Question:
Can somebody please tell me how much exercise really help with the skin sagging?

I had surgery July 20, 2001. I have lost 86 pounds. I was 244 the day after surgery and am down to 158. I feel great about the weightloss, but I haven't exercise that much and now my skin is looking awful. I have saggy hanging arms, belly and inner thighs. I look great with clothes on, but when I look in the mirror at myself naked, I feel like I totally failed. Can exercise help even now at 6 months post op? Will it make a difference in my apperance with the skin? I really don't want to have that much plastic surgery done. I am 28 years old and figured that my skin would bounce back alot better than it has. Please let me know. Thanks.    — Dawn H. (posted on January 30, 2002)

January 30, 2002
I would recommend calling a fitness center or the YMCA and talking with a trainer. They know all the tricks of the trade. If anything related to exercise would work, they'd probably know it.
   — Laurie A.

January 30, 2002
I believe that exercise helps VERY much. I have been looking through literally hundreds of WLS Support Group sites. I have run across a few people who were extremely determined or who didn't have enough money for plastic surgery, tt's, etc. I will try to find the site where I read this from, but that might take a while... but... here it is -- I believe this woman was in her early to mid 40's when she has WLS. She lost a lot of weight, and exercised her whole way through it. She had no cosmetic surgery whatsoever and she looks GREAT. Nice tight stomach, muscle definition, and she says this is as good as she had ever felt in the her life. Now, if a 45 year old woman's skin can, as you say, "bounce back"... hehe. I believe all it takes is determination. So don't give up and don't look at it as a failure... look at it as an "almost succeeded" situation. Have a great day. :)
   — [Anonymous]

January 30, 2002
I don't mean to take away any hope but this is what I was told. When your skin stretches to the point of stretch marks, it will never go back exactly like it was. I am covered in stretch marks on my stomach (pregnancy and being obese) and my surgeon said I will need a Tummy tuck. I am hopeful though that I won't need anything else (well maybe a breast lift) because I don't have many other stretch marks on my body. I am only 21 so I hope my skin can shrink up some. I guess what i am saying is look at where you have stretch marks on your body and you might have a tougher time on those areas. I would definately talk to a fitness trainer though, it doesn't hurt. Plus maybe if you filled in those areas with muscle they wouldn't be quite as saggy. Good Luck to you!
   — M. S.

January 30, 2002
also don't forget it hasn't been that long that you have had your new body. i would give your skin more time to bounce back. even people who have liposuction have to wait for thier skin to shrink back to a new size.
   — [Anonymous]

May 25, 2003
The truth of the matter is that skin has only so much elasticity. As we age we gradually loose elasticity in our skin. Also, everyone has different skin, so not everyone will have the same outcome after losing x number of pounds. Exercise no doubt will help with muscle tone but once the skin has met its limit surgery is often recommended to remove the excess. I hope that when I am finished with losing weight that I will only have to undergo a breast lift. Much luck to all who are working hard to stay on the road to a happy and healthy life.
   — H. G.

June 18, 2003
Goah can I relate to this one Ive lost so far 114 lbs and look like a sharpee' puppy the saggy skin looks so bad. Only without cloths. I tanned this year in a tanning bed this helps it look little better. I just started a gym Im only 32yrs old my trainer said he wasnt sure it will all go away but what do I have to lose Im atleast toning and trying to put back some of the muscles I lost along with the weight
   — niteshadow181