Loose skin - how long? What helps?

julesss4u · July 2019

I can feel my abs finally morphing under the fat layers. Been working out and eating under an extremely disciplined regimen for a month. Wondering how long it took you to lose the loose skin flab and/or if there’s anything that helped you speed it up. Thanks!!

Lolinloggen · July 2019

I have been in maintenance fr a year and a half. Skin will or will not stretch back It depends on how long it has been stretched and also your genes. Neither of which you can influence.
The one you can influence is weight training I found it helped but not a 100% cure. I started doing weights fairly early on in my journey. I have loose skin but not much and not that apparent. As I was overweight most of my life, I guess I am also blessed with good skin genes

umbramirror · July 2019

There is nothing that I can really add to the above post except my own experience. I had a lot of excess fat resting in the surface layers of my skin after I reached my goal, even getting to a rather lean weight. It hasn't been long since I've been maintaining (a little over a month) and I'm already seeing a lot of progress from my exercise routine. I do HIIT, calisthenics, and weight lifting, so I'm not sure which listed had the most significant effect but I think they all contributed to the tightening of my skin overall from increased muscle growth. The most effected areas for me are the middle of my abdomen and inner thighs, and they are slowly tightening and strengthening.

I think that much of skin's elasticity has to do with genetics, but there is a factor of how we treat our bodies after and during weight loss. I think that those who strength trained during weight loss will likely have less surface fat storage (also depending on their genes). Additionally, strength training after weight loss is, in my opinion, the best way to combat excess fat storage.

AnnPT77 · July 2019

True loose skin is thin wrinkles, like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric. Folds or rolls greater than 1/2" or so still have some subcutaneous fat that's likely to conspire with gravity to keep skin stretched. Some of us, for that reason, look a little more discouraging when partway to goal weight (even when almost at goal weight), than we will at goal weight, or even after some time at maintenance. If that's where you are, hang in there.

As far as true loose skin, once the underlying fat is depleted: Genetics is a key variable that no one can give you insight on. IMO, the best things you can do to maximize chances of skin shrinkage are the same stuff that keeps your other organs healthy, because skin is, in fact, an organ. What is that? Regular exercise (cardiovascular and strength), not trying to lose weight crazy fast, getting well-rounded nutrition, getting enough fluids, not smoking, not drinking large amounts of alcohol, and just generally paying attention to maintaining health.

The thing is, skin shrinkage seems to be slower than weight loss, and can't even fully get going until that subcutaneous fat is mostly gone. At age 59-60, I was surprised at how much my loose skin (after decades of obesity) was willing to shrink . . . but it was still happening well into at least the 2nd year of maintaining a healthy weight, and maybe longer. I'm now almost through year 3 of maintenance, and the overall results are pretty good: I don't think I"m noticeably saggier than most 63-year-old women who remained at a healthy weight throughout life.

If you reach goal weight, and still have some problem rolls or folds where subcutaneous fat is a problem, I think that's where progressive strength training at maintenance can really be helpful: Over time, with body recomposition, you can very gradually increase muscle tissue, and decrease fat, while staying around the same weight.

I suspect most people fear loose skin out of proportion to what actual long term results will be. That doesn't mean there will be none, but I think it's less than many people anticipate before they reach goal and hang out there for a while. If you take a look at threads in the "Success Stories" part of the forum, you can see some people's actual results (many share very frank bathing suit photos). If you find you're not where you want to be, after a couple of years of maintenance, surgery can be an option.

Best wishes!

Emmapatterson1729 · July 2019

I've struggled with loose skin for years. Due to excessive water weight gain.

I was told by several doctors that loose skin can only be removed by surgery, and that I would need cosmetic surgery.

Well, I haven't had surgery yet, except breast reduction (only one ins would cover).

But I have improved the loose skin, 15 minute of ab workout daily, reps of crunches and pelvic tilts, while wearing a rubber belly band (increases heat to area), I suggest watching a video for proper crunch and tilt techniques and breathing technique for crunches. I follow workouts with massaging areas with lotion. Loose skin on my arms has drastically reduced, same, a lot of reps, 1 pound hand weights doing bicep and tricep exercises.

Good luck.

noodlesno · July 2019

I can reiterate what these other posters have said. Been in maintenance since March and my loose skin is so much better than it was. Just took a little patience.

No doubt that weight lifting and hydration definitely play a part in making the skin tighten. I also took collagen tablets but from what I have read in scientific journals those tablets are a load of nonsense used to sell things to insecure people, however, my irrational mind felt better and wasn't going to do me any harm!!

I am hoping that like the amazing people above my skin will keep tightening in maintenance and body recomp and in a few years be as good as new.

ceiswyn · July 2019

I've been in maintenance for a year. My skin looks a lot better now than it did last summer, but I still have visible wrinkling and always will.

If I really care, I can hide those wrinkles under my clothes. I couldn't hide my fatness

nighthawk584 · July 2019

I'm 59 lbs down into my 85 lb goal and so far loose skin hasn't been a factor other than maybe right under my armpits...18 years ago, I was extremely fit and muscular, so I don't know if that is helping me now or not with my skin tightening back up, but weight training is a must!

cheryldumais · July 2019

I lost alot of weight and since I'd had very large babies as well and had a very low hanging flap I had a tummy tuck. Afterwards I was unhappy with my butt and back. I've been in maintenance now for two years and they have firmed up quite a lot. I would say lose the weight then give your body a couple of years to see where you end up. It takes time but the wait is worth it.

Loose skin - how long? What helps?

Replies

Categories