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loose skin after weight loss

What Causes Excess Skin After Weight Loss?

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Losing a significant amount of weight is a major accomplishment. Whether it’s done with bariatric weight loss surgery or through lifestyle changes like eating better and exercising, losing weight can help improve your overall health and appearance. Unfortunately, it’s common for people who have lost considerable weight to experience excess, sagging skin in areas all over their bodies. Carrying excess weight can cause the skin to stretch. This stretching can make it tough for your skin to bounce back into shape after weight loss when it no longer needs to stretch as far. Loose skin after weight loss may affect certain people more than others. This is because every person is different, as is the makeup of our skin.

What Causes Excess Skin After Weight LossSome factors that lead to stretched, excess skin are completely out of a person’s control. For instance, collagen is vital for maintaining skin elasticity. As we age, natural collagen production slows down, leading to sagging skin. For people who go through weight loss at a younger age when their body is still producing more collagen, it is more likely that their skin will remain firm and tight. Genetics can play a role as well. Some people are genetically more or less likely to experience skin laxity after weight loss.

The specific details of your weight loss matter as well. This includes how many times you have gained and lost weight in the past. It becomes more challenging for your skin to retain its elasticity every time it is stretched by gaining weight. The amount of weight you lose also makes a difference. The more weight you lose, the more likely you are to experience sagging skin. Additionally, those who lost their weight through bariatric surgery tend to be at higher risk for excess skin than people who lost their weight naturally. This is because it is easier for your skin to gradually shrink as your body does. Losing so much weight all at once can make it difficult for your skin to bounce back to normal.

For many people, post-weight loss surgery can be an excellent way to put the finishing touches on their new body contour after weight loss. Post-weight loss surgery involves using body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck or thigh lift to remove excess, hanging skin. The result is a tighter, healthier-looking physique. Although it may not be right for everyone, post-weight loss surgery can provide tremendous relief for those with a considerable amount of sagging skin around their abdomen, thighs, arms, back, face, neck, and other areas.

There is no way to know for sure whether or not you will face severe skin laxity after significant weight loss. However, for those that do, it’s comforting to know that post-weight loss surgery can help fine tune your appearance and allow you to fully enjoy the new appearance you worked so hard to achieve. For more information on post-weight loss surgery or if you would like to schedule a cosmetic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, today. Follow along with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for additional tips, news, and more.

Ask Dr. Elliott: What to Know Before Thigh Lift Surgery

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For many people, as the years go on, maintaining the appearance of our upper legs can prove difficult. Stubborn, diet-resistant fat can accumulate on the thighs, making the legs look heavier, older, and less fit than many of us would prefer. Additionally, excess sagging skin on the thighs that results from major weight fluctuation, weight loss surgery, or general aging can also negatively affect the appearance of your legs and impact your overall body image. For those who have struggled to tone their thighs with diet and exercise alone, thigh lift surgery can be an excellent solution. Thigh lift surgery (or thighplasty) can help patients refine their upper leg area by surgically removing excess fat, skin, and tissue. I have taken time to answer some common questions about thigh lift surgery to help patients who are considering this outstanding cosmetic procedure.

What to Expect after a Thigh LiftQuestion #1: How do I determine which type of thigh lift will be most beneficial for my aesthetic needs?

There are several methods in which a thigh lift can be performed. The most common of these is a medial thigh lift. During a medial thigh lift, an incision is made in the inner thigh area to help patients who experience significant excess skin along the inner thigh. Other common thigh lift techniques include the lateral thigh lift and the mini thigh lift for patients who only experience sagging skin and tissue in the upper third of their leg. Determining which thigh lift method will best address your aesthetic concerns requires a consultation with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Question #2: How much recovery time is required after a thigh lift?

The time it takes you to recover following your thigh lift depends on the type of thigh lift procedure you undergo as well as your anatomy and healing ability. Generally speaking, most patients can resume most of their normal daily activities (including returning to work) within two to three weeks after their surgery. However, it’s important not to put too much stress on your legs in the weeks following your procedure, as this can negatively impact the results of your thigh lift. Smoking and other forms of nicotine can also affect your body’s ability to heal following surgery. After six to eight weeks, patients can normally return to more strenuous exercise routines.

Question #3: How long will my thigh lift results last?

Thigh lift results are intended to be long-lasting. As long as you maintain a stable, healthy bodyweight following your procedure, the results of your thigh lift can last for several years. In order to promote the best, longest-lasting results from your surgery, it’s important to closely follow your plastic surgeon’s post-surgery instructions and attend regular follow-up appointments.

I hope you found these answers informative. For anyone struggling with the appearance of their thighs, a thigh lift can provide a safe and effective path to the trimmer, healthier-looking legs that you desire. For more information on thigh lift surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. And don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for additional cosmetic surgery tips, videos, news, and more.

Ask Dr. Elliott: What to Know About Post-Weight Loss Surgery

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Undergoing weight loss surgery can be a dramatic, life-changing event for anyone who needs help to reach a stable, healthy bodyweight. But for many patients, after their weight loss surgery their work is not quite finished. It’s common for people who have had a major weight fluctuation to experience stretched, sagging skin in areas all over the body including the abdomen, arms, thighs, and more. This excess skin can negatively affect your appearance and damper the enjoyment of your new trimmer, healthier physique. Thankfully, post-weight loss surgery can help by utilizing body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck or thigh lift to tighten your physique and shed that unpleasant extra skin. Below, I answered a few common questions to help explain how post-weight loss surgery can help put the finishing touches on your new appearance.

Ask Dr. Elliott What to Know Before Arm Lift SurgeryQuestion #1: Is post-weight loss surgery always necessary after significant weight loss or can my skin recover on its own?

It is extremely unlikely that loose skin left after significant weight loss will tighten on its own. Post-weight loss surgery is a cosmetic procedure, so it is by no means mandatory, but it can be extremely helpful after a great deal of weight loss has occurred. Choosing whether or not to undergo post-weight loss surgery is merely a matter of personal aesthetic preference.

Question #2: Is it safe to have multiple post-weight loss procedures performed at once?

Some of my patients love having the opportunity to combine multiple procedures into one post-weight loss surgery. This can help reduce recovery time and costs, while also providing more comprehensive body contouring results. However, not everyone is necessarily healthy enough to combine multiple procedures, and you should speak with your board-certified plastic surgeon about this possibility during your consultation.

Question #3: What makes someone a good candidate for post-weight loss surgery?

In addition to having loose, sagging skin following significant weight loss, good candidates for post-weight loss surgery should be at their healthy goal weight before undergoing any procedures. Good candidates should be in good mental and physical health and maintain positive, but realistic expectations for their procedure and recovery.

I hope you found this informative. Weight loss surgery can be an amazing way to earn a new lease on life for many patients. Post-weight loss surgery can help ensure that you get the most out of your experience and enjoy your new body contour as much as possible. For more information on post-weight loss surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more cosmetic surgery tips, photos, videos, and more.