Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and one of its most resilient. As we grow, our skin grows with us, and it can expand to accommodate added weight. But once it expands, it doesn’t necessarily go back to its original smooth, tight state on its own after that extra weight is gone. And that’s OK: Losing weight impacts your health for the better in many ways. But there are things you can choose to do to improve your skin’s tone and tightness after major weight loss.
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss
To understand the cause of saggy skin after weight loss, it’s important to learn how skin is made up and how it works. Skin actually has three basic layers, which all perform important jobs to keep your body healthy.
The top layer (epidermis) is the one that’s visible. It provides protection, makes new skin cells, and provides skin color or pigment.
Just beneath the epidermis is the middle layer, or dermis. It makes collagen and elastin to keep the skin strong and stretchy that contribute to the smoothness – or sagginess – of skin.
The bottom layer is the hypodermis. This layer contains fat, connective tissue, and more nerves and blood vessels. It cushions the top two layers and works to protect the rest of the body. It’s the hypodermis’s ability to store fat that comes into play when you gain or lose weight.
Skin elasticity
Skin elasticity is what allows for your organs to expand beneath the skin when you gain a lot of weight, build up your muscle mass, or are pregnant. The elastin and collagen found in the dermis give skin this give-and-take quality.
Like rubber bands, elastic fibers, made up of elastin in the skin, make it able to flex, stretch, and expand. Collagen is a protein that provides structure, support, and strength to skin and other organs. As you age, your body produces less of this essential protein, which can also cause skin to sag.
The fat found inside the hypodermis causes the skin to expand during weight gain. Some subcutaneous, or “subQ” (meaning underneath the skin) fat is necessary for a healthy body. It provides that much-needed cushion for bones and muscles. But the amount of your subcutaneous fat can increase to unhealthy levels, depending on your diet, lifestyle, or other health issues, such as diabetes.
As this subQ fat increases, your skin stretches to make room for it. Like that rubber band, if the skin is stretched far enough for long enough, it won’t snap back into its original shape – which can lead to loose or saggy skin.
How Much Weight Loss Causes Loose Skin?
Loose skin can be caused by a number of things, including:
- How quickly weight is lost
- The percentage of total body weight lost
- How long you’ve been at your starting weight
- Genetics
- Age
So it’s easy to see how a substantial weight loss of 100 or more pounds can cause your skin to be loose. But even a person who appears thin or athletic can have loose skin due to weight loss.
Loose Skin Problems
For many people, saggy skin or stretch marks (those streaks of glossy skin caused by rapid weight gain, such as during pregnancy) are just part of life. But there are times when excessive skin can cause physical or emotional discomfort – and even lead to health issues.
Hygiene issues
Loose skin can form folds that trap moisture, sweat, and bacteria. That’s why health care experts recommend washing between the folds with pH-balanced liquid soap, cleanser, or disposable wipes before gently patting skin dry. Other things that can help you stay dry include staying away from tight clothing or wearing items made from fabrics that are quick-drying or wick away sweat.
Loose skin rash
If moisture continues to collect within folds of skin, the skin can rub together and cause a condition called intertrigo. (In babies, it’s called diaper rash.) This red or brownish-red rash is more common in warm, humid climates and during the summer months and can cause itching and stinging. In the early stages, you can take steps to keep skin dry and apply a chafing powder or gel. If left untreated, this rash can lead to an infection.
Yeast infection
Although common and typically not serious, yeast infections, or candidiasis, are another reason for giving loose skin folds some extra love. This fungus overgrowth can cause discomfort, including redness, itchiness, and burning. If left untreated, the infection can worsen, and you would need to talk with your doctor. Again, keeping skin dry within skin folds is the key to prevention.
Chafing
Another of the challenges with loose skin and mobility is chafing. Similar to a skin rash, chafing happens when skin rubs against skin or clothing, causing redness, bumps, itching, burning, or increased skin warmth. If left unattended, the symptoms can become more uncomfortable and even lead to bleeding or an infection. Although typically not serious, as with treating a skin rash or yeast infection, keeping the skin dry and clean is important to prevent this condition.
Mobility issues
If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, loose skin may pose a greater concern beyond hygiene and infection. For some, loose skin may actually get in the way of taking part in activities and exercise. Excess skin hanging on the thighs, upper arms, and belly can make it hard to move. So even after you’ve slimmed down your body fat, you may still face hurdles moving about your daily life.
Body image and mental health
Despite your weight loss, loose skin may become an issue that impacts your body image, as well as your mental and physical well-being. Loose skin may be a reminder of when you had overweight or obesity. You may feel so self-conscious that you withdraw from social activities or feel anxious or depressed.
How to Avoid Loose Skin When Losing Weight
The bottom line is this: Depending on the amount of weight you lose, at what age, and how fast you lose it, you may not be able to avoid skin sagging. But there are ways to take care of your skin during and after weight loss to keep it looking its best.
Gradual weight loss
Slow and steady wins the race, and experts agree that’s the best strategy for weight loss, too, especially if your goal is to trim down by 100 pounds or more. Slow, gradual weight loss gives that all-important collagen and elastin in the epidermis time to retract. Gradual weight loss is also considered better for your general health. The CDC recommends trimming down at a rate of 1-2 pounds per week.
Strength training
Exercise is typically a key part of any ongoing weight loss plan. It helps burn calories and builds muscle. But that muscle mass becomes even more important when it comes to skin tone. Remember the lower layer of the skin called the hypodermis, where fat is stored? As that fat is burned or removed, skin can sag. Building muscle beneath that skin can help fill the gap. That’s why strength training, which focuses on muscle growth, has been shown to improve skin elasticity and thickness.
Diet and hydration
Diet goes hand-in-hand with exercise when it comes to weight loss. But cutting calories should not mean cutting down on the nutritious foods that your body, especially your skin, needs. For both weight loss and to improve skin health and firmness, include the following nutrients:
- Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, almonds, and edamame, to help restore collagen in your skin and help improve firmness
- Fruits and veggies rich in vitamins C and E to help prevent cell damage
- Plant or animal protein for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue and to help build muscle
But one of the most important things you can put in your body is water. Since skin cells are 64% water, it’s essential for healthy skin. Drinking 2 or more liters of water per day may significantly improve skin health.
Skin care
Skin health can also be approached from the outside through a variety of products that help nourish, moisturize, and protect it. There’s no magic cream or lotion that can tighten up excess saggy skin, but some products do help prevent skin from loosening. The best example of this is sunscreen. Sun damage impacts the skin’s elasticity and can cause skin to sag over time. Applying plenty of lotion with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher can help keep this damage from happening. Likewise, hydrating the skin from the outside in can help improve the appearance of skin and prevent dry, flaky skin.
Smoking and Alcohol
Research shows that tobacco smoke and the intake of nicotine have a toxic effect on skin and increase the chances of premature aging. The effects are caused both by the smoke and the breathing in of toxins. In a study comparing smokers with nonsmokers, hydration and firmness were lower in the smokers’ skin.
Like nicotine, alcohol is a toxin that can damage the skin on a cellular level. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee more. So drinking it can lead to dehydration. Since the skin is 64% water, dehydration can have a visible impact and can affect skin health beneath the surface. Drinking too much alcohol can also deplete the body of beneficial vitamins, like A, B, and C, that are essential for skin health.
Tracking Weight Loss
Although your top goal may be losing weight, it’s important to keep in mind that as the pounds drop away, there may be an impact on your skin. Tracking your weight loss weekly can prompt you to pace yourself when necessary so that your skin can keep up.
Try keeping a journal to document your nutrition, exercise, skin care, and other health habits. Keeping track of your progress can help you make adjustments along the way that could ultimately make your weight loss plan more successful in the long run.
How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss
If you’ve already reached your weight loss goal, there are still actions you can take to improve your skin’s resiliency and tone if that’s important to you. An approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and healthy skin care can help.
Build muscle
Sometimes called “body composition,” replacing the body fat you lost with muscle mass can help you look and feel better, even after your weight loss goal is reached. When building muscle is the goal, specific types of exercise, like those used in strength training, isolate muscles and help strengthen and increase their size. Building muscle can also improve skin elasticity and thickness because those bigger, better muscles will support the layer of skin (the hypodermis) where the fat was lost. But be sure to talk with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine.
Moisturizers
Remember to take care of the outside of your skin, too. Hydration is important both inside and outside your body. Although there is no magic elixir that will fully hydrate and tighten your skin overnight, moisturizers may help plump the skin and relieve dryness right away. But if you don’t keep applying them, the effects won’t last.
Skin-firming products
Lotions, serums, and creams that contain retinoids may have some positive effects on saggy skin, as retinol promotes the skin’s ability to make collagen. But creams containing collagen don’t seem to have much benefit for the skin’s natural collagen production. Lotions that contain vitamin C or hyaluronic acid may help reduce sun damage to skin and skin discoloration, but they won’t improve the tightness or elasticity of skin over the long run.
Sun protection
The one over-the-counter skin product that experts agree is good for your skin is sunscreen. Sun damage can impair skin elasticity – a major factor in loose skin – so avoiding extended time in the sun and applying sunscreen throughout the day when you’re outside is your best defense.
Diet and hydration
Now that you’ve lost weight, you may be more motivated than ever to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind what your skin needs when you make your nutrition plan:
Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, almonds, and edamame, help restore collagen in your skin and help improve firmness.
Fruits and veggies rich in vitamins C and E help prevent cell damage.
Plant or animal protein is essential for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue and helps build muscle. Your body turns protein into building blocks called amino acids and reuses them to make other proteins, including the collagen that is essential for the elasticity of skin.
Water. Experts advise drinking 2 or more liters of water daily for skin health.
Nonsurgical Skin Tightening
Depending on the amount of weight you’ve lost and the appearance of your excess skin, you may want to have a medical procedure to improve your skin’s look and feel. Today, there are a variety of nonsurgical (also called noninvasive) methods to tighten loose skin. These procedures should be performed by or overseen by a licensed dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or cosmetic surgeon.
Radiofrequency therapy
This treatment uses low-frequency electromagnetic waves to create heat that penetrates the skin and encourages collagen and elastin production as well as production of new skin cells. It can take as long as 6 months for skin to show improvement in tone, texture, and firmness. The good news is there is no downtime afterward, and side effects tend to be minor. With one treatment, you can see an improvement that can last up to 3 years.
Ultrasound skin tightening
Similar to radiofrequency therapy, this procedure stimulates collagen growth by targeting skin tissue deep within the dermis. The result is that over time, the body begins to make collagen again, which makes sagging skin firmer and more elastic. You can expect to feel warmth at the site along with temporary swelling, redness, or tenderness.
Laser skin tightening
This method uses a light to send heat deep into the skin to tighten loose skin all over the body. Unlike the other nonsurgical procedures, laser skin tightening requires three to five treatments to show results, which will appear gradually about 6 months after the final treatment.
Plastic Surgery for Loose Skin
If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight (100 pounds or more), you may want to consider surgical body contouring. Performed by a licensed plastic or cosmetic surgeon, this procedure requires careful consideration and an assessment by your surgeon to confirm that you’re a good candidate.
As with any surgery that requires general anesthesia, it’s important to understand the potential risks, benefits, and recovery time involved beforehand. Many people who opt for body contouring require more than one surgery to remove loose skin from various parts of the body. These might include:
- Arm lift (brachioplasty) for removal of excess skin on the upper arm
- Breast lift (mastopexy) to remove excess skin and breast tissue
- Facelift (rhytidectomy) to remove excess skin around the neck and smooth facial skin
- Lower body lift for removal of excess skin and fat from the stomach, buttocks, and outer thighs
- Panniculectomy to remove the pannus, which is the “apron” of skin below the belly button
- Thigh lift to remove loose skin on the inner thigh
- Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), or removal of loose skin and tightening of the muscles in the belly area
Your recovery time will vary, depending on the procedures you have, but it can take several months for you to return fully to all activities. Your body may take time to heal, and it could be several years before you can truly appreciate the results.
Loose Skin Takeaways
- Collagen and elastin in your skin make it incredibly resilient.
- Loose skin can be caused by a number of things, including how quickly weight is lost, the percentage of total body weight lost, how long you’ve been at your starting weight, genetics, and age.
- Extra skin due to rapid weight loss can cause physical and emotional discomfort, as well as health issues including rashes, yeast infections, chafing, mobility issues, and body image and mental health concerns.
- When you’re trying to lose weight, experts recommend a gradual approach to avoid loose skin problems.
- If you’ve lost weight and have loose skin, there are a variety of nonsurgical measures you can take, including strength training, improving diet and hydration, and making healthy lifestyle choices.
- There are also surgical and noninvasive procedures you can have to lessen the appearance of loose skin or even improve its tone and elasticity. These procedures are performed by a licensed medical professional.
Loose Skin FAQs
Does loose skin after weight loss go away?
It depends. Loose skin can be caused by several things, including how quickly weight is lost, the percentage of total body weight lost, how long you’ve been at your starting weight, genetics, and age. If your skin is stretched far enough for long enough, it won’t snap back into its original shape, which can lead to loose or saggy skin.
Can you tighten loose skin?
Yes. There are a variety of methods of tightening loose skin, including diet and muscle- strengthening exercise, over-the-counter creams and lotions, noninvasive medical procedures, and surgery.
How can you tighten belly skin after weight loss?
There are a variety of ways to tighten loose skin on the belly after weight loss. These include diet, exercise to strengthen muscles, over-the-counter creams and lotions, noninvasive medical procedures, and surgery. The most effective treatment for you will depend on how quickly you lost the weight, the percentage of your total body weight lost, how long you were at your starting weight, your genes, and your age.
Will I have loose skin after losing 50 pounds?
The amount of loose skin you’ll have after losing 50 pounds will depend on how quickly the weight is lost, the percentage of total body weight lost, how long you’ve been at your starting weight, your genes, and your age.
Can you lose 100 to 200 pounds and not have loose skin?
After you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, such as 100 pounds, your skin may not be elastic enough to return to its original shape. The skin expands to make room for growth and weight gain, but when weight is lost, it may take some effort for your skin to “snap back.” Depending on the amount of weight you lose, at what age and how rapidly you lose it, you may not be able to avoid skin sagging. This is why it’s important to lose weight slowly when you begin a weight loss program.
Can loose skin regain elasticity?
The amount of weight you lose, how fast you lose it, and your age all affect how likely your skin may be to sag and how much. Taking steps to improve your skin health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes can help you avoid skin sagging or keep it to a minimum.
Can you really tighten loose skin without surgery?
Depending on the amount of loose skin, it is possible for it to “snap back.” There are steps you take to improve your skin health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, as well as noninvasive procedures that can help tighten loose skin without surgery.
How much does it cost to tighten loose skin?
Costs vary depending on the method you choose. For example, diet and exercise may cost very little, while surgical body contouring for loose skin may cost thousands of dollars.
