Dear Readers, Losing excess weight is an impressive accomplishment that reduces disease risk. People who succeed to achieve major weight loss are always left with loose skin, which affects appearance and lifestyle. This article will acknowledge the causes of loose skin after losing more weight. This article will provide the medical and natural solution that helps to tighten skin and say bye bye to loose skin.
Causes of Loose Skin after Losing Weight
The skin protects the body against the environment and it is the largest organ in our body. The innermost layer of the skin contains protein, elastin, and collagen, providing strength and fitness, which is responsible to makes up 80% of the skin structure. Elastin provides elasticity which helps the skin stay tight.
During weight gain, skin expands in all parts of the body. One example of this expansion is pregnancy. During pregnancy over a few months, time skin expansion occurs. After the baby’s birth, the expanded skin typically retract within a few months. By contrast, most obese and overweight people carry excess weight for a long time, often beginning as early as childhood or adolescence.
When skin stretched due to overweight and remains in the same way for a long period, elastin and collagen get damaged. It leads to loss of their power to retract.
When a person loses a lot of weight, excess skin hangs. Generally the greater the weight loss, the more pronounced the effect of the loose skin.
As per researchers report the person who has gone through the weight loss surgery, formless new collagen. And the quality is inferior compared to healthy young skin collagen.
Factors that Influence Skin Elasticity Loss
Following weight loss, several factors contribute to loose skin
Longtime overweight: Generally someone obese or overweight for a long time, after weight loss their skin gets loose due to collagen and elastin loss.
More Weight Loss: 100 pounds (46 kg) weight loss or more than this leads to the more hanging skin than more modest weight loss.
Age: Older skin has less collagen and elastin than any younger skin. That is reason older skin tends to be looser when more weight loss.
Genetics: Genes mainly affects the way the skin responds to weight loss and weight gain.
Sun Exposure: Chronic sun exposure affects skin elastin and collagen production, which leads to looser skin.
Smoking: Smoking result in a collagen production reduction. It also damages the existing collagen which leads to sagging skin.
Excess Loose Skin Problems
Physical and emotional challenges occur when the skin gets loose due to massive weight loss.
Physical discomfort: Loose skin will be uncomfortable and disturb the normal activity. A study of 360 adults found this type of problem occurred in people who had lost 50 kg or more.
Physical Activity: In a study of 26 women 76% that exercise mobility is limited, due to their loose skin.
Skin Irritation and Breakdown: One study stated that 124 requested for plastic surgery after weight loss surgery to tighten their skin. I which 44% people complained about skin pain, infection or ulcer due to the loose skin.
Body Image: Loose skin due to massive weight loss will have a negative effect on body image and mood.
Also check Quick and Easy Fat Burning Recipes
Natural Remedies for Loose Skin Tightening After Losing Weight
The following natural remedies for the people who have lost small to medium amounts of weight, to improve elasticity and skin strength.
Resistance training perform
The most effective ways to build muscle mass for young and older adults are engaged in regular strength-training exercise. It also helps to burn calories. The increase of muscle mass helps to tighten the skin.
Take Collagen
Gelatin is similar to collagen hydrolysate. It is found in the connective tissue of animals. The study suggests collagen hydrolysate have a protective on the collagen of the skin.
As per the controlled study, collagen strength increased after 4 weeks of supplementation with collagen peptides, and for the duration of 12 weeks of study, this effect remained the same.
Collagen hydrolysate is also called as hydrolyzed collagen. It can be purchased online or at natural food stores and it comes in powder form. Before using this take doctor advice.
Stay Hydrated with Nutrients
Some nutrients are essential for collagen production and for other components of healthy skin.
Protein: For healthy skin adequate protein is necessary. The amino acids lysine and proline are excellent in the production of collagen.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is very helpful to protect the skin from sun damage and also necessary for collagen synthesis.
Omega-3 fatty acids: A small study found omega-3 fatty acids which found in fatty fish helps to increase skin elasticity.
Water: Staying well hydrated improves skin texture. As per one study more water intake habit in women showed significant improvement in skin function and hydration.
Use firming branded Creams
Firming creams contains elastin and collagen.
These creams give temporarily boost to skin, but elastin and collagen are too large to be absorbed through the skin. Generally, the creation of collagen must be from the inside and out.
Tighten Loose Skin with Medical Treatment
Those who have lost massive weight by surgery or any other weight loss method faced excess skin hanging problem.
Body-Countering Surgery
In body countering surgery excess fat and excess skin is removed by a large incision. To minimize scarring the incision is sutured with fine stitches.
Body-covering surgeries are as follows
Abdominoplasty: Abdomen skin removal.
Lower-body Lift: Belly, hips, buttocks, and thighs skin removal.
Upper-body lift: Breast and back skin removal
Medial Thigh Lift: Inner and outer thighs skin removal.
Brachioplasty: Upper arms skin removal.
After major weight loss multiple surgeries are generally performed over the span of two years on different body parts.
Infection and bleeding and other complications can be faced with surgery.
Most studies said body-countering surgery improves lifestyle in obese people. One study reported some of the quality of life scores to go down in those people who had the procedure. Always take doctor advice before taking any step. It is better to use the alternative manual procedure to lose weight and to tighten the loose skin to avoid any risk and complications.
Other Skin Tightening Procedure
Velashape: This is a combination of radio frequency, infrared light, and massage to tighten loose skin. According to one study, it leads to loss of arm skin and belly skin in overweight older people.
Ultrasound: One study says the people who had bariatric surgery ultrasound treatment found no objective improvement in loose skin. But those people got other benefits as relief of pain and few other improvements.
Home Body Massage
Having loose and hanging skin after losing weight can be distressing.
For the people who have lost small to medium amount of weight, skin gets retract on its own easily with the help of natural remedies. For the people who have massive weight loss may take more time or other medical procedures to tighten the loose skin.
Before using any remedy take doctor advice as it may not be suitable for some people. It depends on their health condition.
If you know more natural remedies for loose skin tightening after losing weight mention in the below comment box.
rabin says
very nice post….
Dr. Erica Goodstone says
Sazia,
We don’t usually think about the after effects of losing weight. All we want is to look better and be slimmer. But after finally losing a large amount of weight, it can be devastating to have hanging skin
and not feel that you look better. I am not much in favor of cosmetic surgery. Personally, I would
seek alternative treatments such as the creams, ultrasound, massage and radio frequency stimulation, and maybe taking collagen and some vitamins.
sazia kazia says
Hi Dr. Erica Goodstone, Thanks for visiting and for the skin tightening wonderful tips mam.
Lesly Federici says
I’ve seen how losing a lot of weight changes the skin and how it “droops” on the body. We don’t think of this and surgery to remove it is quite extensive. I advocate natural methods in losing weight and taking care of the skin – the largest organ of our body. Informative post
sazia kazia says
Hi Lesly mam, Thanks for visiting and for your awesome feedback. Natural method is best of all.
Matt Weaving says
As, I thought skin tightening procedure is the best for loose skin skinlift give the best procedure & full treatment try to acquire the best by ultherapy