With all the health and aesthetic benefits of losing weight, there is one negative: excess skin. Weight loss, especially when it is significant, creates a major shift in your physical makeup. By generating such a great change in the volume of what is beneath the skin, you run the risk of having excess skin present. As you age, the proteins in your skin that contribute to its strength and structure begin to break down, so when you lose weight your skin isn’t always able to contract and nicely “hug” your new contours. And while you can lose excess fat through diet, exercise, or a procedure such as gastric bypass, you cannot lose excess skin quite as easily.
If this is your situation, a body lift may be your only option. A body lift is a surgical procedure aimed at removing excess skin and stubborn, localized pockets of fat to reveal your hard-earned transformation.
Have You Already Lost the Weight?
You are a candidate for a body lift if you have lost a significant amount of weight and have lax, hanging skin that you are unhappy with. You should also have reached your goal weight and been able to maintain it for at least one year. If you are planning on losing additional weight, you should postpone your body lift surgery until after you have reached your goal. Additional weight loss may once again highlight excess skin and diminish the quality of your results.
What Procedures Are Right for You?
A body lift is essentially a complete overhaul of your circumferential midsection. It targets the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to contour the shape of these features and remove excess skin. If you have excess pockets of fat that have been resistant to weight loss, liposuction can help reduce them. Although this will not result in the loss of very many pounds, you will notice a substantial tightening and firming of the treated areas.
If you have skin laxity in regions of your body other than your midsection, body contouring procedures are a possible solution. Body contouring offers relief from excess skin on the arms by way of an arm lift, or from sagging or deflated breasts with a breast lift, breast augmentation, or a combination of the two.
How Can a Body Lift Help Maintain Weight Loss?
The excess skin that is present after weight loss is not only unsightly, but it can increase the likelihood of skin irritations such as rashes. It can also make exercising difficult, as the excess often gets in the way and prevents you from performing exercises correctly. A body lift changes your physical appearance in the short term, and it helps you maintain your weight loss. Without the excess skin, you will be able to exercise, participate in sports, and gain the confidence needed to motivate you to keep that new physique in shape.
If you have lost a substantial amount of weight and now have excess skin, contact Dr. Martin O’Toole at (626) 449-8910 to set up a consultation.