Question:
Does spandex shapewear help skin tighten back up?

After the surgery, when the weight is rapidly coming off, does wearing some type of spandex shapewear help the skin to firm up? I know exercise will also help, but I am specifically wondering if anyone has tried this and seen positive results. I am preparing for surgery on 3/5/09, so I may be asking more questions in the coming weeks :)    — thegoodlife (posted on February 6, 2009)

February 6, 2009
I honestly do not know if it helps or not, but I wore a waist binder after my open RNY surgery for about 2 years...and whether it helped or not, my skin did tighten quite nicely...Not perfect, but not badly either...My legs and arms did not do as well as my belly...I had a flap for a belly for a while and it just kept shrinking up...I looked smoother with the waist binder on as I was loosing weight too and so I don't see how it can hurt to try it!
   — .Anita R.

February 6, 2009
Like the previous poster said, it won't hurt to wear Spanx as you lose. It's really more your heredity and how much weight you have to lose that will ultimately determine how much loose skin you will have. But, you will look slimmer in your clothing by having any extra skin tucked in and your clothing will fit better. Plus I believe Spanx could be beneficial in helping to prevent rashes if that becomes an issue for you after weight loss. I haven't had my WL surgery yet either but I have two friends who have (yrs ago) and they lost 150+ lbs each. They both wore, and one still wears, spandex type undergarments during and after their WL journey. One had plastic surgery, the other did not. But both had said they wouldn't dress without their "TT panties"...lol. They just felt more comfortable wearing it. I know I have about 160 lbs I want to shed so I'm certain plastics are in my future but for me it's all about my health first, skin second. Good luck on your journey. Save me a seat on the losers bench.
   — Arkin10

February 6, 2009
No, I don't think it will help tighten your skin. The only factors that determine that are genetics, how old you are, how long you've been overweight, how overweight you are, and if you were a yo-yo dieter. I have tried many, many potions and lotions on my saggy chin and nothing has helped! Ultimately, it doesn't matte as I am so much happier and healthy at 93 pounds (and counting) lighter! But I do think Spanx or similar make us all look better in our clothes. I just can't get comfortable in any of them yet! Best of luck to you on this amazing journey!
   — GlitterGal

February 6, 2009
Wearing spandex does NOT tighten your skin. All it does is suck everything in when you have it on!! The ONLY way to tighten your skin after WLS is to exercise!! You have to exercise for your skin to try to work itself back to it's original position, instead of sagging all over the place. Just remember that a good diet and exercise are the best way to put your tool to good use and to make your tool work for you. Good luck to you.
   — anitak

February 7, 2009
I agree with the other posters. Spandex clothing makes you feel better because you look better. But it doesn't tighten your skin. Only exercise and diet do that. Also you may find that sometimes you tend not to lose weight. This is actually for everyone. Sometimes when you are exercising and toning up that happens because muscle is heavier than fat. So if you keep exercising you will start losing again; its just a matter of time and working out your muscles. Anyway, congratulations and good luck and God Bless you on your journey, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

February 7, 2009
hello there just so ou know you dont lose it rapidly in thatshort of a time it takes a process up to 2 yrs depending on how much you need to lose no harm in trying i say go for it lots of lotion 4 times to 6 times a day i heard and am trying
   — cathacus

February 7, 2009
My wife is a nurse practitioner, and from what she has been able to discover, it is basically a factor of how much weight you have to lose, and how old you are that determines how well your skin "firms up." As you age, your skin becomes less elastic. Smoking and drug abuse effect the skin's elasticity negatively as well, so age is not the only factor. Heredity also plays a part. Basically, if you have a BMI under 50, and you are under 45, you should "firm up" fine. Over 50 on the BMI and over 45 years of age, and you may need plastic surgery to get rid of "Bat Wings" and the pannus. This is NOT a hard and fast rule. Some people are blessed with resilient skin, and defy the over 50 over 45 rule, and some people are NOT blessed, and even though they have done NOTHING WRONG, and are NOT over 50 on the BMI and NOT over 45 years old, they STILL need a "Tummy Tuck." There is no way to tell which type of person YOU will be that I know of. A skin specialist may be able to tell, but I don't know. As far as wearing "Spandex" is concerned, I don't know that it will help. Probably not, but it certainly won't HURT.
   — hubarlow

February 8, 2009
Thanks to everyone for your answers. I appreciate every one of them. Best of life to you!
   — thegoodlife