Loose skin recovery
tacticalcraptical
Posts: 20 Member
So over the last 2 years I have lost about 120 lbs through diet and exercise. I have been working hard over the last 5 months to build muscle, it's going well and I feel great. I am 31 years old, I am 6'2", I weigh 185 lbs and I am sitting around 13% body fat. I am pretty proud of myself but one thing frustrates me.
I have a bit (not tons) of loose skin on my stomach that just is not tightening up after all this time. Anyone have any input as to why this might be? How long it will take? Is there anything I can do to work towards fixing this?
I have a bit (not tons) of loose skin on my stomach that just is not tightening up after all this time. Anyone have any input as to why this might be? How long it will take? Is there anything I can do to work towards fixing this?
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Replies
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From what I have read on the topic....time, training and Cocoa butter. Often the weight loss is at a faster rate than the skins elasticity can recover, but with more time, it will continue to tighten up and if you are doing intense training to build muscle during that time, it helps the skin keep tightening more and then moisturizer on a regular basis, i like a quality cocoa butter with no alcohol or petroleum jelly, but, any quality lotion will do, as long as you use it every day. These are the most effective non-surgical ways to minimize loose skin.0
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I do use a cocoa butter based body wash, due to life long trouble with dry skin but I will try the lotion as well for after the shower. Thanks for the recommendation!0
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Time and genetics will determine your final skin situation. A bit of loose skin after losing 100+ pounds is to be expected. It very well may be permanently. I'm not trying to be a downer but I think we need to be realistic about our bodies' abilities to "snap back" after weight loss.0
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Jem is kind of right, but, at a year after weight loss, I think you still have more time before you decide that you are stuck with that skin, I've read a few stories on bodybuilding.com that talked about several years for loose skin to recover from a drastic weight loss(100+)0
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Congrats on your loss, sounds like you've been working hard and achieved a lot of success.
Lotions and creams temporarily plump the skin. Women (and men) spend obscene amounts of money on skin tightening creams for their face that don't do anything. Money that would probably be better spent on botox. And this is for their face, a place that typically doesn't store or lose 10's of pounds of fat.
You could consider surgery if it seems that the passage of time has done all it can do, but then I think the question then becomes about if you want to go through surgery, recovery, deal with a new scar (which can often be quite gruesome, imo, even when fully healed) or potential complications (even more gruesome possibilities here). Many people have had surgery and had great results, though, hence the dilemma.
I don't believe there's anything you can do apart from accepting it, hoping time will take care of it, or surgery.0 -
Loose skin is likely if one has more than 80+lbs to lose. Genetics and age will determine whether or not retraction will happen.
Contrary to popular belief, using any product that only treats the surface (epidermis) doesn't affect the dermis below when it comes to things like stretch marks or loose skin with the possible exception of moisturizing. Skin products don't remove excess tissue.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.0 -
OOOHHH I'm in after that comment0
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Well, my doctor -- who specializes in bariatric surgery -- and my dermatologist agree with the fitness trainer.0
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No one threw around credentials. They are simply in his signature. He's 100% correct, and it's fairly obvious that you are just trolling...ikeATtheGYM wrote: »I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
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ikeATtheGYM wrote: »I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
You must be new around here.0 -
ikeATtheGYM wrote: »I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
He was absolutely right. Lotions moisturize the epidermis and that's all they do. Loose skin is not a disease.0 -
Prescribed medications that treat diseases? Leave your itch cream out of this......0
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ikeATtheGYM wrote: »I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
He didn't say creams and lotions didn't moisturize. He said, "Skin products don't remove excess tissue." Are you really disputing that?0 -
ikeATtheGYM wrote: »Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
Good observation, but sagging has nothing to do with the outer surface of the skin.0 -
I've also lost quite a bit of weight in the last year. I've got a LOT of loose skin, mostly in stomach area, but in other places, too. I see it like this.... If it goes away some day, wonderful. If not, I am waaaaay lighter than I was about a year ago, and I'm going to focus on keeping that off and be happy for the health benefits I gain from the weight loss. But I totally get that we are all different. But I'd just say to you, don't let that bit of extra skin define you. You did, and continue to do, the hard part - getting healthier. Congratulations!0
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tacticalcraptical wrote: »So over the last 2 years I have lost about 120 lbs through diet and exercise. I have been working hard over the last 5 months to build muscle, it's going well and I feel great. I am 31 years old, I am 6'2", I weigh 185 lbs and I am sitting around 13% body fat. I am pretty proud of myself but one thing frustrates me.
I have a bit (not tons) of loose skin on my stomach that just is not tightening up after all this time. Anyone have any input as to why this might be? How long it will take? Is there anything I can do to work towards fixing this?
If I read this post, you are only 5 months out from when you stopped losing weight. It will take 2 years of maintaining to see what will happen with your loose skin. Basically, 5 months is not enough for your skin to totally recover. When you have maintained for 2 years, and you still have loose skin, then what you have left is likely where it will stay.0 -
First off, congrats on your weight loss... that's a great accomplishment. I lost 160 pounds and am significantly older than you (46) and I have some loose skin as well. I know that it's probably easier for me to deal with it since I'm an old man, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. My doctor referred me to a plastic surgeon who could get rid of it for me, but I have no interest. Even though I don't do much to get rid of it, it does seem to be getting smaller... I don't think it will ever go away completely, but I'm cool with that. The way look at it is it's like a scar that represents where I've been and how far I've come... it's also serves as a reminder that I never want to go back there.0
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rileysowner wrote: »tacticalcraptical wrote: »So over the last 2 years I have lost about 120 lbs through diet and exercise. I have been working hard over the last 5 months to build muscle, it's going well and I feel great. I am 31 years old, I am 6'2", I weigh 185 lbs and I am sitting around 13% body fat. I am pretty proud of myself but one thing frustrates me.
I have a bit (not tons) of loose skin on my stomach that just is not tightening up after all this time. Anyone have any input as to why this might be? How long it will take? Is there anything I can do to work towards fixing this?
If I read this post, you are only 5 months out from when you stopped losing weight. It will take 2 years of maintaining to see what will happen with your loose skin. Basically, 5 months is not enough for your skin to totally recover. When you have maintained for 2 years, and you still have loose skin, then what you have left is likely where it will stay.
Yes, I've read it takes about two years in maintenance for the skin to finish tightening up.0 -
ikeATtheGYM wrote: »I love seeing certified trainers, throw around their credentials, as if they know as much as a dermatologist(a Medical Doctor) or a scientist that makes lotion, and the DR or scientists have a longer list of even more impressive titles and educational accomplishments.
Lotion and cream works to moisturize skin!!!! That's why it's used so widely and even in many prescribed medical lotions that treat diseases.
Unmoisturized skin and loose skin are not the same thing. In addition, medical syrups and suppositories are often prescribed to treat diseases too. It doesn't mean they'll shrink overly stretched skin.0 -
short of surgery (which has its own issues) there isn't anything you can do to REMOVE it. Time, genetics and strength training can help the appearance. lotions and creams can help moisturize, and PERHAPS help SOME elasticity, BUT i think any major difference, or even any notable difference, other than overall skin FEEL, would not be likely.
Once you get to maintenance, work on weights and give it a couple of years to see what your skin does, and at that point you can evaluate more serious options (ie: surgery)0 -
Ok, people, some of you are missing my point.
First, skin is not a static organism!
You are constantly shedding layers of skin. And producing more skin cells, until you die!
Just like you can train your muscles, your heart, lungs, brain to the point that they are transformed...so to can your skin.
Lotion by itself will not do it...exactly like protein powder by itself does nothing! BUT, when you combine protein powder with good weight training and dieting, you will get some noticeable benefits....same is to be said for moisturizing. It helps the skin(a living transformable organism) to do its transformation smoother faster healthier.
But without proper diet and exercise it is going to be much less effective, if not all...0 -
Thanks for all of the information. The information regarding it taking 2 years to recover is good to know. It really has been 5 months or less since I stopped losing wait and the loose skin actually has recovered quite a bit already so I am sure it just needs more time. I appreciate the information that helps me see the time scale and for the information that helps keep my expectations in check.
Maybe I am just being shallow in regards to all this but I have kind of been gunning for the six pack. I have really started to see some definition come through on my abs in the last few weeks and I feel like if the loose skin was gone, the definition would be even better. But I know I can't get too over anxious about it, just as it has taken time for me to get to this point, it will take more time to get to that point as well.0 -
Some of you are very negative and like to debunk or shoot down others so much, you refuse to see the original statement.
I said exercise, time and some lotion are it for non-surgical methods. This is a fact! I did not say what percentage of impact would come from what element. And then all of the "need to dispute" people chime in and fixate on the lotion aspect of my statement, so, they can feel smart when they talk about epidermis and how smart they are and wrong I am?
I did not say lotion tightens skin....I said it is an accepted element of skin improvement strategy.
Get over yourselves and offer some positive solutions instead of fixating on disputing my comments!0 -
This is still wrong. No one stated the skin is a static organ, we simply said lotion does not fix loose skin so you are attacking the straw man. Lotion is not going to fix loose skin. Lotion with proper diet and exercise isn't going to fix loose skin. The key components to loose skin correction are genetics and time. Those are both non modifiable variables. Protein powder is a terrible example. It doesn't do anything aside from add protein to one's diet. It's no different than a chicken breast in the terms of body composition and training results. Moisturizing skin has it's benefits, and anyone should feel free to do it, but it does not help in the correction of loose skin in any significant manner. The OP must simply see over time how his skin responds. Outside of that, surgery is the only other option that will significantly change his skin.ikeATtheGYM wrote: »Ok, people, some of you are missing my point.
First, skin is not a static organism!
You are constantly shedding layers of skin. And producing more skin cells, until you die!
Just like you can train your muscles, your heart, lungs, brain to the point that they are transformed...so to can your skin.
Lotion by itself will not do it...exactly like protein powder by itself does nothing! BUT, when you combine protein powder with good weight training and dieting, you will get some noticeable benefits....same is to be said for moisturizing. It helps the skin(a living transformable organism) to do its transformation smoother faster healthier.
But without proper diet and exercise it is going to be much less effective, if not all...
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tacticalcraptical wrote: »Thanks for all of the information. The information regarding it taking 2 years to recover is good to know. It really has been 5 months or less since I stopped losing wait and the loose skin actually has recovered quite a bit already so I am sure it just needs more time. I appreciate the information that helps me see the time scale and for the information that helps keep my expectations in check.
Maybe I am just being shallow in regards to all this but I have kind of been gunning for the six pack. I have really started to see some definition come through on my abs in the last few weeks and I feel like if the loose skin was gone, the definition would be even better. But I know I can't get too over anxious about it, just as it has taken time for me to get to this point, it will take more time to get to that point as well.
I know how you feel. I haven't lost as much as you have but I see the results and whats going to happen and its frustrating! I can feel how strong parts of my body are but the loose skin is def there and it's incredibly frustrating. Hopefully your skin keeps recovering. I would love to hear an update as you notice a difference!0 -
This is still wrong. No one stated the skin is a static organ, we simply said lotion does not fix loose skin so you are attacking the straw man. Lotion is not going to fix loose skin. Lotion with proper diet and exercise isn't going to fix loose skin. The key components to loose skin correction are genetics and time. Those are both non modifiable variables. Protein powder is a terrible example. It doesn't do anything aside from add protein to one's diet. It's no different than a chicken breast in the terms of body composition and training results. Moisturizing skin has it's benefits, and anyone should feel free to do it, but it does not help in the correction of loose skin in any significant manner. The OP must simply see over time how his skin responds. Outside of that, surgery is the only other option that will significantly change his skin.ikeATtheGYM wrote: »Ok, people, some of you are missing my point.
First, skin is not a static organism!
You are constantly shedding layers of skin. And producing more skin cells, until you die!
Just like you can train your muscles, your heart, lungs, brain to the point that they are transformed...so to can your skin.
Lotion by itself will not do it...exactly like protein powder by itself does nothing! BUT, when you combine protein powder with good weight training and dieting, you will get some noticeable benefits....same is to be said for moisturizing. It helps the skin(a living transformable organism) to do its transformation smoother faster healthier.
But without proper diet and exercise it is going to be much less effective, if not all...
What did the op ask?
"Is there anything I can do?"
Your answer is wait(time)
My answer is that traditional strategy for proactively working on lose skin is to:
Train weights
Give it some more time
And use lotion.
Please look at the replies! You can tell the negative people because they refute, dispute and dilute my reply by focusing on the lotion aspect.
Fact is I'm still 100% correct about what the proactive strategy is! I did not say how effective it is, I stated what the OP can do that is non-surgical.
What did you suggest or focus on? Things he has no control of...which brings me to my last point!
You mentioned genetics. There 7.5 billion humans that have a wide range of genetic mutation, especially in the epidermis. How can you definitively say who benefits and how much they benefit from lotion?0 -
ikeATtheGYM wrote: »
This is still wrong. No one stated the skin is a static organ, we simply said lotion does not fix loose skin so you are attacking the straw man. Lotion is not going to fix loose skin. Lotion with proper diet and exercise isn't going to fix loose skin. The key components to loose skin correction are genetics and time. Those are both non modifiable variables. Protein powder is a terrible example. It doesn't do anything aside from add protein to one's diet. It's no different than a chicken breast in the terms of body composition and training results. Moisturizing skin has it's benefits, and anyone should feel free to do it, but it does not help in the correction of loose skin in any significant manner. The OP must simply see over time how his skin responds. Outside of that, surgery is the only other option that will significantly change his skin.ikeATtheGYM wrote: »Ok, people, some of you are missing my point.
First, skin is not a static organism!
You are constantly shedding layers of skin. And producing more skin cells, until you die!
Just like you can train your muscles, your heart, lungs, brain to the point that they are transformed...so to can your skin.
Lotion by itself will not do it...exactly like protein powder by itself does nothing! BUT, when you combine protein powder with good weight training and dieting, you will get some noticeable benefits....same is to be said for moisturizing. It helps the skin(a living transformable organism) to do its transformation smoother faster healthier.
But without proper diet and exercise it is going to be much less effective, if not all...
What did the op ask?
"Is there anything I can do?"
Your answer is wait(time)
My answer is that traditional strategy for proactively working on lose skin is to:
Train weights
Give it some more time
And use lotion.
Please look at the replies! You can tell the negative people because they refute, dispute and dilute my reply by focusing on the lotion aspect.
Fact is I'm still 100% correct about what the proactive strategy is! I did not say how effective it is, I stated what the OP can do that is non-surgical.
What did you suggest or focus on? Things he has no control of...which brings me to my last point!
You mentioned genetics. There 7.5 billion humans that have a wide range of genetic mutation, especially in the epidermis. How can you definitively say who benefits and how much they benefit from lotion?
Isn't the idea behind strategies that they be effective?
Nobody is telling him that taking good care of your skin in general is useless. Just that well-moisturized loose skin is still loose and won't get better due to more moisture.
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ikeATtheGYM wrote: »
This is still wrong. No one stated the skin is a static organ, we simply said lotion does not fix loose skin so you are attacking the straw man. Lotion is not going to fix loose skin. Lotion with proper diet and exercise isn't going to fix loose skin. The key components to loose skin correction are genetics and time. Those are both non modifiable variables. Protein powder is a terrible example. It doesn't do anything aside from add protein to one's diet. It's no different than a chicken breast in the terms of body composition and training results. Moisturizing skin has it's benefits, and anyone should feel free to do it, but it does not help in the correction of loose skin in any significant manner. The OP must simply see over time how his skin responds. Outside of that, surgery is the only other option that will significantly change his skin.ikeATtheGYM wrote: »Ok, people, some of you are missing my point.
First, skin is not a static organism!
You are constantly shedding layers of skin. And producing more skin cells, until you die!
Just like you can train your muscles, your heart, lungs, brain to the point that they are transformed...so to can your skin.
Lotion by itself will not do it...exactly like protein powder by itself does nothing! BUT, when you combine protein powder with good weight training and dieting, you will get some noticeable benefits....same is to be said for moisturizing. It helps the skin(a living transformable organism) to do its transformation smoother faster healthier.
But without proper diet and exercise it is going to be much less effective, if not all...
What did the op ask?
"Is there anything I can do?"
Your answer is wait(time)
My answer is that traditional strategy for proactively working on lose skin is to:
Train weights
Give it some more time
And use lotion.
Please look at the replies! You can tell the negative people because they refute, dispute and dilute my reply by focusing on the lotion aspect.
Fact is I'm still 100% correct about what the proactive strategy is! I did not say how effective it is, I stated what the OP can do that is non-surgical.
What did you suggest or focus on? Things he has no control of...which brings me to my last point!
You mentioned genetics. There 7.5 billion humans that have a wide range of genetic mutation, especially in the epidermis. How can you definitively say who benefits and how much they benefit from lotion?
Dear,dear---Niner and Vismal are both veterans here, and as you yourself said, you are new. Vismal has lost alot of weight and is running a long thread on lifting. If he says you are wrong, who do you think we're going to believe? Niner is also extremely competent and helpful. There are lurkers that follow the threads, but don't post so I'm pointing out who has more experience, and who I'd listen to. Sometimes you should just sit back, follow the threads, and learn something. This is going to be very good advice if you choose to follow it.0 -
I'm getting co2 laser resurfacing done to my stomach to get of some stretch marks and the doctor told me it will also tighten some of my loose skin.0
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