How to Tighten and Remove Loose Skin

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posted on 8 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Although completely normal, having excess skin can be uncomfortable and irritating. Perhaps you just lost a lot of weight or recently had a baby. No matter where you are in life, having that extra sagging skin can be discouraging, especially when it feels like it’ll never go away. But worry no more because we’re here to help! We interviewed board-certified dermatologist Dr. Adebola Dele-Michael to find out the best and safest ways to help tighten your skin. Keep reading to learn what causes loose skin and how you can treat it today.

Things You Should Know

Loose skin is common and typically caused by extreme weight loss or aging.
To get rid of loose skin naturally, stay hydrated, eat a protein-rich diet, and exercise regularly to gain muscle.
To get rid of loose skin cosmetically, consider a body-contouring procedure or radiofrequency treatment.

What causes loose skin?

Weight loss When you lose weight, your skin may not shrink back with your size, especially if you were overweight for a long period of time. This is a natural part of the weight loss process. When you gain weight, your skin expands (whether from an unhealthy diet, metabolic changes, or pregnancy), and collagen and elastin fibers can be damaged. This can hinder the skin’s ability to retract, causing it to hang loosely on the body when weight is lost. Collagen is your skin's main protein, making up around 30% of your body. It’s in charge of healing and growing skin.

Aging As Dr. Adebola Dele-Michael, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “In most cases, people have loose skin because the elastic fibers in the skin, or the collagen fibers, have become significantly reduced or they're not performing the function that they once performed due to aging.” In other words, your skin loses its elasticity as you age, making it stretchier. The older you get, the less collagen your skin has, which can cause it to sag more, especially after weight loss. For some, genetics also plays a part in this. Chances are, if your grandparents have extra loose skin, you might have loose skin when you’re their age.

Sun exposure Constantly being in the sun without SPF protection could result in loose skin. Chronic sun exposure can reduce your skin’s natural collagen and elasticity. The more you bake in the sun, the more the dermis (the outermost skin layer that contains collagen and elastin) breaks down and deteriorates, making smooth, tight skin looser and saggier. If you’re in the sun often, start combating loose skin by wearing sunblock. Experts recommend wearing broad-spectrum protection that’s SPF 30 or higher. Dr. Dele-Michael says "make sure you are wearing sunscreen...especially if you're going to be outdoors between the hours of 10am to 4pm."

Smoking Smoking can damage and deteriorate collagen and reduce your skin’s elasticity. Because of this, habitual smoking can make your skin looser and harder to tighten. If you’re an avid smoker, quitting smoking is a great first step in combating loose skin.

Natural Ways to Tighten Loose Skin

Stay hydrated It seems simple enough, but drinking enough water every day can play a big part in tightening your loose skin. Not only does drinking water help improve your skin’s overall appearance, but it can also increase its elasticity and function. Aim to drink between 11.5 c (92 fl oz) and 15.5 c (124 fl oz) of water every day. Keep a reusable water bottle with you at all times to drink more water throughout the day.

Eat protein and omega-3 fatty acids Eating more protein and omega-3 fatty acids can improve your skin’s elasticity and the appearance of saggy skin. Specifically, protein is vital for skin health and has been proven to support collagen production. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to increase skin elasticity and reduce aging effects. So, if you’re trying to tighten loose skin, eat high-protein meals with lots of omega-3 fatty acids. Try eating more of these foods: Meat Fish Eggs Seeds and nuts

Exercise Building muscle can help tighten loose skin. When you lose weight, the once-distended skin deflates, leaving it to sag. Replacing the lost weight with muscle can help reduce the appearance of saggy skin and keep you healthy. Aim to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. Start small and work your way up. For instance, start by walking around the neighborhood and then try running a mile. Focus on building muscle with resistance training by using weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight. Talk to your doctor about what form of exercise is best for you and your body, especially if you were recently pregnant.

Massage Believe it or not, giving yourself a massage can do wonders for your skin. Massaging loose skin can help increase blood flow and improve skin elasticity. Simply rub the area with an anti-aging cream or sugar scrub daily to help tighten the skin over time.

Supplements There isn’t a fix-all for saggy skin; however, some extra vitamins can help rejuvenate your skin and keep it healthy. Look for supplements with hyaluronic acid and collagen to help tighten loose skin. Hyaluronic acid is a substance your body naturally produces in your eyes, joints, and skin. It keeps your joints from grinding together, helps your body stay hydrated, and makes your skin flexible.

Firming creams There are hundreds of firming or skin-tightening cosmetic creams on the market today. These products swear to help revitalize collagen and skin elasticity to help it tighten. Health experts recommend firming creams with retinoids and hyaluronic acid for the best results. Know that firming creams aren’t a cure for sagging skin. While they may help your skin stay healthy, they won’t lift sagging skin overnight.

Medical & Cosmetic Ways to Tighten Loose Skin

Nonsurgical cosmetic procedures If you’re trying to get rid of extra skin fast, pairing lifestyle changes with a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure may be the best option for you. Nowadays, there are plenty of noninvasive treatments to help rejuvenate and tighten the skin. For instance: Chemical peels: A peel or mask is applied to the skin and then removed to take off the outer layer of skin, revealing smoother skin underneath. Ablative laser resurfacing: Also known as laser peeling, this procedure removes the outermost layer of skin off with a heated laser. Neuromodulators or Botox: The toxin botulinum is injected into the skin to smooth out wrinkles and reduce the appearance of saggy skin.

Medical procedures Alternative medical procedures can also be done to improve loose skin. Although these procedures aren’t as effective or popular as body-contouring surgery, they can be less invasive and have a lower risk of complications. They include: Radiofrequency treatment: A combination of infrared light, radiofrequency, and massage is applied to the area to help reduce loose skin and fat cells. Ultrasound: Small shockwaves are sent into the skin in short bursts or continuous waves. While the treatment hasn’t been proven to tighten skin, it has been said to reduce pain and irritation caused by loose skin.

Cosmetic surgery Body-contouring surgeries can help improve the appearance of saggy skin in a specific part of your body. These procedures can help those who’ve lost a significant amount of weight from bariatric or weight loss surgery. With these cosmetic surgeries, an incision is made in the designated area, and excess skin and fat are surgically removed with minimal scarring. These surgeries include: Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck: Removing skin from the abdominal area Lower-body lift: Removing skin from the belly, buttocks, hips, and thighs Upper-body life: Removing skin from the breasts and back. Medial thigh lift: Removing skin from the inner and outer thighs. Brachioplasty or arm lift: Removing skin from the upper arms. Before deciding on a cosmetic procedure, Dr. Dele-Michael recommends “to talk to a board-certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon who can assist you in evaluating whether or not [the procedure] will be a good treatment for you.”