I have 60 lbs-80 lbs to lose due to taking anti bipolar medication , and I’m scared of loose skin especially on my face /neck
Since rapamycin is a potent autophagy inducer . Will it lower the risk of loose skin ?
Lastly does anyone know how to regenerate heparin sulfate ?
This study found that patients who lose weight rapidly after gastric bypass and develop massive skin laxity have a shortage of heparan sulfate. The other components in skin such as collagen, elastin and GAG were either normal or increased
Hi, I don’t think we know if rapamycin has any effects on lose skin; I’ve never come across any research papers that touches on this topic with rapamycin. And, the area of autophagy is relatively new also, and I’ve not seen any papers on it related to lose skin but I can see why you might think it could help.
Perhaps others here have some thoughts on these types of issues, or on how to increase heparin sulfate production in the body.
I lost 30 lbs and got loose skin on Rapa, but I’m 63 years old. You’re much younger and I think it will be minimal. I’m so glad to be rid of the weight that the small amount of loose skin doesn’t matter. Good luck,
This doesn’t answer your question, but what you may also have heard, if you lose the weight at a more slow and steady pace, it should help more with laxity vs losing it very quickly.
Weight is such a hard thing and I wish you much luck in your efforts!
That’s a large amount to lose and it will result in excessive loose skin afterwards. Rapa won’t help. Don’t wait with skin tightening procedures until you loose weight. Instead you need to start them during your weight loss.
Loose skin is unavoidable when losing a significant amount of weight (over 10kg)
One aspect of skin, elastin is critical to having supple skin (and flex/springiness) in many other areas besides your skin) Elastin is what gives our bodies “spring” and is present in many tissues.
Unfortunately there is no way to restore or rejuvenate elastin and it degrades as we age and is not replaced. So depending on ones age will determine if the “loose skin” will reconfigure itself.
Anyone over the age of 30 has already lost a significant amount of elastin.
As someone who has lost 50lbs since Jan of 2023, most of that in 2023 and a few more this year, I’m looking at Shar Pei belly Not likely it will resolve at my age of 68. But I’m healthier now that I have been in the past 25 years, so I’m more than happy to be where I am and don’t really care how my belly, arms or face looks
There is some speculation that maintaining a healthy level of GH (growth hormone) could possibly enable elastin to improve.
No amount of collagen, hyaluronic acid, etc can restore elastin.
Elastin is abundant in elastic tissues, and tissues rich in elastin include the aorta and major blood vessels (28–32% dry mass), the lungs (3–7%), elastic ligaments (50%), tendons (4%), and the skin (2–3%) (Uitto, 1979). Elastin and elastic fibers are also found within liver and myocardial tissues.
Clinical Relevance of Elastin in the Structure and Function of Skin
@Sabrina1980, I’m thrilled you’re being proactive and hope you find some good strategies for preventing it as much as possible.
I lost 75 pounds (75% of my current weight!) slowly over 4 years between ages 48-52 well before starting rapamycin. I have loose skin but honestly I don’t think it’s too bad considering and I much prefer my health and body composition now regardless of the loose skin. I’ll be happy to share G rated pictures of my neck and abdomen if you’d like to see how it looks in real life on a middle aged woman.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read the “theory” that Rapamycin via autophagy could remodel your skin while you lose weight. Haven’t seen any evidence to support this theory.
Not likely it will resolve at my age of 68. But I’m healthier now that I have been in the past 25 years, so I’m more than happy to be where I am and don’t really care how my belly, arms or face looks