Whether or not you might have excess skin after weight loss is determined by your age, genetics, the elasticity of your skin, sun damage, how long you were overweight etc. They're all factors beyond your control.
Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can DO - like supplements or exercises - that will keep you from having excess skin. It's either going to happen or not and no one, not even a doctor, would be able to tell you now if your skin will be a problem for you later.
Try not to let the issue of skin worry you now! Focus on building healthy eating and exercise habits for a lifetime. When you get to goal, wait six months to a year and then assess how your skin responded to the weight loss. You may be one of the lucky ones.
Oh wow...loose skin...an obsession of mine and not a good one. I am 23 and have been 15-20 pounds overweight for a year or so. I have stretch marks on my thighs(inner and outer) and some are still pink!!! Can I end up having sagging skin? I read above that it depends on age and how much weight you need to lose. I know this sounds like a joke, but I am seriously curious.
Candance, you're right - a lot of it depends on your age, how long you were overweight, and how much you need to lose. Since you're so young and not very overweight, I'm guessing your skin will tighten up just fine. Best to lose it now and not let it turn into a big problem!!
For more info, check out the Skin FAQs posted at the top of this forum.
Unfortunately there are no magic pills, lotions or potions. Only the cold knife of surgery. (Wow did that sound melodramtic! ).
Otherwise, I would have saved myself loads of money and discomfort!!!
As others have stated it depends on a lot of factors (age, genetics, etc...). I am one of those freaks who has not experienced any excess skin. I have lost about 115 lbs. My doctor theorizes that it might have to do with rate of weight loss and the introduction of strength training early in the journey. He surmises that lot of people who have WLS do not exercise and that has a major impact. I didn't have WLS, so I don't wish to speak about an experience I didn't have. Because he's a man o' science he really needs a REASON for my stellar results, but I'm not as interested. I think it's luck, genetics and that's about it. He also wonders if race plays in part (I'm multiracial) considering I also look about 18, and don't have a single wrinkle or blip on skin that theoretically should since I smoked for nearly 12 years. (I quit several years ago.) Again, I'm not wiilling to go "there" either.
On other messageboards I've been tormented about this issue, which is why I've stopped posting pics. People were convinced I had photoshopped myself or was lying about surgicial intervention. Why lie!
I have no idea why I haven't had the excess problem that has plagued others. I just wanted to say, no I don't have any and yes there are people out there who haven't dealt with it.
Being all that as it may, seriously, don't let it be the reason to derail your hard work! A dear friend of mine is struggling with the issue of looking older because of her 90lbs weight loss. She's really discouraged by the wrinkles onher 27 year old face. nobody told her what a great filler fat was! Still, she looks fantastic to me and I'm very proud of her.
While there is often common experiences in regards to weight loss, I am not one to unversalize the experience.
Great post, Sharky! We're all so different in how weight loss impacts our skin and it's good to hear from someone with such a positive experience. Bottom line, folks -- you just don't know how your skin will react until you lose the weight, so focus on the weight loss and don't sweat what you can't control.
Sharky - My sister lost 70+ pounds and is still losing. She doesn't have excess skin either. She thought her arms were flabby, which IMHO they weren't. However, they're firming now. She told me when I spoke with her yesterday her guy friend was over and he said something about hating his love handles, and she responded with, "Yeah, I hate the rolls of skin on my sides". So he looked at her with this puzzled face then "tried" to pinch her sides and couldn't grab anything. I guess she didn't realize she really didn't have excess skin there.
I'm just hoping alot of it is genetics and they'll help me out when I get to my goal weight.
Aww thank you both for your responses! Meg, you have inspired me so much. I love how fabulously blunt you are about the skin issue. I know it helped me to remain focused on what is important.
And while I don't have the skin, I have the stretch marks. And you know what! I don't care! Losing and feeling strong and sexy and being able to do all kinds of things I wasn't able to before is what makes me happy.
Kim, congrats on your loss and your sister's! I do believe we can be so used to our bodies that we see stuff that's not there. I know for me I still see things that aren't there.
No loose skin?
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