To think you cant lose a large amount of weight without having excess skin?

[TombQueen666]

Just that really. My sister is doing slimming world and in total wants to lose 7 stone, she said she’s started saving for a tummy tuck as she thinks she’ll need one after losing that amount. She doesn’t have time for the gym but does walk a fair bit with her kids. She’s 32 so she’s concerned her skin isn’t as stretchy as it once was. Has anyone lost this amount and not needed surgery? Hate the thought of my sis having this surgery, our Aunty had it and said it was the most painful thing she’s ever done and wouldn’t recommend unless absolutely Needed.

I'd say it depends on height & build etc. 7 stone across a tall body is different to 7 stone from the middle of a shorter person. If most of her excess weight is round her stomach then maybe, but if it's on her bum & thighs etc. as well then possibly not.

Range thanks for the reply! I’d say she’s about 5.11, the weight is pretty even around her body, she aims to lose weight around her tummy, thighs and back

I agree that it totally depends on how the weight is distributed and equally on how quickly she loses the weight. A crash diet would be more likely to cause loose skin than losing the weight gradually. She should also do toning exercises to give herself the best shot at avoiding it.

If the weight is well distributed and she loses slowly / steadily rather than crash diet, there's a good chance that she might be ok as the body adjusts to change. But it's really just a case of wait and see unfortunately.

In that case I'd think that if she does it steadily but gradually and maybe does some toning exercises while she loses weight then she might actually be okay. Like a PP said, it's wait and see but I'd have thought she could probably get away with it.

I have lost 8 stone, for the 2nd time in 10 years, so have some real life experience!

At 5'7, I carried my weight pretty evenly across my body but with a larger amount in my tummy.

Each time. I have lost large weight, slowly and steadily, I end up with a tummy apron, a public bone overhang, very loose bingo wings and wrinkly skin in upper thighs and boobs. I'm saving to get it all sorted!

Losing high volumes of weight often comes with new mental challenges as the person does not end up looking as they imagined they would. Losing 6-8 stone still doesn't make me look like a movie star!!

I also get "you look ill" reactions from well meaning friends and family, which is excaberated by loose skin AND telling me I look fine/make me feel guilty for wanting to seek cosmetic treatment - when I want it to resolve the new body issues which have come along!

I gained and lost five stone with my pregnancy and other than the standard c section over hang my skin snapped back. I was 28.

A few times I've lost 3/4 stone and again no issues with excess skin at all. However I exercise, I'm just under five eight, or jus over five seven depending how you look at it. In each instance though thr weight hadn't been on long, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

I think the reality is she won't know until she's done it. But there is a fair chance she will be fine.

Depends. Moreso on age I think.

I know someone (female aged 18-19,) who lost 6 stone over 18 months, with healthy eating, and jogging/treadmill/gym/cycling/swimming. She exercised some 10 hours a week. She didn't have a SCRAP of loose skin. A few stretch marks, but only a few, and they are very faint.

But then, she was only 18-19, and took a year and a half to lose it,(so she was young, there was no massively fast weight loss, and she did LOTS of exercise.)

Full disclosure. I'm over 20st and I'm 5ft tall.
I'm afraid to lose weight because I don't want the sagging skin. Atm I can still feel sexy and have confidence in my body. If I lose weight and get loose skin I know I will feel awful.

My dad has lost ten stone. Over a year and a half. He hasn’t got any excess skin

I think the recommendation to minimise excess skin is actually to maximise muscle mass. It pulls it tighter and basically fills th space. This doesn't mean becoming muscular which for a woman is very hard to donanyway.

As such, some weight training when the kids are in bed woild maybe help her. She can buy some York weights from amazon and do something like the Chloe madeley weights for women app.

Really I think it's advisable for her to do it and to attempt to avoid surgery. As said, I've never had an issue and possibly in hindsight it's as I exercise inc strength training.

(He’s 59!)

I got loose skin on my abdomen after my first pregnancy aged 21. I wasn't very overweight before that but my bump was huge and I probably put on 2 stone, height 5ft 2inches.
My midwife told me it was a shame I had been left with saggy skin.
I think it's down to your genes and your height. If she was ok after her pregnancies and she loses weight slowly and does toning exercises, she may be ok.

Also dry brushing the skin may help it remain supple as the weight comes off. Good for her!

Yes and keep moisturised,

Everyone always says losing weight is eighty percent diet twenty percent exercise, which is true, but fails to take into account the impact of exercise on your body, from making you more lean looking, your body tighter, so you are smaller at the same weight basically and minimising excess skin.

She really needs to think of a two pronged approach for the best results.