“In general, it can take anywhere from weeks to months—even years,” says Dr. Chen. If after one to two years skin is still loose, it may not get any tighter, she says.
For small to moderate amounts of weight loss, your skin will likely retract on its own. Natural home remedies may help too. However, more significant weight loss may need body-contouring surgery or other medical procedures to tighten or get rid of loose skin.
Collagen production starts to decline around 25 years of age, decreasing approximately 1-2% per year afterwards. Skin noticeably starts to lose its elasticity in your 30s to 40s and particularly in the first five years of menopause when women's skin loses around 30% of its collagen.
Besides aging, the biggest factors that contribute to loss of skin elasticity are UV damage, sleep deprivation, smoking and genes, notes Dr. Mamina Turegano, Louisiana-based triple board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist.
However, larger amounts of weight loss, such as 50 pounds and over, especially over a short period, can considerably increase your risk of loose skin. Your genetics and age will also play an important role in determining how much weight loss causes loose skin.
When you lose a lot of weight, such as 100 pounds or more, your skin may not be elastic enough to shrink back to its natural shape. This can cause the skin to sag and hang, especially around the upper face, arms, stomach, breasts, and buttocks. Some people don't like the way this skin looks.
Does Collagen Tighten Saggy Skin? Studies have indicated that supplemental collagen is beneficial for skin health, including tightening sagging skin (known as elasticity), boosting hydration, and lessening the appearance of wrinkles.
Does loose skin after weight loss go away? Loose skin after weight loss is not permanent and will disappear over time. After a month or two, you should no longer see excess skin hanging from your body. If you are still having problems with excess skin, then you should see a doctor.
“Your skin may not contract back to its smaller shape if weight is lost too quickly.” This inability for the skin to contract as well as it once would have, due to the weakening of the fibers over time, is what leads to excess or saggy skin during weight loss.
The longer you have been obese or overweight, the looser your skin will be after losing weight. Depending on the quality of your skin and other risk factors, losing 100 pounds or more can result in more loose skin.
Collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. "Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look," says dermatologist Dr. Ohara Aivaz.
A good moisturizer can plump up your skin, making fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable. This result is temporary. To continue seeing any benefit, you need to apply the product every day. As for the claim that a cream or lotion can lift sagging skin, dermatologists say that's not possible.
Antioxidants can also help stimulate the growth of collagen and elastin. Examples of the antioxidants present in some foods, drinks, and nutritional supplements include: vitamins A, C, D, and E. coenzyme Q10.
How Much Weight Can I Lose in 3 Months? A safe, healthy, and realistic goal is to lose 0.5-to-1% of your body weight per week, which is around 1-to-2 pounds of weight loss per week for most people. In other words, you can expect to lose 12-to-24 pounds in a 3-month period.
Engaging in exercise such as resistance training can increase muscle mass. Building muscle through exercise can improve the appearance of sagging skin, especially in the legs and arms. Also, facial exercises may improve muscle tone around the jaw and neck. This may reduce sagging skin in these areas.
Facial movement lines become more visible after the skin starts losing its elasticity (usually as people reach their 30s and 40s).
There are three main vitamins that help your skin stay elastic by protecting it from the sun, according to a May 2015 study in Biomolecules & Therapeutics: vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin C. All three are antioxidants, although they play different roles in skin care.
Massage may increase the production of collagen, the protein in your skin that is responsible for providing elasticity and strength. With a boost in collagen, your skin will look firmer and more youthful.
Foods For Skin Elasticity
Eating foods like greens, fatty fish, citrus fruits, broccoli, almonds and walnuts can replenish elastin in your skin. These foods are known to work from within to improve your skin's health. Don't forget antioxidant foods [10] like green tea and berries as well.
The good news is that elastin can be restored. But, according to Dr. Harshal, don't expect dramatic results. "It's more important to prevent rapid loss of elastin in the first place."