For those of you that have lost 50+lbs....

jenlayport
jenlayport Posts: 154 Member
edited September 24 in Health and Weight Loss
Have you had trouble w/ loose skin? Is it possible to get rid of loose skin without surgery? I am losing my weight at a steady pace but after two kids Im so scared my belly will have extra skin that won't ever go away.

Replies

  • ChefJenn
    ChefJenn Posts: 350 Member
    i lost 140 pounds and I had a 9 pound baby and once I lost the weight I had to have a tummy tuck..
    WELL WORTH EVERY DIME
  • melleyd
    melleyd Posts: 432 Member
    I lost 110 pounds and had to have a tummy tuck and breast lift. And I still have loose skin! I fear I may have to have another one.....

    It was definitely worth it. All those big purple ugly stretch marks on my stomach were just cut away! :)
  • mfcisthatyou
    mfcisthatyou Posts: 11
    I've lost about 130 and definitely need a tummy tuck. my other concern is my thighs. There is a lot of loose skin in that area and I don't think I'll ever be able to tighten that up. If anyone has any tricks on how to tighten these areas without surgery it would be appreciated!
  • Eyvette1
    Eyvette1 Posts: 76 Member
    How much was your tummy tucks and how long is the recouperation time? I know I am going to need one.
  • CaptainGordo
    CaptainGordo Posts: 4,437 Member
    My favorite weight loss blog, and a huge part of my inspiration to start my own journey, is 344pounds.com. You can see Tyler's thoughts on loose skin after huge weight loss here: http://www.344pounds.com/category/loose-skin.
  • RedneckWmn
    RedneckWmn Posts: 3,202 Member
    I'm at almost 50 pounsd lost and don't have any issues with lose skin yet. I've got another 40 or 50 to go. I have doing strength training along with cardio and using the skin firming lotion. Don't know if it really helps but it couldn't hurt.
  • ricnrac
    ricnrac Posts: 95 Member
    bump. I want to know!
  • sblades
    sblades Posts: 75
    At my thinnest, I'd lost almost 75 lbs.
    I don't have any kids and I still have lots of loose skin - it's hard to deal with for sure. You're so proud of how far you've come but still are upset by what's left behind. I've heard hydration is really important for skin texture, but I really don't think that my loose skin will ever go away without surgery. Good luck!
  • MochaMixAZ
    MochaMixAZ Posts: 844 Member
    I've lost about 250 pounds and had 24 pounds of extra skin. I had it removed with a body lift and tuck. Was a lot, but worth it. With that much skin, it simply wasn't going to snap back.
  • ka_42
    ka_42 Posts: 720 Member
    Lost 65 and have loose skin. I've read to allow your body 6 months to get your skin to tighten up and I notice mine getting tighter all the time. My boobs are where it is the most noticeable :( but they were saggy before (Sorry- TMI but it's the truth!) and they're less saggy after losing weight. I'm hoping that my skin will keep tightening and help that! The most important thing is to lose slow and moisturize! It really does help! My stretch marks used to be ugly and purple and now they're hardly noticeable. However, if someone were to offer me surgery I would totally take the opportunity (I'd feel a lot more confident) but it's absolutely not in my budget!
  • amehrkens
    amehrkens Posts: 162 Member
    I am 114lbs down and gave birth to 4 babies all over 9lbs....I need a tummy tuck! I have tons of loose skin on my belly. I do have some on my thighs and arms but I don't worry about them as much. I would love a tummy tuck but I have a hard time paying for it! I will never wear a bikini so for the time being I will live with it. Also the extra skin is a daily reminder for me of how big I once was and how badly I never want to go back!
  • pcteck2
    pcteck2 Posts: 184 Member
    I have lost 58 pounds in a year and I have lots of loose skin. Fact is I would rather have loose skin than fat. One can had loose skin with control garments. No way can one hide the fat.
  • nejohn
    nejohn Posts: 62
    My favorite weight loss blog, and a huge part of my inspiration to start my own journey, is 344pounds.com. You can see Tyler's thoughts on loose skin after huge weight loss here: http://www.344pounds.com/category/loose-skin.



    Thanks for referring to the website!
  • shreddingit
    shreddingit Posts: 1,133 Member
    I thought I was gonna have extra skin in my arms and thighs but no..if you focus on toning it will tighten up...now if your too overweight like the ppl on BL then yea loose skin...
  • nejohn
    nejohn Posts: 62
    Lost 65 and have loose skin. I've read to allow your body 6 months to get your skin to tighten up and I notice mine getting tighter all the time. My boobs are where it is the most noticeable :( but they were saggy before (Sorry- TMI but it's the truth!) and they're less saggy after losing weight. I'm hoping that my skin will keep tightening and help that! The most important thing is to lose slow and moisturize! It really does help! My stretch marks used to be ugly and purple and now they're hardly noticeable. However, if someone were to offer me surgery I would totally take the opportunity (I'd feel a lot more confident) but it's absolutely not in my budget!

    I've heard the same thing about allowing some time, your skin will tighten up a little. I have a good friend that lost around 80 pounds and she said after a year her arms tightened up considerably. I have a lot of excess skin too and have looked into getting a tummy tuck. I've done, still do, a lot of toning with light weights and bands..... don't know if it helps but it can't hurt.
  • 00trayn
    00trayn Posts: 1,849 Member
    Maybe I have youth and the lack of children on my side, but I've lost 65 lbs and loose skin hasn't become an issue yet. I have another 10-15 lbs to go and I've been losing slowly while strength training (65 lbs was lost over the span of a year and a half). I'm still not done losing weight and I can't predict what my stomach will look like without the fat that's still underneath it, but so far it's just a bit jiggly from the fat, not the skin. If anywhere is an issue, it's my upper arms are a little flabby (bat wings basically) but it's not really that noticeable unless I'm holding out my arms and turning them so it hangs down.

    So, in short, there is hope it might not be an issue but I can imagine if I had 100+ pounds to lose it would be. I went from 215 to 150 without any major skin elasticity issues. And I'm hoping to get to 135 and look normal. My plan is to lose slowly (I'm actually having plateau issues now), build muscle, and eat protein. I'd never get surgery so I'm hoping for the best!
  • khk2010
    khk2010 Posts: 451 Member
    I have lost 57 pounds so far and am over 50. I am really happy about it but wonder how my skin will end up looking by the end of my weight loss journey. I am planning to get to the high end of my healthy BMI and then deciding how much further to go. The loose skin might prevent me from losing the full amount of weight that I want to. I want to be healthy and look healthy and great.

    I am curious about those big losers on the biggest losers show. They lose quickly and lose a lot. I know they work out a lot and would be building muscle. But I never hear about their loose skin. Anyone else?

    I have heard about a laser procedure that can tighten skin anywhere on the body. I suppose it depends on how much. I would look into that before I go for surgery.
  • ickybella
    ickybella Posts: 1,438 Member
    I have lost just over 100 pounds and the only place that seems to be threatening loose skin is my stomach. It was always a bit hangy, so I can't be sure what it will look like when I get to my goal. Maybe the skin will tighten up. Maybe not. My arms are a little flabby at the top too, but they get smaller every month, so I think they will be fine. I have lost so many inches off my thighs, but the skin there has shrunk up pretty well. Also, I had fat rolls on my back before and my back is nice and toned now. I am hoping that, by focusing on toning, I can beat it, but I'm not sure yet. It probably helps that I work out so much, and that I'm young.
  • khk2010
    khk2010 Posts: 451 Member
    Here is a good link on loose skin.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/218403-how-to-remove-loose-skin/
  • bluerose9483
    bluerose9483 Posts: 686 Member
    I have lost 49 lbs and I don't have any problems just yet. When I weighed my pre pregnancy weight, I was at 140 and I didn't have any lose skin. I was overweight in Middle and part of High school, and then lost it all and then gained when I had my two kids....,but so far, no loose skin.
  • Kminor67
    Kminor67 Posts: 900 Member
    My husband lost 150 lbs and had a tummy tuck. He was literally out of it on pain meds for 6 weeks. Didn't return to work for 8-9 weeks. It was a grueling surgery, and he had complications with the drains they put in, and a LOT of pain. He wasn't thrilled with it, and he actually said that if he could go back in time he wouldn't have had it. His surgeon was terrific, and part of the problem is he had a 12-inch hernia that had to be repaired along with the tummy tuck, but his experience was miserable. I think that I would stick with the loose skin.
  • katapple
    katapple Posts: 1,108 Member
    I have lost a total of 80lbs and yes, I have loose skin. Most noticeable in the belly area. While the flap isn't as large as it once was, it's still there a year later at the same weight. I was all gung ho on getting a tummy tuck, but I just don't want to spend the money or recovery time on it. Instead I'm getting eye surgery :) My husband is happy with my body, so i am happy with my body. I look awesome with clothes on ;-P
  • crystaldougherty
    crystaldougherty Posts: 59 Member
    I've lost 116lbs and no problems with loose skin yet. I've always had a flabby underhang in my armpit area, but its shrinking...Try to tone as much as possible.
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