Learn How To Tighten Loose Skin With These 6 Great Tips - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribe

Skin Care

Tips for How to Tighten Loose Skin

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Ana Gotter and Dana Robinson — Updated on April 28, 2025

Firming creams
Supplements
Exercise
Weight loss
Cosmetic procedures
Takeaway

You may be able to tighten loose skin at home with remedies including skin care products and supplements containing hyaluronic acid and collagen. Exercise, weight loss, and minimally invasive procedures may also help.

While there are many ways to develop loose skin, such as pregnancy, aging, and weight loss, you can firm it again.

You can try to tighten loose skin naturally with supplements and lifestyle changes or with surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

Firming creams

A good firming cream contains retinoids, says Dr. Alyson Wells, owner and medical director of Valley Plastic Surgery and Medi-spa.

Retinoids are chemical derivatives of vitamin A and include:

tretinoin (prescription required)
retinoic acid
adapalene

They increase the proliferation, maturation, and turnover of skin cells, Wells says.

She also suggests using creams that contain hyaluronic acid, which attracts and holds onto water molecules. Hyaluronic acid helps:

reduce the depth of wrinkles
increase skin firmness (elasticity)
diminish skin roughness

Wells recommends avoiding skin care products that include lanolin due to the high rate of contact dermatitis (allergic skin reaction) associated with it.

Supplements

While no magic pill can fix loose skin, certain supplements may be helpful. But speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian before supplementing.

A 2022 research review found that oral and topical collagen supplements may help improve skin firmness. Other benefits of collagen may include improved:

hydration and moisture
appearance of wrinkles
roughness

Hyaluronic acid is also available in supplement form. Less research has been done on its ability to firm skin than on its hydration properties. But sometimes loose skin lacks moisture, so extra hydration may be what it needs.

In a 2023 clinical trial of 129 female participants, both younger and older, participants took either 100 milligrams (mg) or 200 mg per day. Researchers found that oral hyaluronic acid:

promoted skin hydration after 2 to 8 weeks
improved skin tone after 4 to 8 weeks
increased skin thickness after 12 weeks

Exercise

Building muscle mass through weight training exercises may help decrease the appearance of loose skin, especially if the loose skin is from weight loss.

If excess fat distends the skin for a long time, weight loss may cause it to lose some of its ability to shrink. Replacing that lost fat with muscle mass may help lessen the appearance of loose skin.

If you have loose skin from a recent pregnancy, consult a doctor before exercising, as you should avoid certain moves.

While facial exercises have been popular since the 1960s, little research supports the idea that they help tighten loose skin. Most evidence is anecdotal and based on personal experiences.

How much exercise do I need?

Adults should try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 days a week. This may include:

brisk walking
biking
swimming
hiking

It’s also recommended to add moderate to high intensity muscle strengthening activity on at least 2 days per week.

If you’re new to exercise, try to set 30 minutes of activity as your goal to achieve over time.

Weight loss

Fat under your skin may make it appear loose. This type of fat is called subcutaneous fat. It most commonly accumulates around your:

hips
butt
thigh
abdomen

Losing fat may help firm your skin in these areas.

To lose fat and weight, you’ll need to maintain a calorie deficit and focus on exercises that promote fat loss or are said to be “fat burning.”

Cosmetic procedures

Many nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedures can help with loose skin. These procedures include:

Chemical peels: Shedding the outer layer of old skin on your face and neck may decrease the appearance of loose, sagging, or wrinkled skin and reveal smoother skin underneath.
Ablative laser resurfacing: This procedure is also known as “laser peeling.” It’s similar to a chemical peel because it removes the outermost layer of old skin. The laser also warms the layers underneath the top layer of skin, which promotes collagen production.
Ultrasound skin tightening: This procedure uses heat to stimulate collagen production. Focused ultrasound energy is transmitted through your skin’s surface to heat deeper layers.
Radiofrequency ablation or microneedling: This procedure also heats your skin to induce collagen production. This method focuses on your skin’s outer layer and is considered minimally invasive.
IPL/RF combination treatments: These treatments combine intense pulsed light (IPL) and radiofrequency (RF). The process heats your outer and deeper skin layers to help with collagen production.
Neuromodulators: This treatment, often referred to as Botox, helps relax wrinkles and needs to be injected into the skin by a professional.

Surgeries can also remove loose skin, known as body-contouring, tuck, or lift surgeries. They involve an incision and the removal of extra fat and skin. These surgeries usually require a hospital stay followed by recovery time at home.

If other loose-skin tightening techniques don’t provide the results you’re looking for, you may choose to consult with a doctor or plastic surgeon to see if body-contouring is the right choice for you.

Takeaway

Having loose skin is common during certain periods of life, such as following a pregnancy or weight loss, and as you get older.

If loose skin bothers you, multiple ways to minimize or reduce it exist, but you can’t completely cure or prevent it.

Try supplementing with hyaluronic acid or collagen, or using skin care products with these ingredients. If your loose skin is due to weight loss, exercising may also help. Other tips include massage or cosmetic procedures.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Al-Atif H, et al. (2022). Supplements for aging and wrinkles: A paradigm shift in the fields of dermatology and cosmetics.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8824545/
American Heart Association recommendations for physical activity in adults and kids. (2024).https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Ana Gotter and Dana Robinson — Updated on April 28, 2025

Learn How To Tighten Loose Skin With These 6 Great Tips - Healthline

Health Conditions

Condition Spotlight

Wellness Topics

Product Reviews

Featured Programs

Featured

Lessons

Newsletters

Lifestyle Quizzes

Health News

This Just In

Top Reads

Video Series

Find Your Bezzy Community

Follow us on social media

Skin Care

Firming creams

Supplements

Exercise

How much exercise do I need?

Weight loss

Cosmetic procedures

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

7 Ways To Tighten Loose Stomach Skin - Innovations Medical

6 Home Remedies To Tighten Skin On Stomach

Loose Skin After Weight Loss: How To Prevent And Treat It

9 Ways To Tighten Loose Skin | PlatinumLED Therapy Lights

Non-Surgical Skin Tightening - American Board Of Cosmetic Surgery

How To Tighten Loose Skin On Your Stomach | Selfologi

How To Tighten Loose Skin On Your Stomach With A Laser - Lumenis

17 Women Share Pics Of Loose Skin After Weight Loss To Prove ...

Laser Skin Tightening Treatments For The Stomach Are Effective With ...

5 Ways To Tighten Loose Belly Skin - Cutis Medical Laser Clinics

How To Tighten Loose Skin On The Stomach - SurgiCare Arts

How To Tighten Loose Belly Skin [After Weight Loss Or Pregnancy]

How To Get Rid Of Loose Skin Without Surgery | Holland & Barrett

Contact