Post weightloss skin question?

Surgery is scheduled for 6/5. I'm super excited. Somethjng that has been on my mind this morning is post weightloss skin. I know it's going to be an issue for me. What, if anything, can be done during the weightloss phase to help? My stomach is doomed already (3 pregnancies) but would like to preserve my arms and thighs. 

Only thing that I've seen really work besides surgery is to build muscle to fill the area that is being deflated of fat.  It takes up to a year for skin to shrink to where it will so be patient.  My friend who lost 80 lbs through diet and exercise did really well by lifting weights.  She didn't go the girly route...she did some hardcore lifting but her arms looked toned and great, no surgery needed.

Not sure I'd have the discipline or that everyone has the same ability to build muscle but it did work for her.  Good luck!

Pretty much nothing can be done to help.  Yes, muscle will help to fill out some of the skin, but it'll never be tight if loose skin is in your future.  All the creams and lotions and tricks in the world won't help.  

In good news, your skin will continue to tighten for a year or two post-goal, so you don't need to rush out to get plastic surgery right away!

Unfortunately, a lot of the outcome seems to depend on your specific cir****tances.  While I'm sure there are some common trends, it kind of depends on which trend you resemble currently, your age, your genetics, and host of those factors.  That isn't the answer you'd like to have, but it's about the only one that really works.

The good news is, from what I've observed, you should never assume it's a lost cause.  You can look at the mirror at your largest weight and you'll never know what to expect until you get there.  This will become one of the most frustrating parts of the proces, but it can also motivate you.

From what I can tell, there seems to be about 6-7 places where the most potential for "damage" gets stored up (the kind that's likely to bother you most).  However, each of those areas has a high degree of "potential" (but not guaranteed) bounce back based on those earlier factors.  It could simply sway either way and will take 6-12 months before you really know.

I thought for sure my boobs would shrivel up to nothing because my mother's did after RNY and that my arms would be a flabby mess.  Well, both areas held up pretty well but it's my butt that's hanging over.  I've done plenty of squats and lunges but to no avail.  I might look gross naked but it's way better than all the fat I had.  Good luck!

I too have hopes to save my thighs and arms...my belly is a lost cause!

I am using bio oil on my skin in an attempt to keep it healthy.  I figure if my vitamins are good, I tone musle, and keep my skin surface in good condition, that is the best I can do to help it rebound.

So far, it looks like my boob will just be saggy, my arms a little flappy, but my belly is in rough shape and my inner thighs are SCARY!  oh well - at least they aren't filled to the brim with fat anymore.

Good luck!

@civilmomma, I like your def for inner thighs!  LOL

Loose skin is better than being super fat- try not to worry about it!

Honestly dont hate me for this but I think loose skin looks worse than fat. 

No hate, I promise!  I totally understand your point of view on this. I did have plastic surgery for a tummy tuck, and am currently going through a reconstruction for a double mastectomy- which will result in a boob job by default.  During this process I will also have them take care of the loose skin in the neck area.  So, in other words I am not immune to how the extra skin looks by no means.  However, I was SO self-concscious being 6'2'' tall and over 330 pounds.  I struggled presenting in front of groups- which is a problem for a teacher who presents all day... and I won a major national award and present to adults at the district, state, and occasionally national level.  I avoided pictures, social anxiety, etc from the weight.  So when I lost it the majority of loose skin could be covered with normal clothing options.  My neck took a hit because I had a very, very thick neck heavy.  My abdomen was also a hot mess since that is where I carried the bulk of my weight.  Yes, I have sag in the thighs, but shorts cover it so not a problem.  In all, being a normal size (or as normal as one can be when you are an amazon) is far better than the loose skin. At least IMHO.