Discussion Board

How long does it take (or does it happen) for skin to recover? Specifically I'm thinking my abdomen... While I haven't lost a ton of weight (total of about 35 pounds from my highest) I also have two pregnancies behind me where I gained a good deal of weight. My BMI is fine, so while I have a little more fat to lose/muscle to gain, my overall size isn't going to change too much more. I'm not sure if my belly skin will ever be taut again..... (the song "To Dream the Impossible Dream" popped into my head right now....). I realized there isn't a "written in stone" answer, but I just wondered how it happened for you. My flabby belly is just ICK!

Well, I wish I had better news for you, but speaking as a middle-aged lady - never. Maybe if I had started earlier I would have had a different outcome. But I have neck waddles, arm flaps, elephant skin thighs and I can literally pull a good foot of skin away from my belly . If I were rich and could have a full body lift I could easily lose 15 pounds of skin. BUT I would rather flap when I run a 5K than be a 300 pound beachball who couldn't waddle to the end of a driveway. So I wear capre pants in the summer instead of shorts - I happen to have great calves . And control-top top hose under my work dresses (although I sometimes think I am the last person in America to wear pantyhose ) Now I have heard that rubbing the skin with that stuff pregnant women use to prevent stretch marks helps if you start it right away, but I couldn't swear to that by my experience. And I've seen lots of young people lose 100 pounds in a very short period of time on The Biggest Loser and look great. So it my just be related to age. Best of luck,
Kate

I think it depends in great part on how long you have been overweight. As Katydid said, older skin is just less elastic--it has a harder time returning to its former tightness and may never be able to.

That said, I have only a littlel saggy skin and I'm 49. I think this is mostly due to the fact that I was only a LITTLE overweight until my mid-30s. Then I was obese for a few years, I lost the weight once, gained it back over the course of 10 years, and then lost it again (the LAST time!). So while I did gain a significant amount of weight, it was only on for a few years each time.

I will say, though, that while pretty much ALL the saggy skin in my belly area tightened up (b/c, I guess, I never gained weight in that area until I was VERY fat), the saggy skin in my butt is still there. That's an area I have been griping about since my teen years, so I guess I just had more stretching there.

I think that if it really bothers you, and you can afford it, there's not a THING wrong w/ having surgery to remove it. I can't spend $$ on stuff like that, so I won't be doing that. I make sure to "oil up" twice a day w/ a very good skin lotion, and I hope that over time maybe that will improve things somewhat. But overall I think I've been pretty fortunate.

All to say that YMMV! The most important thing to keep in mind, of course, is that you will still be getting 100% of the health benefits of losing weight even if you only get 89% of the aesthetic benefits.

I will agree with Katy and ET...(Yes, it's) Your Mileage May Vary! I lost 65 pounds (on WW) when I was 26 (after 2 pregnancies), and except for stretch marks, I firmed right back up.

Fast forward to 2010, after 35 years of being obese (and 2 more pregnancies), and I have flappy upper arms, elephant skin on my thighs, and my belly, which blew up like a balloon when I turned 40, is still there. I am viewing this as a work in progress, however. My mantra is, thank goodness for clothes!

As I said, for a good 35 years, I was stretching that skin out--it might take some time for it to snap back !! I don't think I have 35 years left on the earth, but as the years progress, I am expecting to firm up the muscles under the skin, and I am concentrating on getting stronger and feeling more alive every day!

So I am reiterating what Katy & ET said--I'd rather flap a bit, and be able at 62 to run up the stairs at work, instead of dragging myself up by pulling on the railing with each step; and to be able to walk just about anywhere without wondering how soon I can sit down! And to feel 30 years younger every day!

As another one of the "older ones" (60), I have to say there's a lot of that loose skin floating around, LOL! But as long as I'm dressed, things look pretty good. It doesn't get in the way of my being active, and good health trumps everything else!

Karen

Hi Karen!
GREAT answer!!! When I first got all the excess weight off I was VERY worried about the extra skin. My doctor was surprised there wasn't as much as he expected. Even though I spent most of my adult life over 300 pounds I think the bouncing up and down may have helped. The skin may not have been stretched for too long a consecutive' period of time. This is just speculation on my part. I'm just guessing. I did read a web site that said the skin will eventually snap back but it will take for as long as it was stretched out. So, by the time I'm a hundred six I'll have that six pack I had when I was in the USMC! A good friend suggested I use one of those 'slimming tees' you see advertised on TV. To me they look too phony. You can always tell when someone is wearing one. I guess the skin/fat HAS to come out somewhere so a lot of the guys appear to have, pardon me, man boobs. I hope that term doesn't offend anyone!! I can't think of a better term. I think Karen nailed this one though!
Surgey is too risky for me but I'm sure if it really bothered me I'd do it.
Thanks, Karen today you made, I'm sure, a few of us feel better about ourselves.

I wanted to bump this thread up because of something that happened to me in airport security on my flight back from Eugene last week. Actually, on the flight down, I was asked to empty my pockets, which were empty, because they said there were "anomalies." But they let me go through. However, on the return flight, I was pulled aside to get patted down, due to the anomalies.

I figure the anomalies are the flesh hanging down at my stomach, which are so not noticeable with clothing on. I am beginning to wonder if I should have the stuff removed, which I suppose is called a tummy tuck. Do any of you have experience with that? Or an opinion? I really don't want the pat-down, every time I fly--and since my kids all live in the lower 48, I fly several times a year...

Cosmetic surgery ain't cheap and isn't covered by insurance. But if you can afford it, go for it! I would if I could!