Skin Tight freaked me out

Karendrae · January 2016

I stumbled upon the show by accident last night. Which was bad timing since just before it started I was examining my under arm and thinking 'Huh...it's kind of soft and stretchy...but that will tighten up as I exercise! No big deal.' When the show came on the first thing out of their mouths were basically my own thoughts 'Skin will tighten'. They were wrong. Their skin looked....hideous. Throw up worthy. I am 300lbs at start weight, and will weigh around 150 when I am done. I am resting at 75lbs lost. I am seriously freaked out by the thought of having loose bags of skin hanging off my body at all times. Is this true? Would I really need to have surgery? How much would that be? o.o, having any kind of major surgery never crossed my mind o.o. I'm wondering if it's even worth dieting anymore when doing so would cause such horrifying results. I mean, at least while being fat I -love- my body. I was just losing weight for health, but I'm now conflicted with health and hating my body vs fat and loving myself.

Anyone had the surgery? Was it worth it? Seriously looks scary.
Anyone else losing about 150 and NOT have a bunch of loose skin? I do exfoliate and cream up every day...but I am guessing skin can only tighten so much. Hence the people on Skin Tight.
Or, do you have the loose skin and still think it was worth losing the weight?

P.S. Thanks for listening to my rant. I just needed to get my fears out there. Literally made me cry. I can't believe I did this to myself to begin with, but I'm miserable to think all my hard work is for nothing QQ.

Link to show for those that haven't seen: http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/skin-tight/this-season-on-skin-tight/

treehopper1987 · January 2016

I was watching it too! I never thought about the end results and that much loose skin. I think it has more to do with how much damage your skin has gone through and how long.

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt · January 2016

Lifting can help, but it's really up to genetics...as I hear. I've lost 67 lbs (of the 96 originally) and am starting to see a tiny bit here and there. I decided to lift everyday to help the muscle fill in the space. May or may not work, but I'd rather try. I'd rather look hot in clothes than fat any day.... Thanks for the link, I'm gonna check that out.

ald783 · January 2016

You will have some loose skin, but it is impossible to know in advance how much. It is highly unlikely that your skin will be totally taut and normal as if you had never gained the weight, as that is just not how the body works. That said, it is not even close to a question as to whether you are better off losing the weight. YES, 1000 times yes, you should still lose weight even if you do end up with major amounts of loose skin. Even from a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think a body looks better with loose skin than with that same skin filled with fat. I don't mean that in a cruel way, just in the sense that if that is your concern, I don't think it's valid. But more importantly, there are 50 million other reasons why losing the weight is the better option, including health.

I know you are feeling bummed about this, but try to just put the loose skin thing out of your mind and focus on losing weight. Let that be a concern when it gets to that point. It's frustrating to see just how many people get wrapped up in this before they even lose the weight. There are enough hard things about weight loss to focus on without stressing yourself out with this! I promise, while you will have some loose skin, it will not be as bad as you are imagining it to be.

I lost 115 pounds and I'm fairly tall so the weight was theoretically more spread out, and I still had some loose skin. It was not terrible, mostly on my stomach, arms and thighs, and I could have lived out the rest of my life still much happier I lost the weight, loose skin or not. It's not even close. That said, I did decide to have surgery in March 2015 on my stomach and arms to remove some loose skin. It was not something I needed to do and it hadn't even crossed my mind in the first couple of years of maintaining at this weight (I always figured if anything I'd want a boobjob after). But, I heard some positive reviews of the surgery(ies) and my parents offered to pay for a large chunk of it, so I figured why not. I do not regret the surgery at all and I love my results, but I would have been a happy camper either way.

More than anything, and more than looking into creams or pills or ways to reduce loose skin, I'd recommend you just stop thinking about it (and stop watching the show!) if it will end up being a distraction. Focus on losing weight and incorporating healthy habits and then see how you feel later on. Good luck!

boricua3177 · January 2016

ald783 wrote: »

You will have some loose skin, but it is impossible to know in advance how much. It is highly unlikely that your skin will be totally taut and normal as if you had never gained the weight, as that is just not how the body works. That said, it is not even close to a question as to whether you are better off losing the weight. YES, 1000 times yes, you should still lose weight even if you do end up with major amounts of loose skin. Even from a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think a body looks better with loose skin than with that same skin filled with fat. I don't mean that in a cruel way, just in the sense that if that is your concern, I don't think it's valid. But more importantly, there are 50 million other reasons why losing the weight is the better option, including health.

I know you are feeling bummed about this, but try to just put the loose skin thing out of your mind and focus on losing weight. Let that be a concern when it gets to that point. It's frustrating to see just how many people get wrapped up in this before they even lose the weight. There are enough hard things about weight loss to focus on without stressing yourself out with this! I promise, while you will have some loose skin, it will not be as bad as you are imagining it to be.

I lost 115 pounds and I'm fairly tall so the weight was theoretically more spread out, and I still had some loose skin. It was not terrible, mostly on my stomach, arms and thighs, and I could have lived out the rest of my life still much happier I lost the weight, loose skin or not. It's not even close. That said, I did decide to have surgery in March 2015 on my stomach and arms to remove some loose skin. It was not something I needed to do and it hadn't even crossed my mind in the first couple of years of maintaining at this weight (I always figured if anything I'd want a boobjob after). But, I heard some positive reviews of the surgery(ies) and my parents offered to pay for a large chunk of it, so I figured why not. I do not regret the surgery at all and I love my results, but I would have been a happy camper either way.

More than anything, and more than looking into creams or pills or ways to reduce loose skin, I'd recommend you just stop thinking about it (and stop watching the show!) if it will end up being a distraction. Focus on losing weight and incorporating healthy habits and then see how you feel later on. Good luck!

^^^ All of this 100%!

richardgavel · January 2016

Also, keep in mind your skin will probably not reach its best tightness for about a year after you reach your goal weight, it takes time. As for a TV show, I have not seen it, but while there may be truth to it, there is likely some level of sensationalizing of it to create a more interesting show.

Need2Exerc1se · January 2016

A lot of it has to do with how you lose. The quicker you lose the less time your skin has to shrink. Also eating too low fat, not staying sufficiently hydrated or eating an unbalanced diet in general can cause skin to lose elasticity. Age is also a factor. Young people will naturally adjust faster than older people.

This is why gastric surgery patients often have a lot of loose skin. They lose quickly often with poor nutrition due to limited calories.

Need2Exerc1se · January 2016

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt wrote: »

Lifting can help, but it's really up to genetics...as I hear. I've lost 67 lbs (of the 96 originally) and am starting to see a tiny bit here and there. I decided to lift everyday to help the muscle fill in the space. May or may not work, but I'd rather try. I'd rather look hot in clothes than fat any day.... Thanks for the link, I'm gonna check that out.

You aren't going to gain muscle while losing weight and certainly not enough to fill up the space lost fat left. Muscle is denser than fat and that's just not going to happen. Lifting weights is a good idea to lessen how much muscle is lost along with the fat, among other health benefits.

mkakids · January 2016

My brother, who is 28 and 6'2, started at 450lbs and is down to 275 (no surgery...has taken almost 3 years). He has A LOT of loose skin. He will have surgery and they are estimating that he will lose another 20-30# from the skin removal surgery alone.

Having surgery is, usually, optional and cosmetic. There are some instances where is is medically necessary (if your prone to sores under the skin flaps or get infections).

There is a very good likelyhood that you will have loose skin. But you still NEED to loose weight. Woukd it be better to be alive at 60 with excess skin? Or dead at 60 without?

PaulaWallaDingDong · January 2016

I watched it too, and I probably won't ever again. It was terrifying. They really glossed over the whole pain issue. I didn't think the final outcomes were so great, either. If I go from looking fat and gross to slim and gross, then that's how I'm staying. Spanx4life.

grinning_chick · January 2016

I watched it. Well, as much as I could whilst actively thinking I was dying from the cold I contracted. Will watch again as long as not packed full of manufactured melodrama. All I could think every time the woman was being showcased and words came out of her mouth was "She could really benefit from a competent therapist."

But that's just me.

The first time I ever consciously chose to lose weight due to being overweight it was 171 lbs =>138 lbs. Even 2+ years later, I had an area of pinch-able but not puckered/hanging loose skin "pooch" under my navel but above my mons pubis.

This time, it will be 238 lbs => at least 150 lbs. So nearly 3x's the degree of skin stretching. I even caused stretch marks getting to that starting weight. So I will absolutely have puckered/hanging loose skin not only in the same place under my navel, but now the inside upper thighs, around the knees, the ventral/caudal upper arms, and the breasts as well. I can live with that. And it factors exactly zero into my concerns when it comes to weight loss.

Namely because loose skin is solvable with surgery. Being uncomfortable in my own skin, both physically and emotionally, every day is not. Well, okay, maybe a lobotomy would solve both but that's not very practical, now is it. (:

And I do admit if it is substantial, and I ever have the discretionary income, I'll get my upper arms done out of vanity. Of course, it helps I know how to talk shop/negotiate pain management protocols so I'm not particularly concerned about post-op pain.

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt · January 2016

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

IILikeToMoveItMoveIt wrote: »

Lifting can help, but it's really up to genetics...as I hear. I've lost 67 lbs (of the 96 originally) and am starting to see a tiny bit here and there. I decided to lift everyday to help the muscle fill in the space. May or may not work, but I'd rather try. I'd rather look hot in clothes than fat any day.... Thanks for the link, I'm gonna check that out.

You aren't going to gain muscle while losing weight and certainly not enough to fill up the space lost fat left. Muscle is denser than fat and that's just not going to happen. Lifting weights is a good idea to lessen how much muscle is lost along with the fat, among other health benefits.

I was afraid of that. Poo...Good thing I still like lifting! Thanks for the heads up.

treebek · January 2016

If I'm not mistaken, the people on that show have gone through extreme weight loss (Brian Fleming is on their and lost 383 pounds - he started at almost 600 I think).

I'm not saying you won't have some, but it's not likely that you will have excess skin to that degree. Lose weight for yourself and your health, continue to love yourself, And figure out the rest later after you can do a true assessment post weight loss. I'm sure the exfoliating and lotion help.

bri170lb · January 2016

I'm 52, 5'8", SW 300, CW178, GW150.

I've been losing weight for 2.5 years and I've lost 92 pounds in the last year.

I have some loose skin in a few places, but NOTHING like that show!

They would obviously choose people who are the most shocking examples for a show like that because the talk it creates will cause more people to watch!

The health benefits of maintaining a normal weight far outweigh my fear of loose skin.

besaro · January 2016

i lost 100 pounds 2 years ago. the skin on my stomach hung over and wasn't going anywhere. I didn't like the way it looked in summer dresses and running, yoga, and ab exercises were difficult. I decided to have a tummy tuck. It was nearly 6 months ago. It was incredibly painful and the healing process is long. I still have pain, I am not 100% healed AND they didn't give me the 20 year old stomach I ordered!!! Before the surgery, I worried it would be a slippery slope and I would start looking at other areas, (thighs, arms, neck etc) after 6 months of recovery, hells no! I will now go as gracefully and gratefully as I can into my 50s. I am still very happy with my decision to have the excess skin removed because it was a constant reminder of 20 years of poor decisions. I didn't want to hate myself anymore.

eta: i do have a B/A in my profile pics for the brave or the curious.

DanniB423 · January 2016

I had to turn the channel because for a moment I considered staying obese. That sounds silly but just being honest. I won't be watching it again.

amyk0202 · January 2016

I lost 100 lbs. I had that horrible skin apron that I could grab & pull about 7"-8" away from my body. My arms are saggier than I would like, my thighs are saggy, & I have skin on my sides--like my boobs just continue around my body.

I went to see 7 plastic surgeons & decided what bothered me the most since I couldn't afford to have everything fixed. I got an extended tummy tuck with muscle repair. It was so worth it to me. It was painful, but really only for the first couple of weeks. After that, it was just uncomfortable & inconvenient because of the lifting restrictions & I had a seroma. My surgeon included liposuction along the flanks--that was way more painful than the tummy tuck. Probably the most painful surgery I've ever had & it lasted a really long time. My tummy does look great. After 4 children & 2 c-sections & then so much weight loss, it was awful. My scar is thin & very low. It goes from mid-hip to mid-hip & is tucked in the crease of my legs.

I would love to have my arms done, but it would cost a ton & they could be worse. I wouldn't bother with my thighs--they seem to be improving some on their own. The only idea I got to get rid of the skin along the sides of my breasts was to do a reduction/lift & extend the "anchor" hook all the way around the side of my body. Honestly, after so many surgeries on my abdomen, I have that weird numb feeling in that whole area. I do not want to extend that to my top half. The skin doesn't bother me that much.

Still, after everything, the weight loss was definitely worth it. Even without the tummy tuck, it would have been worth it. I haven't seen the show, but I'm sure they pick the most extreme examples they can find.

My sister lost 150 lbs & had a lower body lift (belt lipectomy), arm lift, & breast reduction all at the same time. She was very happy with the results & looks great.

rainbow118 · January 2016

In the show the guy lost 200lbs in only a year and the lady had weight loss surgery. So they both lost weight super fast. Your skin probably wont be that bad. But you will have loose skin. I didn't really like how they looked after the surgery. Especially the lady.

Lourdesong · January 2016

I thought both of them got their surgeries prematurely and needed to lose more weight and reduce body fat.

They both lost a lot, and quickly, and good for them, but it gets worse before it gets better and their body fat was really high, I think the woman was around 170 lbs still.

I just wish these skin surgeries were really skin surgeries on people who are finished and there's not anything left in their power that they can do, as opposed to flab-ectomies performed on people who quit losing the weight/fat they need to lose prematurely.

lorrpb · January 2016

http://www.trythisforsize.com/loose-skin-or-fat-test/
This site has what seems to be helpful info on this topic. They are also pushing products and I know nothing about that.

kiara1066 · February 2016

Interesting topic!

yourhiddengem · February 2016

Yeah that show was terrifying. I happened upon it on accident also.

(another show that complete freaks me out is that one where people don't realize they're pregnant and then they just randomly have a child. like how?!?!)

Alysia82 · February 2016

I have had the exact same thoughts about weight loss and lose skin. It's a scary thing to think that you could work so hard and end up feeling the way the show participants do.

My wife helped me feel better by saying the following: "Lose skin is scary but at least there's a solution for it"

So don't let the worry and/or fear get to you

JayWillisBBA_AATCIS_BA_AAMath · August 2016

TLC's SKIN TIGHT, on 4Aug2016, was inspiring. Ariel and Chantae cooperated with Dr Nowzaradan. These were two great stories.

Skin Tight freaked me out

Replies

Categories