The mechanism
Skin that has been stretched for a long period may have permanently altered elastin. When the volume beneath it goes, the excess shows. Age, duration of stretching and total loss are the main determinants.
What's specific to this context
- The rate of loss can be faster than with many other approaches, leaving less adaptation time.
- Appetite suppression can make it harder to hit protein targets, which matters for muscle preservation.
- Muscle loss alongside fat loss changes what sits beneath the skin and can make drape more apparent.
- Weight regain after stopping, followed by another loss, means another cycle of stretching.
What to do about it
- Prioritise protein and resistance training throughout — worth raising with your prescriber.
- Expect meaningful retraction to take many months at a stable weight.
- Keep body skin moisturised; comfort and texture genuinely improve even when looseness doesn't.
- Sunscreen on exposed areas to protect remaining elastin.
- Wait until weight is stable before assessing whether any clinical option is worth exploring.
What not to expect
No topical product removes excess skin. That is true here exactly as it is for any other route to weight loss, and it's the claim most aggressively marketed to this audience right now.
