EMAIL THREAD

Access skin

Does everybody who loses 80 lbs need that operatio to remove access skin. I

Sat. Jan 20, 9:58pm

NO

Not if you take your time and lose the weight slowly, and do some exercise - even if it's just walking - in the process. The people who do need the operation are people who lose the weight really fast, like with gastric bypass surgery or crash diets. Your skin needs more time to contract, so you have to take it slow.

Saturday, January 20, 2007, 10:52 PM

This is something I've worried about, too and I have about 80 lbs to lose. I'm 41 years old and I'm hoping if I lose no more than one to one & a third pounds per week (and exercise), my skin will spring back and NOT sag. I don't necessarily believe in plastic surgery (for myself) but I may think twice if I have a large abdominal "apron" after I've (sensibly) lost all my weight.

Anyone have any experience firsthand with this?

Saturday, January 20, 2007, 11:14 PM

Kate does, you can look at her blog, I linked it below. She lost more than 80 pounds I think and she did have some plastic surgery last year, but I think she didn't really have that much to take off, just a couple spots she felt like tightning up.

Link

Sunday, January 21, 2007, 11:57 PM

Kate had plastic surgery? When I clicked on the link I did not see that...

Monday, January 22, 2007, 9:26 AM

She had a tummy tuck, but she did not have an "apron" before the tummy tuck. I think she posted some before/after pics, but I'm not sure, since she's a teacher and has to be somewhat discreet. The logs about her surgery were posted in July 2006; you can go to that month by clicking on it on the right side of the screen when you're looking at her log.

Monday, January 22, 2007, 10:34 AM

go ahead, flame me but it's excess, not access.

Monday, January 22, 2007, 11:56 AM

i was wondering about that when i first clicked on the thread-i was like . . .what's "access skin", a new skin treatment? bwahahah.

Monday, January 22, 2007, 2:12 PM

I thought kate just had a boob job. she had a tummy tuck, too?

Monday, January 22, 2007, 2:27 PM

is this a gossip column or what? why not direct your questions ABOUT kate TO KATE?

Monday, January 22, 2007, 2:30 PM

Thanks, 2:30 poster...LOL...I guess that's my cue.

I don't mind the discussion. I just want to make sure the information is accurate, though. 10:34 poster, I didn't have a tummy tuck. I'm actually glad, too, because from what I understand about those from people I know who have had them, it is a very long and painful recovery. And to the original poster, one reason I didn't have to do that is because I did take my weight loss very slowly. What the 10:52 poster said is absolutely true: people who lose weight fast are the ones who generally end up with the excess skin.

I did have a breast lift, which is where the "boob job" comment is more accurate. I talked about it in our most recent Spotlight, but as the 10:34 poster tactfully pointed out, I don't get specific in my blog because I am a teacher and I don't need my students or their parents knowing that much about my personal life (if they ever do happen across the blog, which to my knowledge hasn't occurred).

And to address the original question, while my breast lift was in large part necessary due to the weight loss, there were other factors, such as the fact that I was breasfeeding for a year while losing weight. But yes, the bottom line is that losing a lot of weight often leads to excess skin - however, the slower you take it, the less of it you'll have. Like I said, I'm really thankful that I didn't have to get a tummy tuck. I have a good friend who had gastric band surgery and lost over 100 pounds in about 6 months; he has just tons of skin hanging all over his body. And he can't afford to have the surgery to get rid of it.

Please, never hesitate to ask me anything. I don't mind talking openly in the community or in groups or teams, I am just a little less candid on my blog, where my pictures are prominent on the page and it's just about me.

Kate (kissmekate02)

Monday, January 22, 2007, 9:09 PM

Just an FYI to the OP:
Access means: a means of approaching or entering a place

I think what you meant was excess

Friday, January 26, 2007, 3:19 PM

yeah, just as it was when pointed out on jan. 22. thanks again.

Friday, January 26, 2007, 4:07 PM

Access Skin? What is that a new TV show on dermatology?

Friday, January 26, 2007, 4:22 PM

Sorry 3:19 You wer right! My Bad

Friday, January 26, 2007, 11:32 PM

Has anyone had any personal experience with excess, flabby skin from too much weight loss? Has anyone lost a lot of weight without any surgery and had this happen?

Saturday, January 27, 2007, 12:09 AM

YES

All the contestants on "The Biggest Loser." OK, maybe not all, but most of the ones who go to the finals. If you look closely at them towards the end when they turn or walk, you can totally tell they have that flab. Plus, more than one of them, when they were interviewed by magazines or TV shows, mentioned having it. It's the same thing all these people here have been saying - whether it's surgery or not, when you lose weight TOO FAST is when it happens. What those people on Biggest Loser are basically doing is crash dieting, because they make such drastic changes so quickly. Is it bad? No, because for a lot of them it saves their lives, but taking it slower is much better for your body.

Saturday, January 27, 2007, 1:04 PM

I have gone from 220 lbs to 159 and I do not have any excess skin. Maybe because it has taken me about 5 years to do it. Maybe because I'm in my 20's. Or maybe I'm just lucky.

Saturday, January 27, 2007, 2:22 PM

Not necessarily

I started at 237 five years ago. I'm currently at 157 after taking most of it off and then gaining/losing the same 10-15 lbs over a period of four years. But to date, I have no extra skin. Granted, I'm still 23 lbs. from goal and I'm starting to see that dreaded "sag" in the stomach (I've had a pelliculus - the dreaded "apron" - for years, but that was from when I WAS larger. It's tightening up now. I imagine I'll have SOME loose skin, but I figure if it's bad, I'll deal with it surgically after I have children. In the meantime, however... no loose skin yet! So it's possible to lose large quantities of weight and not need surgery. I'm only 29, but all remains to be seen in the stomach area, as that's where I think the majority of my 23 lbs to go lies... hope this helps.

Monday, January 29, 2007, 7:20 PM

panniculus / pelliculus

Whatever it's called, I'm terribly afraid of having it. I started changing the way I eat at age 50 in September 2006. At that time I was 349 lbs with a very large midsection that was starting to droop into the dreaded pelliculus/panniculus apron (it all started 25 years earlier when I was pregnant, started at 150 lbs and by delivery was 217 lbs, then never lost that weight & midsection flab but just steadily added to it). Now I'm down to 310, and more serious about losing 1-2 lbs a week from now on. With 155 more lbs to go to get to my goal weight for my height and bone structure. Oh I have to also tell you I have serious degenerative osteo arthritis of the spine as well as rheumatoid arthritis so I'm in too much pain to do any serious exercise. I'm mostly in a wheelchair but use a walker to help rebuild lost muscle and do the best I can at exercising. But I need something not too hard to do that isn't painful to my aching & stiff joints to help tighten the abs/stomach muscles while I'm slowly releasing the extra weight. If I can manage to do that - tighten the ab muscles while losing 1-2 lbs a week steadily over the next year and a half (or more), can I avoid getting that dreaded hanging flopping apron?!

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 11:43 AM

i started at 200, i've lost 30 so far and my apron is getting worse. it's keeping me wearing the size 12 instead of 10 because the low waist pants cut right across it. so i have a hard time buttoning pants that actually fit me in the butt and thigh.

most of my weight went to my lower tummy first and then spread over me. now my overall fat has reduced drastically and so has my belly fat, but now the problem is it's deflating and leaving a nasty overhang. it looks so bad from the side. i feel all trim and actually svelte in some areas except for that... there's definatley a tummy tuck and maybe some lipo-dissolve in my future.

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 2:22 PM

I think age has a lot to do with it. Everything I've read indicates the loss of skin elasticity when you grow older. I am 44 years old and have lost 72 pounds over the course of 1year and 5 months (4 to go!!) so I didn't do anything fast or drastic - just slow and steady losses. Ugh. Excess skin everywhere. Under my arms (tricep area), thighs, lower abdomen...Ick. It's sad because you envision yourself losing weight and eventually wearing a bikini and looking great- not for me. I think I look fantastic - but in clothes. I am thankful for the weight loss and a newly trimmer & healthy body - but I sure wish I would have done this when I was much, much younger. Did I mention I'm too chicken to even think about surgery? :)

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 2:36 PM

It really depends on the person. I've lost over 100 pounds, took about 18 months to do it in, all diet and exercise. Kept it off for several years waiting for things to "bounce back", which they never did. So two years ago, I did have a tummy tuck. Due to my great physical condition and working with a naturopath to develop a good nutritional support program pre and post surgery, I was back in the thick of things within about 3-4 weeks.

One other note: It's been my experience, and I see a LOT of bodies in my work as a massage therapist, that those women with the "apron" have almost all had children as well. There really isn't a way to gradually do that part! It seems to be the combo of weight gain, weight loss and childbearing, in any particular order, that really seal your fate.

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 3:14 PM

2:22 again: i'm 30 (still young), have no children (child bearing not a factor) and a total fold-over apron from losing 30 pounds and i still have more to go. it's disgusting to see from the side when i'm getting dressed. i can hide it pretty well with clothes, i just looks like a tummy paunch. looks like my fate was sealed when i gained weight. but i am relieved to hear that 3:14 recovered pretty quickly from the surgery. ugh....

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 4:15 PM

I have had 4 children and had no problems with the "apron" until my last one when I had a vertical c-section. Now it seem that no matter what I do I cannot get rid of it. I have lost some weight and do cardio and weights regularly, but still have it. I am seriously looking into a tummy tuck. It looks terrible when I wear pants if I have to tuck my shirt in or the shirt isn't long enough. I have to wear a girdle or control top hose with everything. eww!

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 6:40 PM

i have several pair of "skinny pants" as my husband calls them... i guess they're a girdle, they're like biker shorts on 'roids. super tight to keep you sucked in... i actually can't wait til i lose the rest of my weight to make that dr. appt. for the tummy tuck!

Thursday, June 14, 2007, 7:14 PM

I'm worried about this too but in the long run I will still look better than I do now, so it's not the end of the world.

Friday, June 15, 2007, 12:06 AM

I think age is one of the main factors. I'm 56 years (young) and have lost 50 pounds in 1-1/2 years and do have excess skin in my arms, thighs and tummy. But I had much rather have that than the fat from before. At my age I had no intention of wearing a bikini. So my advice is try to take care of your body while still young and your skin still has it's elasticity.

Saturday, June 16, 2007, 8:42 AM

Hi, I'm 10 days late and relatively new to the website, but, this topic is something I have a question on. About a year ago, or so, I decided I needed to lose weight, I was 250, and now I'm 146. Now, I don't have the dreaded apron, but I have a small flap that is rather...well, let's just say it's not very becoming when there is nothing covering my stomach. I do cardio, aswell as a workout routine (Crunches, pushups, weights, etc.) But the skin seems to be persistant, though, getting better, now, mind you I'm 20..And plan to wait awhile before I even consider a surgery alternative, however, I would like to know if there is a way to help remove/tighten it? It's not in the way, I merely just don't like how it looks, but, all in all, it doesn't bother me through out daily life or putting on clothes, so, I can live with it..Just considering my options beforehand.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 7:09 PM

7:09- you can try "lipo-dissolve". it's a series of injections to tighten and tone the skin. it's for when you're at your optimal weight and want to sculpt that area. it really does work...... i'm considering it as an option to my forming apron, i'm hoping that it will do the trick vs. surgery. below is a link of one of before and after pics. BTW- congrats on the big loss!!!

Link

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 9:50 PM

breathing exercices

I am sure your doctor has told you about this. If you've talked to any Physical therapist, then you know about Isometrics. It's almost motionless, and you lose inches doing it. here is a link. http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/isometric-exercises.html. Hope you can do most of them. They still require some flexibility, but you can build it over time, especially if you're in pain. good luck

Wednesday, June 27, 2007, 1:27 AM

????

I am 12 years old and I have to loose 60 - 85 pounds. I was wondering if I will have lots of access skin.

Sunday, July 8, 2007, 1:02 AM

No, as long as you follow a healthy diet/exercise plan and take it slow. If you lose 0.5 - 2 pounds per week, you can lose all of the weight you want to lose in under a year and your skin will have time to contract along with you. Good luck!

Sunday, July 8, 2007, 1:09 PM

Question?

Hi everyone. I am 22 and I have gained 70 pounds in about a year due to stress. I am currently 213 and I want to lose 73 pounds and get down to 140. I have never had children, but I have yo-yo dieted all my life. The heaviest I have ever been other than right now was 160 and the lowest 125. Like I said, right now I am 220 and I want to lose 73 pounds. If I eat healthy and exercise, will I sag? I don't want to sag in my stomach. I NEVER wear short sleeved shirts so I don't care about my arms as much as my stomach, but I do not want my lower abdomen to sag. I want to be able to wear a tight shirt and look good. Like a have a flat stomach....

Sunday, August 30, 2009, 7:57 PM

43 and sagging skin

i had the gastric by pass 4 years ago and i did walk and excercise and the skin is still lose and sagging i have about 40 pds with just lose sagging skin. i will be have it remove in 3 wks, and it is a major surgery not a mini tuck because it is so much lose skin that hangs half way on my thigh to my knee and that feels nasty. i am so nervous what do u suggest

Friday, October 16, 2009, 3:06 PM

I lost 68 lbs and the last 10 my stomach started to look shrivled and wrinkly. (I'm 41) I was so sad that I didn't look fabulous, but in 6-8 weeks after losing that last 10 lbs., the skin started to improve in appearance. I'm happy to say it's not nasty anymore! I guess it needed a little time to bounce back?

Friday, October 16, 2009, 6:56 PM

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