So, I've been trying to find information about this but haven't had much success. I've been skimming and scanning over both the stretch marks and loose skin threads, but I wanted to ask my question more directly to people who might know.

I'm 21. I weigh 270 pounds, and have been overweight most of my life. I am riddled with stretch marks, on my stomach (like almost surrounding my belly button and going out to the sides), my thighs, my breasts, and my upper arms. I have a lot. Most of the ones on my stomach and thighs are already white.

My question is, because I have stretch marks (which, if I'm not mistaken, are areas where the collagen has been broken and repaired itself by scarring) that far along and that much on my stomach, is it going to be impossible for the skin on those areas of my body to spring back after the weight loss? I'm trying to find alternatives to surgery, because the thought is rather frightening to me.

never thought about that. I hope not since I have stretch marks all over too. a few years ago I got down to the 160s, although still had a bit to lose, my stomach didn't look too flabby. my inner thighs and upper arms didn't look too great though, but I thought it was just lack of muscle tone.

hopefully people with stretch marks that have got to goal weight can answer.

Thanks for making this post. I'm 23, have been overweight most of my life, and have thought about this in the past, too. It'd be great to get some answers from those in the know!

You're still young so you have a very good chance of having your skin snap back. I also have a TON of stretch marks on my stomach and not only have they almost completely faded but besides a small pouch in my abdomen and my breasts, my skin has snapped back pretty well. It's very, very easily hidden with a well-fitting bra and high waisted underwear. I even wear bikinis.

Ahhhh runningfromfat that's great to hear!

I am exercising and toning and exfoliating and moisturising all in the hope of helping my skin to shrink.

It's not looking too bad on my stomach, my thighs are where I'm carrying most of my extra weight at the moment so I'm waiting to see if how they look at goal weight, and my upper arms seem to be getting a bit better, but I'm not sure if that's just me wanting them too! I'll keep on strengthening those triceps, eating well, exercising and moisturising and hoping that the skin will shift along with the flab!

I've had the same experience . There is hope!!!

i have BAD stretch marks and no - i'm sorry, but your skin's ability to "snap back" has been seriously compromised. when i was 24, i went down to 120lbs - my stomach, where the worst of the stretch marks are from having really big babies, looked like a popped blister. stretch marks are an indication that your skin has very little elasticity. if you only got them during pregnancy, your skin is more elastic and should shrink back to a certain degree. if you got them during puberty, however, (like i did - behind my knees, on my hips, on my bust, you name it) then your skin is extremely tight and is much less likely to shrink.

don't bother with the creams and lotions - they don't work. stretch marks are actual scars that occur in the middle layer of the skin. lotions, creams, etc, cannot penetrate there.

the only way to get rid of them is surgical removal - otherwise, the only treatments that have any degree of success are retin-A and laser (and the results are often not worth the hassle, the side effects, or the expense).

It depends so much on genetics and age on how it will all behave. I have terrible skin - always have. My stomach is shrinking though. I should take a picture of it in good lighting. For 42 years old and with bad skin, I'm fairly happy with how it is getting SO MUCH BETTER, but it will never be pretty, but that's OK. If the scars are all that remains of my battle with my weight and childbirth? Then that's fine. I'll take the slimmer, healthy body that my husband enjoys and I enjoy WITH the ugly belly over the fat, unhealthy body I used to have.

I agree with Melissa. I'd rather be slim with a bunch of fugly stretchmarks and wobbly skin than remain fat and miserable, lol.

I've been wondering about this too.

I'm 42 and have had 2 very large babies, so my belly has lots of stretch marks, hips too.

I know that so much depends on age and genetics and how fast you lose the weight. I was wondering how much exercise will affect how the skin reacts to losing a lot of weight.

I have started doing ashtanga yoga, jumping on a trampoline and resistance exercises, and I'm doing it to be healthier, but I was just wondering if it will help with the saggy skin that I will probably end up with.

Heh, getting a little bit of mixed answers here, but for the most part, it's what I expected. Ahhh, that makes me sad to a degree. I'm terrified of the idea of having surgery to remove excess skin and lift/augment my breasts. I'm sure, eventually, I will come to terms with it, but any surgery is a scary thought for me.

Guess I better start a cosmetic fund, just in case. >.<

It's just such a crap shoot, each person is so different, even if they have the same height, weight, etc. It's really hard to tell what will happen.

I'm expecting some sagging skin, and I've always had large breasts and breastfed my babies, etc., so I am expecting major sag there (already have some), but I'm trying really hard not to think too much about it until the time comes, just because it makes me sad to think about it too, that I will have some body issues even after losing all the weight.

I don't think I could go through with the skin removal procedure after watching it on TV, but I might have a breast lift.

I think the idea of starting a fund for possible cosmetic procedures is a good idea, I'm going to do that too, thanks for bringing that up.

start a fund for cosmetic procedures - you can always come to your senses and settle for a cpl weeks solar therapy in cancun, lol.

You'll always get mixed answers because everyone is different. There's only one way to find out for sure! Lose the weight

I have quite a lot of faded stretch marks, I'd say most aren't visible unless you're looking very closely. My skin is very tight and I don't have any problems with elasticity, but my stretch marks were never very deep in the first place.