Skin? 5'5 200 lbs to lose

Looking for people with my body type having lost 200+ pounds. I'm so nervous about the skin. How bad do you think it will be? I know I will be healthier, but don't want to be deformed either. Please tell me your experience with skin?

I am almost 5'5" and I have lost 216lbs or so. I have exercised and lotioned and done everything by the book and still have the skin. It has gone down some as time goes on but it's still not great. I look great with clothes on but my abdomen is pretty saggy. I have watched a lot on line and on tv about skin issues and everyone is different. Some folks bounce back good, some like me just ok, and others really rough. No matter the skin results it's still better to lose the weight and help prevent as many other health issues as possible.

So inspiring! I could be okay with okay! Thank you for your response.

Deformed? I think that you're only as "deformed" as you think you are. Do you consider yourself deformed now?

I'm 5'4", I've lost 170 pounds, I'm planning on losing about 30 more. I don't consider my excess skin to be deforming. Yes, there is/was a lot of it, but it didn't make me feel hideous or disfigured. If I didn't exercise as much as I do, I probably wouldn't pursue reconstructive surgeries. But I do exercise and my excess skin is super annoying and prevents me from doing the things that I want to do. (For example, I'd really like to be able to do jumping jacks without needing ankle to wrist compression gear.) So I've just had the second of the three reconstructive surgeries I've got planned.

Some people have health issues with their excess skin - these can be physical or mental, but debilitating either way.

With the amount of weight you have to lose, you should plan on having excess skin. How you deal with it, how you view it, how you feel about it... that's up to you.

Very sound advice, thank you. I'm indeed in fear that I will be more unhappy with my body than I am now. I've finally found this tool that will help me lose weight only to be left with skin. I'm in this for my health, but I still can't help but to wonder. I'll be seeking plastic surgery as well for sure. I will admittedly probably see the skin as a deformity, but I won't let it stop me from moving forward.

I highly recommend that you find a therapist to work with during your weight loss process. It's a huge mental game to lose so much weight (and, omg, reconstructive surgery is even more of a mental screw up if that's possible). It will probably be in your best interest to figure out how not to view your body as deformed.

If you're in this for your health, then you must know that empty skin is healthier than skin filled with adipose tissue.

Agreed. I have a lot that runs through my mind. Part of the reason I joined this forum. Looking for answers and advice. Will maybe think about therapy in the future.

I started out at 360 pounds, and I'm 5'3", so even rounder than you! You look young, though, and that works in your favor. Younger skin usually has more elasticity, and it also depends on how long you've been the size you are...many, many factors in just how much excess skin you will have after losing the weight.

I have lost 175 pounds all together, so far. I fully intend to lose another 35 pounds...eventually. I am 57 years old, and was over 300 pounds for over 30 years. Needless to say, even with great genes (thanks Mom and Dad, may they rest in peace), I still have a lot of excess skin. However, I knew going in that this was going to happen. Do I wish I could have plastic surgery when I'm done losing? Sure I do. Will I? Probably not, because I can't afford it. My insurance may pay for a panniculectomy but no tummy tuck, lower body lift, thigh lift, breast lift, upper arm lift, or face lift...all of which need serious lifting lol

Do I feel deformed? Not in the least. My old, super morbidly obese body made me feel so much worse than this excess skin does. I can hide the skin, but I couldn't hide the fat. I can walk better, move better, sleep better, sit in restaurant booths, join my family and friends for activities, shop/walk more than 5 minutes without getting winded, talk while I walk, and a myriad of other things I never dreamed I'd be able to do.

What's a little excess skin compared to that? :)

Thank you for the positive feedback. I'm hoping the skin isn't too bothersome. I'm so tired of not feeling good in my skin. I just want to have good results. Anything I can do to improve my results I know exercise, diet, and hydration. Maybe some collagen infused lotion?

I'm afraid I can't help you with that, but there might be some out there who can speak to the collagen lotion. I'm too old to worry about that stuff lol