How to....avoid loose skin after weight loss???

For what its worth, Adam, I lost 121 lbs doing OA's grey sheet diet in '96 and had a little pooch for an abdomen only.  Now at 45 and 113 lbs post RNY...at a slowwwww loss, I have no sagging.  I only now am getting a little crepe paper effect under what used to be my double chin.  I still believe my surgical team knows what they're talking about, and their suggestion to go slower means something.  Losing too fast isnt good for the organs either, so its just something to think about and discuss with the professionals you work with.  I know I will get more flabby as I get closer to my goal, but how much flabbier is anybody's guess.  And its sure better than the alternative.  Just be aware that you may not sag as much as you fear.  And if you do...then there is always cosmetic surgery.  Good luck

It is almost entirely dependent on how big you were, for how long, and your age.  Any of those three things contribute to loss of elasticity in the skin.

I have not had my surgery yet, but most of what I've read and heard from those who have is excersize is key in keeping the loose skin away. It makes sense when you think about it. If you don't excersize enough you lose muscle along with the fat, so some fat is still there and the skin doesn't have muscle to press against. The people on "the biggest loser" lose massive amounts of weight quickly and excersize like mad and don't have lose skin. Something to think about.

I am 5 monthes post op and have LOTS of loose skin.  I too go to the gym on a daily basis and work out at home as well.  My surgeon was very frank with me before surgery and said that I'm over 35 (44 to be exact) and have been overweight more than 5 years...the chance of me having a little loose skin is slim to none.  He was right. 
I too didn't care very much about things at 242 pounds but have become pretty vain.  Funny how that happens.  : )  At any rate...some of us are just going to have loose skin.  You can build muscle and thats a great thing to do.  But no amount of muscle is going to fill the loose skin that is left for me.  I would have to have arms like a body builder and then some to fill this.
 AND, as far as the people on The Biggest Loser...many of them absolutely have LOTS of loose skin.  I saw one of the men that had lost lots of weight interviewed recently and he was about to undergo plastic surgery to take care of his tummy, arms and legs.  Yes, he was over 40 but he was very clear to say that no amount of working out was going to take care of the excess skin that he had.

I'm a little over 9 months post-op and have TONS of loose skin. Unfortunately, my self-esteem is in the toilet because of it. People remark about how wonderful I "look", but they have no idea that at home, I can't even bear to look in the mirror. In my eyes, I'm disgusting.

 I think we all need to remember where we came from and how amazing we have lost this weight and how hard we worked to get where we are at or going to be. I was 340lbs and I am down to 190lb. I too hate my lose skin under my arms , inner thighs and my belly most of all. I go to the gym and do all kinds of classes and work outs 4-5 days a week 2-3 hours. Looking in the mirror sometimes is disappointing. But like my husband tells me , "remember where we were almost a year ago and how we couldn't even walk without getting tired and how nothing looked good because we were so big." My husband also had surgery and has gone from 442 to 280lbs.  I think about having it removed but from what i see its a lot of pain, big scared and chances of complications. I love my undergarments that keep it all in. I love that I have gone from a size 28-30 to a 12 and I fit in a size Med. I know you guys have all accomplished so much but all we can do is be supportive with each other and help each other out when times get tough and we hate the skin that sags or that our weight lose is losing down or that we can not have something to eat that doesn't fit out diet.  

i am also about 9 months post-op from RNY and have TONS of loose skin as well.  I have asked around different professionals and was told that the following can possible help with loose skin (which is based on age and genetics mostly):

1.  Make sure you are getting your minimum 60 grams of protein every day
2.  Biotin-OTC mineral//vitamin also helps with hair problems-my nurse recommended 3,000 mcg/day
3.  Exercise-can't emphasize enough-I couldn't until now due to fall in January and car accident in April
4.  Surgery-maybe covered by insurance if you are having infections, pain, irritation, ect. but I was told they wouldn't look at me until my weight stablizes which is around 18 months post-op
5.  Spanx-for under clothes like uppper arms those bat wings and things, stomach, etc.

Good thing is I lost 175 pounds which probably saved my life, from 345 to 170.  Bad thing is like most I didn't care before but do now about the way I look...loose skin.

Always told cocoa butter for stretch marks which those don't bother me as much as the loose skin, especially in arms.  i have 4 younger children and sole income and don't make much so surgery isn't an option except my stomach because I've had fungal infections due to moisture since surgery even though try to keep dry.  I am almost 35 so with walking and Curves 5-6x a week will probably firm somewhat but not enough.  Lucky for me, I don't have a lot of loose skin in my face/chin/neck area, just everywhere else.  I often where long or 3/4 sleeves even when 80s or hotter.  I hope this helps someone either pre-op or post-op.

My arms and thighs have the worst loose skin. Not really worried bout it. Better than being overweight.

Nothing much you can do except invest in shapewear and save for plastics.  I have tons of loose skin but the surgery was still worth it.  It's amazing to me how much people worry about losing their hair and loose skin.  These are the 2 things people always ask me about.

Laura

Laura, I love your attitude in this post!  I like it!!!!!

Loose skin, or healthy weight?

Yes, I am wondering about the loose skin too, but know that it is completely out of my control and if I can do plastic surgery one day, so be it.

Thanks for the outlook!