After massive weight loss, it can be hard to enjoy success when you have excess loose skin. You have done the hard work and achieved something incredible, but it’s tough to see how far you have come. Several procedures eliminate loose skin to help you finally see all your hard work.
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
Several factors cause loose skin following significant weight loss. Our skin is mainly made up of proteins like collagen and elastin fibres. These proteins give the skin a firm appearance and allow it to snap back in place after stretching it.
When you gain weight, the skin remains stretched for a long time, and the collagen and elastin fibres become damaged. When you lose weight finally, your skin lacks the proteins to help it snap back to its original shape. That stretched skin loses its firmness and therefore remains hanging on the body.
Besides collagen and elastin loss, excessive weight gain also damages the collagen left in the skin. After weight loss, your skin will therefore contain less collagen. The skin’s composition is also different compared to the collagen of younger and healthier skin. Other factors that contribute to loose skin after weight loss are age, general health, genetics and lifestyle choices like smoking.
Dealing With Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Skin is incredible; it can expand and shrink as your weight fluctuates. The only problem is when you gain and lose a large amount of weight, as this can cause permanent changes to your skin’s structure. Loose skin is common in people who’ve had weight loss surgery that has resulted in significant weight loss in a relatively short period of time.
Excess skin can make daily activities and finding clothes that fit challenging. Hygiene can also be an issue with excess skin with problems like sores and rashes. Loose skin can also be painful as it can irritate your skin or tug at you.
Not to mention, it can be highly frustrating that your body doesn’t reflect the positive image that you have worked to create. So, while loose skin after weight loss is normal, it can provide a unique set of discomforts if it’s too much.
Can Loose Skin Ago Away on Its Own?
Excessive sagging skin after weight loss won’t go away on its own. Usually, whether you will be left with loose skin or not depends on how much excess skin you have and how well the skin responds to weight loss. It may also depend on factors like your age, genetics, skin quality and most importantly, how much weight you lose. Depending on the circumstances, you might see some changes or not.
People who may see their loose skin improve a bit are those who don’t have stretch marks and younger patients who still have good skin quality despite weight gain and loss. In the end, the quality of your skin determines your final results. After a significant weight loss, it is recommended that you give your skin a couple of months to a year to see if there will be any noticeable tightening before opting for cosmetic surgery after weight loss.
How To Avoid Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Starting your weight loss journey can be exciting, especially when you start seeing results. However, the thought of loose, sagging skin after putting in the work can be discouraging. So, are there ways to ensure you don’t end up with loose skin after your weight loss?
Gradual Weight Loss
While it may not be what everyone wants to hear, gradual weight loss is better than rushing through the process in so many ways. Avoid extreme weight loss tactics like fasting, as these can leave your skin more vulnerable to wrinkling and sagging. Substitute unhealthy foods with healthy ones, eat smaller potions and try to lose at least one kilogram a week.
Build Muscle
When you begin losing weight, your skin will begin to sag as the space filled with fat remains empty. The best way to avoid that is to lose weight by building muscles instead. Building muscle is advantageous because you continue burning calories long after your workout session, thus facilitating more weight loss.
Quit Smoking
Cigarette chemicals affect your skin’s elasticity in the long run by preventing nutrients from being transported throughout the body. This results in dry skin, premature wrinkles and skin that doesn’t shrink back after weight loss.
Stay Hydrated
As you begin your weight loss journey, ensure that you stay hydrated. Staying hydrated will help fuel your workouts, and not to mention; it helps suppress your appetite. The same also helps boost your skin’s elasticity, ensuring that you don’t have loose skin after losing weight.
Ensure That You Protect Your Skin
Ageing happens to all of us and can take a toll on our bodies and skin. However, good skin care habits can make all the difference when you start losing weight. So always ensure that you care for your skin by avoiding too much sun exposure and wearing sunscreen when going outside.
How Can You Get Rid of Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
When you lose a significant amount of weight, the first thing you need to do is congratulate yourself. Weight loss is a tough journey. But, after all your efforts, loose skin can stay in places where you once had more fat, like your stomach, thighs, arms, and chest. The amount of skin you have left can change from one person to another. Different types of procedures can deal with excess skin after weight loss. Loose skin surgery may involve procedures like:
Lower Body Lift
The lower body lift, also known as a belt lipectomy, focuses on removing excess skin from the abdomen, outer thighs, hips, and buttocks. Often, these areas are where many find they are left with excess skin. If you find that your excess skin is mainly in the lower body, a lower body lift may be suitable for you.
Tummy Tuck
Are you wondering how to tighten loose skin on the stomach? A tummy tuck focuses more on the abdomen. If there’s excess skin around the stomach, a tummy tuck can remove the excess skin and fat.
Thigh Lift
If you want to solely target your thighs, then a thigh lift may be the right option. A thigh lift removes excess skin, creating more toned thighs that are more in proportion with the rest of your body.
Arm Lift
An arm lift can target excess, sagging upper arm skin if you’re struggling with excess arm skin. The procedure can tighten and define the arms, making them look more shapely.
Body Contouring Surgery for Excess Skin
All of these procedures fit into the body contouring category of cosmetic surgery. Combining multiple procedures into one surgery is normal, especially if you have several areas of concern. For instance, combining a tummy tuck with breast surgery is common.
Are you wondering how to get rid of loose skin and considering a surgical fix? First, speak to an experienced plastic surgeon about your options so you can make a well-informed choice with all the facts.
Book a consultation today at the Harley Clinic if weight loss has left you with excess loose skin.
