Skin Removal
Post Weight Loss
Skin Removal
Post Weight Loss
For many people, losing weight is an important aesthetic goal at some point in their lives. It takes hard work and determination, and for most, they are proud and pleased with their results. However, losing weight can trigger a different aesthetic concern for others: loose skin. This is because when a person loses a significant amount of weight, either through diet and exercise or weight loss surgery, the skin stretched by the excess weight may not be able to retract to fully fit the new body shape.
At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we understand the frustrations and limitations of sagging skin and offer a variety of cosmetic procedures to address skin removal post weight loss to help you transform your body into the youthful, slim silhouette you deserve.
Why Is Skin Loose After Weight Loss?
When you lose significant weight, your skin may not shrink back to its former size and shape, leading to loose or saggy skin. This happens because the skin has elastic qualities and can stretch to accommodate the excess fat or weight, but it may not be able to contract back to its original size and shape once the weight is lost.
Additionally, when you lose weight, you lose not only fat but also some muscle mass, which can contribute to sagging skin appearance. When muscles are not toned, they do not support the skin, which also leads to a loose and saggy appearance.
Finally, factors such as age, genetics, and the length of time the excess weight was carried can also affect how much the skin will sag after weight loss. In general, older individuals, those with a genetic predisposition to loose skin, and those who have carried excess weight for a long time may experience more pronounced sagging.
In this video…
Our patient Jaci shares her weight loss story at her Pre-Op Consultation with Double Board Plastic Surgeon, Alan N. Larsen, MD.
Watch Jaci’s whole inspiring story & amazing transformation in our Video Gallery.
How Can I Lose Weight Without Getting Loose Skin?
While excess skin after weight loss is a common issue, there are several strategies that may help minimize loose skin:
- Gradual weight loss – Losing weight gradually, at a rate of 1-2 pounds per week, may help the skin adjust more slowly and reduce the risk of loose skin.
- Strength training – Building muscle through strength training can help fill out loose skin and create a more toned appearance. Focus on exercises that target the areas where excess skin is most likely to occur, like the arms, back, thighs, and abdomen.
- Hydration – Drinking plenty of water can help keep the skin hydrated and improve its elasticity. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water per day.
- Healthy diet – A diet rich in nutrients, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats, can help support skin health and reduce the risk of loose skin.
Even if you follow these strategies to reduce the risk of loose skin after weight loss, there is no guarantee that sagging skin will not be an issue. This is when patients turn to Buckhead Plastic Surgery for skin removal post weight loss, giving them a contoured look that enhances their new shape without excess skin.
What Is Skin Removal Surgery?
Skin removal surgery, also known as body contouring or skin tightening, can be performed on different areas of the body, such as the abdomen, arms, thighs, and buttocks, and may include procedures such as a tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, and lower body lift.
These types of surgeries remove excess skin and tighten the remaining skin to create a smoother, more contoured appearance.
During a skin removal (excision) procedure, Dr. Alan Larsen will make an incision in the skin and remove the targeted section of tissue. The incision will then be closed using sutures that are dissolvable under the skin. At Buckhead Plastic Surgery, skin excision may be performed using a variety of minimally invasive techniques that can reduce the incision size and minimize scarring.
Skin excision may be performed under general anesthesia. Recovery time after skin excision will depend on the size and location of the excised area, as well as the individual’s overall health and healing ability. Your team at Buckhead Plastic Surgery will provide you with specific instructions for postoperative care, including how to care for the incision site and what activities to avoid while you heal.
Depending on how much skin needs to be removed, Dr. Larsen will create a treatment plan for patients to follow in stages for ideal and safe results. For example, tummy tucks can be done in conjunction with a breast lift or breast augmentation (implants), but these procedures cannot be done along with other extremities like arms and legs. Skin removal post weight loss cannot be done on arms and legs at the same time. This means patients can do a body lift with breast lift/breast augmentation first. Then they can do arms and then things. may need to do skin removal post weight loss in stages. For example, a patient may choose to do an upper body lift; after fully recovering from that procedure, they will return for a lower body lift. Dr. Larsen usually recommends waiting 3-6 months between procedures, depending on each individual’s recovery process.
What Types of Procedures Are Available?
Several cosmetic procedures can be performed to remove excess skin after weight loss. The specific procedures recommended will depend on your body shape, the location of the excess skin, and the extent of the excess skin.
The tummy tuck is a popular procedure for men and women of all ages because it removes droopy abdominal skin and repairs the bulging abdominal muscles (often stretched during pregnancy). It also removes a limited amount of excess fatty tissue to provide a tighter, flatter, more youthful abdominal contour and waistline. With an abdominoplasty at Buckhead Plastic Surgery, we usually liposuction the flank or “love handle” area to help even things out, unless there is excess skin all the way around and then a body lift is recommended.
Even with exercise, removing excess skin on the arms post weight loss can be nearly impossible, which is why the arm lift is another popular choice with stunning results.
A thoracic Brachioplasty, also known as an upper body lift, is a similar procedure that targets the arms, chest, and upper back. Both procedures involve making incisions around the targeted areas to remove excess skin and fat, then lifting and tightening the remaining skin to create a smoother, more contoured appearance.
This procedure is an upper body lift combined with a breast lift or breast augmentation. Both can be done in one procedure. A breast lift or mastopexy is a procedure designed to improve the appearance of sagging breasts by lifting the breasts and removing excess skin for a more youthful appearance. For women who want more fullness and larger breasts, they may elect to get breast implants (breast augmentation), which can also be done with an upper body lift.
This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the thighs and can also tighten the underlying muscles. The main goal of a thigh lift surgery is to reduce excess skin that causes poor contours of the legs and should only be performed once a healthy, stable weight has been reached.
This procedure removes excess skin and lifts the breasts to a more youthful position. When seeing the final results, women are thrilled with their breast lift results and their renewed feminine figures. For women who desire more fullness in the breasts, implants can be used for dramatic, yet natural-looking results.
This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and outer thighs.
When you have excess skin that goes all the way around your body, the incision is low like an abdominoplasty, but it does go all the way around the lower part of your body
Why Choose Buckhead Plastic Surgery for My Post Weight Loss Skin Removal?
Buckhead Plastic Surgery, located in northeast Atlanta, is an exclusive, boutique plastic surgery practice established more than 20 years ago by double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Alan N. Larsen. Our practice showcases the expertise and world-class technical skills of Dr. Larsen, who has assembled an outstanding medical and aesthetic team. Buckhead Plastic Surgery offers today’s most safe and effective treatments to help with skin removal post weight loss. No matter what kind of aesthetic goals you have in mind, Buckhead Plastic Surgery can help you achieve them. Schedule your consultation today!
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The LUX Med Spa Membership Program is a great way to maintain a consistent skin care regimen at affordable prices.
LUXurious Skin Members can take advantage of exclusive savings every month on some of our medical spa’s most popular treatments.
Save Every Month
The LUX Med Spa Membership Program is a great way to maintain a consistent skin care regimen at affordable prices.
LUXurious Skin Members can take advantage of exclusive savings every month on some of our medical spa’s most popular treatments.
Patient Photo Gallery
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Video Gallery
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Alan N. Larsen, MD.
Double Board-Certified Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Larsen established Buckhead Plastic Surgery as a boutique practice to offer world-class, personalized service to women and men throughout the Southeast. Dr. Larsen’s compassion and talent are complemented by his elite training with some of the nation’s finest plastic surgeons.
Alan N. Larsen, MD.Double Board-Certified Atlanta Plastic SurgeonDr. Larsen established Buckhead Plastic Surgery as a boutique practice to offer world-class, personalized service to women and men throughout the Southeast. Dr. Larsen’s compassion and talent are complemented by his elite training with some of the nation’s finest plastic surgeons.