Loose skin?

Pynkklady
Pynkklady Posts: 51 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
HELP! Any tricks/tips on what to do about the loose skin on my inner thighs, abdomen, and back of arms? I'm sure if I could shrink it, I'd drop another size...good grief! =)
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Replies

  • Sd0510
    Sd0510 Posts: 295 Member
    I'm not sure since I haven't gotten there yet, but a lot of people have been saying to do some toning, i.e. lifting weights and strength training.
  • janalayn
    janalayn Posts: 510 Member
    bump ... i'm not there yet but I will be...i'm using firming moisturizers but interested in what has actually worked for people
  • amandavictoria80
    amandavictoria80 Posts: 734 Member
    Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about excess skin. Skin doesn't bounce back.
    The only thing that can help is toning and firming cream. I use Nivea and like it. Many people claim that these creams don't work but I notice improvement for sure. But you have to use it consistently every day.

    I personally have to get a tummy tuck surgery. :(
  • piercedbeauty21
    piercedbeauty21 Posts: 33
    Bump I'd like to know the answer too. I had a c-section almost 3 years ago and my stomach skin is so stretched out and saggy. I'd love to tighten it back up again a little.
  • Trilaina
    Trilaina Posts: 61
    A cup of papaya every day is supposed to help, too. I lose more weight when I eat it, I've noticed, but I'm not sure if that's a placebo effect or not, and it can be hard to get in my area.
  • rugbyphreak
    rugbyphreak Posts: 509 Member
    i take a vitamin c supplement to lessen my cellulite and that seems to be working. it's not an extreme difference, but it did help. not sure if it'll work for saggy skin though.
  • vypeters
    vypeters Posts: 475 Member
    There's really nothing you can do. You're going to have what you're going to have. Unfortunately.

    I have the full sharpei.
  • EMarvie
    EMarvie Posts: 335 Member
    drink more water too - that helps with skin elasticity - not going to do it all but anything helps right
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    From what I've heard, you can tighten your skin, because what makes loose is losing the fat that's underneath it. Drink a lot of water, do toning and don't try to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time.
  • 623Hernandez
    623Hernandez Posts: 458
    I have been slathering myself in Palmers. I hope it helps!!!!!!!!!
  • mochamofitandhealthy
    mochamofitandhealthy Posts: 20 Member
    Loose skin is something I'm afraid of, but I have so much weight to lose that I know the risk of having it may be high. I've heard a number of things. Here are some:

    Build muscle
    Stay hydrated
    Collagen
    I read an article about a woman who lost a large amount of weight and she was adamant that eating tofu every day was the key to her avoiding loose skin (I guess this is because of the protein in it).
    Shea Butter
    Cocoa Butter

    I don't know if any of these work for loose skin, but I figure if they don't, many of them have other benefits. For example, shea butter is great for my skin (in terms of clarity and moisture).
  • tanigrrrrr
    tanigrrrrr Posts: 137 Member
    Slowly your skin should shrink back, but depending on your age and how long you had the extra weight for is dependant on how much elsasticity your skin still has.
    Including a small amount of weight training into your fitness regime , as muscels support your skin, almost stick to it i guess.
    I dropped 30 kg very quickly a few years ago and had alot of extra skin, even on my forearms~!
  • tanigrrrrr
    tanigrrrrr Posts: 137 Member
    Slowly your skin should shrink back, but depending on your age and how long you had the extra weight for is dependant on how much elsasticity your skin still has.
    Including a small amount of weight training into your fitness regime , as muscels support your skin, almost stick to it i guess.
    I dropped 30 kg very quickly a few years ago and had alot of extra skin, even on my forearms!. Now its fine.
    Unfortunately though, if the elasticity is gone, its gone, and whilst over a few years it may improve, living with it or surgery are your options.
    Its a major concern to most people who want to loose weight I think.
    Good luck with it.xx
  • amandavictoria80
    amandavictoria80 Posts: 734 Member
    I have been slathering myself in Palmers. I hope it helps!!!!!!!!!

    Nope. That's for stretch marks. Not excess skin. :(
  • jb_2011
    jb_2011 Posts: 1,029 Member
    There's really nothing you can do. You're going to have what you're going to have. Unfortunately.

    I have the full sharpei.
    LOL! So do I!! That is just too funny!
  • raevynn
    raevynn Posts: 666 Member
    Drink your water, eat your fresh fruit and vegetables. Do your exercise.. aerobics & toning.

    Eventually, it's supposed to tighten up.

    Seriously,. though, a little loose skin is still better than pudge, right?
  • amandavictoria80
    amandavictoria80 Posts: 734 Member
    Please don't take the comments saying you can "shrink skin", "tone skin", etc. seriously. This is so not the case. Just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment.

    And if it is possible, it means I have had three medical doctors and two cosmetic surgeons lie to me. Which I think not. :/
  • meghan1789
    meghan1789 Posts: 81 Member
    Bio-oil! I've heard it's a miracle for all skin-related things! Take that with a grain of salt I guess, but so many people have recommended it to me that it must be at least looking into.
  • Sd0510
    Sd0510 Posts: 295 Member
    I have been slathering myself in Palmers. I hope it helps!!!!!!!!!

    Nope. That's for stretch marks. Not excess skin. :(

    Palmer's makes the skin more elastic, which helps fix the stretch marks, but that is also what you need to tighten your skin up. It doesn't just have one use.

    Now, I'm not sure how effective it is, but it is still a possibility.
  • AnarchoGen
    AnarchoGen Posts: 400 Member
    I've heard that if you could build muscle behind the lose skin, with less fat it doesn't look so bad. That is what someone who was obese at one point, now a model.
  • karenwill2
    karenwill2 Posts: 604 Member
    From what I've heard, you can tighten your skin, because what makes loose is losing the fat that's underneath it. Drink a lot of water, do toning and don't try to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time.

    This! My doc recommends slow weight loss. Like 1 pound a week at most. Try to keep it as close to 5 lbs a month as possible. Your skin can bounce back unless but not with rapid weight loss. He says it will keep my reconstructive surgery costs down and most importantly, "Karen, if you lose it slow and steady, you won't gain it back. People that have the rapid weight loss always gain it back. Or that is what my patients seem to do. Watch your calories and take your time. It is NOT a race."
  • mommyblessed7
    mommyblessed7 Posts: 72 Member
    Body brushing helps some when I actually remember to do it :) I do great for a while and then I miss a day and its all down hill!!! See T TAPP' s site she sells the body brush and some alfalfa supplement . It helps with cellulite too but I dont have too much of that. I agree toning with weights does help the appearance.
  • Wibikerlady
    Wibikerlady Posts: 73 Member
    Please don't take the comments saying you can "shrink skin", "tone skin", etc. seriously. This is so not the case. Just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment.

    And if it is possible, it means I have had three medical doctors and two cosmetic surgeons lie to me. Which I think not. :/

    Same here... I have 20% Body fat on me, and yeah, I look like a Shar Pei in my stomach & around my knees. It's not going to go away...it's not even really getting any better... I am 42yrs old, a fitness instructor and am in the best physical condition of my life. My upper body (arms, shoulders, chest) are firm and sold...From my belly down, SOLID as a rock, with a LOT of excess skin. Spoke with surgeons.. not cheap. Creams & exercise wont make it go away. When I was 29yrs old, I was also very heavy (265) and dropped weight, was out dancing & having a great time..Still had some excess skin, but it went back MUCH better then than it is now, not all of it,but some.. So age does make a difference.
    Just know it is what it is and learn to dress in a way you can tolerate it. I'm to the point now, where I make fun of it with my hubby...That's how I cope with it.
  • AngelikaLumiere
    AngelikaLumiere Posts: 862 Member
    What is Bio-Oil?
  • empleh69
    empleh69 Posts: 41
    I have not heard of any "miracle" for this. I have been heavy, to varying degrees, for 25+ years. Since May of 2010, I have lost 185 lbs and have 15 to go. I have ALOT of excess skin on my torso, inner thighs, upper arms, among other places. I think it's either live with it or surgery. I have been looking into surgery and need to make a decision soon, to have it done or not.
  • angieleighbyrd
    angieleighbyrd Posts: 989 Member
    Once your skin stretches so far, it doesn't bounce back.
  • abfit4life
    abfit4life Posts: 220 Member
    After a lifetime of being overweight I lost over 150 and trust me when I say that no amount of water, creams or toning exercise (I did it all) prevented some loose skin but I'm sure it helped to minimize it. I'd say try it all and see how your body responds. And if going under the knife is an option for you, do what you need to feel good. However, I was so focused on enjoying not being over 300 pounds and being out and active that it didn't matter so much. I learned how to work with the body I got after the weightloss and I love what I'm working with. So I won't be a Sports Illustrated model, :laugh: but choosing the right things to complement my body goes a long way. Its amazing what a good push-up bra and the right spanks will do. I'm as vain as the next girl and I want to make sure that all the hard work gets noticed. Now if I can only get rid of the pounds that have made a return visit....
  • danapearl
    danapearl Posts: 8
    Please don't take the comments saying you can "shrink skin", "tone skin", etc. seriously. This is so not the case. Just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment.

    And if it is possible, it means I have had three medical doctors and two cosmetic surgeons lie to me. Which I think not. :/

    She is correct.

    It is what it is. Strength train, pump, hydrate. Love whatever skin you are in because it is not going anywhere in most cases.
  • Pynkklady
    Pynkklady Posts: 51 Member
    Please don't take the comments saying you can "shrink skin", "tone skin", etc. seriously. This is so not the case. Just don't want you to set yourself up for disappointment.

    And if it is possible, it means I have had three medical doctors and two cosmetic surgeons lie to me. Which I think not. :/

    Same here... I have 20% Body fat on me, and yeah, I look like a Shar Pei in my stomach & around my knees. It's not going to go away...it's not even really getting any better... I am 42yrs old, a fitness instructor and am in the best physical condition of my life. My upper body (arms, shoulders, chest) are firm and sold...From my belly down, SOLID as a rock, with a LOT of excess skin. Spoke with surgeons.. not cheap. Creams & exercise wont make it go away. When I was 29yrs old, I was also very heavy (265) and dropped weight, was out dancing & having a great time..Still had some excess skin, but it went back MUCH better then than it is now, not all of it,but some.. So age does make a difference.
    Just know it is what it is and learn to dress in a way you can tolerate it. I'm to the point now, where I make fun of it with my hubby...That's how I cope with it.

    Thanks, everyone! I'm 47 and had been overweight for about 15 years, so I'm guessing I'm stuck with it. UGH! It's great that you and your husband are able to joke about it, I would LOVE that! Unfortunately, I'm recently single and now VERY self conscientious about it. Who wants to date a batwinged, floppy thighed, apron ab? LOL

    Anyway, I guess I'll just have to learn to live with it. I'm only half way thru my weight loss goal (doing it slowly!), so does that mean I'll have TWICE as much loose skin when I reach my goal? Good lord, I hope not! I think I would never be able to wear a pair of shorts, for fear of my thigh skin hanging out the bottom of them! =)

    Someone once told me that burn centers will remove skin for free in exchange for you donating it, so I guess if I have so much it's unbearable, I could look into that...

    Again, thanks everyone for your great suggestions/ideas!!
  • UltraRoyal
    UltraRoyal Posts: 49
    I found that taking silicea gel gave me amazing skin, nails, and hair.....thats an option in rebuilding strength around your body. Do some research......I live by it.
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