Hi Bandsters,

For those of you who have reached or are approaching goal weight, I'm wondering...how many of you have loose skin, and how loose/how much?

Please answer with how much weight you lost and whether you wanted/needed/considered plastic surgery.

Thank you for your input.

Mslynn

I have recently started to notice major problems with loose skin. I have lost about 94 pounds in the last 14 months. I still have 40 or so pounds to go and I am not optimistic at all. I know buiding some muscle will help a little, but it's going to be a big problem for me. I've had some issues buying clothes recently and filling weird about the loose skin. It's as if my skin is not attached and I just shake when I walk etc. My husband says it's not noticeable, but i feel more self conscious now than before, how crazy!!

I'm pretty sure my biggest problem will be my upper arms - they've always been a problem. I'd love to get "the girls" put back where they belong too - which I believe I can have done with a breast reduction - even when I was very fit (3 years ago) I still had a DD chest that killed my back and my bra straps cut into my shoulders - I was going to have a reduction done back then - well I can get it done when I'm done with this now

My tummy apron seems to be improving somewhat. I've been surprised. But no improvement on my upper arms and upper thighs. They are frankly.....disgusting. I'm turning 50 in about 6 weeks, so I'm not as young and elastic as I once was. It's even showing in my face. It's sagging a bit. I think that hurrts worse than anything because I'm aging at an accelerated rate. I have been told though, NOT to consider surgery until 1 year after I reach my goal weight. Your skin continues to adjust during that time. It's a slow process. Some places that may appear horrible now, may not be so bad then. So I'm going to be patient and wait. IF I did have PS, it would be on my arms and a face lift. I can cover my thighs and tummy.

What is your definition of loose skin? I am down about 85 lbs. and am pretty darn flabby, but I don't consider is loose skin. I don't know if this is good or bad. :laugh:

Anyone in their mid 20s or early 30s that managed to deal with excess skin without plastic surgery? :smile2:

I'm in Canada, and everything seems more expensive here, and Mexico is out of the question now with the SWINE FLU going around. :biggrin:

I'm in my early 20s, plan to lose 100-120lbs in 12-15months.

Is it even possible to not have loose skin? 12-15 months to lose 100-120lbs shouldn't consider as "quick" right?

I gradually went from normal to OB in 4 years..

Any chance of not getting PS? Sigh

Edited April 29, 200917 yr by thisendisabeginning

Hey, since you're one of those lucky ones without a big problem with saggy skin. And there was this other girl that don't have that much a problem with loose skin.

I became more interested to know what kind of exercise you're doing, perhaps it has something to do with it.

Like if it's running, then you're constantly "bumping" the excess skin as you run, but like swimming, maybe a better choice to "shape up" ?? :biggrin:

I've lost about 50 lbs since my January 2008 surgery (i'll update my ticker after my next dr. appt). I don't have any loose skin or hair loss. Am I the lucky exception?

I should add that I do exercise heavily throughout the week and have lost a very signicant number of inches (8" waist, 6" chest, etc.) rather than huge amounts weight. My doc says it's becoming muscle.

Edited April 29, 200917 yr by thisendisabeginning

Anyone in their mid 20s or early 30s that managed to deal with excess skin without plastic surgery?

I'm in Canada, and everything seems more expensive here, and Mexico is out of the question now with the SWINE FLU going around. :thumbup:

I'm in my early 20s, plan to lose 100-120lbs in 12-15months.

Is it even possible to not have loose skin? 12-15 months to lose 100-120lbs shouldn't consider as "quick" right?

I gradually went from normal to OB in 4 years..

Any chance of not getting PS? Sigh

Age and length of time being obese will play into this a bit, but genetics will as well. Yoga and Pilates seem to be the best way to maintain that skin tightness from what I've seen. Sometimes though - especially in some areas of the body, there's just no way around it. My biggest problem has been and always will be my upper arms. I know I have a brachioplasty in my future and I'm okay with that. I don't have a big problem with my lower abdomen like a lot of people do - I don't have the "apron" per se. I'm hoping my thighs and butt will work out with all the exercise I plan to be doing! God I can't wait to get back to that!!! Anyway - you really have to take your own genetics into account here. Hopefully you won't have a big problem!

Hi all!

I'm only down about 35 pounds and I can see the "apron" forming already. I'll be working out and eating right, but at 46 I'm under very few illusions about the elasticity of my skin.

I do have a tendency to develop keloids, though (raised, puffy scars) so I will do whatever I can to exercise and tighten up the tummy. Vitamins daily, lots of lotion, etc. Hopefully it will have a beneficial effect...if not, I'll be looking for a specialist to do the surgery - I don't want a big, thick ropy scar across my abdomen! :thumbup:

Excess skin or loose skin is a common problem for weight loss. Most people would go for tummy tuck or other procedures to get rid of it. It is not just for wanting to look good but if it becomes a bothersome already I think its time to go for a plastic surgery.

For those who cannot afford the surgery, they have the option to go abroad. Medical Tourism has become a trend today. There are affordable plastic surgeries abroad that are excellent in quality - some say they're better than in the US. But I think a good research work needs to be done here to make sure that you're going to a good plastic surgeon.:thumbup:

I had large arms but alwasy been somewhat shapely. I started working with weights..(more then 5 pounds ladies)...and now I have awesome arms and shoulders...I get compliments daily (Mrs Obama arms, they say)....I have a little tummy pouch but this has alwasy been a problem area for me. Cant really see it with clothes on. I use to have a large rear end...so as I lost weight, it got quite jiggly....wouldnt call it loose skin...I do tons of squats and it has improved...still working on that...

Also...inner thighs....some loose skin...but has drastically improved with exercise using weights!

Starting weight--244.....Now 158. Goal is 150 but already in a size 8...and looking skinny...very toned due to using weights! From size 18-20 now in size 8...thats were I want to be!

I had large arms but alwasy been somewhat shapely. I started working with weights..(more then 5 pounds ladies)...and now I have awesome arms and shoulders...I get compliments daily (Mrs Obama arms, they say)....I have a little tummy pouch but this has alwasy been a problem area for me. Cant really see it with clothes on. I use to have a large rear end...so as I lost weight, it got quite jiggly....wouldnt call it loose skin...I do tons of squats and it has improved...still working on that...

Also...inner thighs....some loose skin...but has drastically improved with exercise using weights!

Starting weight--244.....Now 158. Goal is 150 but already in a size 8...and looking skinny...very toned due to using weights! From size 18-20 now in size 8...thats were I want to be!

Thanks, sounds like lifting with heavy weights in the key

I work out hard at least 3x a week and have loose skin on my belly, chest, upper arms and upper thighs that won't go away. My insurance just approved me for a breast reduction and abdominoplasty and I'm scheduled for surgery on Oct. 5th. They are paying 100% and I a very excited. My next worse area is my arms and I am willing to pay the $4000 to get them fixed, but my surgeon says that I will have to wait, as they can only do so much surgery at one time. I know I will have scars and that it will hurt, but I have to wear shapewear every day and I live in FL so it is HOT! Also, I look terrible in a swimsuit or without clothes on. I'm super excited about the prospect of a flat stomach and firm boobs!

Hey, since you're one of those lucky ones without a big problem with saggy skin. And there was this other girl that don't have that much a problem with loose skin.

I became more interested to know what kind of exercise you're doing, perhaps it has something to do with it.

Like if it's running, then you're constantly "bumping" the excess skin as you run, but like swimming, maybe a better choice to "shape up" ??

I dont think there's much to that theory - I'm in my 40's, I mainly run for exercise, and do boot camp and I dont have loose skin, well not significant skin requiring surgery anyway. I bump and shake all over the place when I exercise!

I think its the luck of the draw really.

I can honestly say that I'm very pleased with how my skin "bounced back". I've lost 129 lbs in about 2 years. I've been extremely active, which is the only thing I can account for the way my body has reacted to the weightloss.

Boo68 that's refreshing to hear....I planned to loose weight slowly so I'd minimize loose skin. But, I can't help but to wanna be normal size quickly. I've lost 28 lbs. in 7 weeks and started feeling like I should slow down a bit so I don't get the saggy rapid weight loss look. I wanna loose a total of 95 lbs, and I do work out ( I wouldn't call it being extremely active). I hope I can luck up with bounce back skin or build musculature to help fill the saggy skin.