Why Loose Skin Happens After Significant Weight Loss
Have you or someone you know lost a significant amount of weight? Weight loss can be quite a struggle for most people but also quite an accomplishment when the final goal is achieved. For most individuals, losing the weight becomes the primary focus and few people think about the effects that loosing weight has on the contour of the body. With weight loss, the surrounding envelope of our body (skin) tends to deflate and sag. This happens when the skin fails to contract after a significant change in volume.
Body Contouring is a general term that is given for many different procedures performed by plastic surgeons to correct the effects of loss of volume and deflation of the skin envelope. Because this deflation can occur on any part of the body, there is a specific procedure that can be used to improve each part of the body.
Procedures That May Be Recommended After Major Weight Loss
Below is list of common procedures done after weight loss to improve contour.
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
- Thigh Lift
- Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
- Buttock Augmentation/Lift
- Mastopexy (Breast Lift)
- Breast Augmentation
- Facelift
When Is the Right Time to Consider Surgery?
Before undergoing any of these procedures, we typically recommend being at a stable new weight for 6 months. This assures that the body is in a relative homeostasis with regards to nutrition and the potential for healing. It also prevents further unexpected weight loss after a procedure that could cause further laxity. This assures an optimal result long term. During consultation, patients will be asked which areas of the body bother them starting from the highest priority to the least. This gives the surgeon an idea of how to stage and recommend which procedures to do first. Two to three body parts can be addressed during the same surgery setting but most total body contouring is staged through multiple operations depending on the patients’ desires.
Setting Realistic Expectations for Your Transformation
All of these surgical procedures produce considerably dramatic and durable results over time and should not be compared to non-surgical options such as some office based procedures. Patients should realize that significant alterations in the body’s contouring can only be safely achieved in an operating room setting through these procedures by a trained and accredited surgeon.
Ready to Learn More?
Every weight loss journey is unique, and the best way to understand your options is through a one-on-one consultation. If you’re considering surgery to address loose skin after significant weight loss, the team at SANDS Aesthetics + Plastic Surgery is here to answer your questions and help you determine the right path forward. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation and take the next step toward completing your transformation.
