Extra skin after weight loss?

[d33na]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Ive lost 50 kilos...so thats 110 lbs I think...Ive done it gradually...Im 52 years old...I started excercise slowly and to date I have no excess skin...not even on my face or those chicken neck things people get on their upper arms...Im not sure if I am just lucky...or I've done this slowly enough and with excercise to make it ok...

[kifl1981]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

I'm another C-section-er. Before getting pregnant, I weighed 245lbs. One week before my daughter was born, I weighed 290. Here's the weird part...one week after she was born, I was weighing in at 250. My Dr. was shocked, but said it was possible that all my pregnancy weight(other than baby, afterbirth, etc.) was just water.

I was unhappy with my body before getting pregnant, but I reached a whole new level of depression after giving birth. Although I was heavy, my stomach was pretty much straight. After becoming a mom, I had this huge flap hanging over. My underwear didn't fit right, other clothes didn't fit right, etc.

Since being on Atkins only just under 3 weeks, the flap has gotten smaller already, but I still have a long ways to go, I have HORRIBLE stretch marks. (When I was pregnant, my stomach looked like a pink watermelon)

I'm just hoping that the flap will be much less noticeable.

[Aways2Go]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

No c-section here so I can't relate to what you all have to deal with, but I do know that I will be very, very grateful when I only have one stomach roll to deal with instead of two... the old "upper fat roll" muffin top kind of roll plus the lower fat roll too. Both have shrunk, but the upper one seems to be disappearing faster. If given the choice, I think I would have picked for the lower one to go away first. That's just nothing but flab - at least the upper one could potentially fake its way as just being husky or muscle or something, LOL!

The lower fat roll and what is left of my double chin... that is my target spots that I would really like to see go away next. Maybe because those are the two most obvious "fat spots" to me when I look in the mirror... otherwise I think I am relatively proportional at this point, as in somewhat big all over and obviously still needing to shrink, but those two spots I think make me look even more fat than I might otherwise.

Alas, I don't get to choose, so I just take what I get and hope at least they are not the very LAST things to go away, LOL!

[Bishop]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Once I get to my goal weight, I plan on getting a tummy tuck. But I'm not going to settle for any tummy tuck. I want the Mercator Tummy Tuck. Only one doctor performs this in the U.S. as far as I know, and he's in Seattle. Seattle Mercator Tummy Tuck - About Dr. Anous

[Aways2Go]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

You know, I went and looked at some of those photos at that tummy tuck link. Maybe it's just me, maybe I just have a different idea of beauty, I don't know. But I would have to have a really, really severe problem before I would start considering a tummy tuck. And I would encourage any partner of mine in the same direction.
The scar lines just seem really dramatic to me. Maybe they would shrink in time and fade a lot, I don't know.

Maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and am more accepting of alleged " imperfection" (variations of shapes) in bodies, or maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and can't see as well as I used to, LOL, but I just don't necessarily see that the results are worth the expense, possible complications, and scars.

[Bishop]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

You know, I went and looked at some of those photos at that tummy tuck link. Maybe it's just me, maybe I just have a different idea of beauty, I don't know. But I would have to have a really, really severe problem before I would start considering a tummy tuck. And I would encourage any partner of mine in the same direction.
The scar lines just seem really dramatic to me. Maybe they would shrink in time and fade a lot, I don't know.

Maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and am more accepting of alleged " imperfection" (variations of shapes) in bodies, or maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and can't see as well as I used to, LOL, but I just don't necessarily see that the results are worth the expense, possible complications, and scars.

You're not alone in your thoughts. It's perfectly normal to feel that way. I'm somewhat apprehensive in getting the procedure done. I could think of a thousand things I could use the $7000 on (or however much it costs), too. However, I know what my abdomen looks like after weight loss and and I didn't like seeing it in the mirror. Now that I put on 130 more lbs since I last lot of weight, I can only imagine I'll have twice as much loose skin. I'm sure I'll feel the same about a big scar, but at least it'll be hidden under my boxer shorts.

Anyhow, my wife had breast reduction surgery. Sometimes when I see the scars it's hard not to look at them, but I'd be a total a-hole if I'd said something that would make her feel uncomfortable about them. She was one of those girls that developed at 12 and by 14 she was like Dolly Parton, however, as she got older and went on Atkins, she got down to 110 lbs and then had these boobs that hung down to her waist, and she's only 4'9". Anyhow, for years the extra weight from her breast put strain on her back. She actually had to gain back weight, per doctors orders, before the surgery could be done. To this day, she is so very happy about the procedure and thinks nothing of the scars. She's now a 32-B, and she's totally in support of me getting the tummy tuck.

[kifl1981]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

You know, I went and looked at some of those photos at that tummy tuck link. Maybe it's just me, maybe I just have a different idea of beauty, I don't know. But I would have to have a really, really severe problem before I would start considering a tummy tuck. And I would encourage any partner of mine in the same direction.
The scar lines just seem really dramatic to me. Maybe they would shrink in time and fade a lot, I don't know.

Maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and am more accepting of alleged " imperfection" (variations of shapes) in bodies, or maybe it's because I'm in my 40's and can't see as well as I used to, LOL, but I just don't necessarily see that the results are worth the expense, possible complications, and scars.

I just got done looking at those pictures, and in my opinion, none of those women were of a healthy weight. I wonder how many of them would still have had a problem with the loose skin if they had gotten down to a healthy weight first.

[imagood1]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

We can't afford plastic sugery - and I've never been one who thought it was a good idea anyway, so I'll continue to exercise, eat well with Atkins' help and will be happy how my body ends up looking. I'll do everything I can here at home to get my body looking good.

I've also come to the conclusion that I am 51 - I'm perfectly happy with my life, my marriage is safe - I'm loosing the weight for me, my husband thinks I look fine the way I am. I'm in it for my health first and foremost.

[ErinB]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

My guess is that the results will be largely determined by genetics.

With .4 of a pound to go before I can declare 100 pounds lost on this WOE (grrrr, the scale is teasing me,) at age 65 and after looking at that results video at the link provided above, I can say I definitely wouldn't think surgery would be worth it for me.

Is there some extra skin? At this point, a little, but absolutely nothing like the before surgery pics at that link and much, much, closer to the end results. Probably the only extra skin that bothers me even slightly is on the front of my neck under the chin and I do believe that is shrinking due to the use of products my Mary Kay selling daughter convinced me to start using several months ago. Or maybe that would have happened anyway with reasonable skin care. Who knows?

I have a rather rigorous exercise routine (both cardio and weights), especially for a person my age. I work out and really work on getting the right numbers for me in my menus, using fitday.com. I am also a fairly slow loser ... not by choice ... it just works that way for me. The fitday website tells me my average loss rate over the entire time I have been on this WOE is .96 lbs. per week.

I am one of those people with good skin genes. All my adult life people have not believed me when I told them my age. Again, I suspect that gene thing is the major factor here, with exercise being an important contributor. It can't hurt at all, however, to take extra good care of your skin. I don't spend an inordinate amount of time on this, but I really try not to let it dry out and I do use suncreen to help protect the exposed skin from the elements.

All that said, I agree with those who have said worry over extra skin would be a truly lousy reason not to go for a healthy weight.

[Aways2Go]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

I don't fault anyone who truly feels it is important for their self esteem, or like the lady with back problems from large breasts, to have some sort of surgery done. I was just saying that for me, and for anyone I love, if it was just for cosmetic reasons alone, I don't think I would encourage it. If my partner really felt strongly about it, I would be supportive of course, but I would love a somewhat lumpy stomach shape no less than a flatter one with scars.

[brightstar7801]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Just curious...do you have to be a certain weight to have loose skin when you lose it? I have been 180 and I lost 42lbs with exercise and I didn't have loose skin.

[Aways2Go]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Some people get it, some don't, some get a lot, some get only a tiny bit. Some get loose skin when they first lose, and then it sort of "recedes" over time. I think the more you lose, the more likely it would be (don't know this for a fact, just seems logical). Also it seems to me that if you gained a lot of your weight in one spot, then lost that weight, it would be more likely than if you lost your weight a little bit from all over or from several different places.

Losing a little more slowly maybe makes loose skin less likely, but I truly think it is somewhat luck, somewhat genetics, somewhat age and how elastic your skin still is, somewhat body shape, exercise probably factors in, and how much you had to lose in the first place. In any case, loose skin beats obesity in my book and I think most other folks, too.

And as I said before, I've lost almost 80 pounds and I can't really say I have a loose skin problem. I may get loose skin when I lose this last 80, and if so, well that's okay. I think some people worry about it way more than is justified, as you really rarely see many people complaining about it overall.

[blackbird]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Since being on Atkins only just under 3 weeks, the flap has gotten smaller already, but I still have a long ways to go, I have HORRIBLE stretch marks. (When I was pregnant, my stomach looked like a pink watermelon)

I've recently read of this scar / stretch mark reducer, Bio-Oil. Most reviews I've seen are great, although some people didn't see a difference. It's pretty cheap so I'm heading to the shop tomorrow and'll give it a go- anyone else tried this before? I have a good few stretch marks.. all over.. so it can't hurt to try & possibly prevent any new ones!

In regards to loose skin I personally don't think I'd consider surgery (of course unless my post-weight loss hangings result in some medical problem like skin infections). I can see why some people would and certainly can't fault them for their decision. I mean I really do hate the flabby arms I already have! It depends on how much emotional weight (excuse the pun) you give to the problem. I'm in the healthcare field and have seen too many wound, etc, complications from surgery to want to put myself at risk for a cosmetic reason. Plus there's the $$.. think I'd instead invest in a kick-*** trainer / awesome clothes to 'cover up' those spots. I wouldn't get surgery now so could loose skin & stylin' in size 8/10 really be worse than being visibly obese in size 20 clothes & having loose-ish skin to start? Guess it depends on the person.

[Jules1980]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

Look, I am not a heavy weight, had a c-section followed by a hysterectomy. The scar tissue from that alone has caused excessive skin! Do I hate it? Sure...but its not that bad! I hated being 20lbs heavier!

[DizzyGirl]

Re: Extra skin after weight loss?

I've recently read of this scar / stretch mark reducer, Bio-Oil.

I use plain old baby oil. Maybe save yourself some money and try that for about three months first and see if that works. In the past it has faded all of my old stretch marks from when I was younger to where I couldn't even see them anymore. (Of course I could feel them still.) I've recently started using it again because when I got pregnant with my daughter I had just a few ugly looking stretch marks. Once again, it's worked like a charm for me. After just a few months, they are majorly faded.

As for those of you talking about plastic surgery, I think it's a personal choice of what you want to do. Personally, I plan on having arm surgery when I'm at my goal weight. The scars fade a lot over time just like any other scar. I had my appendix taken out and I can't see the actual scar anymore. I only see weird little dimples under my skin where the scar used to be. Also, one of my friends had some procedures done after she lost weight a few years ago and she looks amazing. I think that if you want it done, you've looked into it, you think you need it done, and you have the means to get it done, then you should do it.