In many cases, losing weight brings enormous health benefits, reducing the risks of chronic disease and improving overall fitness, endurance and mobility. In cases of massive or sudden weight loss, you may find that your skin sags, unable to shrink in keeping with your new form. If you are extremely overweight, consult with your doctor about the best weight loss tactic for your condition and request a referral to a qualified dietician and personal trainer.
Moderate, Gradual Weight Loss
Whether your skin sags largely depends on how much weight you lose and how quickly you lose it. According to Dr. Alan Gold, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, an extreme weight loss program, to drop 200 lbs. is far more likely to cause saggy skin than a more common drop in weight, of 20 or 30 lbs. By losing weight gradually, you give your skin a better possibility of catching up with the change in form. If you combine your weight loss program with strength training, you can also offer your skin a more gradual change in body shape by building up your muscle mass while cutting the fat.
Skin Elasticity
How well your skin adjusts to your slimmer silhouette also depends on the skin health, and specifically, its elasticity. To take preventative action against saggy skin, change your dietary habits and environmental factors as necessary to improve your skin's health. Avoid direct sun and cigarette smoke to keep your skin as resilient as possible. Drinking plenty of fluids is another way to boost your skin's elasicity and overall health. If you get stretch marks easily or you have a history of see-sawing between weight loss and weight gain, your skin is less likely to be resilient.
Surgical Intervention
If your health demands extreme weight loss, it would be a grave mistake to choose obesity over saggy skin. The decreased risk of heart disease or diabetes far outweighs cosmetic concerns. If you're planning to drop more than 50 pounds in a short period or are using a surgical procedure such as a gastric bypass, surgery may offer a solution to pronounced skin sag. Known as "body lifts," the surgeries usually remove excess skin from the abdomen, thighs, breasts, arms or wherever the looseness is most pronounced. In some cases, insurance companies cover body lift surgeries, if the excess skin is causing infection.
General Guidelines
As a general rule, MayoClinic.com advises that your weight loss program not cut out more than one or two pounds of weight per week. Depending on your starting weight, that degree of weight loss requires burning 500 to 1,000 extra calories each day. Regular, measured weight loss is more likely to stick over the long term and, as an added benefit, will favor your skin's shrinkage. A balanced weight loss plan should include changes to diet as well as regular exercise.
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