loose skin after 50

[paj92434 27]

Hi everyone & thanks for all the replies. I guess I knew my skin will be loose. it already is loose from gaining and losing weight so many times. I know I have not had a flat stomach since I was 11 years old. I know I will have to have some surgery in the future. I finally see the surgeon this coming Thursday. I will hopefully get a date for surgery. I started this process last August. My insurance requires 6 month supervision. They did not require a weight loss number or even a percent. I am holding my own at this point and have not gained any weight. I have been exercising and have given up pop and bread. I will have to start the liquid diet with one meal 10 days before surgery. I have been a little down lately. I am wondering has anyone else felt doubts because of age. I am 51. I am asking myself is this really going to work?

[Catherine707 253]

I had a lot of those same doubts and concerns before my surgery last May. I only told my family and close friends, plus my co-workers that would be affected by my surgery before I had the surgery because I was afraid it wouldn't work for me. You don't mention any of your statistics, so I don't know where your starting weight is and how much you need to lose. For me surgery was a LAST resort - I had tried everything else before and watched my weight continue to climb out of control. I 2012 I tried a low carb diet because I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome - after a small weight loss, I ended up with an inflamed gall bladder and needed to have that removed. Once I recovered from that, I tried Medifast - again lost a small amount of weight but then had a major allergic reaction to the soy in the products. I knew at that point that I needed surgical help to get healthy. For me it took a lot of soul searching and "getting real" with myself to be certain that I was willing to make the lifestyle changes needed to be successful with this tool.

As for the age thing - in another 2 years you can either have a healthier body and feel better, or you can just be 2 years older! Either way time is passing. I chose to age with a healthier body; hair loss and wrinkles were a small price to pay for a body that would allow me to live longer and do the things I want to do in life. Only you can answer these questions for yourself!

[PsychoVGS 16]

Oh yes, indeed! Loose skin EVERYWHERE! Initially, I was horrified at the unattractiveness of the loose skin on thighs, stomach, arms, butt, back…. but it is gradually firming up a little. I don't expect it to go away, but I have noticed it is not as loose as it was at first. I don't know if this is the experience others have or not, but it is lessening. And, it doesn't bother me because the tremendous benefits of my weight loss is much greater than this problem. For me, I am grateful everyday that I had this surgery.

[Cmstewart 7]

I aleady had flabby skin, my surgery date is a week away. The only place im not liking is my face and double chin flab! Im 59 yrs and ready to live!

[BeagleLover 1,020]

I just attended my monthly support group meeting last week. One of the best plastic surgeons did a presentation there. He is from UCI. He explained that most plastic surgeons do not know or understand that doing plastic surgery on weight loss patients is very different than doing it on regular patients. He has kinda written the book on the differences in weight loss patients and how most surgeons perform the surgeries based on normal weight patients models. The results are usually disastrous and expensive. If you are really bothered by loose skin, make sure you have a surgeon who has LOTS of experience with weight loss patients. There are only about 5 of those in the country!!!! After watching the pros and cons of the surgeries, I will leave my loose skin alone unless it becomes a medical problem. The risks of complications are like 70%. Just my two cents. Good luck to those who are going to do it.

Do you happen to know names? Thanks.

[Multifacet 66]

I'm 53 and my biggest concern was wrinkles in my face and I'm happy with that part so far! I have what my husband and I call "butt drapes" and I just laugh about it, afterall he is the only one that sees them! I only have slight bat wings as my arms never got huge and my thighs sag a bit but my "hot pant" days are over anyway! I Celebrate my calves daily and wear knee length shorts and skirts. Overall I'm pleased and I have a bit more to lose, so I'm concentrating on building muscle and hoping that will fill out the saggy areas a bit. Luckily all of those areas are covered by clothing most of the time! My best to you all.

[LDallas 108]

Tip for hiding flabby upper arms!! Buy short sleeved polo's and T-shirts in the men's dept. They are less expensive and the sleeves come down further. Double bonus!

[NMJG 1,266]

53 here. Yep, loose skin especially on midsection and upper arms. Thighs, too. It's never going to shrink up, will require surgery.

[LoveAfterWLS 62]

I'm at my goal weight, having lost 137 lbs. I think my lose skin is sometimes worse than the fat was. I don't think I was really prepared for what my body would look like. Did it stop me from rocking a bikini in the Bahamas last week? No. I am looking into plastics but am having some vein work done first. I've had the first of two vein surgeries in one of my legs done. Will have the other one done next month and then will get serious about plastics. I will definitely be having a Tummy Tuck, boobs, arms and possible thighs done. I would love a butt lift also but that's low on the priority list!

[Packerfan61964 293]

I think if you were worried about loose skin instead of being thinner and healthier, then you're having the surgery for all the wrong reasons. Focus on the positives NOT the negatives

[LoveAfterWLS 62]

I am 51 and lost 150 lbs. my skin is bad. I've already had a Tummy Tuck with muscle repair and a breast lift. A total of 6 1/2 pounds removed! I'm scheduled on June 30th for augmentation and to have my arms done. I plan to have my thighs and butt done in the fall.

[change0414 4]

LoveAfterWLS - I am struggling with the same issues right now. unfortunately I have sagginess everywhere. it is making dating a challenge. I've only tried to be intimate once since my surgery and it didn't go well. I need a second job so I can plan for plastics next year. my boobs are flat, my butt is saggy, my thighs and calves are just plain ugly. in my clothes I look fantastic thanks to compression garments, but I'm embarrassed to take my clothes off. I didn't think it would be this bad.

[Licia'sjourney 89]

@@change0414 - I wish you luck in saving your money/part time job so you can get plastics. I will be there with you. I have only lost 33 lbs preop and can tell I'll be in the same boat. I too don't have the money for plastics. I too am single.

Have you ever heard of Zerona? Its something that is offered in my doctors office. I wonder if that would help with these types of issues? I don't really know. It shrinks your body a little bit but I don't know how it works. Just wondering out loud here.

[lclemur 161]

I am scared of the reported costs of plastic surgery. Any estimates you have been given? I read about someone spending up to 35K.

[jess9395 5,448]

I am scared of the reported costs of plastic surgery. Any estimates you have been given? I read about someone spending up to 35K.

I had Tummy Tuck, breast lift w augmentation and arm lift for $23K. If you can go to Mexico it's about half that. And my prices are on the high side because I am in CA