38, male, 40 - 50 lb. weight loss. How can I tighten a small amount of loose skin on my abdomen? (Photos)

Question

I am a 38 year old male, I have had liposuction twice on my abdomen, chest, and love handles. I finally decided to diligently go to the gym six days a week with a strict diet and lost about 45-50 pounds over the span of about 16 months. I gained a good deal of muscle but I still have a small amount of sagging skin I want to get rid of or tighten. I have heard of Bodytite etc but I am not sure what would be most efficacious and not short term.

Erik Peterson, MD · Answer

Hi! Dr. Peterson here &mdash;
Congrats on your weight loss and dedication! After losing a significant amount of weight, mild to moderate skin laxity is common. BodyTite is a minimally invasive option that uses radiofrequency to tighten skin while removing any remaining fat. Results are subtle to moderate, usually best for mild looseness, and can last long-term with maintenance. For more significant sagging, a tummy tuck is more effective. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologic surgeon can help determine the best approach for your goals.

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!  We would love to meet with you to discuss your goals.  An Abdominal Dermolipectomy would remove the loose skin.  Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

Falguni Patel, MD, FACOG · Answer

Congrats on the weight loss and muscle gain that’s a huge accomplishment. For mild to moderate loose skin, Morpheus8 Body or BodyTite are both great options to tighten and remodel tissue, with longer-lasting results than topical treatments. A consult can help determine if you're a good candidate or if a surgical skin removal would be more effective for your goals.

Gregory Lakin, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. The mild sagging you're seeing now is likely due to loose skin and compromised elasticity, not fat. At this point, your best option depends on the severity of the laxity and your skin quality. Non-surgical or minimally invasive options like BodyTite, Renuvion, or Morpheus8 can offer modest skin tightening if you have a good skin tone. However, they do not remove skin and may not be appropriate if the skin is significantly stretched. If you have laxity and poor skin elasticity, then a skin excision procedure such as a mini or full abdominoplasty would provide the most definitive result. An in-person consultation with a surgeon will help clarify the best approach for your case.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Thank you for your message and congratulations on your impressive weight loss and muscle gain—that’s a major achievement.

Based on your photos and history of liposuction combined with significant weight loss, it’s common to see some residual skin laxity, especially in the lower abdomen and flanks. For cases like yours, where the loose skin is relatively minimal and you are in excellent shape otherwise, here are several options to consider:

1. Radiofrequency-Assisted Skin Tightening (e.g., BodyTite, Morpheus8):
BodyTite is a minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to contract and tighten the skin. It’s a good option if you're looking for something effective with minimal downtime. Morpheus8 combines microneedling and RF and can be effective for skin texture and tightening as well.

2. Laser Skin Tightening (e.g., SmartLipo or Thermage):
Laser-based methods also use heat to stimulate collagen production and improve skin firmness. They’re non-surgical and tend to be better for mild-to-moderate skin laxity.

3. Surgical Options (Mini Tummy Tuck or Skin Excision):
If the skin laxity persists and is affecting your confidence or clothing fit, surgical intervention remains the most definitive solution. A mini abdominoplasty may be appropriate if the laxity is localized to the lower abdomen.

4. Topicals & Lifestyle Maintenance:
While topical treatments (like retinoids or firming creams) won’t dramatically tighten skin, they can support elasticity. Staying hydrated, maintaining your current weight, and continuing strength training also help the skin gradually remodel itself over time.

5. Ultrasound-Based Treatments (e.g., Ultherapy):
Ultrasound energy targets deeper skin layers and can tighten mild skin laxity, though results are usually subtle and take a few months to develop.

Since your skin laxity is mild and you're in excellent shape, non-surgical modalities like BodyTite or Morpheus8 could yield satisfying and natural-looking results without major downtime.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Congratulations on your impressive weight loss!  To treat moderate to severe skin laxity you will have the most predictable and permanent results from a tummy tuck.  If you are only considering non surgical alternatives you can look into BodyTite.  This minimally invasive procedure uses RF technology to tighten skin and improve overall tone.  There is no general anesthesia required which makes it convenient.  I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

38, male, 40 - 50 lb. weight loss. How can I tighten a small amount of loose skin on my abdomen? (Photos)

Answers (7)

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