5 Tips to Shed Excess Skin after Weight Loss Surgery

The following content is a guest post by Lindsey Brackett. The opinions, representations and statements made within this guest article are those of the author and not of Dr. Steven Fass. For more information about Dr. Fass’s services, please call (512) 334-1885 or visit his website to fill out a contact form.

Congratulations! You’ve taken a major step toward improving your quality of life and undergone a successful weight loss procedure. Unfortunately, as the pounds dropped rapidly, your skin loosened dramatically.

Excess skin that collects in folds and hangs loosely around your upper arms, thighs, and abdomen, is a common complaint of weight loss patients. Because your skin is an elastic tissue, it stretched to accommodate your larger size. But after dropping poundage, your skin has nowhere to go, especially because your weight loss has happened quickly.

But there are solutions that can help you reinvigorate your skin and gain back the tautness you desire.

Be Patient

As difficult as it may be, one of the easiest and most cost effective solutions is to simply wait it out. Your body may never be tight, but you are healthier, and eventually some of your skin will regain its elasticity. Continuing your diet and exercise regime will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and figure.

Focus on Muscle

Muscle burns fat, and resistance training helps you burn your overall body fat, which is the culprit for most of your excess skin. Just losing weight will not always reduce your body fat to a healthy level. Isolate the muscle groups you most want to improve, increase your weight training, and consider activities such as calisthenics to tighten and tone. Be sure you have your doctor’s approval for any new exercise program.

Try Natural Remedies

Vitamins A, C, and E help boost elasticity and might be a necessary component for your body’s restoration. Shea butter and skin firming lotions may be helpful as well.  A home remedy of castor oil and lemon juice is said to improve skin’s appearance.

Stimulate Blood Flow

Remember, your skin is a tissue and stimulating blood flow will help it to regenerate. Try using a loofah or dry brush rubbed over your skin before your shower. Sea salt scrubs are excellent exfoliates as well as stimulators. Treat yourself to a massage to relax your muscles and invigorate your skin.

Consider Aesthetic Procedures

If your excess skin continues to be uncomfortable, or if it causes you to battle infections because it is difficult to keep clean and dry, you might consider an aesthetic procedure. Many patients undergo body contouring surgeries after rapid weight loss for physical and emotional well-being. But not all methods have to be surgical. The following procedures are safe and effective for reducing excess skin.

The most common plastic surgery choice is abdominoplasty. This focuses on the abdominal area, and can be done as a full, partial, or mini depending on your target areas and whether the skin above your naval is affected. Your surgeon will make an incision from your hips, stretch the skin and remove the excess. Following the procedure, you will have to wear a drain and compression garment until healed. Talk with your surgeon about other areas of skin you wish to reduce so that you only have one surgical experience.

A shorter, more subtle procedure, is to undergo Thermage CPT. This uses radiofrequency energy pulses that work down to the collagen in your skin to stimulate regeneration. This tightens and lifts. Performed as a series of micropulses, the procedure might give you a level of discomfort, though cooling sensations and vibrations are used to help alleviate this.

Ultherapy, a non-invasive procedure, uses ultrasound waves to help create natural looking results. Similar to thermage, you may have to undergo the procedure numerous times to achieve your desired effect.

You’ve worked so hard to achieve your goals, don’t let excess skin slow you down. Something can be done, and you can then look as good as you feel.