Loose skin after weight loss injections happens because the weight comes off quickly and the skin does not always have time to shrink back, and the best results come from protecting your skin while you lose weight, then treating what remains once your weight is stable. Mild to moderate looseness can often be improved without surgery. Large folds of skin usually cannot.
Weight loss injections have become a common route to losing weight in the UK. They are prescription medicines, and anything to do with the medicine itself is a conversation for your prescriber. This article is only about your skin.
At a glance
- The injections do not damage skin. Fast or large weight loss does.
- Age, how much you lose, genetics, sun damage and smoking all affect how well skin bounces back.
- Steady loss, protein, strength training and skin care help limit looseness.
- Wait until your weight is stable before treating loose skin.
- Radiofrequency skin tightening suits mild to moderate looseness. Hanging skin needs a surgeon.
Why Loose Skin Happens
Skin gets its firmness from collagen and its stretch from elastin. When you carry extra weight for a long time, those fibres are stretched. If weight then comes off slowly, skin has time to adapt. When it comes off quickly, or when a lot comes off, skin may not keep up. The effect is often most noticeable on the tummy, upper arms, inner thighs, neck and face.
People also talk about changes in the face after fast weight loss, where losing fat from the cheeks can make the face look more hollow. That is a separate issue from loose skin on the body, and facial treatments such as microneedling are more relevant there.
What Helps While You Are Losing Weight
- Lose weight steadily where you can, rather than as fast as possible.
- Eat enough protein. Your body needs it to maintain muscle and skin.
- Strength train. Keeping or building muscle fills out the space the fat leaves behind.
- Protect your skin. Use sun protection and do not smoke, as both break down collagen.
- Moisturise. It will not prevent loose skin, but it keeps skin comfortable and supple.
What Helps Once Your Weight Is Stable
| How loose is the skin? | Likely best option |
|---|---|
| Slightly soft or crepey | Time, strength training, skin care, and possibly a short course of radiofrequency |
| Moderately loose, you can pinch a fold | Non surgical skin tightening over a course of sessions |
| Hanging folds of skin | A consultation with a plastic surgeon |
How Non Surgical Skin Tightening Works
Radiofrequency devices such as SmartSculpt Pro gently heat the deeper layers of the skin. That warmth encourages the skin to make new collagen over the following weeks, which is why skin feels firmer gradually over a course, usually 8 sessions on an area. It does not involve needles or downtime.
We see clients at our Surbiton clinic for the tummy, arms, thighs and under the chin. You can read about it on our skin tightening for loose skin page, and for a broader guide see how to tighten loose skin after weight loss.
A Note on Timing
It is tempting to start treatment while the weight is still coming off, but your skin is still changing. Most people get more from treatment once they have reached their goal and their weight has settled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do weight loss injections cause loose skin?
They do not damage the skin directly. They can lead to fast weight loss, and skin may not have time to adapt as the fat underneath shrinks, especially with larger losses and as we get older.
Will loose skin tighten on its own after weight loss?
Some mild looseness improves over months as the skin adapts, particularly in younger people. Larger amounts of loose skin usually do not fully tighten on their own.
When should I start skin tightening after weight loss injections?
Most people get the best result by waiting until their weight has been stable for a while. If you are still losing weight, your skin is still changing.
Can non surgical treatments tighten loose skin?
They can improve mild to moderate loose skin by encouraging new collagen. Large folds of hanging skin usually need a surgical opinion.
Can I prevent loose skin while losing weight?
You cannot control it completely, but losing weight steadily, eating enough protein, strength training, not smoking and protecting your skin from the sun all help.
Talk to us about skin tightening in Surbiton
360 Degree Clinic offers skin tightening with SmartSculpt Pro at 58A Victoria Road, Surbiton KT6 4NQ, about 10 minutes from Kingston upon Thames. Consultations are free, and we will tell you honestly whether treatment is likely to help. Call 020 3971 4025 or book a consultation online.