Loose Skin

Ready4aNewLife · June 6, 2011

Im having WLS next month and I was curious, after you lost weight, how much loose skin did you have? Did your skin ever stretch back at all and get firm again? I just turned 20 years old...but I have been overweight literally my whole life...haven't been 150 lbs since like probably 5th grade...since I am younger do you think my skin will stretch back or no?

To Be Thin 2011 · June 6, 2011

Everyone is different...and most people say no your skin lose's the elastictisity.. However, I lost 95 lbs when I was 28 (after having 3 kids too!) and my skin went back wonderfully... no problem.

Now,.. I am 51 and have 155 lbs to lose... and no, I totally know now that my skin will not go back. Its o.k.. I wont the weight loss and my life back more!

Tiffykins · June 6, 2011

Ethnicity, gender, age, genetics all play a role in how well your skin will rebound. I'm 2 years out, and have loose, wrinkly, flabby skin, but it could be better if I worked out. I haven't worked out in almost 1.5 years, and I can honestly say my skin has rebounded nicely. My inner thighs, and stomach are the worse, but my arms aren't that bad. It really just takes time, and lots of moisturizing. Once I have the baby, I plan on hitting the gym again really hard to tone up.

AutumnLily · June 6, 2011

You never know how ones skin will spring back. Depends on how much excess weight, your skin type. You could try to build muscle to help with "filling in" the loose skin. After awhile some skin does snap back but others may not. Its all really a guessing game I think. Best to give it a year after you get to maintenence and then decide from there if you would like to do plastics to smooth things out.

I have been trying compression garments for my arms to see if they have an effect. Some days I think yah there is a change and then others where I am like hummm I am going to have some good wing span.

It is hard to guess how your body will react but you can do your best to stay hydrated, work on building muscles and hey maybe compression garments are the way to go. Who knows? I sure do not.

Disney · June 6, 2011

From what I have read, in addition to age, genetics and all that, a lot has to do with how long you were overweight. Which makes me sad because I have been for a very long time. We will see, though. Tiff gives me hope. I think patience is the key. I need to start working out, I have been very slack in that department.