Cutis laxa describes rare congenital or acquired conditions in which the elasticity of connective tissue is impaired. The skin may appear loose and sagging. Depending on the type, other organs may also be affected.
Excess skin after weight loss does not automatically mean cutis laxa syndrome. The history, associated findings and, where needed, specialist investigations help distinguish the conditions. The diagnosis should not be made from appearance alone.
A skin-tightening operation can reduce certain areas of excess skin but does not treat the underlying connective-tissue disorder. Whether surgery is appropriate depends on the precise diagnosis, health risks and realistic expectations.