How Can Someone Tighten Loose Skin After Weight Loss?

Great question. The best way to tighten loose skin after a significant weight loss is a tummy tuck or belt lift. There are other energy based modalities to tighten skin but they may not be powerful enough for the amount of skin that is excessive.

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Morpheus8 provides both skin tightening and skin resurfacing improvements. The technology uses radiofrequency deep subdermal heating to effectively tighten skin and remodel the superficial texture, such as scarring and enlarged pores. Combining Morpheus8 with lasers can give both complexion and laxity improvements in one treatment, so it's an ideal add-on treatment for those who care about preventative sagging or scarring improvements. You can also add this on to liposuction or internal heating to get more improvement in the areas treated. I suggest getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist to develop a treatment plan that works for you. Best, Dr. Emer

Hello,Losing weight is a health priority.  Congratulations.  With sagging/excess skin, lift procedures can make a big difference.  The face may benefit well from a face lift and your abdomen, thighs, etc. may benefit from similar lift procedures.  Don't waste time and money on miracle lotions that promise to cure you of extra skin.  Similarly, medical devices that tighten the skin will have little effect on areas that have hanging, excess skin.  See a board certified plastic surgeon and see if a lift surgery is right for you!

Generally the only way to manage loose skin is via a dermolipectomy procedure.
There are alternatives. Titan, Thermage, Velasmooth, Accent, etc. However, I generally see the patients who have tried these and have been dissatisfied. I rarely see someone who has undergone these treatment modlaities and achieve satsifactory results. It doesn't mean that it doesn't work but on a scale of 1-10, these techniques may accomplish a 2-3 when you need an 8-9.
Furthermore, it has been my experience that even at the end of a tuck/lift/tighthening procedure on a weight loss patient, I have been surprised by the laxity which can recur several months later and have advised patients that they may need a second tightening procedure for the best result.

Congratulations on your weight loss!  Depending on how much excess skin you have, there are non-surgical options available to tigten loose skin.  The Exilis uses radiofrequency to tighten loose skin on the face and body without needles and has minimal side effects with no downtime.  The Exilis can target the superficial layers of the skin, resulting in skin tightening and new collagen formation, improving the overall apearance, tone, and texture of the skin.  The procedure is easily performed in the office with minimal discomfort.  Most patients require a series of six treatments every one to two weeks for maximal results.  With continued care to diet and exercise, patients are able to maintain results for long periods of time.  If you are hoping to avoid surgery and invasive procedures, the Exilis could be a good option for you!

The way to address loose skin on the face and/or body is to excise it (cut it off) and therefore a facelift/ necklift and/or a tummy tuck surgery may be what you are looking for.  Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon for an examination and discussion regarding the best procedure for your situation.

As we gain weight our skin stretches just like a spring does when pulled from both sides. At a certain point, the elasticity (the ability of skin to spring back), is damaged. If the weight gain continues, the stretching / pulling continues and finally all elasticity is gone. At this point, depending on the speed of weight gain, the the skin may start showing cracks ("Stretch Marks") - these are permanent through and through scar filled cracks in the skin which can never be erased.
When all the weight is lost, the damaged skin does not spring back and just hangs there.
The BEST way to tighten such loose skin is to remove as much of it surgically (Tummy Tuck, Buttock Lift, Lower Body Lift, Breast Lift and Face and Neck Lift).
If a non surgical tightening is opted for, the success of a non-surgical method will depend how much of the skin is loose, where on the body it is located, how thick it is etc.
Nice responses can be seen with IPL (intense pulse light) devices. The most promising appears to be Sciton's BBL with the SkinTyte feature. Several painless sessions are required and in many people the results are quite pleasing. Look it up on You Tube.
Dr. P. Aldea

The only way to tighten loose facial skin after weight loss is to perform a face/neck lift.
After significant weight loss, the skin becomes lax and loose in the jowls, face, and neck. At this point the laxity is significant enough for a comprehensive face/neck lift to be performed. The procedure will tighten excess sagging skin, muscle structure, and remove any additional fat deposits in the neck that may be diet-resistant fat.

Loose or excess skin is often caused by weight loss. In general, the treatment for loose skin requires the excision of the loose skin. Frequently, these type of procedures are known as “lifts.”