Loose Skin Tips and Experience?

Lots of before and after pictures over in the "Success Stories" part of the forum, including some in bathing suits after, so you can judge for yourself.

IMO, most people starting in on weight loss, and especially after losing some few pounds as you have (congrats, by the way!), think their loose skin in the long run will be a much bigger deal than it turns out to be in practice for many people.

As you lose weight, you don't lose the outer layer first, then have loss proceed tidily inward. Instead, fat cells anywhere in the fat mass can give up fat. For many, this means that the fat areas get squishy and even droopy when partly depleted (kind of like a water balloon only 25% full of water, compared to one that's rounded and firm when full of water). This means that some of us look worse part way to goal than we will at goal (I did), and kind of freak out about it.

Sadly, the actual loose skin can't really even start to shrink very much until that squishy fat depletes further, so that it stops conspiring with gravity to keep the skin stretched out. So, when a given area depletes to that level, shrinking can really get going . . . and even then it's a slow, gradual process.

True loose skin is thin wrinkles, like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, maybe like a heavy but supple denim, or corduroy. Think about the thickness of the skin you can pinch up on a bony area, like your kneecap or elbow. Rolls or folds that are 1/2" or bigger are likely still holding a subcutaneous fat layer that is keeping them stretched.

So, when you reach goal, you'll have a somewhat better idea where things stand for you . . . but loose skin can still keep shrinking for a long time, so appearance is likely to improve quite a bit in the first year or two at goal weight. I lost in the same kind of range you're talking about (183 to 130ish, at 5'5", in my case), and mine kept shinking at least well into year 2 of maintenance (and maybe beyond: hard to tell after a certain point . . . but there was huge improvement vs. the point where I reached goal).

Now, approaching 5 years later, I don't think I look much different than anyone else my age who's always been at this weight (I'm 64, 59-60 when losing). Certainly, people I newly meet are routinely surprised when they learn that I was obese most of my adult life . . . and not just polite mock suprised, but visibly-startled surprised, if they happen to see an earlier photo or it comes up in conversation.

What can you do to minimize loose skin? Well, skin is an organ. The things that keep any other organ healthy are going to keep skin healthy, too, so more likely to be elastic and shrink. That would be avoiding fast loss (because it's a physical stress to lose fast), getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros), getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength), managing life stress, hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough), avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. Specific to skin, also avoid tanning.

Some people do have residual loose skin, often with a persistent small layer of subcutaneous fat, and eventually decide to have surgery. Unless you have medical reasons for such surgery (as sometimes occurs for people who started very, very morbidly obese, who can have problems with things like skin disorders in the remaining folds), you will likely be paying for that surgery with your own money, as it's considered cosmetic surgery. You are probably not in such an extreme situation, from what you mention.

So, bottom line: Realize that it may look scarier for a while before it looks better, but it will eventually look better. Though genetics is a factor, with your stats it's likely it won't be a huge issue. Keep behavior healthy to avoid making it worse than it needs to be.

AnnPT77 wrote: »

Lots of before and after pictures over in the "Success Stories" part of the forum, including some in bathing suits after, so you can judge for yourself.

IMO, most people starting in on weight loss, and especially after losing some few pounds as you have (congrats, by the way!), think their loose skin in the long run will be a much bigger deal than it turns out to be in practice for many people.

As you lose weight, you don't lose the outer layer first, then have loss proceed tidily inward. Instead, fat cells anywhere in the fat mass can give up fat. For many, this means that the fat areas get squishy and even droopy when partly depleted (kind of like a water balloon only 25% full of water, compared to one that's rounded and firm when full of water). This means that some of us look worse part way to goal than we will at goal (I did), and kind of freak out about it.

Sadly, the actual loose skin can't really even start to shrink very much until that squishy fat depletes further, so that it stops conspiring with gravity to keep the skin stretched out. So, when a given area depletes to that level, shrinking can really get going . . . and even then it's a slow, gradual process.

True loose skin is thin wrinkles, like wrinkles in a medium weight fabric, maybe like a heavy but supple denim, or corduroy. Think about the thickness of the skin you can pinch up on a bony area, like your kneecap or elbow. Rolls or folds that are 1/2" or bigger are likely still holding a subcutaneous fat layer that is keeping them stretched.

So, when you reach goal, you'll have a somewhat better idea where things stand for you . . . but loose skin can still keep shrinking for a long time, so appearance is likely to improve quite a bit in the first year or two at goal weight. I lost in the same kind of range you're talking about (183 to 130ish, at 5'5", in my case), and mine kept shinking at least well into year 2 of maintenance (and maybe beyond: hard to tell after a certain point . . . but there was huge improvement vs. the point where I reached goal).

Now, approaching 5 years later, I don't think I look much different than anyone else my age who's always been at this weight (I'm 64, 59-60 when losing). Certainly, people I newly meet are routinely surprised when they learn that I was obese most of my adult life . . . and not just polite mock suprised, but visibly-startled surprised, if they happen to see an earlier photo or it comes up in conversation.

What can you do to minimize loose skin? Well, skin is an organ. The things that keep any other organ healthy are going to keep skin healthy, too, so more likely to be elastic and shrink. That would be avoiding fast loss (because it's a physical stress to lose fast), getting good well-rounded nutrition (macros and micros), getting regular exercise (both cardiovascular and strength), managing life stress, hydrating adequately (not crazy much, but enough), avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol. Specific to skin, also avoid tanning.

Some people do have residual loose skin, often with a persistent small layer of subcutaneous fat, and eventually decide to have surgery. Unless you have medical reasons for such surgery (as sometimes occurs for people who started very, very morbidly obese, who can have problems with things like skin disorders in the remaining folds), you will likely be paying for that surgery with your own money, as it's considered cosmetic surgery. You are probably not in such an extreme situation, from what you mention.

So, bottom line: Realize that it may look scarier for a while before it looks better, but it will eventually look better. Though genetics is a factor, with your stats it's likely it won't be a huge issue. Keep behavior healthy to avoid making it worse than it needs to be.

I have nothing at all new to add to this conversation. I just wanted to say that this is the single greatest thing I've ever (ever!) read on the subject of loose skin after weight loss. I wish there was a "Give This Person a Dollar" button ... because I'd like to give this person a dollar.