Hi Everyone, I am just curious regarding, people who have lost large amounts of wieght wether they have experienced saggy skin. I have 100 or more pounds to lose and that is one thing that I am worried about. Would like to here anyone's experiences.

I worry about saggy skin too because although I can afford surgery, I don't like going under the knife unless it's life threatening. There is a procedure called, Thermage which activates collagen without going under the knife. I'm considering Thermage after the weight is gone.

hey! i'm 1 lb shy of -90 right now, and im getting a LITTLE loose skin, it's mostly on my tummy.

as well as the associated stretch marks.

would you rather be fat with perfect skin, or fit with some stretchies?

There are different factors involved. The ones I am aware of are:

1) Age- skin loses elasticity as we age.
2) Genetics- some folks (not me) are blessed with better skin elasticity
3) History of weight loss- if you are like me and have gained/lost significant weight more than once before, this also reduces skin's ability to bounce back.

I'm sure there are other factors. These are the ones that came up in discussion with my doctor.

I have some loose skin, it's one of the reasons I phased off at this weight with a plan to restart after the new year. I understand it can take a few weeks for your skin to "catch up" with your loss. I've had 2 kids, so my stomach area already had some stretch marks, loose skin, didn't help that I got fat after having them. Right now, I look at myself in the mirror and know that I look good in clothes. The only people who see me without clothes are my husband and myself and I'm getting no complaints from the husband. Would I love to be perfect? sure! Is that realistic? no! I look better and feel better. I'm happy with that. If, a few weeks from now, my skin has caught up with my loss a bit, I'll be even happier. Not holding my breath though, lol!
Also, I just thought I would pass this little tidbit along: After I lost about 30 lbs, I noticed that my xiphoid process protruded. After doing some investigating via google, I learned that being pregnant or being fat can reshape your xiphoid process. It's made of cartilage and being heavier can cause it to poke out. You don't notice it until the fat is gone from that area. So, now I have a protruding xiphoid process to go along with my saggy skin and stretch marks. You don't see it unless you stretch a certain way. It's definitely not noticeable unless you're looking for it. Still way better than being as heavy as I was.

I still have a long way to go, but my neck is showing the saggy skin for sure. Then again I'm in my 50's and what did I expect? I'm sure it's not noticeable to anyone but me as it really isn't bad. I doubt I will ever go the way of surgery (just not me) and I will tolerate the loose skin as it is what it is.

i have lost 100 lbs since june. i am 52 yrs. old, divorced. if i am a little saggy oh well i will take that any day over carrying all that weight around, once you get it off you realize how exhausting it is just carrying that exra load is not to mention wear and tear on your body and joints. lovin it all !!!!

I have loss 115lb now, I have loose skin under my chin, my arms and my stomach. Most clothes hide everything but my chin. I wear what I call my body suit. Its a pant that I wear on top of my panties which holds me in then I have one for my top as well that I wear over my bra that pulls down over my stomach so I have double hold. Its called body shaper's (i Think) from Lane Bryant. I wear a 22-24 and as I lose more I will go smaller. When I loss 50lbs I wore the 26-28 an could barely pull them over my body. Its something I will deal with. This holds me in and I am not saggy.

I have lost 80lbs and already have some saggy skin, mostly on my stomach but i see it too on in my inner thighs. It will get worse as i still have 65+lbs to lose and i really can't afford surgery so it does upset me but it is what it is and i still rather not be as heavy as I was.

Bay316,

I have several friends that have traveled this journey with me, and one of them commented about her concerns with saggy skin. I asked her to think back to the reasons we did this: (1) To be healthier (check!), (2) To feel better (check!), (3) To look better in our clothes (check!) (4) To have more energy (check!) (5) To look on the outside the way we feel on the inside (check!)

Being perfect? Not on the list!

If anyone had told me I'd be where I'm at now at the beginning of 2011, I would have laughed and completely disregarded them. For all I've gained through IP, I'm willing to put the time in the gym strength training to improve the new me. It's only a problem if you allow it to be; it's up to you.

Well said!!

I am lifting weights to deal with the saggy skin under my arms. It seems to be helping.

Paint Lady - thank you thank you thank you for the info on the xiphoid process! I went to the doctor asking if I had some sort of cancer because of that darn thing! It totally sticks out now when it never did before. The doctor had no idea what it was (actually a PA, one would hope the doctor would have known what it was). I can accept it knowing it's just a leftover from the years of obesity.

I have found the skin taking quite a while to shrink back up. I continued to lose inches in maintenance after I stopped losing pounds and this has continued for a few months. Weight lifting is helping the bat wings, and everything else but my neck seems to be firming up. I noticed the start of turkey neck 2 days after my 45th birthday. Ugh! Not happy about that one!

Pauley, you don't look like you have a turkey neck in your pic