LOSE SKIN ISSUES

Question regarding the lose skin. is the only options surgery? what parts of the body are  most affected? is there anyone that was able to keep the lose skin to a minimal without surgery? what are some of the best things to do to deal with this issue?

Hi Scarlet,

It all depends on how much you have to lose, age, heredity.  Be sure and post this on the Plastic Surgery Forum if you have not already done so  

Read, research, and don't fall for the baloney(bad information) out there.

You don't have to research much to find out there is nothing in skin that can be tightened up with exercise or any flavor of snake oil.  You c an exercise to develop the muscles under the skin and that can make the sag look a little better but it doesn't shrink the skin.

After massive weight loss, skin shrinks slowly for up to 2 years.  How much it shrinks depends on your age, how long you were heavy, and your genetics.  The one and only way to get rid of it is plastic surgery.  Some folks wear shapewear, like Spanx, to make the problem less visible.  Some learn to live with it, and others have plastics.

Usually the parts that sag are the areas where you carry the most weight pre-op.  Part of it is age related too, very few women over 50 don't have some batwing.  Me personally, if I was to trip over an extra 100K or so, I would fix my arms first because it's awful living somewhere hot and not being able to wear anything sleeveless!  Followed by the midsection and thighs.  Then the face.  I look OK/normal with clothes on(for my age)...but naked, I am a train wreck.

There is no way to know for sure what your leftovers will be.  I can tell you for sure coping with the leftovers is still a whole lot better than staying fat!!!!

Thanks for the info.  I'm glad to hear that it keeps shrinking for a couple of years.  That gives me hope.

Don't hold onto that much hope.  It shrinks a little, but nothing to get excited over.  To date, there is no magical cream, lotion or exercise to prevent or treat the permanent damage to your skin.

Why thank you Valerie.  You're a freakin ray of sunshine today... 

Yea, I know it won't go back to the way it was.  But I was heavy (above 165 lbs) for 7 years.  And the last 50 lbs in the last 2 years.  So some of it might bounce back.

What I know - if you are an apple shape (like me), there is going to be a huge lap of skin right under the belly button.  That's my only place of extreme sag after 85 lbs. 

My face did sag from the first 60 lbs, where I was starting to get slight jowls at my jaw line.  And a crepe look right under my chin.  That smoothed out.

The bat wings... I have a little bit but I'm over 50 years old.

LOL - I just hate to see people fall for snakeoil sales and waste their time and money.  Save your money for plastics if you want them.  I'm a pear, and gravity has pulled my loose skin to some extremely ugly shar-pei looking thighs.  I can offer that I feel like a million bucks in lycra shapewear.  I pull of a wonderful illusion.

Thank you guys for always being honest i really like that about this site. everyone gives it to you straight! I know that plastic will probably be the only way to go for me but that's something later on down the road that I will deal with when the time come!

I'm apple shaped and have accepted that there will be an assessive amount of skin in my tummy area. I can't really give plastics a real consideration because I plan on getting pregnant in the near future. Thankfully, there will only be a slight tumble over. Other than that, I try to stay hydrated and keep the shea butter slathered on.