Loose Skin From Weight Loss

[Jingthing]

Any wisdom on this problem.

Any tips on how to minimize it other than moderate the speed of the weight loss?

Usually, the older you are the more likely this is to be a problem. On the other hand, I have seen some bad cases on younger people as well.

I think this might be a problem for me (seeing some signs) so am looking for any preventative measures.

Also concerned about this being a disincentive to lose more weight, if you actually look better with the fat on (yes it happens).

Also does anyone happen to know the cost of cosmetic surgery in Thailand to fix this if it happens?

Edited January 20, 2013 by Jingthing

[noob7]

There is only one way, as you know yourself.

Moderate the speed of the weight loss.

But that does not mean, you have to slow down your efforts.

More the opposite, by transfering a lot of the 'weight' into brawn, before loosing 'it'.

Muscle-building training can be the solution

Edited January 20, 2013 by noob7

[robblok]

I think like you said moderate weight loss.. believe me its hard enough to loose a kg a week over time. You need to loose a lot more before you get flabby.

[Jingthing]

This link is interesting:

http://www.fitday.co...ing-weight.html

Seems like reasonable advice.

Interesting suggestion about the importance of protein. Not sure about vitamins but why not.

The massage type they suggest I think is skilled deep Swedish massage. Not sure that is easily available in Thailand (unfortunately).

Brushing the body often to exfoliate to increase skin circulation definitely sounds smart. So where would one find a soft boar bristle brush in Thailand?

Edited January 20, 2013 by Jingthing

[endure]

Brushing the body often to exfoliate to increase skin circulation definitely sounds smart. So where would one find a soft boar bristle brush in Thailand?

Sounds a bit pervy to me...

[robblok]

JT,

I do wonder why you bring it up as your weight loss is not going at such a high pace to justify it.

I lost 23 kg in a year sometimes 2kg a week sometimes nothing and i had no problems at all. I might be a bit younger then you and consume more protein. Plust i exercised.

[heatherm]

You can tighten loose skin for a time by using Preperation-H creme. People that get gastric bypass and lose weight very fast are told to try it.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

[noob7]

You can tighten loose skin for a time by using Preperation-H creme.

Hemorrhoidal Cream?

Amazing sid effect!

Edited January 21, 2013 by noob7

[Sheryl]

This problem is directly related to the degree of skin elasticity. Which in turn is related to age and sun exposure as well as just individual differences.

Gradual weight loss accompanied by exercise that tones the muslces i nthe target areas (so that losr fat is partly offset by increased muscle mass) and use of a moisturing cream are IMo the best you can do.

Surgery to remove loose skin is extensive and leaves scars, not something you want if you can avoid it.

[tropo]

JT,

I do wonder why you bring it up as your weight loss is not going at such a high pace to justify it.

I lost 23 kg in a year sometimes 2kg a week sometimes nothing and i had no problems at all. I might be a bit younger then you and consume more protein. Plust i exercised.

I have loose skin on the waist from dropping about 5 inches over about 6 months... nothing too alarming though. It's an age related issue.... something you can look forward too, or a good reason not to get fat again.

I don't think there's anything beside surgery that can fix it. Just cut it out and throw it away.

[laislica]

You can tighten loose skin for a time by using Preperation-H creme. People that get gastric bypass and lose weight very fast are told to try it.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

Interesting since the formulation of Prep H varies.

eg Today, some Preparation H products have phenylephrine, a drug that constricts blood vessels, as active ingredient, in a 0.25% concentration.

This seems to conflict with the brushing idea :-

Gently brush the skin with a soft boar bristle brush prior to bathing or showering. This will not only feel great and help to exfoliate your skin, but it will increase the circulation in your skin. This increased circulation will help bring vital nutrients to the skin and improve the quality of collagen and elastin, which will improve the skins ability to bounce back following weight loss.

Apparently the Canadian formulation of Preparation H includes a yeast extract called BioDyne, which has been removed from the formulation previously sold in the United States in 1995. This yeast extract is believed by Pfizer to remove wrinkles from skin and heal dry, cracked, and irritated skin. The Canadian formulation has acquired a market in the United States as a skin cream with an anti-wrinkle active ingredient.

All very confusing.

[noob7]

You can tighten loose skin for a time by using Preperation-H creme. People that get gastric bypass and lose weight very fast are told to try it.

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

Interesting since the formulation of Prep H varies.

eg Today, some Preparation H products have phenylephrine, a drug that constricts blood vessels, as active ingredient, in a 0.25% concentration.

This seems to conflict with the brushing idea :-

Gently brush the skin with a soft boar bristle brush prior to bathing or showering. This will not only feel great and help to exfoliate your skin, but it will increase the circulation in your skin. This increased circulation will help bring vital nutrients to the skin and improve the quality of collagen and elastin, which will improve the skins ability to bounce back following weight loss.

Apparently the Canadian formulation of Preparation H includes a yeast extract called BioDyne, which has been removed from the formulation previously sold in the United States in 1995. This yeast extract is believed by Pfizer to remove wrinkles from skin and heal dry, cracked, and irritated skin. The Canadian formulation has acquired a market in the United States as a skin cream with an anti-wrinkle active ingredient.

All very confusing.

Indeed , it is:

30 Rock:

Jenna: Hey, has anyone seen Liz? or Pete?

Frank: She went out.

Jenna: Well, who's in charge when they're not here?

Jack: I'm in charge.

Jenna: Oh Okay. Um, well I’m not sure about this costume.

Jack: I think it’s hot.

Jenna: Thank you! I’m Jenna by the way.

Kenneth: Ms. Maroney, I got the hemorrhoid cream you wanted.

Jenna: It’s for my face.

Jack: Well wherever your putting it, I think it’s working.

Edited January 23, 2013 by noob7

[F4UCorsair]

You can tighten loose skin for a time by using Preperation-H creme.

Hemorrhoidal Cream?

Amazing sid effect!

Models use it for facial wrinkles, but I'm not sure it would work for flabby skin around the mid section.

[how241]

There is only one way, as you know yourself.

Moderate the speed of the weight loss.

But that does not mean, you have to slow down your efforts.

More the opposite, by transfering a lot of the 'weight' into brawn, before loosing 'it'.

Muscle-building training can be the solution

Good post. +1

[Jingthing]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

As far as moisturizers I read somewhere that COLLAGEN in the cream helps with this. I don't know.

[TommoPhysicist]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

As far as moisturizers I read somewhere that COLLAGEN in the cream helps with this. I don't know.

As some other posters have stated, I'm convinced surgery is the only way to go.

Using creams sounds like snake oil sales techniques to me.

[Jingthing]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

As far as moisturizers I read somewhere that COLLAGEN in the cream helps with this. I don't know.

As some other posters have stated, I'm convinced surgery is the only way to go.

Using creams sounds like snake oil sales techniques to me.

I'm still looking for a boar hair brush. I don't think that stimulating and moisturizing the skin could hurt anyway but don't know specifically about collagen. Also loosing weight moderately is great and probably the MOST important thing people can do for prevention, but like Sheryl said if you've got the kind of skin that won't adjust well even with slow weight loss for whatever reasons including age factors, that's pretty much the deal. Edited January 27, 2013 by Jingthing

[robblok]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

As far as moisturizers I read somewhere that COLLAGEN in the cream helps with this. I don't know.

JT i agree here you can't fill it un around there ven if your MR Universe. But exercise does stimulate blood flow just like your brush. Anyway i have been set on my place regarding the age thing. I had no problems and reduced my waist 10 inches maybe even more. But then again im 38 and maybe lucky. It took me a year thought o reduce it like that

[tropo]

There is only one way, as you know yourself.

Moderate the speed of the weight loss.

But that does not mean, you have to slow down your efforts.

More the opposite, by transfering a lot of the 'weight' into brawn, before loosing 'it'.

Muscle-building training can be the solution

Good post. +1

You can't replace abdominal fat with muscle.... but no matter where the fat is, you're never going to replace lost flab with muscle because muscle building is an extremely slow process at best.

[laislica]

As you age you do lose the elasticity in the skin through age and sun damage.

A nip and tuck is probably the only answer.

[noob7]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

You're right, it ain't that simple.

But it is doing some things:

Slowing down the shrinking process, so that your body has more time, to rebuild, what can be rebuild.

You stabilize your success! Mostly, if on diaet for weight loss, people forget, they loose muscle, too!!

Muscle building workout is stabilizing what you have, and activating more 'burn' for the fat loss.

Also it's motivation, as far as I have seen it.

Feed someone little, the success is only on the scale.

Give him a workout, it is in his hormon status!

You can even shrink your body, without loosing one kilo of weight.

And I know, this guy

http://www.fit2fat2fit.com/

had totally different 'problems', and he came from 'really fit', but there are usefull information to find, I think.

Also there are couple of videos available, on youtube.

Surgery is the last thing, at the very end. And only, in case you can keep, what you have. Think about, you cut it off, and start over again.

That would be stress for your body, trust me!

[tropo]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

You're right, it ain't that simple.

But it is doing some things:

Slowing down the shrinking process, so that your body has more time, to rebuild, what can be rebuild.

You stabilize your success! Mostly, if on diaet for weight loss, people forget, they loose muscle, too!!

Muscle building workout is stabilizing what you have, and activating more 'burn' for the fat loss.

Also it's motivation, as far as I have seen it.

Feed someone little, the success is only on the scale.

Give him a workout, it is in his hormon status!

You can even shrink your body, without loosing one kilo of weight.

And I know, this guy

http://www.fit2fat2fit.com/

had totally different 'problems', and he came from 'really fit', but there are usefull information to find, I think.

Also there are couple of videos available, on youtube.

Surgery is the last thing, at the very end. And only, in case you can keep, what you have. Think about, you cut it off, and start over again.

That would be stress for your body, trust me!

You haven't even bothered to consider age. I'm 53, lost a moderate amount of abdominal girth (about 5 inches) very slowly, but there's no doubt the skin is loose. This is due to my age, not the speed with which it was lost.

You can't replace lost abdominal girth with muscle. You can do it in other areas (my skin is pretty tight elsewhere), but not in the waist.

Surgery would be a very good idea if it became an important psychological (embarrassment) issue.

Surgery is even routine in young people these days (eg breast enlargement). What's the big deal about cutting out some loose skin?

Edited January 28, 2013 by tropo

[noob7]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

You're right, it ain't that simple.

But it is doing some things:

Slowing down the shrinking process, so that your body has more time, to rebuild, what can be rebuild.

You stabilize your success! Mostly, if on diaet for weight loss, people forget, they loose muscle, too!!

Muscle building workout is stabilizing what you have, and activating more 'burn' for the fat loss.

Also it's motivation, as far as I have seen it.

Feed someone little, the success is only on the scale.

Give him a workout, it is in his hormon status!

You can even shrink your body, without loosing one kilo of weight.

And I know, this guy

http://www.fit2fat2fit.com/

had totally different 'problems', and he came from 'really fit', but there are usefull information to find, I think.

Also there are couple of videos available, on youtube.

Surgery is the last thing, at the very end. And only, in case you can keep, what you have. Think about, you cut it off, and start over again.

That would be stress for your body, trust me!

You haven't even bothered to consider age. I'm 53, lost a moderate amount of abdominal girth (about 5 inches) very slowly, but there's no doubt the skin is loose. This is due to my age, not the speed with which it was lost.

You can't replace lost abdominal girth with muscle. You can do it in other areas (my skin is pretty tight elsewhere), but not in the waist.

Surgery would be a very good idea if it became an important psychological (embarrassment) issue.

Surgery is even routine in young people these days (eg breast enlargement). What's the big deal about cutting out some loose skin?

No big deal. Only the question, how many times you wanna stitch it down.

Have you reached the bodyweight/shape, you wanna have, already?

Can you keep it that way?

Or are you in the middle of nowhere, but already saying 'cut out, cut out, it looks horrible'?

Ever heard about JoJo effect?

You know, what is the difference to breast enlargement, or even to reducing? They mostly don't need a diaet, to get the result.

If you loose your new livestyle, the 'cut off's' are missing. And stressing your body much more.

But you are thinking about early surgery: why not go for liposucking, too?

They can do both at the same time, methinks.

Edited January 29, 2013 by noob7

[robblok]

If someone is significantly fat and losing a lot muscle building could help to some degree but unless you're going to be Mr. Body Builder World there is no way you could fill all the skin space lost by a large weight loss with muscle inside. So in that sense it sounds like an empty moralistic argument, so common on the topic of FAT people, that if you end up with loose skin it must be because you didn't work hard enough. No, it ain't that simple.

You're right, it ain't that simple.

But it is doing some things:

Slowing down the shrinking process, so that your body has more time, to rebuild, what can be rebuild.

You stabilize your success! Mostly, if on diaet for weight loss, people forget, they loose muscle, too!!

Muscle building workout is stabilizing what you have, and activating more 'burn' for the fat loss.

Also it's motivation, as far as I have seen it.

Feed someone little, the success is only on the scale.

Give him a workout, it is in his hormon status!

You can even shrink your body, without loosing one kilo of weight.

And I know, this guy

http://www.fit2fat2fit.com/

had totally different 'problems', and he came from 'really fit', but there are usefull information to find, I think.

Also there are couple of videos available, on youtube.

Surgery is the last thing, at the very end. And only, in case you can keep, what you have. Think about, you cut it off, and start over again.

That would be stress for your body, trust me!

You haven't even bothered to consider age. I'm 53, lost a moderate amount of abdominal girth (about 5 inches) very slowly, but there's no doubt the skin is loose. This is due to my age, not the speed with which it was lost.

You can't replace lost abdominal girth with muscle. You can do it in other areas (my skin is pretty tight elsewhere), but not in the waist.

Surgery would be a very good idea if it became an important psychological (embarrassment) issue.

Surgery is even routine in young people these days (eg breast enlargement). What's the big deal about cutting out some loose skin?

No big deal. Only the question, how many times you wanna stitch it down.

Have you reached the bodyweight/shape, you wanna have, already?

Can you keep it that way?

Or are you in the middle of nowhere, but already saying 'cut out, cut out, it looks horrible'?

Ever heard about JoJo effect?

You know, what is the difference to breast enlargement, or even to reducing? They mostly don't need a diaet, to get the result.

If you loose your new livestyle, the 'cut off's' are missing. And stressing your body much more.

But you are thinking about early surgery: why not go for liposucking, too?

They can do both at the same time, methinks.

Sure of course you don't want to do this many times, and as far as i know Tropo was never even close to those guys. He is a guy with a body-fat of 10% or below very few attain and maintain that. I have seen him he is in great shape.

Personally if i were that overweight id wait a while till i am sure this is my new weight and i can attain it. But as said i don't have a loose skin issue as i never was that big. There was a time when i considered surgery as an easy way out but now i don't.

[tropo]

No big deal. Only the question, how many times you wanna stitch it down.

Have you reached the bodyweight/shape, you wanna have, already?

Can you keep it that way?

Or are you in the middle of nowhere, but already saying 'cut out, cut out, it looks horrible'?

Ever heard about JoJo effect?

You know, what is the difference to breast enlargement, or even to reducing? They mostly don't need a diaet, to get the result.

If you loose your new livestyle, the 'cut off's' are missing. And stressing your body much more.

But you are thinking about early surgery: why not go for liposucking, too?

They can do both at the same time, methinks.

I appreciate your concern, but my loose skin problem is minor. There's no yoyo problem for me. I very gradually went from waist measurement 34 to 40 inches over 20 years and then cut it back again over the last year. I have no intention of ever increasing my midsection again because the original increase crept up on me, but now I'm aware it won't happen again.

If it did bother me I certainly wouldn't be wasting my time with creams - I would have it surgically tightened.

[Jingthing]

There is a difference between a minor cosmetic problem and a major cosmetic problem.

I have even seen a major cosmetic problem on a man in his early 20's who hadn't even lost all that much weight, maybe 40 pounds. It was horrible. It really looked like his skin hadn't adjusted at all. Why did that happen? Hard to know. I don't know if he ever dealt with it or just gained the weight again.

The biggest factors appear to be speed of weight loss, AGE, genetics, skin health or lack thereof.

I don't think it is really trivial surgery which is why doing it for minor cosmetic problems would be unwise unless you're a fashion model.

I do wonder about the cost factors in Thailand. Many people need multiple procedures in different areas of the body so obviously it would be hard to generalize too much.

Edited January 29, 2013 by Jingthing

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

There is a difference between a minor cosmetic problem and a major cosmetic problem.

I have even seen a major cosmetic problem on a man in his early 20's who hadn't even lost all that much weight, maybe 40 pounds. It was horrible. It really looked like his skin hadn't adjusted at all. Why did that happen? Hard to know. I don't know if he ever dealt with it or just gained the weight again.

The biggest factors appear to be speed of weight loss, AGE, genetics, skin health or lack thereof.

I don't think it is really trivial surgery which is why doing it for minor cosmetic problems would be unwise unless you're a fashion model.

I do wonder about the cost factors in Thailand. Many people need multiple procedures in different areas of the body so obviously it would be hard to generalize too much.

I lost about 10 KG in 3 months from a low carb diet about a year ago. Went to the US for a few months and gained it all back. Didn't realize at the time it solved a future problem for me.

[Jingthing]

Depressing but real. Statistically, most people regain lost weight. I wonder how many do because they look so crappy with their flappy-arsed skin!

[GarryP]

They have a new body sculpting treatment which is supposed to reduce fat stored around the waist but at the same time tighten the skin. I tried to find the website but failed. It is sometimes advertised in the Bangkok Post supplements. But it is far from cheap and I do not know of anyone with first hand experience.

Perhas it would be possible to avail yourself of the skin tightening part while reducing the fat yourself.

[robblok]

Depressing but real. Statistically, most people regain lost weight. I wonder how many do because they look so crappy with their flappy-arsed skin!

JT its mainly because they don't change their lifestyle like you are doing. If you revert back you get it back.