How can I get rid of excess skin after weight loss?
For anybody struggling with being overweight, reaching their goal weight is great news. It can improve the patient’s quality of life, both mentally and physically. In most cases, however, patients find that the quality of their skin has changed in certain areas. While the difficult task of losing stubborn fat has been surmounted, a new issue rears its ugly head: excess, sagging skin.
After losing a large amount of weight, the skin can start to sag pretty much anywhere, including on the face, neck, buttocks, arms, legs, and stomach. The degree to which patients experience skin sagging is more or less related to the amount of weight they have lost and the amount of time that they were overweight. Thankfully, there are various remedies available today that can address this issue.
Natural methods for reducing excess skin on the belly
First and foremost, it should be mentioned that reducing excess skin is not an easy task. When people are overweight for a very long period of time, their skin loses its elastic quality, making it unable to retract. This is also due in part to collagen loss and damage to the elastin. The older a patient is, the more difficult it is to treat this condition.
Strength and resistance training
These workouts are well-known for their ability to reduce the appearance of loose skin, replace fat, and increase muscle mass. Lifting weights and practicing yoga are both highly effective methods for building muscle. Overall, this approach is popular due to its efficacy in both younger and older people.
Staying hydrated and getting plenty of vitamins
Different vitamins play a role in treating loose skin. Vitamin C can aid in fighting off skin damage, protein is known for stimulating collagen production, and omega-3 fatty acids in fish provide elasticity. Above all, drinking ample amounts of water is paramount for healthy skin. Hydration is key for healthy-looking skin.
Avoid smoking and excess sun exposure
This advice applies to everyone. Smoking and getting copious amounts of sun can both lead to a weathered aesthetic in the skin. Applying SPF regularly is a good way to ward off the effects of sun exposure.
These methods can provide benefits for patients who have experienced only a small or moderate amount of weight loss. It is nearly impossible to remove drooping skin and skin folds using only these techniques.
It is vital that patients keep their skin folds clean and dry in order to prevent rashes or infections.
The surgical approach
There are various surgical treatments available that can address sagging skin after losing a large amount of weight. The most prominent one, however, is body contouring.
Body Contouring
These procedures typically involve making incisions and removing excess fat and skin. The incisions are sutured shut with tiny stitches to ensure that any visible scars are as small as possible. Treatments such as a tummy tuck, a body lift, and a thigh lift are able to remove fat from the lower belly, buttocks, thighs, and hips. Surgical intervention can also be used to remove excess skin from the breasts, back, upper arms, and inner and outer thighs.
Some body contouring procedures include:
- A body lift, which helps achieve a tighter aesthetic in the lower body and midsection
- A breast lift, or mastopexy, is designed to improve the position and shape of sagging breasts
- Breast reduction, which can decrease the weight of the breasts
- Breast augmentation with implants, which can address volume loss
- Liposuction to reduce fat accumulation in problem areas
- An arm lift, which can address sagging arm skin
- A thigh lift, which can provide relief for patients experiencing chafing in the inner thigh region
- A facelift, which can reduce jowls
- Male breast reduction, which can recontour the male chest, giving it a more masculine aesthetic
What is the takeaway?
Patients can choose either a natural or surgical approach to dealing with excess skin, depending on how much weight loss they have experienced and the extent of skin sagging. While natural methods can be highly effective, it goes without saying that surgery achieves the most dramatic results. The surgical route may take years to complete, but it is the most common and effective approach to addressing this issue.