Losing excess body weight is good for your health and appearance. Wearing smaller size clothes and being more physically active are two benefits of weight loss. After you reach your goal weight, you may have concerns about your skin's elasticity and the possibility of being left with excess skin. If you have successfully lost a large amount of weight, you may find that your skin's elasticity has permanently changed.
Tissue Expansion
The more weight you carry on your body, the more your skin is affected. According to Jason Spector, M.D., assistant professor of plastic surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, "There is an inherent elasticity in everyone's skin, but once you get to a certain size, the elasticity decreases."
When the elasticity in your skin decreases due to expanded tissue, you will likely be left with some excess skin after you complete your weight-loss journey. This is due to the skin's inability to shrink back to where it previously stretched out.
Amount of Weight Loss Matters
If you lose less than 50 pounds using a healthy diet and exercise program, your skin will likely retain its elasticity. If you lose more than 50 pounds, especially if that weight loss happens quickly, then you will most likely have excess skin. Many times the skin has stretched so far that it is impossible for the skin to repair itself. This is particularly true of people who lose weight by undergoing one of the various forms of bariatric surgery.
Improve Lean Muscle Mass
If after losing weight you find you have excess skin due to a decrease in your skin's elasticity, there are certain exercises that may help. Exercises that focus on toning your body, such as lifting light weights and using resistance bands will make you look leaner. Building lean muscle mass will not make the excess skin disappear, but will instead help tighten up the layers of muscle under your skin.
Foods Good for Your Skin
There are certain foods that are good for your skin's elasticity. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can preserve the health of your skin by eating fruits like berries, melons, apples and pears. Other foods that are particularly helpful to your skin are leafy green vegetables, beans, fish, nuts and olive oil. In addition to eating healthy foods, you should stay well hydrated.
Surgical Options
If you have excess skin after you lose weight, do not be discouraged. Remember that you have improved your health by losing weight. If the excess skin bothers you, surgery may be a consideration.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, people who have lost skin elasticity due to a big weight loss should wait at least two years before deciding whether to invest in surgery. After two years, your skin has recovered as much as it ever will. There are risks to any surgery, and you should consult with your doctor or plastic surgeon if surgery is the right solution for you.
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