Removing Excess Skin After Weight Loss

Losing even a few pounds can be a great feeling and create improvements to your overall health, so it goes without saying that losing a large amount of weight can be a life-changing and liberating experience. But you might wonder about removing excess skin after weight loss.

Those who were previously overweight and lost large amounts of weight often report reduced pain in their joints and back, lower blood pressure, and improvement in sleep and endurance.

On the mental side of things, losing large amounts of weight can vastly improve a person’s self-esteem; but this newfound confidence can be hindered by loose and excess skin. So, you might think of ways of removing excess skin after weight loss.

Those looking to remove excess skin around the waistline may seek out a cosmetic procedure known as a tummy tuck.

What Causes Excess Loose Skin

When people gain large amounts of weight, the underlying fat cells can push against the skin and stretch it out.

This is especially true when the weight gain happens quickly, or in large amounts, when the elasticity in the skin cannot keep up.

On the flip side, losing large amounts of weight, especially when done quickly, the skin simply cannot snap back fast enough to form to the body as the fat quickly disappears from weight loss.

The result of this is the skin appearing loose and sagging away from the body and people often get frustrated about removing excess skin after weight loss.

This is one of the reasons many doctors do not recommend losing more than two pounds per week when considering extreme weight loss. 

This can be especially true the older a person gets when losing weight, as the body produces less collagen every year after the age of twenty, which is what helps to keep the skin elastic.

In short, the older you are, the less elastic your skin will likely be, increasing your chances of acquiring loose skin after weight loss. So, people might think about skin removal after weight loss and might opt for skin surgery too.

The Challenges with Loose Skin After Weight Loss

The primary challenge people face with loose skin after losing weight is the frustration and embarrassment that can come along with it.

Many people who achieve dramatic weight loss report frustration at having worked so hard to achieve their goals, only to be “trapped” by the appearance of loose skin, which can cause issues being concealed by form-fitting clothes, especially in areas like the stomach and arms.

In extreme cases, physical issues such as chafing, inflammation, and infection can occur from the loose folds of skin rubbing together, trapping moisture in areas such as the stomach, thighs, arms, and buttocks.

How Does a Tummy Tuck Help? 

People are happy to lose weight but sagging skin is one of the things they don’t want it. Tummy Tuck is a surgery that will help you to remove excess skin after weight loss.

A tummy tuck is a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin from the abdomen. This is not to be confused with liposuction, which is a fat removal procedure.

During a tummy tuck, incisions are made, and the skin is pulled tight and smoothed, while the excess skin is removed, allowing for a more toned and flattering appearance on the stomach.

Typically incisions are done alone the bikini line, discreetly hiding any scarring following recovery.

This procedure can be performed in tandem with other excess skin removal procedures such as arm and neck lifts.