Getting Rid of Sagging Skin after Weight Loss
There's an interesting discussion going on over at Livin' La Vida Low-Carb about how to get rid of the excess skin on your body after a dramatic weight loss. People who lose many dozens of pounds are often left with a great deal of sagging skin. Surgery is increasingly being touted as the solution to the excess flabby skin, but a lot of people believe this is not optimal and necessary. Here are some comments people have made there:
"I thought for sure I'd have to get plastic surgery. But the more weight I lost, the more what I thought was loose skin tightened up and the better it looked. Based on my experience, I don't think you have loose skin; instead there's more fat under there to lose."
"I myself have the excess skin after losing 100 lbs. I am 37 years old. The biggest area where I had it was around my tummy, so I purchased an Ab Lounge and over the last several months, I have noticed a major improvement in my stomach area. I'm also doing a combination of aerobic type activity (belly dancing and hula-hooping), pilates, and other weight-bearing exercises for toning. I think "toning" is the key. Lifting weights is also key. I might always have the underarm waggle and the extra skin on the bottoms of my thighs, but I look MUCH better than I did before. I look better at 37 than I did @ 27."
"I do believe that it takes time to tighten up the loose skin. I lost half of my body weight from 220 to 110 when I was in my 50's (I am now 72). It took about 7 years but I did lose most of the loose skin. I tried going down further in weight to lose it faster and to lose the little belly pouch but it didn't work, just made my arms and legs look like sticks. I still have the belly. Unfortunately the low fat crowed convinced me that low carb was ruining my health and I gained most of it back before I regained my senses and went back to low carb. I now weigh 130 which is healthy for my 5'3". In short give it time, it takes about 7 years I have heard for the body to completely replace itself cell by cell."
"Time and exercise have worked for me. Almost four years after losing the bulk of 95 pounds, I only have a few spots that would qualify as loose skin and they're barely noticeable. The worst spot was my lower stomach, but it only looked a bit wrinkly, not hanging and since I've upped my exercise intensity it's gotten even better. I'm 43 and have birthed two strapping boys, so I don't have the benefit of youthful elasticity."
See the full discussion at Livin' La Vida Low-Carb. Untitled photo by Malingering.
15 comments:
Its a comforting thought that there are other options than surgery.
I am 29 years old and in 2005 I weighed at 400 lbs. Today, 9/21/07 I weigh in at 209. I work out at the gym and I am getting really discouraged at my stomach area. I do cardio, treadmill, the bike, free weights and crunches, and the ball, and toning. I notice the size and the weight going down, but my stomach is going NOwhere!!!. I really am lost. I am doing all things that the trainers tell me to do. Is it that I lost the weight too fast and my skin and stomach can't catch up??
I am a 42 year old female who had a heart attack at 39 because of my weight and family history. Since the heart attack, I have lost a tremendous amount of weight which has caused a lot of sagging skin in the stomach area. I am not a viable candidate for cosmetic surgery becuase of the CHF. However, I am becoming increasily upset about my appearance. I don't know what to do about the sagging stomach. It's bad enough being sick, but to look terrible as well is painful. If you have any suggestions, please send them to me at: retabatiste@yahoo.com. Thanking you in advance!
I am noticing a lot of articles about people who have lost a lot of weight and are upset about the sagging skin. I think the more important thing right now is to be healthy. I have a lot of weight to lose myself and I am a little worried about the sagging skin as well but...I won't be having any surgery. I made the decision to have a life change and that includes rigarous workouts at least five days per week. Once I reach my goal size (not weight) I will be contacting a trainer from my gym that will give me advice on toning. It is very important, and I know this because it has been proven to me, to use weight training as a means to tone muscle and tighten skin. Tightening sagging skin will not happen over night but it will happen and to different degrees for everyone. Sagging skin should only be bothersome, in my opinion if it hinders your health. Looking good is great but it is not as important as feeling good or being healthy. There are, however, exercises that are specifically designed for that purpose. It takes research and patience. Don't give up! I would not preach this if I had not seen it with my own eyes. I feel sorry for the people who have had weight loss surgery and lost it so fast that all that extra skin is just left hanging. For those of us who choose to lose it the old fashion way..Weight training is the key. It will cause you to not see as big of numbers of weight loss on the scale but that will be fooling you. While you are losing weight you will be gaining muscle and muscle weighs more than fat so you will still be losing but as you continue your workouts your muscles will be becoming more toned and refined which will aid in fat loss and toning.
I say all of this to encourage all of us out here to MOVE! Lift those weights, do that cardio and eat lots of good foods, NO refined carbs and no sugar! When we do this it all aids in fat loss and minimal hanging skin in the end. Any remaining skin can be toned and depending on our ages and leftover elasticity in our bodies that will determine the end result.
My point is this...Please don't dwell or let this get you down and cause you to give up. It could take years of toning to satisfy your cosmetic aspects. Instead, hold your head high and be very proud of what you have accomplished. You have given yourself years to live and made yourself healthy and that is the most important thing!
Congratulations everyone! I applaud you on your weightloss. You're an inspiration to me. Regarding sagging skin, there's hope big time. I'm no expert, but this is what I've found out. Sagging skin is from nutritional deficiencies. The following will help: Omega 3, collagen, elastin, mucilage as found in Limu (a nutritional beverage that actually helps tighten the skin). Also there is a natural treatment that some have implemented involving hCG. I first heard about it in Kevin Trudeau's book, "The Weight Loss Cure They Don't Want You To Know About". He actually touched on what was mentioned above regarding sagging skin being the result of fatty deposits. There is actually some truth to that. There are three types of fats and most diets cause us to lose the wrong kinds of fat(ie. structural). Depending on the health of the hypothalamus, your body can actually restructure itself by removing fat from trouble areas and placing it where it needs to go. Incredible stuff in that book. At any rate, feel free to call or shoot me an email. I'd be glad to share with you where to get some of this stuff if you have trouble finding it. Cell# 713-206-6965. Email: Roy@WhoIsRoy.com. Oh yeah, I forgot. Toxins can cause it too. We're bombarded with them. So a good cleanse can help as well.
The new fractional resurfacing lasers, like Fraxel, are quite good at tricking your body into regenerating collagen and elastin. The nice side effect of this is skin tightening in areas that have sagged and lost elasticity. Treatments are very expensive and require at least 3-5, but it is extremely safe. The laser doesn't destroy tissue, just heats microscopic columns of it down to the dermis. The body responds by regenerating the heated tissue. I've looked at pictures of patients and I'd say it takes off about ten years from the face. Not sure about body.
Two years ago, I weighed in at 412lbs. I currently weigh 266 lbs. I am walking 3 times a week & doing strength training twice a week. I carry most of my weight in my backside/thigh area and am starting to notice the sagging skin in this area. While I agree that getting healthy is the important thing, it is discouraging to see the numbers going down & the size of my legs...well...not. I know what I believe about myself is what matters, but it's discouraging to know that even after putting in all the hard work that society in general may still view me as fat simply because I have all this loose skin left over. It's good to know that the skin will retrain itself over time, I only hope I have the patience to let it without seeking surgical help.
Thank you for all of this helpful info...I'm down to 114 lbs after 2 years of trying, but have very loose skin on my stomach-all the rest vanished but that stomach fat...I greatly appreciate this blog! KUDOS TO EVERYONE!
hiyas, between 2001 and 2002 i was placed on med, and it caused me to blow up from 170lbs, to 358. i dropped almost all the extra weight a year later after they had taken me off meds. probably not even a year. and now in 2002 i have a lot of extra skin that just hangs and looks bad, and it makes me feel down. (god i hate prescription pushers.) so, what would truely be the oh easiest way to get rid of all this extra saggy skin?
i'm not against getting it surgically removed. however there is noooooo way i could afford it, and my insurance is definatly not going to cover it.
suggestions?
-a.k.
Well it is releaving to know others have my same problem, I'm hoping it will work for me I weighted 140lbs then I got pregnant with twins and got up to 195lbs now I weigh 150lbs I think that if I exercise more I can tightin my tummy where my loose skin is and lose some more weight. Thanks for the hope!!
This is my first visit to your website and looking on, I'm impressed! Great design! I like your content!
-Alexis
Hi Guys:
I"ve been reading a lot on the subject; I had an 80 lb weight gain during pregnancy. Am currently losing weight, some ten years later, have lost 40 over two years and have just started strength training. Here are some ideas; I have always used a heavy moisturizer on my tummy to help with elasticity. I have seen some phenomenal results (check bodybuilding.com for female transformations) with WEIGHTED abdominal (including standing). So many women are afriad to use the weight lifting paradigm to change body composition. Say you can't get rid of it all, what if you bulk up the abdominus rectus underneath; don't be afraid to try it. Finally, consider Retin-A to help peel the skin as you go through this process. I am very against plastics, having had many surgeries, including abdominal surgeries. I think we are all looks obsessed and men in particular think we are supposed to look like twelve year olds the rest of our lives. However, I believe the secret is body fat composition AND weighted abdominal work. Check out those success stories...only one has had plastics. Also: there is a man who has published a compelling ebook about loose skin being a MYTH. He makes a good point with concentration camps survivors. I work in a HOlocaust related arena so I have seen all those photos and know that low low body fat does not leave the possibility for loose skin. Good luck, I'll check back, Erika.
I've had 6 children and am 46 now. I work out vigorously 4-5 times per week and am on restricted calorie diet all the time. Now, after losing 50 pounds --the stomach is still saggy and stretch marks are all the way round but the improvement is measurable after doing cardio, pilates and power sculpting. The condition of the skin needs moisture as well --so get in the routine of constant toning, cardio for the inside and moisturize and firm the outside. It takes a very long time but one has to be realistic about genetics. Some people have more damage remaining after child births than others. Be fit and buy lycra!
I have gained and lost over 100 pounds twice. I have loose skin but I consider it my badge of honor. It has tightened up over the last year and I expect it will continue to do so. I think exercise helps as does massage. You can read more of my story on weight loss at www.stillettochick.com
I have done alot of thinking and study about the lose, saggy skin issue and the one thing to remember is that it will take time for the skin to catch up especially if the weigh loss was fast. Lots of water is key. Also, brushing the skin and exfoliating to stimulate new growth is another thing to try. Getting good nutrition, trying supplements with amino acids to give your body the building blocks to make new skin, and also look up LED and Infra RED light therapy for skin. These are some of the things I've found on the internet. Look at a site called
T-Tapp. Teresa Tapp is a lady that developed her own exercise routine based on physical therapy and she has a loose skin kit with supplements and a brush for stimulating the skins turnover.
Good luck!!
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