Losing weight can be frustrating when your skin begins to loosen and excess body fat appears. Unfortunately, both conditions may appear similar, so it’s essential to distinguish them.
When you’ve experienced significant weight loss in a short amount of time, it can be challenging to tell whether the loose skin is from fat or just excess skin. This confusion may leave you feeling frustrated or discouraged.
Loose skin often occurs after significant weight loss, as the collagen fibers that keep your skin elastic no longer exist. But if you’ve shed some pounds but still experience sagging skin, there are ways to help reduce its appearance.
What is Loose Skin?
Loose skin, also referred to as sagging skin, is a widespread condition that often develops on the abdomen and other parts of the body due to weight loss, aging or pregnancy.
You can tell the difference between loose skin and fat by performing two tests: visual inspection and pinch test.
To perform the pinch test, grab some loose skin on an area of your body and pinch between your thumb and forefinger; if it feels solid, chances are it’s fat; if it feels like fabric then it is likely just loose skin.
If you are concerned about sagging skin, there are ways to help combat its effects. Exercising regularly at high intensity and duration may help firm skin.
Eating a diet that is balanced and nutritious, with various protein sources, vitamins, and minerals can help lift the appearance of sagging skin. Furthermore, maintaining adequate hydration levels is key in order to promote healthy skin.
As with other health issues, finding the source of loose skin can be a beneficial first step. Aging is often to blame for this condition; either genetics or exposure to environmental elements may contribute.
As we age, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin proteins – the building blocks of skin elasticity – which give it its natural resilience after stretching. When these proteins are depleted, stretch marks will no longer bounce back after being stretched.
Loose Skin Vs Fat
The Pinch-An-Inch Test
The pinch-an-inch test has long been used to gauge whether someone is overweight. But exercise physiologist Fabio Comana of the American Council on Exercise believes this method of assessment isn’t accurate.
He emphasizes that this test only works for loose skin, not fat. Furthermore, factors like age and skin elasticity can influence results.
To perform the pinch-an-inch test, locate three skin fold sites on the right side of your body (front of thigh for men and triceps for women) and use calipers to measure their thickness. Measure each site twice for accuracy.
The Skinfold Caliper Test
Measure the thickness of skin at various sites on your body with a caliper. These measurements help estimate body fat, which may help you decide whether or not to shed pounds or build muscle mass.
Calipers are an affordable and accurate way to measure body fat. However, their precision may differ depending on the caliper used and how it’s used.
To use the caliper, hold it in your dominant hand with the thumb on top and index finger on the bottom. Place the jaws of the caliper about one centimeter below your fingers, and then release the trigger.
Read off its dial to the nearest millimeter (mm). Do this three times at each location, averaging these results to get a total score for that location.
The Skin’s Elasticity
Skin elasticity refers to your skin’s capacity for snapping back into place after being stretched. This ability is supported by two proteins produced by your body: collagen and elastin.
With age, our skin’s supply of proteins diminishes, leading to loose and saggy skin. It’s essential to understand why our skin stretches and droops because there are steps you can take to increase its elasticity.
One of the primary causes for skin elasticity is sun damage. UV rays cause aging, damaging collagen and elastin fibers within your dermis.
To maintain skin elasticity, get enough sleep and drink plenty of water. Additionally, consume a diet rich in antioxidants and reapply sunscreen throughout the day.
The Weight Loss Test
The weight loss test works similarly to the skinfold caliper test in that it measures a person’s body fat percentage. To do this, doctors may use an ultrasound machine to scan the human body and measure how thick adipose (fat) tissue is.
Although ultrasound can provide a fairly accurate measure of fat tissue, an MRI or CT scan is likely the more precise option. This is because ultrasound cannot give a complete picture of the entire body, while MRI and CT scan provide clearer images.
Other weight loss tests include the skinfold caliper test and a comprehensive blood profile that includes complete blood counts, C-reactive protein estimation, and homocysteine analysis.
These can help your doctor detect issues like anemia, low-grade inflammation, or metabolic disorders that could be impeding on your progress towards weight loss.
How to Tell If It Is Loose Skin Or Fat
First, pinch the skin around your wrist or on the back of your hand with your fingers to see how tight it appears. If there are only a few millimeters of extra skin present, that indicates extra thickness; however, if there is more than that, then there likely exists stubborn fat that needs to be eliminated.
Second, pay attention to how jiggly your stomach gets when sitting down. A layer of subcutaneous fat lies beneath your skin, representing stored energy stored as energy.
However, having too much body fat — commonly referred to as being overweight or obese — can pose a serious health risk.
Fortunately, there are numerous methods to firm up your stomach and tone it at the same time.
One popular treatment involves performing strength training three times a week followed by aerobic exercise on the remaining days. This combination of exercises will strengthen muscles while tightening surrounding skin to reduce flab.
Will I Have Loose Skin After Losing 50 Pounds?
Losing 50 pounds can be a monumental milestone for many. Though the process may be challenging and frustrating, it also offers you the chance to drastically change your body in ways you never imagined possible.
One of the unfavorable effects of rapid weight loss can be loose skin. This is especially common if there has been an abundance of fat loss from one area, such as your abdomen.
Loose skin can occur if you quickly shed too much weight, or have been carrying around extra fat for an extended period. Prolonged obesity will stretch your skin and damage collagen and elastin that keep it tight.
Good news: you can prevent excessive sagging by losing a few pounds each week. Doing so will enable your skin to adjust and regain its tightness.
Your skin’s ability to adjust depends on how quickly you lose weight; however, as more fat is shed, the faster the changes may take effect.
Additionally, following a nutritious diet and exercising regularly will aid your body in healing itself. These lifestyle modifications reduce the likelihood of sagging skin, giving you more time to reach your objectives.
However, if after several months there are still no improvements or your skin has started to sag in areas that appear more prominently, then surgery may be your best bet.
Plastic surgeons offer body contouring procedures to reduce excess sagging skin – and oftentimes these procedures are covered by most insurers.
