Many people worry about having extra skin after they lose a lot of weight. This happens when the skin becomes less stretchy and cannot fit the new body shape. Here are some reasons, ways to prevent, and solutions for extra skin after weight loss.
Reasons for extra skin after weight loss:
- How much weight you lose: If you lose a lot of weight, more than 100 pounds (46 kg), you may have more extra skin than if you lose a little weight¹.
- How long you were overweight: The more time the skin was stretched because of being overweight, the more it may hurt the collagen and elastin fibers that make the skin firm and stretchy¹.
- How old you are: Older skin has less collagen than younger skin and may be more loose after weight loss¹².
- How fast you lose weight: If you lose weight too fast, the skin may not have time to change to the new body size and shape. It is better to lose weight slowly and healthily, about 1–2 pounds (0.5–1 kg) per week³.
Ways to prevent extra skin after weight loss:
- Eat enough protein: Protein is important for making and keeping collagen and elastin. It also helps keep muscle mass, which can help the skin and stop it from hanging. Try to eat at least 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day³.
- Drink enough water: Drinking enough water can help the skin stay hydrated and stretchy. It can also get rid of toxins and make blood flow better. Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day³.
- Use a moisturizer: Using a moisturizer that has ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and retinol can help the skin’s stretchiness and look. These ingredients can make more collagen, protect the skin from damage, and lower swelling³.
- Stay away from the sun: Too much sun can hurt the skin’s collagen and elastin, making it more likely to wrinkle and hang. Use sunscreen, wear clothes that cover the skin, and do not stay in the sun too long³.
- Do resistance training: Resistance training can help make more muscle mass and shape the body, which can make the extra skin less noticeable. It can also make the metabolism faster and help burn more calories. Try to do at least 2–3 sessions of resistance training per week, working on all the big muscle groups³.
Solutions for extra skin after weight loss:
- Rub the skin: Rubbing the skin can help blood flow better and make the lymphatic system work better, which can help take out extra fluid and toxins from the skin. It can also help the muscles relax and lower stress. Use a natural oil, like coconut, olive, or almond oil, and rub the skin softly for 10–15 minutes per day⁴.
- Use natural remedies: Some natural remedies, like aloe vera, honey, cucumber, and egg white, can help make the skin tighter and healthier. They have properties that can lower inflammation, fight damage, and moisturize the skin. Use them on the areas with extra skin and leave them for 15–20 minutes before washing off with water⁴.
- Try non-surgical treatments: There are some non-surgical treatments that can help make the skin tighter and higher, like radiofrequency, ultrasound, laser, and microneedling. These treatments use heat, sound waves, light, or tiny needles to make more collagen and elastin, shrink fat cells, and make the skin look better. They are usually done by a skin doctor or a cosmetic surgeon and may need more than one session and some rest time⁵.
- Think about surgical options: If the extra skin is very bad and affects the quality of life, surgery may be a choice. Surgery can take out the extra skin and fat and change the body shape. However, surgery has some risks and problems, like infection, bleeding, scarring, and anesthesia reactions. It also needs a long time to recover and can be expensive. Therefore, surgery should be the last option and only after talking to a qualified surgeon⁵.
Extra skin after weight loss can be hard, but it is not impossible to deal with. By following some ways to prevent and trying some solutions, you can make the skin look and feel better. Remember that extra skin is a sign of your hard work and commitment, and you should be proud of your results. You are beautiful and worthy, no matter what your skin looks like.
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