The Truth About Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery: My Personal Journey
Written by Hussein Al-Rumaithi
One of the most common questions that comes up when people consider weight loss surgery, and rightly so, is about loose skin. Will I have it? How much? What will my body look like? Can I hide it with clothes? Will it impact my personal life? These are all incredibly valid concerns, and for many, cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin is a clear and often necessary option, especially when the amount is significant.
But here’s a truth that often gets overlooked in the conversation: Do you actually need cosmetic surgery? And if you do, are there ways to make that journey easier, or even minimize the need for extensive procedures? My answer is a resounding YES.
First, let’s be honest with ourselves: if you’re losing a significant amount of weight, particularly after bariatric surgery, loose skin is a reality. It’s part of the process. For example, I was nearly 340lbs at my heaviest. Losing over half of that weight meant I was definitely going to have loose skin. However, if you were to assess me now, or if a professional cosmetic surgeon were to, they’d likely tell you that what I need would be very simple and minimal.
Why? Because three months after my weight loss surgery, I started lifting weights. For someone in my situation, it wasn’t just about lifting; it was about lifting heavy and being consistent. I invested in a personal trainer to ensure my technique was spot-on, preventing injury and maximizing my efforts. Then, I honed in on something transformative: compound lifts.
What are compound lifts? They’re exercises that engage multiple muscles and body parts simultaneously, even while targeting a primary muscle group. Take the barbell back squat, for instance. While it’s renowned for working the quads and glutes, it also powerfully engages your core, hamstrings, lower back, and truly, your entire body.
The seven foundational compound exercises that truly cover your entire body are:
- Deadlift
- Bench Press
- Shoulder Press
- Barbell Row
- Squat
- Romanian Deadlift
- Pull Ups
Think of it like building a house. You could hire 20 workers to focus solely on the windows, and they’d get those done quickly. But the rest of the house would remain unfinished. Compound lifts are like inviting 100 construction workers to build the entire house at once. They’re efficient, comprehensive, and incredibly effective. This is the fundamental difference between compound and isolated exercises.
The incredible advantage of being consistent with these exercises is their power to reduce the amount of excess skin after weight loss. Imagine: you’re building muscle, lifting heavy, and simultaneously shedding fat. As that fat diminishes, muscle takes its place, leading to a more toned and sculpted physique over time. And you might be surprised by the elasticity of your body and skin, especially when combined with a proper diet and some simple home remedies and skincare.
This journey is deeply personal, and while loose skin is a natural part of significant weight loss, it doesn’t have to define your outcome. With dedication to strength training, you can truly transform your body, inside and out.
