What Are Some Ways to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Women and men who want to improve the look of loose skin have several options, from “bulking up” to in-office treatments like SkinTyte™. Little Rock’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas explains that many people seek solutions to this cosmetic problem, because when the skin is firm, it’s capable of stretching and snapping back easily into position, but weight loss, sun exposure, and even time itself can all counter this ability and lead to a unwanted “softer” look.
Although skin can sag just about anywhere on the body, the problem is most likely to develop on the eyelids, jowls, chin, throat, upper arms, and stomach. While skin can lose elasticity due to numerous factors, loose skin is a natural aspect of aging that typically occurs as the skin loses two of the important proteins it produces: collagen and elastin.
Elastin is what gives the skin the ability to bounce back after it has been stretched, while collagen helps the skin to maintain its structure, keeping it both tight and firm.
Exposure to UV radiation, pollutants from the environment (such as cigarette smoke), and certain lifestyle habits cause levels of collagen and elastin to decrease at a faster rate until they are destroyed faster than they are created, leading to a deficit. The elastin fibers and collagen molecules also begin to lose their strength.
Another factor to consider: Weight loss has many benefits—including improving your health, increasing your energy levels, allowing you to fit comfortably into smaller clothing sizes, and giving you a more defined body—but one of the possible drawbacks associated with losing a significant amount of weight is being left with loose, stretched skin on certain areas of the body. Rapid weight loss in patients who undergo bariatric surgery is a common causes of excess skin.
Loose skin can be a frustrating and uncomfortable problem. While you may not notice stretched skin after a smaller amount of weight loss—like 20 pounds or less—patients who lose 40 to 50 pounds or more may notice visible changes. Losing weight rapidly doesn’t give skin enough time to gradually contract. On the other hand, gradually gaining weight can also cause stretched skin because if the skin is pushed beyond the limit of its elasticity as bulk grows, it may not be able to snap back to its normal shape if that weight later goes away.
Note that younger people are less likely to have loose skin after weight loss because their skin has a higher level of elasticity.
Loose skin doesn’t generally go away on its own, but there are ways to improve it. Experts say that you should give your skin a year to contract after weight loss, but after this time it likely won’t tighten any further. There are no skin tightening creams that are going to completely address loose, excess skin on their own after major weight loss, but there are options that can provide subtle results.
Here are some non-surgical methods you can use to restore tighter skin.
Consider Minimally Invasive Procedures
Cosmetic procedures like SkinTyte™ enhance the appearance of your skin. This treatment uses advanced infrared light technology to target sagging skin on the face, neck, and elsewhere on the body. The rapid energy pulses trigger the skin to contract and trigger its natural healing resources.
Lose Weight Slowly
This is more of a method of preventing loose skin from developing in the first place, since it allows the skin to gradually adapt to changing contours. However, it might not always be possible to lose weight slowly, especially if you’re having weight loss surgery.
Build Muscle
A proper exercise routine with strength training is another way to restore firmer looking skin. Although exercise doesn’t actually tighten the skin, the activity can make skin look firmer as the muscles beneath grow.
Take Great Care of Your Skin
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle overall will also help your skin. The best things you can do to improve stretched skin at home are to keep your skin in good shape by avoiding sun exposure (and wearing sunscreen ever time you do go out), not smoking, minimizing your consumption of alcohol, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Contact Little Rock’s Dermatology Group of Arkansas for more advice about skin-tightening strategies. Call 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 to request a consultation and learn more about ways to improve skin elasticity.
