elasticity to return.

    What I have found works for me in the meantime is the following:

    1. stay hydrated
    2. heavy lift adn eat at a reasonable deficit (burn fat)
    3. moisturize every day x2
    4. Use vitamin E oil at bedtime (sticky)

    I have seen improvement with these tools and am hopeful that even at 42 years old the sag will go completely away in time.
  • cherilyn666
    cherilyn666 Posts: 50 Member
    I lost my first 50 pounds at a 600 calorie diet, so I know exactly what you mean.

    Thanks all.
  • Flixie00
    Flixie00 Posts: 1,195 Member
    I am in my mid 40's, have lost weight gradually (over 100 lbs), have good genes, lift heavy and stay hydrated (I drink plenty of water and moisterise). I have a bit of a flabby belly and my boobs aren't what they were, but I would still feel confident wearing a bikini.

    You can do certain things to minimise loose skin, but cannot guarantee against it. The younger you are, the more likely your skin is likely to retain its elasticity, and genes are a major contributor. Whatever happens, you will in all likelihood look better at a healthy weight than obese.

    Good luck.
  • TigressPat
    TigressPat Posts: 722
    i think from your pics it will be fine in a year or so, especially if you lift a little!

    good job!
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    Seeing you guys saying that losing slowly helps reduce loose skin makes me a little thankful that I only lost 30 lbs last year!
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    I've lost 80 pounds with no loose skin. Granted, I've accomplished this over a 3.5 year period, so I haven't lost weight quickly. I've also done a lot of weight lifting as I've lost which I think helped.
  • siany01
    siany01 Posts: 319 Member
    I lost my first 50 pounds too fast (1200 calorie diet!) so I do have some loose skin at my lower abdomen. I have read up on this a lot and most reputable sources say it can take up to 2 years after your loss for your elasticity to return.

    What I have found works for me in the meantime is the following:

    1. stay hydrated
    2. heavy lift adn eat at a reasonable deficit (burn fat)
    3. moisturize every day x2
    4. Use vitamin E oil at bedtime (sticky)

    I have seen improvement with these tools and am hopeful that even at 42 years old the sag will go completely away in time.

    This^^ I was going to say the same thing. My Mum lost alot of weight and so did a good friend of mine, they were both told by their Dr's it can take up to 2 years for the skin to shrink back after loosing lots of weight. The older you are the harder it is but as you are young that won't be a factor for you. Work out, hydrate and carry on doing what you're doing.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    But have any of you done it at MY age (60's) and didn't have loose skin?? This is my big worry.
  • JeneticTraining
    JeneticTraining Posts: 663 Member
    I actually HAD loose skin. I have lost 30 pounds. I had loose skin on my arms and belly. I just do free weights and core strengthening workouts. Also, cocoa butter is your best friend. :)

    I do not have loose skin anymore.
  • melindasuefritz
    melindasuefritz Posts: 3,509 Member
    has nothing to do with genetics and how long u wa s over weight. toning exercise s that tone stomach - crunches
  • TigressPat
    TigressPat Posts: 722
    has nothing to do with genetics and how long u wa s over weight. toning exercise s that tone stomach - crunches

    uh... no
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    has nothing to do with genetics and how long u wa s over weight. toning exercise s that tone stomach - crunches

    Not at all true. If your skin is stretched by being morbidly obese (like I was), you cannot exercise it back into shape. It is either elastic enough to recover in a couple of years, or it is not & this varies greatly from person to person. You can definitely exercise & tone the muscle under the skin, but many people still have loose skin in the belly, under the arms, & the thighs that only surgery can really resolve. I have skin around my middle & on my thighs that I am hoping will shrink back, but if not I'll have surgery to correct it. Even without the surgery, I look so much better in my clothes & am so much happier that it's well worth it. I think about this every time I run up the stairs & my thigh skin flaps---happy I can now run up the stairs, grossed out by the skin :frown: .
  • purple_power61
    purple_power61 Posts: 59 Member
    This is an interesting topic and one that I needed to read because in my head I tell myself to lose the weight slowly and be patient!
  • SweetestLibby
    SweetestLibby Posts: 607 Member
    has nothing to do with genetics and how long u wa s over weight. toning exercise s that tone stomach - crunches

    FALSE!! This is just not at all true.

    OP, moisturize and LIFT. It will help reduce the amount of loose skin. I've lost almost 100 lbs - 5 foot 4 and a small frame and I have some loose skin around my middle, hips, and butt. The skin does not shrink back as fast as you are able to lose the weight. Slower weight loss actually helped limit the amount of loose skin that I had and it's getting better with more lifting.
  • ltowns11
    ltowns11 Posts: 134 Member
    Agreed! The slow weight lose is looking so much better now!!!!

    Seeing you guys saying that losing slowly helps reduce loose skin makes me a little thankful that I only lost 30 lbs last year!
    [/quote]
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    The number one thing that accounts for skin elasticity is age! How fast you lose weight does nothing for skin elasticity. It only seems that way because the skin will adhere back to your body very slowly. To give you an idea of how slow, skin elasticity is known to take up to 2 years to adhere back to a body of a pregnant woman but again, your age will play a huge roll into how fast this process works. Primary example, pinch a new born baby and watch his cheeks snap right back into place but pinch an 80 year old man and watch his skin sag. Your skin will begin to lose it's elasticity after the age 30. I forgot the rate on how fast skin elasticity degrades but just know that it does after the age of 30. I'm sorry people but there is no known fountain of youth other than keeping your skin moist and making sure you have enough vitamins that help your skin. However, it is believed by some people that HGH proteins help. You can increase your HGH proteins by doing HIIT workouts, sleeping, and fasting. Fasting has shown to increase HGH proteins by as much as 2000% in men after a 24 hour period.
  • fresh_start59
    fresh_start59 Posts: 590 Member
    The number one thing that accounts for skin elasticity is age!

    I'm screwed. I had better prepare myself for a face of a Shar Pei and the ankles of an elephant. I've already got the bat wings.

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