“You lost weight, and now you look like a grandmother” ... Shocking verbal abuse from a boyfriend after a dramatic 40-kg weight loss [Health Talk]

[Financial News] A story about someone suffering from severe sagging skin and stretch marks after losing at least 40 kg in a short period due to complications from major surgery was revealed, drawing sympathy.

A guest who said they wanted to regain confidence in their appearance appeared on a recent episode of KBS Joy’s Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller. 
The guest said they lost 40 kg in just six months after undergoing major surgery for a stomach condition. But the rapid weight loss left his skin severely sagging, and they spoke of deep-seated insecurity about their appearance and depression, saying they had even been subjected to harsh remarks such as, “Your body looks like a grandmother’s.”

The guest also opened up about being hurt in relationships because of their insecurity about their appearance. They said, “I told my boyfriend in advance that I’d had surgery, but when we were physically affectionate, he would seem taken aback or say it was disgusting,” and added, “My longtime boyfriend compared me to other women and said, ‘Your body looks like a grandmother’s. The other girls work out and get personal training, so why are you still the same?’” they lamented. 

After hearing this, Seo Jang-hoon emphasized the need for exercise, addressing the guest, who had concluded that change was difficult without doing anything.

He advised, “If you don’t want people to see it, you should work hard at exercising and try to get back to where you were. How can anything change if you just sit there lamenting? Whether you live with your insecurity without exercising or work out and live with a firm body is up to you.” 



When a person loses a significant amount of weight in a short period, the volume of fat cells decreases quickly, but the skin surrounding them cannot recover at the same pace. When elastic fibers such as collagen and elastin in the dermis, stretched out, lose their elasticity and rupture, the skin can sag limply, like a deflated balloon.
Experts agree that controlling the pace of weight loss and maintaining a structured strength-training routine are key to minimizing sagging skin.
First, the guiding principle of weight loss is to lose weight gradually. A generally healthy rate of weight loss is 0.5–1 kg per week, or around 2–3 kg per month. If a person loses several dozen kilograms in a short period due to fasting, extreme calorie restriction, or complications from surgery, the skin’s elastic fibers may not have time to contract back into place, making permanent sagging more likely.
Second, strength training (anaerobic exercise) should be included. If not only fat but also muscle mass is lost as weight comes off, the internal support structure disappears, making sagging skin more pronounced. Regular resistance training can help fill the space left by lost fat with firm muscle, supporting the underlying skin and greatly improving its appearance and firmness.
Third, consume sufficient protein and fluids. Protein is an essential nutrient not only for building muscle but also for supporting collagen production in the dermis. Consuming good-quality protein in amounts that meet daily recommendations, along with vitamin C and plenty of fluids, can help support the skin’s renewal cycle and restore its elasticity.
However, when skin has already become stretched after a loss of several dozen kilograms and has been left that way for a long time, exercise or dietary changes alone have limits in fully restoring it to its original condition.
Plastic surgeons advise that “in many cases where people lose 30–40 kg or more in a short period through surgery or treatment for severe obesity, the skin tissue itself becomes stretched and fibrotic.” They add that “mild sagging can be eased with radiofrequency or ultrasound lifting procedures, or ongoing strength training, but for severe sagging—where skin hangs like an apron around the abdomen, arms, or thighs—people can consult a specialist and consider medical treatments such as body-contouring surgery to remove excess skin.”

[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter