Building muscle mass in the arm can help tighten loose skin.
Many people are distressed by loose skin on their arms and want to do something about it. Possible ways to minimize the appearance of loose skin include upper arm exercises, skin care regimens and, in some cases, surgery. If sagging skin is caused by drastic weight loss, some people find that giving the body some time to adjust after reaching its goal weight can sometimes result in an improvement in the appearance of underarm skin. In cases where the extra skin on the arm is accentuated by a significant amount of body fat, losing more weight can also help.
Loose skin on the upper arm can tighten as the body adjusts to weight loss.
Sagging arm skin is often the result of stretched and damaged skin that lacks the elasticity to return to its previous shape after a person has experienced significant weight or muscle loss. In many cases, loose skin on the arms is primarily a cosmetic problem, although some people find that the folds of loose skin can become irritated and even infected. Both the appearance of loose skin and the risk of irritation often motivate people to find ways to contract their upper arms. In some cases, the appearance of extra skin on the arm can be exacerbated by the fact that there are still significant fat deposits on the arms. People who are in the process of losing weight may find that as they progress towards their weight loss goals, the sagging skin on the arm may diminish and they may be more satisfied with their appearance.
Arm exercises help tone the muscles and skin of your arms.
Once the skin is significantly stretched, it becomes damaged beyond the point of being able to tighten when a person loses weight or volume in the arms. As such, few options exist for people who want to tighten loose skin on the arm without surgery. Some doctors advise people who have experienced dramatic weight loss to give their bodies a year or two to adjust before making decisions about surgical procedures. In the meantime, these people may be advised to do arm exercises that can tone their arms and build muscle mass that can reduce the appearance of loose, sagging skin. Other options include using an upper arm scrub and moisturizer that can improve the condition of the skin and help eliminate or minimize skin wrinkles.
Building muscle mass can help reduce the appearance of loose skin.
Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure, usually performed by plastic surgeons, that can remove loose skin from the arms. People should be aware that health insurers generally do not cover this type of surgery. Also, brachioplasty recovery time can take several weeks and there is always a risk of complications. Many people, however, may find this to be the most effective way to tighten loose skin on the arm when other methods have not given the desired results.