How to avoid hanging skin

[Amanda2008]

Banded on Friday 11/21

I need to lose about 125 lbs. and am wondering about loose and hanging skin, particularly on my arms and stomach. I know weight loss is slower with LB, but just wondering if anybody had any advice. Does weightlifting help skin improve elasticity?

Any recommendations on lotions, or is that a waste of money?

thanks!

[nothereanymore]

For me, no - its wasn't going to bounce back from my stomach, I use oil for my stretch marks and that’s iffy but I knew nothing was going to help my hanging skin on my stomach – too much.

However my arms are looking better than I thought. I have been lifting weights and exercising throughout the weight loss – they still have extra skin that I don’t like – but its not like my tummy – I can live with it.

I do recommend good skin therapy, and exercise - you'll need to wait and see how you turn out. Then if you feel you may need surgery book a consult with a PS. We're all so different its hard to say. I've seen some girls loose the weight and they look awesome - they were younger and not as big as I but still I was totally impressed.

[Kimmy in MD]

Amanda,

I have always read that WATER and keeping your body hydrated will help with skin elasticity. Since my late 20's I have drank nothing but water, no soda, no coffee, maybe a cup of herbal tea a couple times a month, but just water 10-12 glasses a day and really believe that has contributed greatly to the elasticity in my skin. Not just in the weight loss portion but in wrinkle control on my face too.

Best of luck!

[jena]

The simple truth is the only way to take care of hanging skin is surgery.

There are factors that can make the chances better that your skin won't hang so badly.

1. How much weight do you have to lose? The more you have to lose, the more likely you are to have hanging skin.

2. How old are you? The younger you are, the more elasticity your skin has.

3. How many times have you lost and gained weight? The more you've gone up and down the less elastic your skin is.

4. Do you have stretch marks? The more you have, the more chance you have of having hanging skin.

If you already have "bat wings" and a saggy tummy, they aren't going to go away by losing weight. They will get smaller but if the skin isn't tight now, losing weight and building muscles won't help much.

In some ways I feel like my loose skin is like a badge of honor, but when I get down to a weight I can maintain I'm getting the skin removed. I'm saving for it now as a matter of fact!!

DON"T LET WHAT I'VE SAID DISCOURAGE YOU FROM LOSING WEIGHT!! That is the most important thing you can do for yourself.

[bandgroupie]

When my husband asked Dr. O what would help prevent saggy/excess skin and he said "WATER!"

So.. drink lots of water and take long bubble baths and dream of the new you

[KatyG]

Water and exercise will do a lot, but it will NOT prevent sagging skin completely. I felt like 'I got off' when I hit 180 and still had no sagging skin, but 170 hit and the batwings and the tummy wrinkle came out loud and proud... Is surgery in my future? Maybe. But I still know I look WAY better now even saggy, than I did almost 80 pounds ago...