Sagging Skin after Weight Loss

99cherrypie99 · October 2012

I lost 227 pounds and did everything "right". Exercise, lost weight slowly, moisturized, strength train, drank lots of water and I still had a TREMENDOUS amount of extra skin. It was removed earlier this year - over 7 pounds of skin. I documented the process - including before and after pics - in my blog - jenhudsonmosher.blogspot.com. The procedure cost $12,000 and my insurance paid a whopping $1,000.

vypeters · October 2012

I have good news and bad news.

First the bad news: Your sagging skin will be what it will be. It's determined by factors like genetics, how you carry your weight, how obese you are, how long you've been obese, how old you are and (oddly enough) how fair your skin is. None of these things are in your control. Nothing 'tightens' the skin.

Things that don't work: creams, lotions, potions, pills and the mythical 'losing weight slowly'

Thing that kinda appears to work: weights. Lifting has zero affect on the skin itself, what it does is fill out some of the skin with musle instead of fat. Result is that the skin is less loose because there's something healthy filling it out. However, this can only go so far when you've lost 150+ lbs (just over 180 in my case).

The only thing that actually works: Plastics.

I can't afford plastics. At 180.5 lbs lost I have:
-draping skin on my upper arms and my thighs
-baggy skin on my calves, butt, where my back boobs used to be and a little on my tummy (I never had a big gut).

My solution: Bermuda shorts and 3/4 sleeves. I even swim in board shorts.

Now the good news: I have my life back. It used to hurt to walk from the car to the store, now I go on 10-mile mountain hikes. More good news: The skin is no uglier than the fat was (trust me, the bulges don't look good) and at least now I look fabulous in clothes.

Seriously, my advice: the skin is going to be what it is. Get healthy. Do some lifting. See where you are and if you're in a position at some point to do plastics and the skin really bugs you, have it cut off.

Good luck.

Onaughmae · October 2012

I'm just wondering what everyone thinks about this subject. I have over 150 pounds to lose and I'm concerned about leftover skin. How much is the surgery to have it removed? Does anyone know? Also, how much recovery time would there be?

Really hope someone answers this. It's early to be asking, but I'm seriously wondering.

Well...I am sagging where no girl should sag

But...rather have loose saggy skin than fat filled skin any day! When I am done I will see what insurance will cover...and then I will deal with what it wont cover. Started saving my pennies!

Onaughmae · October 2012

sorry jumping on your topic- but i was wondering if anybody losing weight uses compression garments or anything else for loose tummy or thighs?

Spanx is my friend :happy:

italiankrystal26 · October 2012

I've been overweight my whole life unfortunately. I'm 27, have super fair skin and as for genetics, I'm not sure. I kinda got the weird ones out of my family. hahaha
I have about 60lbs I'd love to lose... But I worry about the whole "Sag" problem as well. I carry most of my weight in my belly...
Im kind of scared of doctors due to prior issues with a surgery. But yea. I hope it can bouce back, we shall see!

Goodluck everyone! Any and all tips are appreciated!

fibronut · October 2012

I, too, am worried about sag. I'm about 40 pounds down from the total of the 150+ I want (intend!!!) to lose. I know that my insurance will not cover skin removal as long as it is considered "cosmetic." However, I was told that if a medical reason was found to do it, ie., the skin rubbing against skin and chafing, leading to infection, etc., then it would be covered. I wouldn't doubt that a certain timeframe will have to have passed as well ... it makes sense.

So for me, I'm going to lose the weight and worry about the extra skin thing later, perhaps saving some money in the mean time if I can swing it. I'm dropping slowly and exercising, and hoping that works. Oh, and I had heard about the Prep H trick before, but that can only do so much. :happy:

Good luck to you all!

ellehcimyelhsa · October 2012

So here is my story. I have lost 92 pounds and I am seeing the skin. I have been strength training and cardio from day one and I can see muscle definition and I know my body is strong however with losing this much weight (with about 70 more to go) I know skin will be an issue. I thought (logically) that if I wore compression garments or shapers during exercise that it would surely help. Then I read a huge report how women who do this are actually exercising less because the shaper doesn't allow them to breathe as easily as we would without it so the exercise suffers. I stopped wearing it.

The next trick I read was just to say super hydrated (which isn't a problem for me) and use a nice repairing lotion 2x a day. I have been doing this for about 2 months now (using Skin so Soft skin repair from avon) and I can really tell a difference. As I strength train and do this routine it seems as if my arms are getting better and my stomach, well, we're working on it.

I asked my DR about surgery (I can't run, my skin kinda slaps around) and he said unless we can find a medical reason to take it off he would recommend waiting two years after my goal weight to look into surgery. He said skin can change up to two years after extreme weight loss and with my age (23) I may be surprised on how it can bounce back. He was also very happy to hear about the lotion routine.

Do I hate my skin? Yes, however Rome wasn't built in a day and I am hell-bent determined to try to tone up as much as I can before I go under the knife.

^THIS! Your skin can take much longer to repair itself, but it does repair itself. It might not be perfect, but I'd be willing to wait an extra year or so to save a couple grand and not have to recover from a surgery. My doctor has told me the same basic idea. I just had a baby and then lost 44 lbs!

DCHound · October 2012

Hi everyone. Compression garmets don't work when you're losing but in theory when you get to a very low BMI they can help somewhat - I had a friend try one after losing down to a very low BMI and it did make a difference. The burn victim/skin graft thing is an urban myth.

Sweetalker is absolutely right - for a lot of people, what we think of as excess skin is actually excess hanging fat covered by skin. Getting down to a very low BMI is really important. Lifting heavy weights is really important too. And there are plenty of other treatments that help, including a variety of vitamins, minerals and extracts, dry skin brushing, rebounding, and more. NASA scientists studied rebounding in particular and found that it *does* tighten skin--takes time, but it works.

Ladytinkerbel's Preparation H tip does work around eyes to some extent so I've heard but I don't think it would do anything for a saggy belly, arms, etc.

The good news, for most folks, is if they can get down to the very low BMI, a lot of that skin will tighten up on its own over time. Many folks report that the trouble areas didn't clear up til they lost the last 5-10 lbs. But there are steps you can take along the way to help your skin out.

I have a website (www.firmlooseskin.com) and a book (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009MT4588/ref=nosim?tag=firlooski-20&linkCode=sb1&camp=212353&creative=380549) dedicated to the topic that I researched the heck out of. You can read the first few chapters of the book on Scribd (http://www.scribd.com/doc/109857643/Firm-Loose-Skin-Book-Preview).

Best of luck to you Chemalurgy on your weight loss journey! I've lost almost 200 lbs since 2008 and it's a marathon, not a sprint, but TOTALLY worth doing. Your life will change in ways you can't even imagine right now.

JennPrebs · October 2012

So here is my story. I have lost 92 pounds and I am seeing the skin. I have been strength training and cardio from day one and I can see muscle definition and I know my body is strong however with losing this much weight (with about 70 more to go) I know skin will be an issue. I thought (logically) that if I wore compression garments or shapers during exercise that it would surely help. Then I read a huge report how women who do this are actually exercising less because the shaper doesn't allow them to breathe as easily as we would without it so the exercise suffers. I stopped wearing it.

The next trick I read was just to say super hydrated (which isn't a problem for me) and use a nice repairing lotion 2x a day. I have been doing this for about 2 months now (using Skin so Soft skin repair from avon) and I can really tell a difference. As I strength train and do this routine it seems as if my arms are getting better and my stomach, well, we're working on it.

I asked my DR about surgery (I can't run, my skin kinda slaps around) and he said unless we can find a medical reason to take it off
he would recommend waiting two years after my goal weight to look into surgery. He said skin can change up to two years after extreme weight loss and with my age (23) I may be surprised on how it can bounce back. He was also very happy to hear about the lotion routine.

Do I hate my skin? Yes, however Rome wasn't built in a day and I am hell-bent determined to try to tone up as much as I can before I go under the knife.

Ty i needed to hear this

OnMyWay4 · October 2012

Speaking as someone who knows someone who went through dramatic weight loss (I went with her to her doctor appointments)....

That "extra skin" isn't really extra skin. It's stretched skin with fat underneath. More fat to lose. The "flap" is more common for those who lose weight with diet - and not as much with exercise.

The non-surgical answer? Exercise more. Skin is elastic; it is made to "snap" back into place and it will do so, if the fat underneath is worked away, whether that's through exercise or surgery.

I can prove this! If the above was not true, then every woman who ever went through a pregnancy would have to have surgery to "repair" her sagging belly after the baby was born. Nope - she just has to lose more weight.

So yes, you will lose the "inner" fat first, but don't panic - keep losing (through exercise!) and you'll work off that "extra skin" (really just flab underneath).

My friend did it, so can you!

I'm with you on this one. I've had 3 CSections and I had a HORRIBLE "flap" that is now almost completely gone. I was worried about excess skin but as I lost weight my skin seemed to follow. I'm still having trouble losing the last little bit above my scar but its a lot better from where I started.

vienna26 · October 2012

Speaking as someone who knows someone who went through dramatic weight loss (I went with her to her doctor appointments)....

That "extra skin" isn't really extra skin. It's stretched skin with fat underneath. More fat to lose. The "flap" is more common for those who lose weight with diet - and not as much with exercise.

The non-surgical answer? Exercise more. Skin is elastic; it is made to "snap" back into place and it will do so, if the fat underneath is worked away, whether that's through exercise or surgery.

I can prove this! If the above was not true, then every woman who ever went through a pregnancy would have to have surgery to "repair" her sagging belly after the baby was born. Nope - she just has to lose more weight.

So yes, you will lose the "inner" fat first, but don't panic - keep losing (through exercise!) and you'll work off that "extra skin" (really just flab underneath).

My friend did it, so can you!

I'm with you on this one. I've had 3 CSections and I had a HORRIBLE "flap" that is now almost completely gone. I was worried about excess skin but as I lost weight my skin seemed to follow. I'm still having trouble losing the last little bit above my scar but its a lot better from where I started.

Aww this has just put my mind at ease i was thinking a tummy tuck was the only option mine is only a lil bulge left again just above my scar but im working in getting rid of it completely and hoping using my kettlebells will hopefully do the job :-)

hikingcole · March 2014

I lost 140+ pounds seven years ago and have kept it off. I walked a LOT and watched carbs. It took me a year to lose the weight. I DO have lose skin. I am now 52 years old. My tummy doesn't look bad at all unless I bed forward and then I have a small amount of loose skin, however I contribute this to some intestinal problems I have had due to lactose intolerance and allergies to certain foods I have discovered that cause my abdomen to swell to the size of about seven or eight month pregnancy belly and then goes down a few hours later, IF I'M LUCKY!

My bottom and my legs are my biggest problem as far as saggy, loose skin. I have the underarm "wave" and the loose skin over the bra (just under the arms). I do NOT have fat there and very little in my legs or butt at this point so unlike a post I read earlier, it is not fat under the skin that is causing my issue. My doctor even told me I am losing too much weight and advised me to stop for the sake of my muscle because I do not have enough fat. My BMI is 22. Not too shabby for 52, eh?

I have gone from a size 22 (going into a 24) to a size 2. I do enjoy my new size but wish I could afford to have the excess skin removed. I simply cannot afford to take the time off of work and honestly, I don't want to spend my entire savings on surgery and give up on a dream my husband and I are working toward.

I walk more than five miles a day on my job and lift some weight from time to time. The aerobic exercise, in my opinion, is the best way to go.

Just to introduce myself and tell my experience with loose skin.

Hikingcole

Sagging Skin after Weight Loss

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