How to Avoid Loose Skin After Weight Loss in 7 Steps
Last Updated: June 11, 2022
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Problems Associated with Excess Loose Skin
1. Hydrate
2. Eat a Balanced Diet
3. Take Supplements
4. Do Muscle-Building Workouts
5. Lose Weight Gradually
6. Avoid Smoking
7. Take Care of Your Skin
Key Takeaways
How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Conclusion
You’ve lost some significant weight, but now you’re dealing with loose skin? You’re not alone—many people who lose a lot of weight are concerned about excess skin, especially if they‘ve lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of loose skin and help your skin bounce back after weight loss. In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on what causes this to happen, how to avoid loose skin after weight loss, and what you can do if you already have it.
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Loose skin is exactly what it sounds like: skin that’s not as tight and firm as it once was. When you lose a significant amount of weight—typically over 100 pounds—in a short period of time, your skin doesn’t have time to gradually adjust to your new size, becoming loose and saggy. This can happen after losing weight through diet and exercise, but it’s more common among bariatric surgery patients. As opposed to quick weight loss, a more gradual weight reduction grants the skin’s elasticity a better chance of returning to normal after losing fat, leaving you with no loose skin after weight loss. However, quick weight loss unfortunately isn’t the only cause of saggy skin, and there are a few factors that can contribute to skin being loose after weight loss:
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Age
As you age, your skin becomes less elastic and more likely to sag. Over time, the skin starts losing collagen, which is the protein that makes it firm and elastic. In addition, the fatty tissues below the skin decrease and flatten out. All of these changes can lead to loose, saggy skin.
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Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your skin stretches to accommodate your growing belly. After you give birth, your skin may not snap back as quickly as it did before, leaving you with flabby skin after weight loss. This happens because during pregnancy, your skin’s collagen and elastin fibers stretch and break.
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Genetics
Some people are simply more prone to loose skin than others. In fact, there are two types of skin: elastin-rich skin, which is more elastic and less likely to sag, and collagen-rich skin, which is more likely to sag. So, if you have collagen-rich skin, you may be more likely to have loose skin after weight loss.
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Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism can cause your skin to become less elastic and more prone to sagging. This is because they cause your body to produce too much of the cortisol hormone, which breaks down collagen, and we know collagen is important for skin firmness.
DID YOU KNOW: Women can usually burn fewer calories and lose weight slower than men due to the low body and muscle mass and low testosterone levels. If you’re struggling with weight, there are a lot of weight loss programs for women such as Found Weight Loss that can help you with your journey. |
Problems Associated with Excess Loose Skin
Below are the 4 most common problems caused by excess loose skin:
1. Negative Body Image
Extra skin after weight loss can be a source of insecurity and negatively impact your body image. If you’re struggling with loose skin, it’s important to remember you’re not alone and there are things you can do to improve your skin’s appearance.
2. Pain and Discomfort
Loose skin can cause pain and discomfort, especially if it’s located in an area that rubs against clothing or is constantly being moved (such as your arms or thighs). The physical pain and prolonged discomfort can make day-to-day activities very uncomfortable, deepening any insecurities related to one’s loose skin.
3. Skin Irritation and Infections
Loose skin can make you more susceptible to skin irritation and frequent infections. If you have flabby skin after weight loss, be sure to keep the area clean and dry, and avoid tight-fitting clothing that could irritate your skin.
4. Limited Movement
In extreme cases, loose skin can limit your range of motion. If you have loose skin that’s causing pain or limiting your movement, it’s important to see a doctor or dermatologist discuss your options.
How to Avoid Loose Skin After Weight Loss
There are a few things you can do to prevent your skin from sagging after weight loss:
1. Hydrate
To keep your skin hydrated and supple, make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Apart from drinking water, another way how to avoid loose skin after rapid weight loss is to drink electrolytes for added hydration and compensation for the electrolytes lost due to sweating during your workouts.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet
A healthy diet is important for both your overall health and the appearance of your skin. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid processed foods and excessive sugar. Tip: Some of the best fruits for losing weight are grapefruit, apples, and berries.
3. Take Supplements
Certain supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids can help improve the appearance of your skin. Vitamin C helps boost collagen production and vitamin E protects it from free radical damage, while omega-3 fatty acids help keep your skin hydrated and flexible, leaving you with no loose skin after weight loss. Also, because you’re exercising, introduce vitamin B into your supplement intake, as it’s one of the vitamins that give energy to the body.
4. Do Muscle-Building Workouts
Building muscle can help reduce the appearance of loose skin. Some of the most effective workouts for building muscle include weightlifting, resistance training, and HIIT (high-intensity interval training).
5. Lose Weight Gradually
Actually, there are two stages of weight loss, the first one is rapid weight loss. In this stage, which often happens during the first 6 weeks, try to lose weight gradually (no more than 2 pounds per week) to prevent sagging skin by giving it time to adjust. The second stage is slow weight loss, where the weight loss happens at a reduced pace, and you could experience a weight loss plateau.
6. Avoid Smoking
Smoking damages your skin in a number of ways by decreasing the blood flow to your skin, which prevents it from getting as much oxygen and nutrients. This can lead to wrinkles, sagging skin, and a dull complexion. In addition, the toxins in cigarettes can damage collagen and elastin, which are the proteins that give your skin its elasticity.
7. Take Care of Your Skin
Protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen, be sure to moisturize regularly to keep your skin hydrated and prevent sagging skin, and exfoliate often to help improve the appearance of your skin. Be sure to keep your skin clean, and add firming creams to your skin routine as well.
DID YOU KNOW: You can eat healthy without cooking, as there are some healthy food delivery companies that can offer you a well-balanced meal. |
Key Takeaways
There are several factors that contribute to excess skin following weight loss: age, genetics, medical conditions, pregnancy, as well as losing weight fast. |
Negative body image, limited movement, skin irritations, and pain and discomfort are some of the problems caused by loose skin after weight loss. |
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent saggy skin after weight loss, including healthy diet, hydration, exercise, taking supplements, taking care of the skin, as well as quitting smoking. |
If you’re still left with loose skin after losing weight, you can engage in customized exercises, wear compression garments, undergo radiofrequency and surgery treatment, as well as use firming creams. |
How to Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
There are a few things you can do to help tighten saggy skin after weight loss, and each of these options has its own set of benefits and risks, so it’s important to consult your doctor or dermatologist to see which option is best for you.
1. Customized Exercises
When you experience weight loss skin sag, one way to help tighten it is to introduce customized exercises into your workout regime. This means doing exercises specifically designed to target the areas of your body where you have loose skin. There are a number of different exercises you can do, and your doctor or dermatologist can help you create a custom exercise routine that’s right for you.
2. Compression Garments
Another way to help tighten loose skin is to wear garments specially designed to compress and support the areas of your body with loose skin. Wearing a compression garment can help reduce the appearance of extra skin after weight loss, while also protecting the area.
3. Radiofrequency Treatment
Radiofrequency treatment is a non-invasive procedure that uses radio waves to heat the skin, which stimulates collagen production and can help tighten the skin. Radiofrequency treatment is safe and effective and has very few side effects.
4. Surgery
In some cases, surgery may be recommended to help tighten loose skin. This is usually only considered for severe cases of loose skin, so you should talk to your doctor or dermatologist to see if surgery is right for you. There are several types of surgeries for when you failed to prevent loose skin after weight loss:
- Tummy tuck: A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the stomach area, tightening the skin and improving the appearance of the stomach.
- Lower-body lift: A lower-body lift is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the hips, thighs, and buttocks.
- Upper-body lift: An upper-body lift is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the chest, back, and arms.
- Brachioplasty: A Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms.
5. Firming Creams
Firming creams can help improve the appearance of loose skin by helping firm and tone the skin. There are a number of different firming creams on the market, and it’s important to choose one that’s right for your skin type, so consult your dermatologist before trying this way on how to tighten loose skin after weight loss.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling with loose skin, there are a few things you can do—you can work out, wear compression garments, try radiofrequency treatment, or use firming creams. In some cases, surgery may also be an option, but it’s important to talk to your doctor or dermatologist to discuss the best course of action for you. Also, make sure you maintain a balanced diet and stay hydrated during the process of losing weight and afterward. And remember—you’re not alone, and there are options available to you.
FAQ
Your skin won’t necessarily sag, but losing weight too fast can cause loose skin. This is because when you lose weight quickly, your skin’s elasticity (the ability to snap back) isn’t able to keep up, and you’re left with extra skin that can cause you discomfort.
There are a few things you can do to keep your skin tight during weight loss. First, make sure you’re eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, which will improve your skin elasticity. Second, exercise regularly to help tone your skin. And finally, use products that can help improve the appearance of loose skin, such as retinoids, cocoa butter, and vitamin E for a successful weight loss without loose skin.
Excess loose skin is associated with losing 100 pounds (46 kg) or more in weight fairly quickly. Extreme weight loss in a relatively short period is more likely to lead to loose skin, especially if you haven’t reached your goal weight yet.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount of weight you lose and the speed at which you lose it will affect your risk of loose skin. However, generally speaking, the slower you lose weight, the better your skin will be able to adapt. So, if you’re looking for how to avoid loose skin after weight loss, aim for a slow and steady weight loss.