When you see those drastic transformations where people lose and keep off a ton of weight, they have to get the excess skin removed surgically. So it can “grow” or stretch but doesn’t “shrink”. Does the skin just stretch out a lot as fat grows inside the body?
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Skin is elastic, which means it can stretch, but that it’s also pulling back on itself. It functions in a similar way to a rubber band.
Stretch the rubber band out and then let go and it returns to its normal size.
Stretch it out and hold it like that for a few hours, and when you let go of the rubber band, it won’t return back to it’s original size and shape.
Skin is basically the same. When it comes to people who have been obese for a long period of time, any rapid weight loss (particularly if it’s surgical) is going to result in loose skin. People who lose weight through small amounts over a longer period of time will have very little (if any) loose skin because the skin can and will heal on its own, it’s just a slow process.
This is the reason why women often have loose skin on their stomachs and breasts after giving birth and nursing.
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