Excess skin is a common side effect of considerable weight loss.
There are many benefits to achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight. In fact, losing excess weight can go a long way in improving your overall physical health and improving your quality of life. Unfortunately, one of the possible side effects of considerable weight loss is loose and saggy skin. Saggy skin can affect the face and body, and is a common side effect of fat loss in these areas. Read on to find out why skin becomes saggy following weight loss, and what you can do if you are struggling with the issue…
Why does weight loss cause saggy skin?
If you have been carrying excess weight for many years, the collagen and elastin in your skin may have been stretched and damaged. This can make it difficult for the skin to retain its elasticity after you have lost a significant amount of weight, and can lead to sagging. Sagging and loose skin is also more likely to become an issue when weight loss happens quickly, such as in the case of weight loss surgery.
Besides significant weight loss, saggy skin can be caused by a number of other factors. These include ageing; pregnancy; and certain medical conditions.
What are the treatment options?
If you have noticed that your skin is particularly saggy following weight loss, you might consider a treatment designed to reduce excess skin. In the case of significant sagging, some patients choose to undergo a body contouring or cosmetic procedure, such as a tummy tuck, arm lift, body lift, or thigh lift. It is important to note that these procedures involve major surgery and a significant recovery period, both of which are important factors to think about. If you are considering cosmetic surgery, we encourage you to speak to your surgeon about your options and to raise any questions or concerns that you might have.
In the case of moderate sagging, there are a few minimally invasive treatments that can help to improve the skin’s elasticity. These include laser therapy, laser resurfacing and micro-focused ultrasound. These treatments help to improve the overall tone of the skin, as well as increase firmness in various areas of the body.
Although saggy skin cannot be resolved with exercise, activities that help to build and tighten muscles can reduce the appearance of minor skin sagging in certain areas of the body.
How can we help?
Dr Kevin Dolan offers tummy tuck procedures for patients who would like to correct excess skin and fat, as well as muscle laxity of the abdominal region. During the procedure, excess skin and fat is carefully removed and the muscles of the abdominal wall are tightened for a firmer, more toned abdomen. The procedure is often a highly effective option for patients who have been through massive weight loss.
It is important to note that while a tummy tuck is a great treatment to undergo after weight loss, it is not a substitute for weight loss or exercise. To find out more about the procedure, and what it involves, please have a look here.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, or a tummy tuck procedure following major weight loss, we encourage you to come in and see Dr Dolan. If you are ready to arrange a consultation with Dr Dolan, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.