weight loss and loose skin

[seaworthy]

I've been exercising lately, trying to rid myself of my excess 50 pounds. I've lost about 20 so far since January. So I'm averaging about a 5-10 pound loss per month. I've heard that the faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to gain it back, so I'm ok with a slow, steady weight loss. I'm doing more cardio now, because I would like to push my average weight loss closer to the 10 lb/month mark.

I know that people who lose large amounts of weight, like 100 lbs. +, sometimes have to have surgery to remove the excess skin. Apparently your skin only has so much elasticity. I know I won't need surgery to get rid of loose skin, but will my skin be looser than people who've never been heavy? If I speed up my weight loss, will that increase my chances of having loose skin?

[vasyachkin]

i had no problems after losing 40 pounds in one summer. but since i was 20 years old at the time my skin might have been more elastic than yours depending on your age. skin loses elasticity with age.

[TeaElle]

Skin also loses elasticity with length of time that it's stretched -- if you've been overweight for ten years then you're more likely to have loose skin than if you've only been overweight for two.