Weight loss and wrinkles
ro175
Posts: 37 Member
Anyone notice they look older or more wrinkled after losing weight? I remember this happened to my my mother when she lost a lot (too much) weight when she was in her 40's. I'm in my late 40's now and have been blessed with looking younger than I actually am, or so I am told, but noticing my neck is looking much more crepey since losing about 8 kilo
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I lost 115 lbs, and yes, I am looking more my age now than ever. I held a lot of fat in my face and under my chin, and the skin just couldn't bounce back. Creases are showing more now because less filler. I'm the healthiest I have ever been, my skin is so much healthier, and I moisturize and hydrate very well, but the damage is done. It's only natural!3
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If the loss is recent, be aware that time can help. I'm not suggesting miracles, but my loose skin (therefore wrinkles) gradually decreased with time, well into at least year 2 of maintaining a healthy weight. Even my face looks better. (At 63, I'm not gonna look like I'm 20, and don't want to. But it's improved since I was 60, after I lost around 50 pounds at 59-60.)12
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I have a lot of face wrinkles and crepey skin on my legs. I don't know how much is due to losing weight and how much due to spending a lot of years hiking and running outdoors without using sunscreen. I look older than my husband who is 17 years older than I am.8
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Depending on the amount of loss and the rate of loss wrinkle appearance can be dramatic. Another benefit to a 1lb/week rate or moderate loss. This typicallly is more apparent in the nasolabial fold region and eyes - the areas with thin tissue and heavy vasculature, but also diminishes over time.
Hydration certainly helps as does topical moisturizers.
There are several dermal aesthetic products on the market, some of which stimulate collagen development. These tend to have a much higher safety profile when utilized by a skilled medical professional.0 -
Right there with you...mid 40’s losing weight and crepey neck. I’m hoping it will lesson with some time.2
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when i lost a lot of my weight, i looked significantly older. part of why i looked younger was that fat in my face was stretching out the skin where there would be wrinkles.1
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I call them "the shrinkles"
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Yep, crepey looking neck too, wrinkles not so much (think that's down to genes and not letting much sun hit my face) - turned 50 a few months ago and in my 6th year of maintaining a 30lb loss...1
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I have that happening on my neck, as well.1
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Losing my chubby face has increased my wrinkles too. I take good care of my skin so it's frustrating.1
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There's a long-lived massive thread over in the Success Stories forum, with before and after pictures of faces (link below). Those concerned about facial changes with weight loss might want to take a look at it, to get a realistic view of the range of outcomes. I personally feel like my face has more deep wrinkles than when I was obese (of course, I'm also 4 years older!), but the degree of sagginess and related fine wrinkles was worse during and in the early weeks/months after weight loss than it is now.
Some people look older . . . but one of the most common comments on the linked thread is "you look so much younger" or "you look like you could be your former self's daughter/son now". Bad results are not universal.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10207059/before-and-after-face-edition
I'd also repeat: Many of us look worse during weight loss than we will at goal weight, and worse first thing at goal weight than we will a few months later. I did, both of those.
Your skin is an organ (largest organ of your body, in my understanding). The same things that help to keep your other organs healthy, also help to keep your skin healthy (elastic, pliable, etc.): Not losing weight dangerously fast, getting consistent good overall nutrition, adequate (not necessarily crazy high) hydration, regular exercise (cardiovascular and strength), adequate sleep, managed stress levels, plus, in skin's case, good sense about sun and weather exposure, moisturizers if needed, etc.
It is super common here for people to worry about the awfulness of loose skin, wrinkles, etc., after weight loss. These can truly be concerns, but there's a lot of individual variation, and I think average results are not as shocking bad as many would predict up front. Looking at various threads over in the Success Stories forum - where there are lots of before and after pics, including some bathing suits and close-ups - can be informative, as well as inspirational in a more general way.
A good start would be the ones in the "Most Helpful Posts" section of that area. Here's a direct link:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10300359/most-helpful-posts-success-stories-must-reads7 -
Oh, this neck of mine! I was blow-drying my hair the other day and the dryer passed by my throat and the force of the air made it look like I was in a wind tunnel! My face still looks OK in my opinion, but wrinkles will come no matter what. I will take a rooster neck over 3 chins any day!9
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I'm 46, five feet tall and I've lost 31-32 kg - and I'v definitely noticed wrinkles. My face which was rounder and chubbier has creases where I smile - could be age of course, but more likely to be the weight loss. I've noticed some never there before wrinkles on my neck. My stomach ... urgh .. I don't have tonnes of loose skin thank goodness but while it's flat - it is wrinkley. I'll cope
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My skin looked a little worse when I first reached goal, but I think it settles over time, somewhat. I’ve also started using tret, and that helps a lot.
For the most part though, it’s worth a few wrinkles when I feel so much healthier. Ageing is a part of life.1 -
I have things that aren’t all that either like my cute lil lower belly fat. But my beautiful hair, above average face and nice thighs make up for it.
Embrace and enjoy what you do have.
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I've been at this 3.5 years, I've lost 92 pounds...yes I have loose skin on my stomach, legs, arms, and crepey skin on my neck and face. My rate of loss has been slow, I moisturize, hydrate etc but I now look older. It's okay because I am happier and feel better, that said I will give it some time and if it doesn't bounce back I will get surgery in a heartbeat. I don't care what you or any stranger on the street thinks, I just want to feel like me and recognize my own face. My face sags so much that people keep asking why I'm sad...I'm not sad, I'm drooping! lol4
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