The amount of excess skin after weight loss that you’re likely to experience will depend on several factors, such as how old you were when you lost the weight, how much weight has been lost, how quickly you lost the weight and how many times you have lost and gained weight. If you really want to get rid of excess skin after weight loss, there are some surgical options.
Excess Skin After Weight Loss: Is Surgery the Right Option?
The surgical options available range from getting a full body lift to a tummy tuck, but there are important reasons as to why you shouldn’t undergo these procedures. Aside from the price, these surgical options also come with a risk of death or serious complications.
The removal of extra skin isn’t medically necessary and there’s nothing wrong with having extra folds of skin. What matters is how comfortable you feel in your skin and there are several ways to accomplish loving your body that don’t involve surgery.
Lifting weights can be the key to loving and accepting your body. Strength training will make you stronger and help you to appreciate your body’s abilities. Yoga and pilates can also be an excellent solution when it comes to improving both your body and mind. Both yoga and pilates will challenge your body and push it to its limits.
Stop comparing your body to others. This is crucial when it comes to combating unrealistic expectations of how your body can look and will frustrate you further causing a lack in motivation and even depression. Comparing yourself to models or younger women can make it almost impossible to appreciate your current progress and how strong you’ve become.
Purchase clothes that fit your new body. Shopping around and finding your own style can help to boost your self acceptance and teaches you how to have pride in your body.
Tips on How to Deal with Loose Skin After Weight Loss
There are many ways to tighten your skin after weight loss. Loose skin can occur after pregnancy or even after dropping a lot of weight quickly. In some cases, surgery is the best option for loose skin removal. For the treatment of excess skin of the abdomen there are two common procedures: panniculectomy and abdominoplasty. Panniculectomy is a procedure that’s recommended if you’re experiencing skin infections or breakdown from hanging skin or loose skin on the abdomen. During this procedure the loose skin is removed and tightened, but the muscles will not become tightened. Many health insurance companies will cover this procedure because it’s medically necessary in order to improve your health. Abdominoplasty involves both the skin and muscles tightened. This type of procedure is considered cosmetic so it will not usually be covered by your health insurance.
If you have excess skin after weight loss surgery, then speak to your bariatric surgeon regarding your options. Your doctor will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding specific conditions and they can recommend different types of treatments.