### What Can Be Done About Loose Skin After Significant Weight Loss? When you lose a lot of weight, you might end up with loose, extra skin. This can be frustrating and can cause health issues like rashes, infections, and back pain. The elasticity of your skin depends on how long you were overweight, your age, and genetics. Unfortunately, there's no magic cream or drug to fix it. Building muscle can help a bit, but surgery is often needed to remove the extra skin. Only about 20% of weight loss surgery patients opt for body contouring due to the high cost, which can be around $30,000. Health insurance might cover a tummy tuck but usually not other areas. Surgeons typically require you to maintain your weight for 6 months before surgery and will only work on one or two areas at a time to reduce complications. Surgery leaves scars, but they can be hidden by clothing. Some people choose to accept their new body with loose skin as a reminder of their weight loss journey. It's important to embrace your new, healthier body, even with its challenges.