# weight loss and loose skin

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-and-loose-skin/239509>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 11, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-and-loose-skin/239509 "2004-04-11T23:13:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![seaworthy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@seaworthy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seaworthy)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-and-loose-skin/239509/1 "2004-04-11T23:13:01Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![vasyachkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c5a1d2/32.png) [@vasyachkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vasyachkin)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-and-loose-skin/239509/2 "2004-04-12T01:29:59Z")

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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.

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**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-loss-and-loose-skin/239509/3 "2004-04-12T01:37:55Z")

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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.