Remove Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery or Tighten Naturally (Guide)

On the journey to become the healthiest version of yourself, loose skin after weight loss surgery is quite common and while it may be aesthetically displeasing to some, it is a huge milestone you should be proud of — and luckily there are both surgical means to remove the excess skin, as well as ways to tighten it naturally.¹

Procedures such as tummy tucks, lifts, panniculectomies and liposuction are generally the most effective ways to get rid of loose skin in cases of extreme weight loss.

But for those who only have a little extra skin or are weary of additional surgeries may want to opt for natural or non-invasive approaches. 

This guide provides an in depth review of ways to manage extra skin after weight loss surgery so you can feel more comfortable in your own skin and decide which is the best approach based on your circumstances, preferences, and willingness to go undergo surgery. 

How To Tighten Excess Skin Without Surgery

After considerable weight loss, it’s common to have a lot of excess skin because as the body gets smaller, the skin often cannot tighten at the same rate.

This can leave sagging skin after massive weight loss, especially because collagen–which makes up 80% of skin structure and provides strength, firmness, and elasticity–is significantly thinner after being stretched with the initial weight gain.

This causes skin weakness, decreased thickness and density of collagen fibers, and vastly diminished elasticity so the skin cannot tighten beyond a certain point without intervention–whether surgical or not.²

Though skin tightening surgery is needed in some cases, the following methods explain how to tighten excess skin without surgery; these can be tried individually or simultaneously for better and faster results.

Firming Creams, Serums & Skin Care

There are countless skin tightening and firming creams, serums and skin care products now available to choose from; these are best for those who have a small amount of excess fat and often work by massaging them into the preferred area daily or even several times a day over a period of time.

Source: LittleBee80 via Canva.com³

The ingredients used promote increases in collagen and elastin to lessen dimples and sagginess throughout the stomach, thighs, neck, and other stubborn areas.

Proper Nutrients

Ensuring you’re eating a clean and nutritious diet is key to overall health and can promote youthful skin. Fruits are some of the best options with skin tightening nutrients; not only is pineapple good for weight loss but this and other citrus fruits are incredible for boosting elasticity.

Similarly, those wondering are oranges good for weight loss are in luck as oranges, lemons, and limes are all good for both weight loss and skin elasticity too.

Source: eliv1 via Canva.com⁴

Additionally, avocado consumption increases skin elasticity and daily consumption can promote firmness.⁵ A few other skin tightening foods include:

• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Low Fat Cottage Cheese
• Low Fat Yogurt
• Soy
• Sunflower Seeds
• Tofu

Body Recomposition & Building Muscle

One of the best methods for firming loose skin after weight loss surgery is through muscle toning or hypertrophy (building muscle size).

Increased muscle mass can be achieved through a starting strength routine and regular lifting, and can really help fill out the body so that there is less loose or saggy skin, and will look much better as it’s now filled with lean muscle rather than either being filled out with fat or hanging loosely.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking water is a simple yet effective method of helping reduce saggy skin. Hydration allows the cells to look and be more healthy, youthful, and glowing and promotes total body health.

Vitamins & Supplements

Not only are vitamins greatly helpful in how to jump start weight loss, but they can be just as effective in tightening loose skin after weight loss surgery as well.

Let’s cover what vitamins help with weight loss: vitamin A hydrates the lower layer of skin, vitamin C protects collagen and elastin, and vitamin E reduces harmful sun damage to the skin. Collagen supplements are also available to boost not only skin health but hair and nail strength as well.

Home Remedies

Several home remedies to reduce weight in 7 days also aid in skin health and firmness, including aloe vera, lemon, yogurt, and both green and hibiscus teas; try them for both weight and loose skin reduction as these are natural and effective.

Dermarolling (Microneedling)

Another method of decreasing the amount of saggy or loose skin after weight loss surgery is a treatment called “dermarolling” or “microneedling.”

This is the process of inserting thousands of very small needles into the top layer of skin with a rolling device, which makes very small wounds in the skin to promote greater production of elastin and collagen.

This treatment might not be for everyone, but is proven to reduce acne scarring, stretch marks, wrinkles, and loose skin and is often done every 4-6 weeks for best results.

Photos Before and After Non-Surgical Skin Tightening (With Methods Used)

The following are a couple of before and after photos of people who chose to use two of the non-surgical skin tightening methods listed above. We will explain which methods they chose and how often they did treatments.

Beth

Beth is passionate about maintaining her health, body, and skin as she ages and helps teach others over 50 how to do the same. As part of her skin care routine, Beth began doing dermarolling treatments monthly to help tighten and firm the skin in her abdominal region.

She noted that through microneedling, even her stretch marks faded drastically.

As you can see in her before and after photos below, the slight dimples and folds of skin really tightened to give her a more smooth and toned look.

Beth’s monthly dermarolling treatments help her age gracefully and maintain youthful skin. Source: FiftyPlusBeauty on Youtube⁶

Lindy

After success with facial tightening using a serum called Bioeffect EGF, Lindy decided to try this on her loose skin across her stomach that was left after pregnancy. Though she considered a tummy tuck, she wanted a more natural method and had incredible results with this serum.

As pictured below, Lindy was able to gain a much tighter and firmer look and get rid of the excess saggy skin below her belly button through daily application of Bioeffect EGF.

Lindy’s experience with skin tightening serum left her feeling more confident after pregnancy and really tightened the saggy skin across her abdomen. Source: bubzbeauty on Youtube⁷

Natural Methods vs Skin Removal Surgery for Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery–Which Is Right for Me?

Natural skin firming and tightening methods should be attempted before even considering surgery; even if skin tightening surgery ends up being necessary, by firming and toning beforehand, one can decrease the extensiveness of surgery while gaining healthier skin along the way.

Someone thinking about having a procedure done to reduce saggy skin after bariatric surgeries like a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or biliopancreatic diversion should give all of the natural methods a thorough try instead of just dabbling in one or two methods or trying one firming cream and resigning themselves to surgery.

However, for those who have had massive weight loss or an excess amount of loose skin from weight loss surgery, a secondary surgery for tightening or removing extra skin may be the right option for you.

This can be especially true in aging patients with less skin elasticity, people with mobility issues, and in those with large amounts of excess skin from losing a considerable amount of their initial body weight.

Various Skin Removal Surgeries & Their Benefits After Weight Loss (Bariatric) Surgery

Those who notice loose skin after weight loss surgery cannot always tighten it enough through natural means, yet may not feel comfortable with their loose skin either.

Sometimes excess skin can even get in the way of exercising and daily activities if the remaining skin folds are large or hang below one’s pantyline.

In fact, body contouring after massive weight loss can be very helpful in boosting one’s self-confidence, mental health, and emotional health because when natural methods don’t rid them of the excess skin folds, people can have body dysmorphia and endless reminders of their previously morbid obesity. Physical and mental health are closely tied, so removal of extra skin can increase self-confidence, pride, and overall well-being.⁸

A few non-surgical methods that can be done with a plastic surgeon, doctor, or other medical professional include cryolipolysis or “CoolSculpting” or lipolysis via laser, radiofrequency, or injections.

These methods either freeze or burn fat cells to locally reduce fat in various areas of the body.

Some non-invasive skin tightening treatment options such as the radiofrequency lipolysis–also called dermal heating–can immediately affect collagen structures in the skin to promote growth of new collagen and elastic fibers to start tightening and firming the skin instantly as these fibers shrink.

The thermal (heat) stimulation of the fibers increases the speed of fatty acid breakdown as well.⁹

In contrast to these effective non-surgical skin tightening methods–whether for functional, aesthetic, or self-confidence reasons–excess skin reduction may need to be done via surgery rather than less drastic procedures like those above. This is especially true for large amounts of excess saggy skin as non-surgical methods work best in small areas.

The following are several options for those who opt for the surgical route:

• Lifts: A “lift” is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin in various regions of the body, with results often lasting 5-10 years. This is a common procedure since it can be done in so many areas, including a thigh lift, upper arm lift, or face lift to give a smoother, sculpted, and tighter look and feel.
• Liposuction: Liposuction is the removal of fat via suction and can be done in many areas as well, such as abdomen, hips, thighs, chin, neck, upper arms, and buttocks. This decreases fat and puffiness in these regions and contours or shapes them.
• Panniculectomy: Done to remove stretched and saggy skin that hangs from the abdomen, a panniculectomy is a great option for those who have lost a significant amount of weight and want their body’s look to match their feeling and efforts.
• In some cases, excess skin may even hang below one’s thighs and genitals and can lead to discomfort, pain, and even infections within skin folds. Though usually successful, this surgery does have a high risk of complication.
• Tummy Tuck: A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is performed via several small incisions throughout the abdomen–or one large incision–and is similar to a panniculectomy but better for those who have a low to moderate amount of excess skin. Aside from tightening the skin, in an “extended tummy tuck” the abdominal muscles are also tightened, especially after pregnancy and massive weight loss.

Source: Maridav via Canva.com¹⁰

Though having excess skin after losing a lot of weight via surgery or lifestyle changes is nothing to be ashamed of, it can interfere with body image, dysphoria, and even mobility.

Thankfully there are plenty of methods–both natural and surgical–to remove loose skin after weight loss surgery so it’s just a matter of knowing which options are available and working with a healthcare professional to decide which is best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions