Tightening Loose Skin After Weight Loss – Post Weight Loss Cosmetic Surgery

An unfortunate consequence of losing weight for many is the excess, sagging skin that remains after the fat has gone. While losing weight alone is a great – and often sufficient – step towards improving one’s health and appearance, many people find that their post-weight loss bodies – especially when these bodies are the result of rapid weight loss - are not as attractive as they imagined, and their loose, sagging skin can interfere with their other goals in life.

Many obese and morbidly obese people struggle for years to lose weight before finally taking the step and undergoing gastric bypass or lap-banding surgery. This surgery allows them to lose weight quickly, and within months many achieve a healthy weight. For many of these people, the next step is removing the excess skin remaining after their weight loss.

These skin problems can exist on several parts of the body including the stomach, arms, thighs, buttocks and breasts. Dr. Michael Tantillo a plastic surgeon from Boston cautions that the loose skin remaining after such weight loss will not necessarily tighten up on its own.

What is the Best Way of Dealing with Excess Skin?

For those who have lost large amounts of weight, the most popular plastic surgery procedures are breast lifts, arm lifts, tummy tucks and liposuction. Sometimes one or more are performed at the same time in a combination surgery (depending on the extent of the problem, and the length of the operation). Patients can use these procedures to achieve a much more esthetically pleasing physique, which almost inevitably leads to an increase in self-esteem and confidence.

Stories of Plastic Surgery Success

Tina is a 53 year old woman who lost almost 180 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. However, she was left with a large quantity of excess skin. She went to surgeon Dr. Dennis Hurwitz, who performed a total body lift and face lift on her. The surgeries removed skin from her abdomen, thighs, arms and face to reshape her entire body.

Twenty-nine year old Heather wanted to lose weight before her marriage, so she underwent a gastric bypass operation that saw her losing 200 pounds. Unfortunately, she was left with a lot of loose skin, leaving her feeling unattractive, so she consulted plastic surgeon Dr. Al Aly, who performed a circumferential tummy tuck on her (this is also known as a belt lipectomy), which tightens skin from around the entire circumference of the body. She also underwent a breast reduction and lift.

Those familiar with the TLC documentary, “The 650 Pound Virgin” would have heard the story of David, who promised his mother before she passed away that he would lose his excess weight. David lost weight via diet and exercise alone. In a period of just over two years he managed to lose a staggering 410 pounds. As a result, David was left with excess skin all over his body. He sought the expertise of Dr. Mehdi Mazaheri who performed a series of operations on David to remove and tighten all the excess skin, in a total body lift procedure.

No matter how a person loses their excess weight, whether by diet and exercise or with help from gastric bypass surgery, a large number find that they are left with unattractive, uncomfortable saggy skin. A good plastic surgeon can perform one or more procedures to remove, lift and tighten the skin, enabling the person to achieve an attractive body.