I know there is no miracle for loose skin, but I was wondering if anyone had any tricks they thought worked. I don't think I need surgery, but my stomach is getting pretty wrinkley. I have lost almost 50 lbs. I do work out.

Just want to write down that...I am grateful for this problem (but vain enough to ask the question:) )

banded 9/13/06

fill in oct (a double)

fill in nov (the one that worked)

262/214/162

When I joined the gym a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned I was having that problem and he recomended Shea Butter (in the lotion section) I bought some to try, but it hasn't been long enough to see if it works.

There are lots of snake oils and magic elixirs out there, lotions, creams, rubs, wraps, etc. but the condition of your skin long term is really going to boil down to a few biological/environmental factors, and short of plastic surgery there won't be a whole heck of a lot you can do to make it any better.

As you work out you will build muscle mass, and as muscle mass increases your bulk will increase. This can take up some of the excess skin and make the skin appear more taut.

On my Doctor's web site he provides an answer to this question in the FAQs. So this is what one doctor says.

Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?

A: That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.

On my Doctor's web site he provides an answer to this question in the FAQs. So this is what one doctor says.

Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?

A: That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.

This is what I have always heard as well.

Jergen's makes a skin firming lotion that's supposed to work well. It was made for cellulite, but you can use it anywhere you need it. It takes a few weeks, but it's supposed to tighten things slightly. I think it will very from person to person, but it may be worth a shot.

From their website:

"Smooth over entire body, paying special attention to areas prone to cellulite and any parts that could use a little lift. Skin will be visibly firmer with continued use."

http://www.jergens.com/products/index.asp?action=viewProduct&id=6

I have been using a skin firming cream and a shea butter lotions specifically for stretch marks since a couple of weeks before my surgery. I haven't used it for long enough yet to tell if it will benefit me long term, but my skin is definitely smoother and feels a bit more taut.

I'm also interested in any other things people have tried and found any success with too, as I have a lot of stretch marks on my lower stomach and am most fearful of developing an over hanging apron!

Being a yo-yo dieter, I have collected many articles over a lifetime. One article has stuck with me throughout the years and that is the importance of drinking at a minimum of 64 ounces of Water a day. The article was a two page list of all of the things that water is needed for in your body. I wish I still had the source, I would link it here.

Your skin's elasticity amoung many other things has a lot to do with how much water you drink. Some of it may be hereditary, however water is very very vital.

Oh and wrinkly skin can get better. I had horrendous wrinkly skin when I was undergoing Chemotherapy. My skin looked like it was 80 years old. I had also lost 50 pounds in a matter of 2 or 3 treatments. Everything looks normal now, no wrinkly or anything. Worst diet of my life, LOL.

Being a yo-yo dieter, I have collected many articles over a lifetime. One article has stuck with me throughout the years and that is the importance of drinking at a minimum of 64 ounces of Water a day. The article was a two page list of all of the things that water is needed for in your body. I wish I still had the source, I would link it here.

Your skin's elasticity amoung many other things has a lot to do with how much water you drink. Some of it may be hereditary, however water is very very vital.

Oh and wrinkly skin can get better. I had horrendous wrinkly skin when I was undergoing Chemotherapy. My skin looked like it was 80 years old. I had also lost 50 pounds in a matter of 2 or 3 treatments. Everything looks normal now, no wrinkly or anything. Worst diet of my life, LOL.

First of all, I'm sorry to hear that you went through that. (Unfortunately, I just lost my grandfather to cancer.):think

I agree that being well hydrated plays a huge role in the elasticity of the skin. I also heard that it may depend on your age and on how long you have been overweight. Also on how fast or slow you lose the weight. The fact that you lose weight slower with the band than with the bypass is one of the reasons why I chose the band over the other. I'm okay with the slower weight lose, as long as it means that I have a greater chance to lose any excess skin.

It's really genetics along with how long you were fat that determine your degree of loose skin. I recommend:

A good shaper such as

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=120709&CategoryID=11656&LinkType=EverGreen,

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=156324&CategoryID=11656,

or

http://www.spanx.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main?complex_id_in=477024.488695.488695.686134.cat

OR

cosmetic surgery.

Okay girls, I have a question about drinking water. Fortunately, I do love water, but I am wondering if iced tea(without lemon or sugar) would be considered the same. I really need to have a little tea in the morning--I don't drink coffee, and just need a little caffeine. I just wondered if I could count that as part of my water consumption? What are your thoughts? By the way Faybie, I hope things are better for you now, and I am also sorry to hear you had to go through that. Definately not the way anyone wants to lose weight is it?

It's really genetics along with how long you were fat that determine your degree of loose skin.

Yup, I left that one out. OOPs.

I wasn't thinking about it at the time. But as with everything, genetics is a major player. Damn genetics!!

Has anyone heard of body brushing? Here is what I got.

<CENTER>DRY SKIN BRUSHING</CENTER>

<DD>It is WELL known that the Skin is the LARGEST Organ in the Body, and is responsible for one-fourth of the Body's Detoxification each day, also making it, one of the most IMPORTANT Elimination Organs! The Skin is also known as the "3rd" Kidneys and the Lungs are known as the "2nd" Kidneys. TOXICITY can gather beneath the Skin's Surface from such COMMON Influences such as IMPROPER pH levels in Body Soaps, Skin Creams and Anti-Perspirants, plus Synthetic Fibers worn NEXT to the Skin with ANY of them contributing to a variety of Skin Problems and Conditions.

<DD>When you do Skin Brushing, you HELP your Lymph System to CLEAN itself of the TOXINS, that COLLECT in the Lymph Glands. You use a Simple Technique to IMPROVE the Surface Circulation on the Skin and KEEP the Pores of the Skin OPEN, encouraging your Body's Discharge of Metabolic Wastes, and resulting in an IMPROVED ability to COMBAT Bacteria, plus HELPING your Skin to look and feel HEALTHIER and MORE RESILIENT! Skin Brushing is a PERFECT Treatment for SELF-HELP Enthusiasts.

• Benefits:
  
• TIGHTENS Skin.
  
• HELPS Digestion.
  
• REMOVES Cellulite.
  
• STIMULATES Circulation.
  
• INCREASES Cell Renewal.
  
• CLEANS Lymphatic System.
  
• REMOVES Dead Skin Layers.
  
• STRENGTHENS Immune System.
  
• IMPROVES Exchange between Cells.
  
• STIMULATES the Glands, thus helping ALL of the
  Body Systems to perform at PEAK EFFICIENCY!

1. How To Do:
   
2. Buy a NATURAL, NOT Synthetic, Bristle Brush, since it does NOT SCRATCH the Surface of the Skin.
   
3. Buy a Brush with a LONG Handle, so that you're ABLE to get to the Areas of your Body, that are NOT EASY to reach, when doing your own Skin Brushing.
   
4. Skin Brush, before Showering or Bathing, at least ONCE per day, and TWICE, if possible.
   
5. Do NOT wet Skin, since it will NOT have the SAME Effect, because this stretches the Skin.
   
6. ALWAYS Skin Brush towards the Heart.
   
7. Do Circular Counter-Clockwise Strokes on the Abdomen.
   
8. Do LIGHTER Strokes over and around Breasts, but do NOT Brush the Nipples.
   
9. Brush each part of the Body several times VIGOROUSLY, COMPLETELY Brushing the WHOLE Body.
   
10. Brush the Soles of the Feet FIRST, because the Nerve Endings there affect the WHOLE Body, next Brush the Ankles, Calves, and Thighs, then Brush across your Stomach and Buttocks and lastly Brush your Hands to the Arms.
    
11. Take a WARM Bath or Shower, which should always be followed by a COOL Rinse at the end to INVIGORATE Blood Circulation and STIMULATE Surface Warmth.
    
12. Wash your Brush every few Weeks in Water and let it DRY.

</DD><CENTER>DRY SKIN BRUSHING 2</CENTER>

<DD>Dry skin brushing tones the immune and circulatory systems. It may reduce the duration of infection and accelerate the clearing of toxins. It will reduce cellulite, help support the immune system during cancer and other chronic illness treatment. Best of all, it feels really good!

1. 1. 
      
   2. Using your right hand, gently slide the brush along your right jaw line starting from your earlobe to the underside of your chin 7 times.
      
   3. Place the brush at the hairline on your neck and gently pull around the right side of your neck to the Adam's apple 7 times.
      
   4. Hold the brush with your right hand at the bottom of your neck (where it joins the top of your back) and bring it around your neck to the right and down along your right collar bone and end up between your collar bones.

[*]Stroke your breastbone in a circular fashion to stimulate the thymus gland. Carefully brush the breast in a circular motion. Do all of Step 1c 7 times. Repeat steps a, b and c on your left side holding the brush with your left hand. 2. To stimulate the pituitary gland, hold the brush on the back of your head near the base of your neck and rock the brush up and down, then side to side, both 14 times.

[*]Hold the brush in your left armpit with your right hand and rotate it counter clockwise 7 items, then clockwise 7 times. Repeat on your right armpit with your left hand.

[*]Brush upward 7 times from your upper right thigh to your right armpit. Repeat process on your left side. Women may need to hold their breast out of the way with their free hand.

[*]Brush back and forth over your belly button and around your waistline 14 times (like passing a basketball behind your back).

[*]Brush in a circular motion over your belly-button, counter-clockwise 7 times then clockwise 7 times. Finish brushing the front of your body in any direction starting at the bottom and brushing all the way up 14 times. Very little pressure needs to be applied to the genitals and women's breasts because the skin is sensitive and will redden if irritated.

[*]Brush up and down your spine from the base of your neck and down as far as you can 14 times Finish your upper back by stroking it around toward your 11 sides.

[*]Brush your spine from tailbone up as high as you can reach 14 times, holding the brush with two hands or with the detachable wooden handle. Finish your lower back by stroking it around toward your sides).

[*]Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart This improves blood circulation, firms skin and gets rid of cellulite.

[*]Hold the brush in the right groin with both hands and rotate it 7 times counter-clockwise, then 7 times clockwise. Repeat with the left groin.

[*]

1. Brush from right knee to right hip 7 times. Work all the way around your leg continuing to brush upwards (towards the heart).
   
2. Brush up from right ankle to right knee and work all the way around your leg, brushing up towards your heart (Figure 11). This improves blood circulation, firms skin and gets rid of cellulite.
   
3. Brush around your right ankle 7 times.
   
4. Brush back and forth over the top of your right foot from toes to ankle.
   
5. Brush across your right toes on top and underneath 7 times.

[*]Brush the bottom of your right foot heel to toe 7 times.

[*]Repeat numbers 11-12 for your left thigh, left leg and foot.

[*]

1. Brushing upward from right elbow to your armpit and shoulder, cover that entire area 7 times.
   
2. Brush from your right wrist to the elbow in the same manner 7 times.

[*]Repeat number 14 for your left arm.

[*]Lightly brush the webbing (or junction) between your left thumb and index or pointer finger on the palmside 14 times, then on the non-palmside 14 times (Figure 15).

[*]Brush your left palm from wrist to fingertips and back 7 times. Brush the back of your left hand the same way 7 times.

[*]Brush each left hand finger individually back and forth 7 times on the areas that have not been brushed yet.

[*]Repeat steps 16-17 for your right hand.

</DD>

I am 23 and have been big my whole life. I do exercise but it hasn't helped. I have a consult with the plastic surgeon on Feb 26th..I still have 53 lbs to go but i want to go and get his opinion..I need alot done. Tummy tuck, Lipo, Breast lift wImplants, Inner thighs..They also say to drink alot of Water. I have and it didn't help either.

Best of Luck

Okay girls, I have a question about drinking Water. Fortunately, I do love water, but I am wondering if iced tea(without lemon or sugar) would be considered the same. I really need to have a little tea in the morning--I don't drink coffee, and just need a little caffeine. I just wondered if I could count that as part of my water consumption? What are your thoughts? By the way Faybie, I hope things are better for you now, and I am also sorry to hear you had to go through that. Definately not the way anyone wants to lose weight is it?

Connie,

If it's decaf tea, I would definitely say it counts! I'm a huge tea fan and always wondered if it counted towards my water consumption when I was on Weight Watchers. They said it did but that I should count each glass as 3/4's of a serving of water because the caffeine acts as a diuretic.

I hope this helps!

When I was on the medical weight loss program at Johns Hopkins, the doc told us that water, diet soda (within limits), crystal light and decaf tea or coffee were ok to count for our water. Anything without calories was ok.