What the heck do ya'll do about the extra skin?
thewiltedred
Posts: 12 Member
I have lost almost 50 lbs so far and I am looking for skin tightening tips. I am drinking lots of water and have started including some face and neck tightening exercises as well. I know time is the best medicine for skin, but do y'all have any proven tricks?
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Replies
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Time, extra water, and weight lifting help. If in a few years I still look or feel bad I'm having surgery ....but that's my choice and I'll figure it out then1
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Yeah. Once I reach my goal weight, I might get a tummy tuck and Boob lift. I guess losing it slower, lessons the effect.2
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I've never lost weight quickly. In the past, my skin has always caught up eventually and stopped making unneeded extra. I'm assuming that still holds. Time will tell.1
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As you've said time.
Other than that the only options are surgery (which I won't do) or being younger (which I can't do).4 -
I am mostly looking at it and being happy its no longer full of fat and tight. The sag is better than the swell.
Does weight lifting really help? I might try that.
Being younger sounds good, anybody figure that one out let me know.
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I'm down 52 pounds since February, so I've been noticing this growing (ha!) problem too.
I'm trying retinol and hyaluronic acid serums topically, roman dry brushing (sporadically, I admit. It's more for circulation and exfoliation than anything else), and drinking homemade stock for the collagen.
I'm in my mid-50s though. I wish I'd started the weight loss when I was younger!1 -
Mid 50's here. 65 lbs lost in 7 months, apparently too quick for my skin to keep up, and parts of me look like a deflated balloon. I read somewhere that when you finally get to a proper goal weight, it actually looks better than when you're en route. Here's to hoping that's true. Trying to envision wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants when July comes, here in Washington DC, built on a swamp.
Still happier than when I was all stuffed with fat, though.
Checking out the prices on the plethora of tucks I'd need to get all tightened up was humorous, in a way. Turns out, it's not "a few thousand bucks" as I was hoping. Oops.4 -
I definitely see a bossom lift in my future, but i am good on having the tum tuck. I have had two c sections and one non invasive abdominal surgery. I cring at the thought of any more chopping at my stomach. Blah.
My plan is in another 15lbs to shift into a recovery/transition period in which I then move into muscle building phase. I Will make sure to note what happens!
Y'all are right tho. What a beautiful problem to have 😎.0 -
Meh, I just live with it. It doesn't annoy me enough to want a lift, and aside from hoping for it to settle with time, there is nothing much I can do about it so I just don't think about it or focus on it. It is what it is.6
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Mid 50's here. 65 lbs lost in 7 months, apparently too quick for my skin to keep up, and parts of me look like a deflated balloon. I read somewhere that when you finally get to a proper goal weight, it actually looks better than when you're en route. Here's to hoping that's true. Trying to envision wearing long sleeve shirts and long pants when July comes, here in Washington DC, built on a swamp.
Still happier than when I was all stuffed with fat, though.
Checking out the prices on the plethora of tucks I'd need to get all tightened up was humorous, in a way. Turns out, it's not "a few thousand bucks" as I was hoping. Oops.
I can vouch for that. I look much better now after maintaining for a couple of years than when I was losing. I just accept it though as a bit of loose skin is a damn sight better than an extra 80 pounds. If you do want to go down the nick and tuck path I'd personally wait until you have been in maintenance for 1-2 years first as this could save you money and pain.2 -
The little loose skin I had firmed up over time.
I was overweight my most of my life so I thought I had to live with it, but after about 2 years of maintenance my skin all tighten up.
I did not lose weight fast and I strength-trained the entire time so I think that had a lot of do with it.6 -
Compression clothing for me!
I'm doing some weights now in the hope it eventually tightens up a little bit but I'm not holding out too much hope.
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Whether you lose fast or slow, loose skin MAY tighten up in a couple of years. If not, then you have the option of surgery or just accepting it. There are NO WAYS TO TIGHTEN them through creams, brushing, etc. since it's an actual organ and all the above is just TOPICAL and doesn't affect the actual dermis itself, so SAVE YOUR MONEY.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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In line with niner's comment, I'd suggest that doing the things that keep other organs healthy is also likely to keep skin healthy: This helps create best odds of skin staying supple and elastic.
By this, I mean I think it would be a good idea to consistently get good, well rounded nutrition; lose weight at a sensibly moderate rate (not crazy fast); get regular exercise (strength and cardiovascular); hydrate adequately; moderate alcohol; don't use tobacco; and manage stress. Using sunscreen (and avoiding tanning generally) would be helpful to skin specifically.
Many of those seem likely to have more benefits to skin health/shrinkage than tricks like brushing or topical creams. (They may also require more effort
).
FWIW, my loose skin kept shrinking at least well into year 2 of maintenance, even at age 60. Now, heading toward 5 years at a healthy weight, I don't think I look much different from other women my age (64) who've always been thin. (I was obese for 30+ years, lost down to a healthy weight in about a year, but it was only about 50 pounds loss.) YMMV, of course.4 -
I am loving all this honest feed back. it is confirming my own thoughts and feelings. thanks guys
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thewiltedred wrote: »My plan is in another 15lbs to shift into a recovery/transition period in which I then move into muscle building phase.
Most fitness professionals would recommend starting strength training now.4 -
I don't think it is wise to think of excess skin as something you can cure. That could easily lead a person down a path of wasted money and effort. Good overall health may help whatever was going to happen anyway along a little faster. Poor health is no good for reasons well beyond excess skin.
If surgery is necessary the same steps you have taken to maintain good health will serve you there too. After all you will want the easiest and fastest recovery you can get.2 -
Cherimoose wrote: »thewiltedred wrote: »My plan is in another 15lbs to shift into a recovery/transition period in which I then move into muscle building phase.
Most fitness professionals would recommend starting strength training now.
From what I've seen reading the forums for (eek) several years now, most people who waited to start strength training would recommend starting strength training now, immediately, at any point when feasible, too.
I've never seen anyone to say it's better to wait (unless in a context of surgical recovery or physical limitations of that type).5 -
I don't think it is wise to think of excess skin as something you can cure. That could easily lead a person down a path of wasted money and effort. Good overall health may help whatever was going to happen anyway along a little faster. Poor health is no good for reasons well beyond excess skin.
If surgery is necessary the same steps you have taken to maintain good health will serve you there too. After all you will want the easiest and fastest recovery you can get.
Exactly.
I also think more people should go over and take a look at before/after photos in the Success Stories part of the forum. It's super common for people starting weight loss, or part way through, to imagine that long-term results will be much more horrifying than is actually common. It can be encouraging to see how good others look. Virtually everyone looks fine clothed. Most people look pretty good in swimsuits (or equivalent), too. Some of the "Success Stories" posts even explicitly talk about and show their loose skin.
For women, this thread might also have some useful info:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10689837/does-this-uterus-make-my-stomach-look-fat/p12 -
Cherimoose wrote: »thewiltedred wrote: »My plan is in another 15lbs to shift into a recovery/transition period in which I then move into muscle building phase.
Most fitness professionals would recommend starting strength training now.
From what I've seen reading the forums for (eek) several years now, most people who waited to start strength training would recommend starting strength training now, immediately, at any point when feasible, too.
I've never seen anyone to say it's better to wait (unless in a context of surgical recovery or physical limitations of that type).
Yes, I've only seen people regretting NOT starting strength training earlier, and never any regrets from people who did start earlier.3
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