Losing a lot of weight is an impressive accomplishment that significantly reduces your disease risk. However, people who achieve major weight loss are often left with a lot of loose skin, which may negatively affect appearance and quality of life.
If you’ve lost massive amounts of weight, and are struggling with loose and saggy skin, then try these tips and see a difference.
What is skin tightening?
Skin tightening refers to a variety of devices, products, and procedures that make the skin tighter, by actually causing some degree of shrinkage and lift, or through creating the appearance of tighter, more youthful-looking skin. However, the term “skin tightening” can be confusing. “Many skincare products, medical devices, and surgical procedures advertise how effective they are in tightening skin, but results can vary dramatically,” says Alexis Parcells, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon and clinical instructor at RWJ Barnabas Health.
Then there are some other tips that you can follow to tighten the loose skin after weight loss. Let’s find out right away:
1. Building muscle
The first step is to build muscle to target excess skin. In most cases, rapid weight loss is caused by high levels of cardio and a calorie-deficient diet. What happens here is that muscle is lost with the fat, and that can cause the skin to look saggy.
It’s a good idea to perform compound resistance exercises to burn fat and build muscle at the same time.Try different kinds of exercises, including deadlifts and squats to tone your body. Also, don’t refrain from using heavy weights—it won’t make you look bulky in any way!
2. Exfoliate
If saggy skin after weight loss is troubling you, then you must try exfoliating your body. That’s because it will help promote blood circulation and remove dead skin cells from the surface. You could use a dry skin brush before you shower, just work it in circular motions starting from your feet and up to your heart. If you don’t want to do this, you could also try using an exfoliating body scrub, while you are showering. It will also help to reduce cellulite.
3. Moisturise
Hydration is important on the inside, but also outside. So, while drinking plenty of water is a must, you also have to moisturize your skin well to keep it healthy. Use a good moisturizer that has collagen or natural oils such as coconut, almond, or olive oil to lock in moisture. Moisturising will also help to reduce stretch marks, so make sure you follow this step every single day!
4. Massage well
Just the way exfoliation does wonders for your skin, so does massage! That’s because it increases the circulation of blood to the skin’s surface, thereby promoting the growth of new skin cells. What’s more, it also helps to reduce muscle tension. You could use a thick cream that has shea butter to massage loose skin. If it feels too slippery, then pat the skin down with a towel and massage with dry hands.
5. Continue exercising
Even if you have saggy skin, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on exercise. Try and exercise every single day to stay in shape. Trust us, exercise will also help to tighten and tone your skin.
6. Boost skin elasticity with the right diet
There are certain foods and drinks that can help to boost skin elasticity. For one, make sure you consume generous amounts of fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants. Also, include nuts, beans, and legumes that help the body to replace dead skin cells. (Loose skin after weight loss)
Try to include a portion of oily fish such as mackerel and salmon a few times a week. It is believed that omega-3 fatty acids keep your skin soft and supple. According to a study conducted by Stanford University, people that took a gelatine supplement every day were also able to improve their skin’s elasticity.
Factors That Influence the Loss of Skin Elasticity
Several factors contribute to loose skin following weight loss:
Length of time overweight: In general, the longer someone has been overweight or obese, the looser their skin will be after weight loss due to elastin and collagen loss.
Amount of weight lost: Weight loss of 100 pounds (46 kg) or more typically results in a greater amount of hanging skin than more modest weight loss.
Age: Older skin has less collagen than younger skin and tends to be looser following weight loss.
Genetics: Genes may affect how your skin responds to weight gain and loss.
Sun exposure: Chronic sun exposure has been shown to reduce skin collagen and elastin production, which may contribute to loose skin.
Smoking: Smoking leads to a reduction in collagen production and damage to existing collagen, resulting in loose, sagging skin.
How to Tighten Skin After Weight Loss: Loose Skin vs Excess Fat
Before you tackle trying to get rid of any excess skin, make sure what you are trying to get rid of is loose skin. Many times, after weight loss, loose skin is mistaken for excess fat which is soft and jiggly. If you are able to pinch more than an inch of skin between your fingers then you probably have more fat to lose before tightening your skin.
Until the fat is gone, your skin will not retract. Your skin adapts to its surroundings, internally and externally. This means as long as fat remains, it will stay molded to the fat. It is not until there is a void that the skin will retract.
If you are considering surgery, you should wait until your body fat percentage hits 10% for men, 20% for women. This allows your body levels to fall where the subcutaneous fat becomes low enough for your body to assess the state of your skin. If you become lean enough, you might resolve the problems with your loose skin.
It’s also important to remember that certain fat stores more in places where it’s harder to burn than others and can be associated with loose skin like:
- Lower abdomen
- Lower back (love handles)
- Hips
- Thighs
- Buttocks
Can loose skin after weight loss go away on its own?
Not really, docs say—though remember, how much excess skin you’re left with and how well your skin responds to weight loss in the first place depends on everything from age and genetics to how much weight you lost and your skin quality. So, depending on your circumstance, you might be able to expect some changes.
“Patients who may see improvement in their loose skin are those who do not have stretch marks and younger patients who still have reasonable skin quality despite the weight gain,” says Kenkel. “The quality of the skin is the key to improvement.”
Jacobs also suggests that if you’ve lost weight gradually to give your skin a full year to contract once you’ve reached your goal weight. “After this time, you are not going to see any more noticeable tightening.”
Then, if you have loose skin you’re concerned about—or if you have loose skin after bariatric surgery—do your homework and get in touch with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery to learn about your options, suggests Jacobs. “There are a lot of physicians that label themselves as ‘plastic surgeons’ and, as long as they have a valid medical license, they can legally perform any procedure,” he says. “But the American Board of Plastic Surgery denotes the proper training.”
Improve Skin Elasticity
When you lose the elasticity in your skin, your skin struggles to retract. This is all part of the natural aging process. There are many ways you can improve your skin elasticity:
Eat enough protein – There is a correlation between the protein you intake and the health of your skin. Just as your body needs the important nutrients to function properly, that doesn’t mean your skin is left out. Protein helps create youthful, healthy skin. Lower protein diets can lead to poorer skin health.
Eat fruits and veggies – As I have mentioned, your body needs vitamins and minerals. You need several servings of fruit and veggies to provide your body with all its needs. There are other ways to get the supplements from your fruits and veggies by taking different supplements or different additives into your milk, water, food, etc.
Supplementation – Other than your food supplementation, there are vitamins that are harder to get from food that you eat regularly. Vitamins like gelatin, fish oil, and biotin can all help with skin health but are difficult to find in food that you eat.
Non-surgical skin tightening method – Another great way that produces quick skin tightening results is to find a non-surgical skin tightening method to help enforce collagen production to improve your skin elasticity.
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
While there are many different things that affect your skin and your body, here are some of the most common and known factors that lead to an excess of loose skin.
1. Sun Exposure
It can affect your elasticity and collagen production, too, but at a faster rate than aging. Sun damage caused by UVA/UVB radiation can affect your skin’s DNA and mutate it, leading to premature cellular death. This breaks down the collagen and elastin in your skin.
2. Weight Loss
When you lose large amounts of weight in a short time, go through bariatric surgery, or go through a pregnancy, is can lead to the loss of volume in your skin. This refers to the thinning of the fatty layer beneath your skin and the stretching of ligaments. The quicker you lose this volume, the less amount of time you give your skin to recover, and sometimes it just needs a little help to catch up with your new body size.
3. Smoking
Like sun exposure, smoking can lead to premature aging. The nicotine in cigarettes can narrow the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. Due to this, the blood flow in your skin is disrupted which can lead to less oxygen and nutrients in your skin cells. Without the natural nutrients, your skin cells die (similar to sun exposure), reducing the production of collagen and elastin in your body.
How to Prevent Loose Skin
If you’re concerned about the rate your skin is aging, there are many healthy habits you can use to prevent the speeding process to continue.
Avoid sun damage. Sun damage is one of the top causes of premature aging. You should always use sunscreen when you are outsides and use other sun barriers whenever possible (hats, clothing). Try to avoid direct sun exposure from 11:00 is to 2:00 pm, which is peak sun hours.
Don’t smoke. If you already smoke, you should try to quit. Right behind sun damage, smoking is the second biggest cause of premature aging.
Practice skincare. Everyone should stick to a skincare regimen that includes exfoliating, hydration, and rejuvenation. Use products with alpha-hydroxy, salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and retinol-based compounds.
Eat healthily. Eating a balanced diet with amino acids, vitamins A, C, and E, and the minerals silicon and zinc can help support healthy skin. Avoid fatty foods, processed foods, and other high-sugar foods. These can cause inflammation and premature cell damage.
Drink water! If you want to keep your skin moisturized, drinking enough water is the best way. It keeps your skin cells firm, plump, and prevents fluid retention.
Stay fit. Weight training can help strengthen, condition, and tone your skin’s muscles. If you do lose weight, make sure it’s at a healthy and moderate speed, about 1 to 2 pounds per week. Maintain proper nutrition to preserve your muscle mass and never allow dehydration and starvation.
Skin Tightening in Livermore with Sculpt MD
If you want to tighten any loose skin in your body, contact us today to set up your consultation! We’ll listen to what you want for your body, and we’ll plan your treatment accordingly. With our latest advancements in skin tightening and one-of-a-kind BTL Exilis treatment, you can expect to see results over a 3-month period!
Skin Tightening Treatments To Try At Home
Dr. Rana recommends these 9 natural ingredients for skin tightening:
1. Olive Oil
Olive oil is the most simple yet effective remedy to lock moisture into the skin and keep it glowing. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E that tighten the skin and prevent photodamage.
2. Coconut Oil
It is a staple ingredient in many kitchens and can also be used to tighten the skin! Coconut oil is a powerful antioxidant that works to eliminate free radicals that can damage the skin. It also hydrates and moisturizes the skin, which prevents sagging.
3. Honey
Honey helps in hydrating dry skin, fighting the action of free radicals, keeping the skin clean due to its antifungal and antibacterial properties, and reducing redness with its anti-inflammatory properties. These benefits can help delay the sagging of skin, making it smoother and younger.
4. Coffee
Coffee can be used at night to tighten the skin and delay the signs of aging. It has a high content of antioxidants that slow the process of skin aging. When it is used as a scrub, it exfoliates the skin.
5. Cucumber
Cucumber is considered to be the best natural skin toner. It can tighten loose and saggy skin without causing any side effects or allergic reactions. In addition, it can refresh and rejuvenate tired skin.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera gel is one of the best home remedies that can be used for skin tightening. It has malic acid which improves the elasticity of the skin.
7. Lemon
“Vitamin C present in lemon boosts the production of collagen and helps to restore elasticity to the skin. It has astringent properties that work as a wrinkle-reducing and skin-tightening remedy,” says Dr. Rana.
8. Egg White & Honey Mask
Egg whites and honey have each been known for their many health benefits. But together, the two foods can also be combined and used as a mask to tighten sagging and loose skin.
Egg white is rich in the protein albumin, which works to rebuild skin cells, improve skin elasticity, and impart a natural glow. Honey is a powerful antioxidant that can help remove toxins that build up over time in your skin. Used together, they provide a powerful one-two punch to tighten skin.
Separate 1 egg white from the yolk. Mix the egg white with 2 tablespoons of honey and apply it to your face, neck, or chest. Leave the mixture on for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, wash off the mask with warm water and pat dry. For best results, use the egg white and honey mask once a week.
9. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is a plant that provides many health benefits, not least of which is to help tighten and heal aging and sun-damaged skin. It can be purchased online or at most drug stores or health food stores.
Witch hazel is most commonly used as an astringent, where it works to shrink pores and tighten skin. Witch hazel also helps to slow the breakdown of the collagen and elastin within your skin.
At night before bed, or whenever you use an astringent, soak a cotton ball with witch hazel and apply liberally to your face, neck, and chest. Let the witch hazel dry for five minutes. Do not rinse your skin after it has dried.
For added healing benefits, apply another round of witch hazel to the same areas. Witch hazel is gentle enough that it can be used daily in place of an alcohol-based toner.
10. Yogurt Mask
Yogurt is a crucial part of any healthy diet. In addition to eating it, you can also apply yogurt directly to your skin to smooth and tighten wrinkled areas.
Like most milk products, yogurt contains lactic acid. When applied to your skin, the lactic acid works to shrink pores. This can result in tighter, smoother skin.
To create a skin-tightening yogurt mask, mix 2 drops of lime juice into 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Apply the yogurt/lime juice mixture to your face, neck, and chest, and massage into your skin for 10 minutes.
Leave the yogurt mask on your skin for another 5 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. This process can be done twice a week.
Skin tightening as a side effect
With some procedures, firmer skin is more of a bonus than a goal. The results are not as dramatic as what can be achieved with procedures specifically designed to tighten skin, but for the right person, these benefits may be enough to make a meaningful difference, Dr. Doshi says. Procedures that target fat loss (liposuction, Kybella, Coolsculpting), facial fillers (injectables like Juvaderm, Restalyne), and products for wrinkles (Botox) all provide some degree of skin tightening as a happy side effect, he says.
Chemical treatments
Chemical treatments, such as peels and medicated creams are often the first option many people try as they are widely available and less invasive. “These have been around for many years and can be a great way to tighten skin, reduce lines and impart a slightly lifted effect by improving collagen,” Dr. Cassileth explains. “However, the impact is limited because they can only penetrate superficially.”
There are plenty of OTC topical products that promise to firm and tighten the appearance of the neck skin. “Creams, serums, and lotions may contain hyaluronic acid, elastin, or growth factors that can restore a youthful look by temporarily plumping skin after application,” Dr. Parcells says.
“For example, hyaluronic acid will bind water to skin cells to moisturize and hydrate—leaving your skin looking smoother and softer.” Just know that these aren’t the same strength you’d get from a doctor and are minimally effective if at all, she adds.
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Medical Treatments to Tighten Loose Skin
Types of skin tightening treatments
When you’re born, your skin is rich with proteins called elastin and collagen. These proteins give your skin structure and elasticity. As you age, your body’s production of these proteins slows down. As a result, your skin starts to lose its elasticity.
Thanks to gravity, pollution exposure, stress, and the hundreds of movements that your facial muscles make every day, your skin might start to appear stretched or saggy. Other factors, such as pregnancy and weight loss, can also contribute to stretch marks and sagging skin.
Nonsurgical skin tightening treatments target areas of your skin that have become loose and stimulate collagen production underneath that skin. The two main types of treatment are:
- in-office procedures performed by a trained provider
- at-home devices you can use to give yourself treatment
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