Can you tone loose skin?

What can exercise actually change?

Strength and resistance exercises build lean muscle, which can help with mobility and sometimes make loose skin look less noticeable. Think of exercise as improving what sits beneath the skin, not removing the skin itself. Diet and exercise can help after major weight loss, but they will not eliminate the excess completely. There is no established number of workouts or deadline that makes hanging folds disappear.124

After bariatric surgery, wait for your surgical team to check your wounds and clear you before starting an exercise programme. Early activity should be gradual, such as walking; avoid abdominal and vigorous exercise during the first few weeks.4

Will loose skin tighten with time?

After substantial weight loss, loose skin is unlikely to shrink back by itself and often becomes a lasting change. How much remains depends on age, genetics, how much and how quickly you lost weight, and how long your skin was stretched at your previous weight. Younger people generally have better skin tone, but that does not mean large folds will disappear.123

What can you do without surgery?

A moisturiser can support hydration and improve skin's appearance, but removing excess skin is not a job that fits inside a jar. No skincare product can completely eliminate loose skin, regardless of the promise on the packaging.1

• Eat protein foods such as eggs, fish, beans, tofu or dairy to support skin tissue repair and muscle building.
• Wash between skin folds with a pH balanced liquid cleanser, then gently pat the area dry. Trapped sweat and moisture can cause rashes.
• Choose loose clothing made from natural fibres or fabrics that dry quickly or move moisture away from skin to reduce rubbing and dampness.
• Compression garments can help manage the appearance of loose skin, but they do not remove it.

See your GP if folds become sore, infected or repeatedly irritated, or if loose skin becomes a major problem in daily life. If the change in appearance is causing emotional distress, your GP or bariatric psychology team can help you access support.13

When is surgery the useful option?

Surgery removes substantial excess skin from areas such as the abdomen, arms or thighs. Body contouring means surgery to remove excess skin, not a more ambitious name for a workout. The tradeoff includes scars, surgical risks and recovery time. Procedures are often staged, with several months of rest and recovery for each.15

Plan an assessment when you are close to your target weight and your weight is stable. After bariatric surgery, body contouring is usually deferred until at least 18 months after the operation. A surgeon should assess your health, the areas needing treatment and what recovery would involve. NHS funding is generally limited to exceptional clinical circumstances, so discuss eligibility with your GP rather than assuming removal is included in weight loss treatment.25

Fat freezing is not a substitute: CoolSculpting targets fat beneath the skin and is not useful when excess skin looseness is the problem.5

What if loose skin is not from weight loss?

Ageing is another common cause. Rarely, loose skin reflects cutis laxa, a disorder of the body's supporting tissue in which skin's elastic fibres are damaged or reduced. It can be inherited or acquired. That needs medical assessment, not a toning routine; treatment focuses on associated complications, and skin surgery can offer only temporary benefit.67