Extra skin after weight loss?

[MissyC]

I am hoping to pick the brains of some of the success stories posted in here. Having to lose a significant amount of weight to reach my goal ( over 100 lbs), I am concerned about the potential for extra skin hanging around after I am a svelt 145 lbs. have any of you who have had a LOT to lose, experienced this? I am 27, my skin is still pretty stretchy, but I have been heavy a long time

[Brook]

Yep.

And I'll take the extra skin over being fat any day, thank you.

It will be what it will be. You can do your part to prevent it as much as you can by drinking lots of water & exercising (including resistance training), but after that, it's pretty much just up to genetics and anyone who says differently is likely trying to sell you something.

If I'm going to get rid of the extra skin I have after losing over 100lbs, it's going to have to be in a surgeon's office.

[EverLosing]

Amen...to Brook's post.

That is the absolute truth!!

I have extra skin, but you know what? It slides right into my "wittle jeans" and the fat sure as heck didn't. There are thing you can do as Brook said. Hydration, weight training, dry brushing....but the only way it's going to be perfect was to have never gained in the first place. My doctor made me lift my shirt so he could see my belly. Ewwww. NOT something I wanted to do, but he's my doc and he was curious. Wasn't prepared for the next thing he said. "You know, there's a surgery to get rid of that..." blah blah blah. Yeah, well unless he and the surgeon agree to lie to my insurance company, it aint gonna be covered and $5,000-$10,000 buys a h*ll of a lot of steaks and spaghetti squash!!

I think the consensus from people who have lost A LOT of weight would be what Brook and I seem agree on....loose skin, who cares?! My highest weight the night before I had my son was 278, I'm now at 166. Loose skin? Yep!! Admittedly, sometimes naked still isn't pretty but the world sees me clothed and I'm lookin' pretty d@mn good.

[neutronnorman]

Originally Posted by MissyC

I am hoping to pick the brains of some of the success stories posted in here. Having to lose a significant amount of weight to reach my goal ( over 100 lbs), I am concerned about the potential for extra skin hanging around after I am a svelt 145 lbs. have any of you who have had a LOT to lose, experienced this? I am 27, my skin is still pretty stretchy, but I have been heavy a long time

From what I read, there are a few theories about loose skin. First, the skin has stretched but in time, it will shrink back somewhat since the skin is an organ and will atrophy.
Second, if you were to take skin fold measure of the hanging skin you would be shocked to discover that the skin rolls still contain pocket of fats that even further dieting will remove.

Many resort to cosmetic surgery but that can leave potentially horrible scars. Look up infra red lamp treatments for pockets of fat and even consider body wraps.

The last bit you can do is seriously body build. Those areas that tend to hang will get taut as muscle builds within the cavities. It will take time, consider many years after reaching your goal weight but it will happen.

I've lost about 70 lb, since April, but I immediately started a bodybuilding routine. I had the male boobage thing happening but know they have begun to disappear.

There are a few secrets that will help with fat loss / muscle gains without resorting to steroids or growth hormones. I am now experimenting with 3 mg. melatonin before intense cardio to release the growth hormone and it works like a charm. The results have been immediate and dramatic. I mean, over night. I also use melatonin before bed.

Also, and this might seem extreme but it was popular for many years before androgenic drugs became fashionable: 12 raw eggs mixed in half and Half or pure cream sipped through the day. Read about Rheo Blair and Vince Gironda. Google them.

[Brook]

Women's bodies have fat stores, and require them to stay healthy.

All the wraps, infrared gizmos, shakes, brushing, and body building in the world will not repair or replace the damage stretch marks, age, genetics, and a loss of elasticity leave behind.

[IrishIrish]

I'll join the Amen chorus to Brook's posts. Yes, I'm a candidate for a procedure or two, but for now, I'm working out like a maniac so that I have optimal results if I pursue that path.

Friends I haven't seen in a while accuse me of having had plastic surgery on my face and neck ... but no ... haven't done that. I think working out 5 days a week has been forgiving on areas like my face, neck and back. Less forgiving on other areas.

If someone had told me five years ago that I would lose this weight but have excess skin, I'd still have said, "sign me up!!!". There are things worse than the excess skin.

[smiller]

I will tell you a little about myself, 12 years ago i lost 70 pounds in my late 40's. I had alot of loose skin. I had to tuck it in my jeans. I waited 3 years to be sure the weight was going to stay off and i had a tummy tuck. Here i am back over 200 pounds and i have a flat tummy, but i have a scar and bulge over that scar. Its not pretty to look at either. SO if i could do it over again, i would rather be tucking in the fat than have the scar and bulge that i have now. I will not know what this will look like till i get close to goal. That might have been 3000, down the drain. Sandy

[makmik]

Also, and this might seem extreme but it was popular for many years before androgenic drugs became fashionable: 12 raw eggs mixed in half and Half or pure cream sipped through the day. Read about Rheo Blair and Vince Gironda. Google them.

Be careful with raw eggs, raw egg whites depletes any B6 in the body, which can cause hairloss and weak finger nails ... causing B6 deficiency.

[just4me]

I know here In Ontario it is covered to get the lower extra skin removed if it is causing constant problems like infections under it, red, itchy etc. My cousin went for a consulation for it an didn't get it done because she has an upper and lower roll and they only cover the lower one, so it wouldn't have done her any good. You also have to be your ideal weight to have it done.

[sham]

I have lost a total of 110lbs and dont have any loose skin other than the tummy area but Im fine with that.I have had 3 childres all by c section so after the pregnancies we tend to get loose skin.I actually get compliments from people saying that I lost so much but my face looks toned and fresh and I have no loose skin so lucky me.