Loose skin occurs when someone loses a significant amount of weight. The appearance of loose skin varies depending on the weight loss and how fast the weight loss happens. Physicians proved that at least a hundred pounds of weight loss at once can cause loose skin.
Restoring loose skin after weight loss is possible in different ways, such as non-invasive methods, stimulative treatments, diet, exercise, body contouring surgery, etc.
This post discusses the ways and treatment options for restoring excess skin after weight loss and the side effects of loose skin. Also, we will be investigating the safety and effectiveness of stimulative tightening treatments.
The Possible Side Effects of Loose Skin
After losing weight, some people ignore the excess skin in their arms, body, or face without knowing the possible side effects. Here are some of the side effects:
Skin infections: When excess skin folds over, it is hard to clean, which may cause bacteria to grow causing skin infections. Some of them are eczema, which causes inflammation.
Emotional distress: Individuals with loose skin may feel uncomfortable. Excess skin is visible every time your body moves, especially during exercising, which may cause discomfort and drive you to lose confidence.
Inferiority: Skin loss may cause inferiority and negative mood.
Poor body image: Excess skin may cause poor body posture.
Ways of Restoring Skin Loose
Loose skin after weight loss appears once you lose 100 pounds or more. Getting rid of it is possible in several ways.
Over-the-counter treatment
According to specialists, treatments such as collagen, skin vitamins, or creams bought over the counter may help tighten the skin but give you slow and minor improvements. They won’t fix the excess skin thoroughly, and if you stop applying the cream or taking the medicine, your skin sagging will return.
Electro-muscle stimulation
Using a muscle stimulator device can eliminate skin loss or sagging. The approach, called electro-muscle stimulation (EMS), is the best remedy for leaning the muscles, allowing the skin to tighten. It sends electric impulses targeting the muscles, making them leaner and more muscular. A muscle stimulator makes the skin smooth and firmer, burning more fat.
The procedure differs from the skin-firming method and never requires collagen growth. It never hurts the skin, and it promotes skin rejuvenation and tightening of muscles. An EMS session lasts an hour, and it includes a series of treatments.
Medical Treatment
Surgical removal such as body contouring or in-clinic treatment may treat loose skin after weight loss. Find below the possible options:
Radiofrequency treatment: RF is done via in-office technique, where specialists use infrared light to tighten skin. This method helps reduce fat in small body parts, including the face. Thermalift was the first method used, but now, many technologies provide similar technology. The procedure takes almost an hour, and it’s painless.
Body Contouring: This surgery removes the skin’s loose and fats and is performed by a surgeon. There are different body contouring types, including abdominoplasty or tummy tucking, Brachioplasty or arm skin lifting, thigh lift, and others. The patient will spend a night in the hospital and will be back for a surgical drain after a week. The recovery is a month or more, depending on the patient.
Exercise
If you want to undergo a natural remedy, solid exercise focusing on building muscles is advisable, says M.D. Holly Wyatt, a medicine professor at the University of Colorado. This will help you tighten your skin as the new build muscles are filling your skin without adding extra weight.
Diet
Protein-rich foods like eggs, lean meats, beans, etc. can build muscles. Additionally, water intake can improve skin health. Hydrating your skin by drinking enough water for the day makes your skin moisturize and become more elastic. Take at least 64 or more ounces of water in a day.
Safety and Effectiveness of Stimulative Tightening Treatments
Stimulative treatments prevent skin burns, unlike other treatments that can damage elastin synthesis and natural collagen processes. The practitioner uses a muscle stimulator device, which is highly safe.
Like solid exercise, stimulative skin treatment is a skin exercise procedure with long-lasting and natural results. The only distinction is that skin stimulation is a procedure that tightens and lifts the muscles from the outside. In contrast, muscle exercises involve leaning and lifting the muscles from the inside.
The results are seen after a month of the last session, which helps tone your body.
Does Loose Skin Will Go Away on Its Own?
Specialists say not really. The skin condition varies depending on individual elasticity, age, and genetics. So, skin changes may depend on the person’s circumstances. Physicians say skin improvement is visible for people without stretch marks and young people with adequate skin quality despite gaining more weight.
Also, after losing weight, the loose skin will take a year to contract; no tightening happens afterward. Doctors advise that treatment is necessary for loose skin. You can choose treatment based on your preferred method and the safest way possible.
