You’ve done the hard work. You have lost a great deal of weight, your clothing fits differently and other people are noticing a positive change. However, when looking into the mirror, excess/loose/sagging skin may be the last reminder of what your “before” body looked like. Skin tightening after weight loss treatments can help restore a firmer, more toned appearance, giving you the confidence to fully enjoy your transformation.
It is extremely common to experience this after losing weight with the aid of GLP-1, especially if it was an aggressive/rapid weight loss. Fortunately, you can expect your skin to continue improving over the next 12 to 24 months, and you will find a number of ways (both internal and external) to help support the improvement of your skin.
The purpose of this article is to outline a realistic and structured approach to Skin Tightening after weight loss, so that you can be as confident in your skin as you are in your overall health.
Why Skin Sags After GLP-1–Assisted Weight Loss
Your skin should be viewed as a living fabric encasing your entire body. So when you lose weight, especially quickly, three main events occur:
- The loss of the underlying fat mass: The “stuff” that previously gave the skin its fullness has been lost therefore the fabric will appear to have lost some fullness.
- A reduction in the tensile strength of collagen and elastin: These two proteins are the internal framework of your skin (i.e., they provide the “scaffolding”). The aging process, changes in weight, and the presence of chronic inflammation may weaken them.
- Less resiliency and thinner skin due to the natural decline of dermal thickness with age: Dermal thickness decreases over time, which means the skin does not snap back as well as it did at an earlier age.
With all this being said, your skin tightening is not “done” once the scale is stabilized. Your skin will be able to remodel itself for up to 1-2 years after losing weight, and there are many ways you can help your skin remodel itself by providing your body with the necessary internal support and through the use of various in-office treatments.
4 Internal Strategies That Support Skin Tightening
We must optimize everything that happens on the inside before we even begin with the outside tools & methods. Think of this like providing your skin the necessary building blocks and signals to repair itself.
1. Optimize Your Protein for Collagen and Lean Muscle
Lean muscle and collagen will be your most effective allies when trying to create firmer, tighter curves.
Aim for: approximately 0.7-1.0 grams of protein per pound of your target weight (approximately 120-170 grams if you’re targeting 170 pounds).
Divide your total daily protein requirement into 2-3 meals; adding an extra snack or shake to help you meet your target.
Why does it matter?
Protein provides your body with the necessary amino acids to repair/replace collagen and support either maintaining or creating additional muscle mass underneath your skin which creates a smooth, natural-looking shape, transitions and less of “deflation” between fat loss and muscle atrophy.
2. Strength Training (Resistance): Tone from the inside out
While exercise can help with cardiovascular health, if you want to get a tighter body and better definition, then you need to do some type of strength training.
Target: 3-4 times per week of strength training
You should be doing exercises that use multiple parts of your body at once (Squats, Presses, Pulls, Hinges). Increase the amount of weight or how difficult each exercise is as you continue to perform them.
Strength Training benefits to your body in terms of Skin and Shape:
- Fills out areas that look “flat” or droopy after fat loss
- Helps make the most of your natural body lines and contours
- Supports good Metabolic Health, which will aid in keeping the weight off
3. Collagen & Nutrient Support
The right supplement and nutrition plan can provide additional skin tightening quality support:
- 10 – 20 grams of Collagen Peptides/Day – Many individuals see an improvement in skin elasticity/hydration in 8 – 12 weeks.
- Vitamin C – A co-factor required by your body to produce collagen – Think of it as the “helper” to allow collagen production to occur.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Promote healthy cellular membranes and will reduce chronic inflammation (which over time damages the skin).
- Hydration – Well-hydrated tissue is more pliable and less likely to be damaged when adapting to its new shape.
They are not magic pills, but in combination with Protein and Training provide a solid base to begin seeing noticeable results.
4. Thoughtfully Lowering Your Dose of GLP-1 (if applicable)
If you continue to lose significant amounts of weight with a GLP-1 medication, it may be beneficial to decrease the dose of this medication in an attempt to allow your skin to catch up as well.
A decrease in your dose should always be discussed with your prescribing doctor. However, they will likely recommend that you gradually reduce your dosage over a period of time (as opposed to stopping the medication abruptly), so your body has time to adjust and your skin is able to maintain its “shape” at a relatively consistent size.
4 External Interventions With Strong Evidence
After you have established an inner habit, in-office technology will be able to greatly enhance and intensify your skin tightening results.
1. InMode Morpheus8 (Radio Frequency Microneedling)
Morpheus8 is one of the strongest non-invasive methods that allow for true skin tightening after weight loss and remodeling.
What It Does:
- Transmits Radio frequency (RF) through microneedles to create collagen and elastin
- Creates smoother and more even textured skin
- Will treat all layers of the skin from top layer down to deeper layers to provide better overall skin tightening
Best For:
- Abdomen
- Arms
- Thighs
- Neck
- Jawline
Recommended Plan:
- Three treatment sessions to be performed 4-6 weeks apart
- Annual Maintenance to continue producing collagen
2. InMode EvolveX — Transform
The EvolveX Transform works on two levels simultaneously: skin & muscle.
These are the benefits of using EvolveX Transform after losing weight:
- RF (Radio Frequency) energy is applied to heat the tissues to stimulate collagen contraction and tighten the skin
- EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) stimulates muscle contractions that help strengthen the muscles underneath.
Both functions work together to improve skin tightening after weight loss, which translates into firmness, contours and shape of your body by non-invasive methods.
Recommended Plan:
- 6-8 treatments sessions, once a week
Best treatment for mild to moderate sagging skin and also a good post-Morpheus8 or Quantum maintenance treatment. If you are looking to achieve visible skin tightening and toning without going through an invasive procedure, this is a great option.
3. Professional Skincare Support (Epicutis)
Think of the “construction” being in-office treatments, and think of professional skincare support (such as Epicutis) as the “finishing and protecting.”
Epicutis products help to:
- Reduce inflammation and redness after a series of RF treatments or microneedling
- Repair and strengthen your natural moisture barrier. Thereby, creating a healthier, more resilient-looking appearance to your skin
- Help repair and recover your collagen matrix for tighter, and more long-lasting results
A consistent post-treatment (after each treatment session) regimen using a structured post-treatment Epicutis product will maximize your skin tightening results from each session.
4. Lifestyle Habits
The actions taken each day will be either a contributor or an inhibitor to skin remodeling:
- Maintain your weight for long term consistency to avoid repeated stretch on the same skin area.
- Apply sunscreen daily because UV exposure degrades collagen resulting in increased laxity with time.
- Stop using tobacco products (smoking/vaping) since both have significant detrimental effects on collagen and impede blood flow to the skin.
- Get plenty of sleep. The majority of the body’s tissue repair occurs during deep restorative sleep.
When Skin Tightening Alone May Not Be Enough
Skin tightening alone will probably fail to completely fix your skin if you’ve lost 80-100+ lbs or have extremely loose skin hanging in the form of large folds on your body, especially from your lower abdomen, upper arm areas and/or your inner thigh areas.
You’ll likely need a consultation with a Board-Certified Surgeon for one or more surgical options, i.e., Panniculectomy (to remove excess loose skin hanging from your lower abdomen); Brachioplasty (an arm lift); Thigh Lift; etc. The Morpheus8 and Quantum devices are able to significantly enhance the quality and skin tightening, however, these devices cannot remove all loose skin.
Your Simple Take-Home Plan
There are many ways to follow this and then work with your providers to customize it further to your skin tightening needs.
1. Build Support Internally
- Reach Your Daily Protein Goal
- Take Collagen Peptides (10-20 grams/ day)
- Add Vitamin C & Omega-3s
- Train With Weights 3-4 Times Per Week
2. Do In-Office Tightening Series
- Morpheus8: Complete 3 sessions
- EvolveX Transform: 6-8 weekly sessions
- Quantum: When deeper or more moderate laxity is present
3. Maintain Recovery & Ongoing Support
- Use an Epicutis-Based post-procedure regimen to support skin tightening recovery
- Schedule annual Morpheus8 or Transform maintenance to continue providing your skin with collagen support
4. Maintain Long-Term Protection Of Your Investment
- Practice Sun Protection
- Maintain A Stable Weight
- Live A Healthy Lifestyle
By combining smart internal habits, evidence-based treatments and consistent lifestyle choices, you can help your skin catch up with your new healthier body, so finally your reflection will match how you feel.
You’ve accomplished an incredible amount with your weight loss, but if you’re dealing with excess, loose, or saggy skin after your weight loss, you are certainly not alone.
The right combination of nutrients, exercise, in-office treatments and habits will cause your skin to continue improving for years to come and often exceed your expectations.
If you want a customized program that fits you, your goals, and your GLP-1 and Skin Tightening journey, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation to see how we can assist you in creating a healthy, strong you to be proud of and show off with confidence.
