loose wrinkly skin after weight loss, will it tighten?

[toooosmall]

I lost 40 pounds this year but now my belly and ass is kinda loose and wrinkly, whereas before my ass was smooth looking. will my skin tighten back up? can i achieve a six pack and smoothe skin? I'm 5'11", and I was 220 last year and now I'm 164, but still have a little pot belly. I want definition eventually.

[Kawigirl]

It may..it may not. Everyone has different genetic makeup for elasticity in skin. Woman are usually more prone to better elasticity due to baby making. Age also effects elasticity.....tanning, how long you've carried the extra weight, how much, overall health...etc.

But, if you've been a certain size for a length of time; the skin won't retract and you'll be left with excess and only surgery will rid of.

[jtuner77]

I lost 40 pounds this year but now my belly and ass is kinda loose and wrinkly, whereas before my ass was smooth looking. will my skin tighten back up? can i achieve a six pack and smoothe skin? I'm 5'11", and I was 220 last year and now I'm 164, but still have a little pot belly. I want definition eventually.

Do you have stretch marks? If so forget it. The reason I say that is because stretch marks are where the skin has broken and stretched. It is now permanently stretched and will not tighten back up.

I compare skin to a rubber band. Skill like a rubber band will stretch and snap back but have you ever pulled a rubber band to the point where it turns white and doesn't bounce back? Well thats the same as a stretch mark. The only possible way to make it not appear as bad as before is to build up as much muscle as were the fat used to be. For people with huge weight losses this really isn't possible but for people that have lost 30-40 lbs sometimes you can build up enough muscle to replace where the fat used to reside PLUS you have to take into consideration that fat physically takes up more room then muscle so for you to replace the 60lbs of fat you lost you need to gain roughly 80-90lbs of muscle....

[toooosmall]

yikes. you two have confirmed my fears. but I do thank you none of the less. and being fat n smooth-skinned is less desirable than thin n wrinkly, too me. yes I have stretch marks (fml) and you confirmed that fear but, i will continue to try to lose fat until i have a flat looking stomach with a shirt on. and that would make it worth it. but, I'm curious, JT, why did you mention 60 lbs when you know I mentioned 40 pounds?? is it because I may need to lose another 20 lbs of fat to get to my desired bf%? (which I believe I would need to do)

[Minion0812]

Tooosmall- I feel for you bud! Greta job losing the weight. I often worry about it with me as well but I have only gone from 195 to 175lbs but still have very small stretch marks around the sides of my body. I hope my skin can get back to how it was before. I worry that even the little marks may effect the nice stomach that I desire!

[SlimmerMe]

Some women swear by Palmers cocoa butter for the stretch marks

[toooosmall]

Some women swear by Palmers cocoa butter for the stretch marks

is it supposed to prevent stretch marks, or take them away?

[VegasRenegade]

Sorry to hear that so far i am skinny and smooth.

[SlimmerMe]

is it supposed to prevent stretch marks, or take them away?

Both ........

[LGM]

Do you have stretch marks? If so forget it. The reason I say that is because stretch marks are where the skin has broken and stretched. It is now permanently stretched and will not tighten back up.

I compare skin to a rubber band. Skill like a rubber band will stretch and snap back but have you ever pulled a rubber band to the point where it turns white and doesn't bounce back? Well thats the same as a stretch mark. The only possible way to make it not appear as bad as before is to build up as much muscle as were the fat used to be. For people with huge weight losses this really isn't possible but for people that have lost 30-40 lbs sometimes you can build up enough muscle to replace where the fat used to reside PLUS you have to take into consideration that fat physically takes up more room then muscle so for you to replace the 60lbs of fat you lost you need to gain roughly 80-90lbs of muscle....

Stretch marks have nothing to do with whether or not the skin will tighten up. It's simply a matter of genetics, and the reasons listed by Kawi. If stretch marks were any indication, every woman who had a kid would be walking around with a 6 inch flap of skin on their beltline.