Loose skin- fact of fiction?!?!

[wilsonpd64]

Alright, I know I have a LOOOONNNNNNG time before I have to worry about this, but I have been reading a lot about loose skin. I hear from two schools of thought- those who say that it will never bounce back and that you require surgery, and those who say that if you lose enough fat, build enough muscle, and wait long enough, it will tighten up.

I've been concerned about this, because I'm a "two belly" guy. (You know one whose belly has been above AND below the belt line, as opposed to a "one belly" guy, that wears the same waist size he wore in high school, only six inches lower, with one big belly hanging over the belt.)

Bottom line, I have what they call a "pannus". Not a big one, but noticable. So what are the thoughts folks, diet and exercise, or anethesia and scalpels? Does skin bounce back, or has it lost its "bounce". Let the debate begin!

[Jachut]

I think there's many who will testify that loose skin is fact. Skin does bounce back to a degree, I mean I have no pannus and I've had 3 babies and lost 100lb. But my skin is probably 1/2 a size too big over the lower half of my body - not surgery-worthy but just a bit flabbier than I would otherwise be. That's skin that "bounced back".

If you lose a lot of weight, I think there's virtually nobody who wont show some visible signs of that on their body. Its a matter of your own personal tolerance of it and whether it causes you any problems whether you have to do anything about it. But a pannus is highly unlikely to go away, no matter what you do. Plenty of exercise will mean that tummy tuck has a specactular result though.

[Stitchy]

There are a lot of factors, I think. Your age, the amount of weight lost, and your own personal tolerance. If you have a little pooch like I do, and probably Jacquie you may not want to go through the pain.

You options are to do nothing, have only the pannus removed or go for a full tummy tuck.

[Azuredreams]

LOL, i like how you describe yourself. I myself am a two belly woman and my husband is the one belly guy. Isnt it wierd how some bellies just kinda split in half and make a whole .... nother belly.
I havent had surgery so I dont know either what to expect. My dad had GB and he has a what he calls a *turkey neck* but he is an older guy who didnt have much elasticity in the skin to begain with.

[christie]

Dr. Brown said that he didn't think I would need anything like that.....I think he's lying. I have a pannus too.

[Bandedmomof7]

My dermotologist (and he is a plastic surgeon) told me that skin elasticity is almost completely dependent on genetics and your own genetic make-up as to whether you will have issues or not. Excercise will tighten the muscle under the skin to support better, but does not effect the skin itself.

I agree with the others...I think it is mostly your individula tollerance. I have loose skin around the middle and some pretty impressive "bat wings", but I am very happy with the overall body without the extra 145 pounds.
Good luck on your journey--it is a great road!!

[503-250]

I'm the third guy....I'm an inflator....my waist has just gotten bigger and bigger and bigger...unlike a good friend who is a 6 inch lower guy...just like my dad. I always laugh whenever I see a guy with the under belly belt line.
Just how exactly do they tuck in their shirts?
Just how exactly do they keep their pants up?

With that said....I have a huge pannus, and bat wings...and apparently enough extra skin to wrap an entire adult female.

[Neal R.]

Anesthesia and scalpels for me. It was worth every penny!

[Italiangirl33]

I have bat wings too..they are worse than when I was 55 pds heavier..

what is a pannus

[~Shelly~]

The thought of loose skin makes me cry. It almost kept me from having the band - can you even imagine that? My thoughts are, I'll deal with it when I get there. I can't worry about it now - cause I'm eating well and running and lifting weights... these are the things I have control over. Living in the moment!!

[503-250]

my weight loss was worth every single bit of loose skin I have

[Nana~]

I have baggy skin on my lower tummy and inner thighs.
Cant tell from my photos but I promise you it's there and it drives me crazy.
when I bend over to like tie my shoe or "whatever" it hangs like a wrinkled old bag, my thighs do the same thing when I'm doing side leg lifts.
My arms arent baggy, but they do swing I'm hoping they dont start doing the bag thing.
I sure hope it gets better if not I'll do the knife- My hubby loves me no matter what but its hard if I dont feel confident about my own body, I'm sure thats the same for all us wls patients OR I could be just be as my hubby says too hard on myself~

[Jachut]

That's what mine is like. If I'm standing up, my stomach is fine. If I'm lying flat on my back, its fine. If I'm sitting on the beach, its OK, I have less rolls than most people. But if I bend over, ugh. Like doing a push up or getting on hands and knees while you spread your beach towel out to lay on, its digusting, wrinkly, baggy skin.

And I have a pocket on each of my inner thights that's like that too. But that one is a definite FAT deposit, I think I could get away with lipo there.

I dont know whether its stupid to have a tummy tuck just so you can feel great in a bikini (becuase it wouldnt change how I look dressed). Well, its not, but at 41, you know? Its a lot cheaper to just cover it up, lol.

Cosmetic surgery appears to be way more expensive in Australia though. Its just huuuuuuuge amounts of money for boobs and belly, more than I could spend without huge guilt about what the rest of the family was missing out on.

[wilsonpd64]

I think I can deal with a little wrinkly skin, and maybe even the batwings deal. My modeling days are over, lol. I just don't want a huge flap of belly skin left over. Did you ever see the movie Click? The part where Adam Sandler has lost tons of wieght and he flipping his loose skin back and forth? That kills me...

[Neal R.]

my weight loss was worth every single bit of loose skin I have

I have to agree with the Bear on this one. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to have a tummy tuck, however. Had I not been able to, the weight loss would have been worth having the extra skin. Having extra/loose skin should nevr be a factor on whether you should/want to loose weight.

[kristina]

i could use a tummy tuck already! i had 3 babies, 2 of them were over 11 pounds. i had the excess skin BEFORE having surgery,...and its getting bigger and bigger. i know my tummy will need it...i am working my triceps every day (50 reps 30 pound weights) in the hopes that my arms wont be too bad, cause i know i will not be doing my arms or thighs. tummy and boobs only, cause my insurance covers both 1 year out...like a WLS package.
unless my husband leaves me. then i will be cut from head to toe. LOL!
i def. think it has everything to do with genetics and your skin type.
i hate hate hate my tummy. its disgusting. i always have to have a shirt long enough to cover the bottom part of my stomach, its half fat and half skin.
nice visual huh?

[~Shelly~]

Having extra/loose skin should never be a factor on whether you should/want to loose weight.

Lol - well it was a factor for me. Thankfully it didn't outweigh the benefits in my delusional head.

Kristina you are gorgeous :)

[wilsonpd64]

Well, I'm seeing a little "loosness" around the front, chest and lower stomach, but I seem to be tightening up a bit- trying to work out regular, get plenty of protien and stay hydrated. We'll see how it goes for me.

[Dirextor]

The inner thigh bags bother me more than anything.

[503-250]

If I run, it sounds like i'm being followed by fans and they are all clapping.

The good news is that if I am ever forced to jump from a plane I can just strip down and use the extra skin as wings to let me glide home safely.

I was fat, now i'm a flying squirrel

[wilsonpd64]

The good news is that if I am ever forced to jump from a plane I can just strip down and use the extra skin as wings to let me glide home safely. I was fat, now i'm a flying squirrel

I wonder if that counts as a super power?

[carotgirl]

I just laughed out loud at the 'flying squirrel' ... !

[itsfinallytimeforme]

Ya know, for my entire life someone has always come before me. Now this november i will be couph fifty!!

I refuse to to go into my fiftyth year fat, soooooooo I will spend my last dollar on scapels and stitches and drains, on every part of my body, so that when i put on a pair of pants.

I can wear a tight shirt, tucked in, or not baggy to cover the flubb, meanwhile, there are two things that i adore

ok one thing for sure


SPANKS!!!!!! I wear them every day and they keep the slap slap slap down to a minimum when I am running on the blasted tread mill. and I have heard they make some for men too, so fellas when I find the name I will post it for you so you too can enjoy the benefits, of firm fatty skin,


smiles

seventy more pounds to go. and Dr S here i come


Jo Ann

[wilsonpd64]

what is a pannus


A pannus is a loose layer of skin and/or fat in the lower abdominal region that hangs down like an apron.

[christie]

If I run, it sounds like i'm being followed by fans and they are all clapping.

The good news is that if I am ever forced to jump from a plane I can just strip down and use the extra skin as wings to let me glide home safely.

I was fat, now i'm a flying squirrel


OMG...I'm gonna pee myself!

[sprintmom]

Hey everyone, bat wings can be fixed by exercise (building muscle) go to this website:Shapefit.com and look at the bicep and tricep exercise secion, remember do alot of rep with lt wt and I promise bat wings will be muscle in no time...I had bat wings and now have firm muscle in my bi's and tri's...love it...
Ella

[gregken77]

If I run, it sounds like i'm being followed by fans and they are all clapping.

The good news is that if I am ever forced to jump from a plane I can just strip down and use the extra skin as wings to let me glide home safely.

I was fat, now i'm a flying squirrel


I was picturing flying squirrel as your talked about jumping from a plan. Remember the cyote from Bugs bunny---the one where he is in the bat wing suit? That flashed before my eyes when I was reading if this could be considered a super power. Would you have to be naked though to rescue people? Might not work out good for me.

[Jachut]

Oh, lordy I had a slapping experience the other day at boot camp. I've never "slapped" before, ever. But apparently my thighs dont like backwards running! I didnt actually realise what it was for a minute there!

I wonder why they dont slap running forward. They dont even touch!

[gregken77]

Oh, lordy I had a slapping experience the other day at boot camp. I've never "slapped" before, ever. But apparently my thighs dont like backwards running! I didnt actually realise what it was for a minute there!

I wonder why they dont slap running forward. They dont even touch!


That is funny----So I take it you just heard this noise and thought "
what the-" Jachut---I cant believe you have loose skin though. You really look so good. I dont think you would even need plastic surgery.

[Craig A]

Guys, long time no see, I am seeing the loose skin but seeing it as a sign of progress. Guys just go to the sporting goods store and they make compression shorts, without the cup and hip pads( some baseball players use them), They definetly help keep extra bit of thigh in place during a long day. No " Monkey butt" and you know what I am saying.

[christie]

I need a compression body stocking with arm holds and a boob lift section. I know its progress....but sometimes....its just disgusting. I have to put on a bathing suit over Christmas for vacation....not sure how I'm going to feel about that. I'm smaller than I was, but definitely a flying squirrel....I hope the wind doesn't pop me open like a parachute and fly me off the cruise ship!!!!