Body Contouring for Excess Skin Removal after Weight Loss

Your skin after weight loss

Skin is a biological wonder. Not only is it your largest organ, but it’s also your body’s first line of defense against bacteria and other harmful environmental aggressors. Your skin also has an incredible ability to stretch and accommodate your body, especially when you gain weight.

Its ability to stretch is thanks to two proteins called collagen and elastin. Collagen keeps your skin strong, while elastin gives it flexibility and elasticity. These proteins maintain your skin’s integrity, but they become irreparably weakened or damaged when you gain significant weight and carry it around for years.

That’s why you have to deal with sagging skin after achieving monumental weight loss, particularly if you’ve lost over 100 pounds.

Loose skin after weight loss can affect anyone, regardless of how the weight was lost, and it can occur in more than one area of your body. Your face, neck, jowls, upper arms, breasts, abdominal area, buttocks, groin, and thighs are all equally susceptible to developing large, hanging pockets of sagging skin.

Not only does this impact your emotional health, but it can also pose a threat to your overall physical health. Skin hanging loose and flat against your body can become overly moist and infected.

Addressing your skin with surgery

Whether you’ve climbed the weight loss mountain armed with nothing but sheer determination, a gym membership, and a new diet, or you’ve conquered the scale by opting for surgical weight loss, you can put a period at the end of your story with body contouring surgery.

You begin with a consultation to assess your medical history and discuss your goals and expectations. You’re a good candidate for this procedure if you’ve reached a stable, healthy weight, don’t have any underlying medical conditions, aren’t a smoker, have a positive outlook on your health, and have realistic goals.

After Dr. Polavarapu determines if body contouring surgery is right for you, she gets to work creating your customized treatment and surgical plan.

She offers a wide range of surgeries to address all of your body and skin issues including:

• Body lift
• Breast lift
• Arm lift
• Thigh lift
• Tummy tuck
• Facelift
• Neck lift

No matter where your folds and sags appear, Dr. Polavarapu uses her skill and expertise to delicately remove unwanted skin. Incisions made during surgery vary in length depending on the area being treated, and are strategically placed so they can usually be hidden by clothing once you’ve recovered.

Body contouring surgery is typically done in phases, and it’s possible that this last part of your weight loss journey could take a year or two to complete, especially if you need more than one procedure.

Recovery times vary, but you can expect that it will take up to two weeks after surgery before you can return to your normal routine. And you should avoid strenuous activity for several weeks to make sure your sutures stay in place.

The best part about these procedures, however, is that results are essentially instant. Once you’ve recovered and are back on your feet, you can see exactly how effective body contouring surgery is.

It’s best to keep up a healthy lifestyle to get the most out of your treatment, but don’t be discouraged if the natural effects of aging cause your skin to sag ever so slightly. We can always touch up your results in the coming years with our many aesthetic procedures.

You’ve waited this long to be the healthiest and most confident you’ve ever been — don’t stop now. Let Dr. Polavarapu help you finish what you’ve started. If you have more questions or are ready for a consultation, call our office at 817-615-8576, or schedule an appointment online today.