Dealing with loose skin after weight loss

The truth is there is no quick answer to the question of how to tighten skin, but you can improve the appearance of your skin’s tone and texture, as well as address mild sagging, with a cream.

Nourishing, hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, lanolin, argan oil, cocoa butter help keep moisture in and plump up the top layer of the skin (the epidermis) which will improve the look of the loose skin.⁵ 

Look for firming creams with active ingredients, such as caffeine. Caffeine is able to penetrate the skin barrier and become absorbed by the blood vessels close to the surface of the epidermis (the top layer of skin).⁶ Caffeine constricts the blood vessels which stops the area of skin from being swollen by removing excess fluids from the area.⁷ 

Further, to see long-term benefit, you’ll have to commit to regular application of firming creams as many have ingredients, such as retinol, which take several weeks to have an effect.

You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment for strength training. You can do it at home with resistance bands, or even using household objects such as large filled water bottles for exercises such as weighted squats and lunges. Exercises such as press-ups and planks can be done without any equipment at all, although we recommend a soft, firm mat such as a yoga mat to protect knees and elbows.

In the skin, collagen is found in the middle layer (the dermis).⁹ With weight gain, especially significant weight gain, the collagen chains in the dermis can become stretched and damaged to accommodate the pockets of fat below. Then, if we lose lots of weight, the damage to our skin’s natural collagen becomes apparent in visible loose skin. 

One method which might help restore some of the bounce and structure to your skin after weight loss is to take collagen supplements. A clinical trial conducted in 2019 demonstrated significant improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, and density in participants after twelve weeks of taking oral collagen supplements.¹⁰ 

The best type of collagen for improving skin density is Type I collagen – found in fish and marine life.¹¹

These include: 

• Microneedling

This treatment involves a qualified practitioner making hundreds of tiny pricks in the surface of your skin down to the second layer (the dermis). This causes micro injuries which your body will then begin to heal, triggering the production of new collagen and elastin and tightening the skin tissue as a result. 

The results can be excellent but there will be a few day’s downtime while the skin heals. The procedure isn’t cheap, starting at around £150 per session – and you’ll need several sessions.¹² 

• Laser resurfacing 

There are different types of laser therapy for loose skin, from non-invasive infrared lasers which heat the cells to stimulate collagen but don’t remove any layers of skin, to ‘ablative’ surgery which peels off the top few layers of the epidermis. 

This might sound a little scary, but in the hands of a trained professional, it’s safe and very effective for loose skin.¹³ Again, there is downtime of several days and the cost can be several thousand for large areas such as stomach, thighs and arms.

Surgery can offer the most dramatic and visible results, but like all surgery, it’s not without risks. Excess skin removal requires a general anaesthetic and surgical aftercare, which usually involves an overnight hospital stay and several weeks downtime.¹⁴ 

Private loose skin removal surgery is a good option, although it is expensive and all risks should be carefully considered. 

In the UK, the NHS does offer loose skin surgery, but it’s not available from all NHS trusts so it depends on where in the UK you live. There are also criteria you’d have to meet to be eligible, for instance in some trusts you will only be approved if your current BMI is between 18 and 25, or if you’ve lost at least half your body weight or if you can demonstrate that the loose skin is affecting you functionally in your daily life.¹⁵

You should never rush into surgery. If you’re considering a surgical solution for your loose skin, see your GP for a chat to discuss your options and decide whether it might be right for you.