Loose skin is one of the topics that tends to get either glossed over or used as a scare story in conversations about bariatric surgery. Neither approach is particularly helpful. So here’s our honest experience.
It Happens, and It’s Normal
When you lose a significant amount of weight — especially rapidly — the skin doesn’t always shrink back at the same pace. Skin has elasticity, but it has limits, and those limits are affected by age, genetics, how long the weight was carried, and how quickly it was lost.
Rapid weight loss after gastric sleeve, combined with the fact that many people having the surgery are middle-aged or older (when skin elasticity is naturally reduced), means that some degree of loose skin is extremely common. Not universal, but common.
Where We Notice It
For us, the main areas are the stomach and the inner arms — the places where the most significant change happened. It’s not dramatic, but it’s there. Clothing covers it in most situations, which is part of why it doesn’t feel like the dominant experience of the journey — it exists, but it doesn’t define things.
What Helps
Strength training helps to some degree — building muscle underneath the skin can improve the overall appearance and tone. Staying well hydrated supports skin health generally. Good moisturising routines help with texture and feel even if they don’t dramatically change the structure.
For significant loose skin, surgical removal (skin removal surgery or body contouring) is an option some people choose. It’s a separate surgical procedure with its own considerations, cost, and recovery — not something to rush into, but a legitimate option for people for whom the loose skin is significantly affecting quality of life.
The Honest Perspective
Loose skin is a trade-off. We chose to have surgery knowing it was a possibility. And with full knowledge of how we feel now compared to before — we’d make the same choice again.
Disclaimer: This post is based on our personal experience and is intended for general information only. It should not be taken as medical advice. Every journey is different, and it’s important to speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your own circumstances before making any medical decisions.