Loose skin from weight loss

[episodic]

I kind of trust you guys to tell me straight. I know some of you remember my weight loss posts.

I've 'now' lost 125 lbs since May last year. I've dropped 16 pants sizes. The loose skin thing around my belly is happening now. I have what I estimate is quite a handful of loose skin that just sags now. There is no way my insurance covers anything cosmetic, and I'm way too broke to get it cut off. I'm almost 40. Does it go back eventually - or am I stuck with it. I've read conflicting things, just looking for someone that probably knows. My main activity is biking. I'm doing about 500-600 miles a month.

Thanks for thoughts.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

either way congrats on the loss, that is awesome :thumbsup:

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I kind of trust you guys to tell me straight. I know some of you remember my weight loss posts.

I've 'now' lost 125 lbs since May last year. I've dropped 16 pants sizes. The loose skin thing around my belly is happening now. I have what I estimate is quite a handful of loose skin that just sags now. There is no way my insurance covers anything cosmetic, and I'm way too broke to get it cut off. I'm almost 40. Does it go back eventually - or am I stuck with it. I've read conflicting things, just looking for someone that probably knows. My main activity is biking. I'm doing about 500-600 miles a month.

Thanks for thoughts.

Honestly, it depends on your age, nutrition, genetics, weight loss rate, etc. Many times, it doesn't fix itself, especially when you lose that much weight. It's a big downside after losing weight I wish I could help more, but that tends to be a cosmetic issue, man.

 

[Phynaz]

It will have to be surgically removed. Doctors do not know why, but excess skin is not reduced by the body.

 

[episodic]

It will have to be surgically removed. Doctors do not know why, but excess skin is not reduced by the body.

Looks like I'm stuck with it then. I can barely pay rent and keep my 'bicycle' running, lols.

 

[wahdangun]

shame tough we can't donor our skin, it can be a win-win situation

 

[DeckardBlade]

Beyond cosmetic surgery you can try adding muscle to reduce how dramatic it looks. It would take a hell of a lot of muscle to tighten up that kind of slack. I was in a similar position to yours losing a bit more than 100lbs but I was in my early 20's. Even then, it took adding about 40lbs of muscle to start getting things tightened up on myself.

Probably not what you want to hear but you're a heckuva a lot better off having lost the weight regardless and you should be proud of that accomplishment. Congrats!

 

[fleshconsumed]

Hm... I lost 60# over the course of a year and I have no loose skin, none whatsoever. But then again, 60 is not 125 and I was in my mid twenties which I'm guessing helped a lot.

If you cannot afford surgery, then there are only two things you can do, which is try and build up some muscle to hide the extra skin (it will take a lot of muscle to do that), and wait and hope that your body will reduce some of that skin eventually. In either case congrats on your weight loss!

 

[Powermoloch]

Congrats man, the loose skin is just a little downside. But the benefits of losing the extra pounds + a healthier lifestyle outweighs the negatives :awe: :thumbsup:

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Sorry, there's nothing to do but get it surgically removed, AFAIK.

It will have to be surgically removed. Doctors do not know why, but excess skin is not reduced by the body.

It does...it just can't do that much.

 

[dmw16]

I feel for you. I lost about 120lbs and have some loose skin as well. It has gotten better as I've added muscle, but it's still there. It bothers me a bit and even though I could afford the surgery I can't justify the cost, pain, and risk to do it.

I treat it as a reminder not to ever let myself fall back to where I was before.

Congrats from one big loser to another

 

[wheresmybacon]

Incredible work on your transformation! Congrats!!! :thumbsup:

I have a buddy who lost over 250 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass, and he's said several times at some point he'll need surgery to get rid of the excess skin. It's been a few years now and it hasn't shrunk afaik.

 

[Arkitech]

Check out this article, interesting read.

http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm


Basically it says that loose skin is more of a high body fat percentage issue. Many people's issues of loose skin went away the leaner they got. (more muscle, lower body fat %)

 

[Cstefan]

shame tough we can't donor our skin, it can be a win-win situation

That is a damn shame and a good idea. Why not be able to donate the flaps to a burn ward at a hospital. A Person in need of removal, signing up at the hospital for this and if a burn victim is in need of his/her skin, problem solved.

I am sure there are a few reasons not to, but this already happens every day, if you get killed.

Oh here is a place: http://www.mtfeinformation.org/