I did an intro post and then figured out I put it in the "20 something" category and deleted it. Oops. I'm 40 something! Anyway... I started this journey at 415 lbs. I'm now 290. That's a lost of 125 lbs. I'm 1/2 way to where I'd ultimately love to be... 165. So far I've experienced most of the issues people are posting about... saggy boobs, different face, need a tummy tuck, etc. But lately I've got this issue with my thighs that is driving me insane.

Everything on me is deflating and "1/2 empty" compared to a year ago. My legs have lost so much weight that they are saggy. I expected this. But I didn't expect my knees/thighs to be this bad. It's not my knees, it's my thighs, but they are actually hanging on top of my knees. If I put my hands tightly around the bottom of my thighs and "pull" up... my legs look great! Then I let go, the saggy skin (with lots of fat still under it!) plops back down to my knee. If it was just skin I guess I wouldn't have this issue, but the weight of the remaining chub is causing problems. It's quite uncomfortable. I wouldn't use the word "painful" at this point, but it's definitely bothering me when I stand or walk. Not to mention it looks horrible under most of my pants! But my main concern is not appearance (yet), it's comfort and health.

Maybe as my thighs get smaller there will be less fat inside to PULL on that saggy skin and the problem will alleviate itself for the most part?? I wouldn't care about saggy skin if there wasn't the added weight of the blubber! It's funny (not) that I've always known I've have saggy/droopiness after a major weightloss, but never anticipated the mid-way point, ya know? I had the mental image of how I'd look once I hit goal, but I never considered all of the midpoints on the way TO goal. As I deflate the remaining fat is seriously pulling downward and it sucks.

Has anyone experienced this? I've thought about removal surgery, but that seems unwise (and probably would be denied?) since I'm only 1/2 way to goal. I've also thought about maybe getting some support pantyhose (probably not tough enough for the job) or trying Spanx? What's the results with Spanx?? Personal recommendations before I go and drop a few hundred bucks on a supply of Spanx?

Thanks for reading, so looking forward to absorbing all of your experiences and making friendships with people that I have a TON (pun intended) in common with.

How long has it been since you were at your top weight?

Its been a little over 4 years for me and I have to say the first year was depressing, second year depressing, 3rd year depressing. All for their own reasons. I've been my current weight for about a year and I think my skin looks a lot better than it did a year ago. Of course I could be delusional. Not to say it looks great, it just looks better.

I don't use any special undergarments myself because I figure my clothes hide the loose skin well enough but if you want to look smooth under your clothes, then it would be worth it. When I get to my goal, maybe I will then but not now.

I was at my top weight in July 2007, just over a year ago. I've lost the majority of my weight since the end of March 08, however... when I joined HMR. I know its totally normal for my skin to need time to catch up, I expected the sag. I can live with sag forever if need be. But gravity is making all of this remaining fat sag way too much. I have a feeling I'm answering my own questions here... I just need to empty out the saggy skin so there's less for gravity to mess with. Just wanted to see if anyone else is bothered by this and what tips / support they might share.

Well I'd say I'm definitely bothered with it, it can be very depressing but it does take some time and more weight loss. From what I've read, most plastic surgeons recommend waiting a year after weight loss before having skin removed. Sometimes there are health related issues which make it a more immediate need. It may take a few years for the skin to bounce back to wherever it might.

The way I deal with it is pretty much saying 'oh well, hopefully it'll get better'

Oh dear you ladies are scaring me.... Sorry. I just noticed we were all around the same weight at our heaviest. I'm so afraid that I will have sagging skin it isn't funny... I'm actually worried.

Luvja,

I've never heard anyone say "gee I have loose skin, I wish I would've never lost the weight". It can be frustrating and you will even see some people who say they never had any loose skin while others have a lot. You can't see loose skin in clothes and as I said, it does get better with time. You won't know how badly it will affect you until you lose weight. Also, the younger you are when you lose weight, the better your chances are with skin elasticity.

Yes, what Nelie said. If it's a choice between my skin being tight & full of fat OR loose & skinny... Gimme the sagginess! I don't mind the sagging so much. It's a reminder to me that there IS a price to pay when I destroy/neglect my own health. I think its important (for me) to remember that, otherwise I might slip in the future and get back into old habits, ya know?

Yeah, good points. I would rather be skinny and saggy, then fat and full I guess.

Again, I said this before, I am NOT an advocate of surgery, however, why don't you take the time to check out a top notch board certified plastic/cosmetic surgeon and just go for a consultation. I have already asked my gynocologist for a referral. ( I know I will need a tummy tuck.) It may cost you a consultation fee but just go with your list of questions. Maybe he or she will tell you GOOD NEWS. Maybe you can view photos. Maybe he or she will ease your mind and tell you that your skin might tighten after a time. At least you will have your questions answered by an expert .
Just a thought.
Suzy

Actually, I did consult with my HMR doctor yesterday. She suggested some tight fitting (not too tight!) exercise kinda lycra leggings (which I have ordered online and will arrive in a week or so). She did bring up surgery but strongly suggests I put that off as long as possible since I'm only halfway to my goal weight and it would be a shame to do it now and then want it AGAIN after another 100 lbs.

So I have some pantyhose I might try today, some capri and ankle length lycra leggings on the way... hoping those will make me more comfy until my body changes again.

Good suggestion about contacting a surgeon tho. I would love to hear some medical advice and see some photos of before/afters.

I don't know what kind of exercising you're doing, but building up some muscle can help a little with some of the sag. I haven't lost as much weight as you have (and wow - congrats, btw), but I know that exercise has helped me with saggy, wrinkly thighs. When I went for my waxing last time, my waxer even noticed and commented on how much better my thighs looked.

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I'm so there with you on the saggy thighs thing! At my highest weight, I was 386 pounds (back in the 1990s). Since June 2006, I've gone from 327 to 189. I consulted with a plastic surgeon just to get his thoughts and I plan on having a lower body lift, breast lift/implants, and an arm lift.

When it came to the thighs, the doc pulled up my skin just like you pulled up that skin on your thighs and boy, those legs look good! However, the doc did say that the thigh lift is the plastic surgery that is the least perfected in the industry. But with the kind of problem I (and you) have, it's worth the trade-off.

It's funny, even with my horrible upper arms and all, the thighs are the thing that hubby really has an issue with and he thinks that should be the first surgery! Go figure, I thought it would be the breast job!

In the meantime, I definitely am with the group and suggest you just pull those thighs in with Spandex and live with it until you're at your happy weight. Definitely don't want to have this very expensive surgery more than once.