Loose skin - what is working for you?

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to say I am down 70lbs 5 months post VGS. I am less excited to say that the inevitable loose skin flaps have become rather evident just in time for the warm weather. I'm drinking lots of water, taking my B vitamins and muscle toning but I'd like to ask if anyone out there has found anything that they feel is helping them with their loose skin/elasticity in any real, measurable way? Has anyone had any success with supplements to help boots skin elasticity? When I asked my Dr she said plastic surgery. Not all that helpful.

Thanks!

Honestly? Plastic surgery. That's all that helped. It's not just stretched out skin, you actually grew MORE skin being morbidly obese and you can't shrink it to your new smaller size.

The "you actually grew more" point doesn't get discussed enough! It's a bit like expecting our size 3X clothes to shrink in the clothes dryer enough to fit our size S/M new selves.

exactly!

I?m pretty sure that nutrition and hydration are your only recourse. I have researched the he** out of this subject and it all leads back to the same answer. I have wondered about collagen supplements, however I?m more interested for bone and cartilage health due to arthritis and recent back surgery. There have been small studies that show improved skin, but this was looked at for the aging process, and not necessarily for massive weightloss.

Depends on you age, genes and overall general health - some skin gets "better" with time. For the rest - plastics.

I agree with everyone else that says plastics. Not affordable for my life, so exercise has been the best help for me. Building muscle to fill out the loos skin. I may have a flabby tummy and bat wings- but my legs, shoulders and butt look awesome.

There's nothing you can do to repair skin that has been damaged through years of obesity. Sorry. Compression gear and/or plastic surgery are your only real viable options.

Your doctor may not be "helpful," but she's correct.

Pills, lotions, hydration, wraps, phototherapy... nothing is going to reduce or eliminate the spare skin other than having it cut off by a plastic surgeon.

Many of us invest in shapewear to handle the jiggly bits. I buy all of mine at Ross, I've found that a shaping cami worn a size or two bigger than my usual shirt size does a nice job of keeping everything contained without making me feel like an overstuffed sausage.

10 years out exercise will help a tiny bit but not much. I like my decline sit up bench to help with stomach tightening a bit. Plus hand weights for top part of arm ( no fixing underpart (batwing) unfortunately). Plastics only way to totally remove. Sad but the truth.

My Ob/Gyn told me my stomach is not far off from someone who had a couple kids, so if thought about like that makes me feel more normal. (I have had 3 pregnancies as well) Eventually I will do it.. when I don't have other financial obligations ahead of me like kids college! I have waited 10 years, unfortunately have to wait a bit more! totally 100 percent hidable in clothes. Beach and sleeveless shirt and intimacy it is evident. In the beginning it didn't bother me but last year decided if I can I will have plastics eventually. Even know I will use Dr Michaels in DC when time comes.

I like flexees shape wear by maidenform. Smoothes any bump out.