How Can I Determine How Much my Excess Skin Weighs? (photo)

This is a difficult question to answer because it is highly variable.  In general, when a patient has a body lift (in general the preferred procedure vs abdominoplasty) after weight loss surgery the removed skin will weigh around 5-7 lbs.  If someone has a really significant amount of loose skin then the weight of the skin can be as high as 20-30 lbs!  You have done REALLY well with your weight loss so it is possible that you could have a good 15 lbs of loose skin, but again it is a difficult question to answer without physically seeing someone. 

Thank you for your question, and congratulations on your remarkable weight loss. After such a significant transformation, it is very common to have a large amount of excess skin, and your concern about understanding how much it weighs is completely valid.
Unfortunately, there is no precise way to measure the weight of excess skin without physically removing it. The amount varies greatly from person to person depending on body composition, skin elasticity, and where the excess tissue is located. In patients who have lost several hundred pounds, it is not unusual for the skin alone to weigh anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds in total, depending on how many areas would be treated during body-contouring surgery.
The best way to obtain a more accurate estimate is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in post–massive weight loss procedures. During an in-person evaluation, the surgeon can assess each area—abdomen, arms, thighs, chest, and back—and give you a detailed idea of how much tissue could potentially be removed and what kind of results to expect.
Keep in mind that the scale can be misleading when there is significant loose skin; your actual healthy body mass may already be ideal. Focusing on your physical strength, energy levels, and body composition rather than just the number on the scale will give a better sense of your overall progress.