I lost and gained 40 lbs, what can I do to improve loose skin in my arms? (Photo)

Thank you for sharing your story—it really helps me understand what you’ve been through. First, I want to acknowledge that your journey with weight fluctuations and medication-related changes is significant, and it’s completely normal to have concerns about loose skin, especially in areas like the arms where skin tends to be less elastic.

From what you describe—being very close to your desired weight, working out consistently, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle—you’re already doing a lot to optimize your skin and muscle tone. Building muscle can help fill out the area a bit and improve overall appearance, but it typically won’t fully resolve loose or sagging skin once it has stretched beyond a certain point.

For non-surgical options, treatments like HIFU, monopolar RF, microneedling, Morpheus, Renuvion, and laser resurfacing can improve skin texture, firmness, and some degree of tightening, but they have limitations:

They are generally better for mild to moderate laxity rather than significant sagging.

Multiple sessions are usually needed for noticeable improvement.

Results vary based on skin quality, age, and the degree of stretch.

In cases where loose skin is moderate to severe—especially with hanging skin near the armpit—non-surgical modalities may not fully replace the effects of a brachioplasty (arm lift). They can help improve the skin quality and contour, but surgery is often the only way to achieve a dramatic tightening effect.

Since you’re planning a bit more body recomposition, it’s reasonable to wait until you’re closer to your final weight and muscle goal before considering any procedure, surgical or non-surgical. This ensures the results are stable and you won’t need additional treatments due to future changes in volume.

In short:

Keep building muscle and achieving your target weight.

Non-surgical tightening can help improve firmness but may not completely eliminate sagging.

For more pronounced laxity, an arm lift may ultimately be the most reliable solution.

You’ve done an amazing job reaching this stage, and being thoughtful about timing and options will give you the best outcome in the long run.