So here are my stats... im 5'7'', weigh 240 lbs, and im 28yrs old, bmi 35, and prone to strech marks... i was just wondering if anyone is in my age, weight, height range, etc... and how the weightloss has affected your ability for your skin to bounce back.. I am not trying to be vain but it was a serious concern of mine because i love to play sports and the chaffing might become a real problem so I am hoping that the elasticity will be good enough so that i wont have to get cosmetic surgery later down the road.

Does anyone have any good recommendations as to how to keep the skin taught?

As it is i put lotion on every day after i get out of the shower and exercise even tho is difficult for me after 4 knee surgeries i plan on kicking it into high gear once im able to move after the surgery. which is in 4 days. any help would be really wonderful.

Kicking this back up, because I would like to hear about this too.

I think a lot of it has to to do with nature -- what your skin resiliency is, and then how fast we lose weight, how much we have to lose, how much muscle we build, all comes into it, doesn't it?

I'm expecting a lot of hanging skin, unfortunately

I am certainly concerned about the excess skin as well. I carry my weight mostly in my legs and butt... I also have quite large breasts... SO I am hoping that if there is any cosmetic surgery in my future it is limited to breast augmentation.... I pray my skin will be forgiving.... although I have STRETCHED it to its limits I am sure...

Best of luck Ladies!!

This is my opinion only, but I think the main factor in how well skin snaps back is mostly luck. A few other factors may play a part too. However, I'll tell you what I did. I'm 5'7, I've lost over 160 Lbs at this point, going on 170 and my skin has shaped up quite nicely considering how large I was. The largest size I've ever worn was a tight 28W and 3-4X tops. The smallest Sizes I can wear now is XS and 0. Vanity sizing plays a lot into that but I digress...

I drink a whole lot of Water, I tone up when working out and I eat as healthy as I can. I also take Vitamin E 1,000 Mg 4x per week before bed (was every night). I do believe these have helped me a lot in my skin recovery. One last thing, it can take up to 2 years before you see full results of how well your skin will retract. So, patience plays its role in this too. It is also my belief that ethnicity, age and whether you're a smoker or not has some say too.

Good luck to you! One last thing... Plastic Surgery and compression garments has helped!

This is my opinion only, but I think the main factor in how well skin snaps back is mostly luck. A few other factors may play a part too. However, I'll tell you what I did. I'm 5'7, I've lost over 160 Lbs at this point, going on 170 and my skin has shaped up quite nicely considering how large I was. The largest size I've ever worn was a tight 28W and 3-4X tops. The smallest Sizes I can wear now is XS and 0. Vanity sizing plays a lot into that but I digress...

I drink a whole lot of Water, I tone up when working out and I eat as healthy as I can. I also take Vitamin E 1,000 Mg 4x per week before bed (was every night). I do believe these have helped me a lot in my skin recovery. One last thing, it can take up to 2 years before you see full results of how well your skin will retract. So, patience plays its role in this too. It is also my belief that ethnicity, age and whether you're a smoker or not has some say too.

Good luck to you! One last thing... Plastic Surgery and compression garments has helped!

You truley are an inspiration!!!

This is my opinion only, but I think the main factor in how well skin snaps back is mostly luck. A few other factors may play a part too.

This is kind of what I think and what i meant by "nature"....lol. I am kind of sort of wondering if you have awful stretch marks, whether you probably have less elastic skin and that means you'll have more snap back problems....I'm just assuming I will not have good bounce back. Sadly.

How much does brachioplasty and the panniculectomy cost if you are self-pay?

This is kind of what I think and what i meant by "nature"....lol. I am kind of sort of wondering if you have awful stretch marks, whether you probably have less elastic skin and that means you'll have more snap back problems....I'm just assuming I will not have good bounce back. Sadly.

How much does brachioplasty and the panniculectomy cost if you are self-pay?

Not necessarily, speaking from experience. I have what I think is a lot of stretch marks, but still my skin did really well. Hope I made your day!

You did -- there is a slight glimmer of hope...LOL!

The state of your skin is determined by your lifestyle and your genetics. Which I think is a very abbreviated version of what Diva said.

The skin is an elastic organ. When stretched significantly for an extended period of time, it will become loose. Or from the surgeon directly, “It is a matter of fact: If you lose 150 pounds from an elastic organ such as skin, you're going to have saggy skin.”

There's not a whole lot you can do on an acute basis to help. Your skin's either going to have some spring back, or it won't. Tiny lady carries twins for 9 months - her stomach may go back to flat. Obese person carries 200 lbs around for 40 years, they're going to be a hot mess.

What happens to your skin is based on previous lifestyle (smoking, drug use, sun exposure, etc) and genetics. That's it. There is no magic cure.

However, you can definitely maximize what it is able to do by keeping hydrated and incorporating a regular exercise routine. But - if you started with some bad skin.....its not going to bounce back. Sorry. This is what keeps plastic surgeons in business.

I wanted to know about back fat or roll has anyone had one or more and did it smooth out??

Thank you everyone for your posts.. it really helps.. i like to think that since im half black half japanes i have really good skin since both age quite nicely.. lol, but truth of the matter i also have stretch marks, which in its own right means that my skin is not very resilient..

I am normally very good at workin hard when i do work out so i am hoping that gaining lean muscle mass and lots of cardio will help..

Is there anyone around my height weight? 5'7 240lbs... that had much issue.. granted i have a lot of muscle from all the sports that i play and really the fattiest part of my body now is my tummy. and inner thighs. i don't really have the money for plastics so im gonna do as much as i can to just get it tightened the old fashion way.

i use lotion daily and i will try the Vitamin e thing.. thank you diva. hopefully it will make a difference.

I also take Vitamin E 1,000 Mg 4x per week before bed (was every night).

That's very interesting about the Vitamin E - is it known to help with loose skin issues? Is there a reason you took it at night? I think I'm going to start doing that!

Vitamin E is the healing vitamin, and I was just mentioning it because it helps with skin. My Plastic Surgeon put me on it for my scarring from them. I believe it has helped a whole lot, and I've also noticed that my skin has gotten much softer since I've started taking it. The only reason I take it at night is because I'm already taking a bunch of other vitamins in the AM... just trying to space it out is all.