Most people who lose a substantial amount of weight are left with excess skin in different areas of their body. Some of these individuals are not prepared for this stage of the process and become anxious and frustrated. They are excited about losing weight and looking and feeling better, but they are disappointed by the way their body looks and by the fact that they are still unable to wear fashionable clothing.
Sadly, when a person who has suffered from obesity loses a significant amount of weight, loose skin is unavoidable, and there is really nothing you can do to prevent it. The good news is that a skilled cosmetic surgeon can offer you both surgical and less-invasive options for getting rid of it based on the severity.
Why Does Weight Loss Surgery Cause Loose Skin?
People usually gain weight gradually, and as they do, their skin stretches to fit their increased size. Sometimes their skin stretches far beyond its natural limits; it loses its normal elasticity, and stretch marks develop. When individuals who are obese undergo surgery to restrict their calorie intake, it often leads to the rapid loss of fat beneath their stretched-out skin. Because this skin no longer has the ability to retract, it hangs loose, sags, and can even fold over upon itself in layers, inhibiting mobility and causing medical issues.
How Much Excess Skin Will I Have After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
It is challenging to predict exactly how much loose skin someone may have after gastric sleeve surgery because everyone is different. Things like their age, genetics, degree of weight loss, and more will have an impact on how much loose skin they are left with after their surgery. Usually, the risk of excess skin after gastric sleeve surgery increases relative to the amount of weight they have lost. Because loose skin can lead to both physical discomfort and emotional issues, it is important for those who are considering surgery to understand that gastric sleeve before and after skin issues are a normal result of significant weight loss and have a plan in place to handle it.
Excess Skin After Gastric Sleeve Surgery Can Cause Issues If Not Removed
No one is happy with the appearance of excess weight before gastric sleeve or after when left with extra skin that is loose and saggy. There are several issues that patients who end up with excess skin face, including:
The Way It Looks
Many patients are unhappy with their appearance after losing a significant amount of weight. They have worked so hard to lose weight and made so many changes to their lifestyle that it seems like a cruel twist to have traded one problem for another. Aside from being disappointed by the way they look, this loose skin also creates challenges they never thought about. Trying to zip up a smaller pair of jeans is a daunting task because of all the excess skin that is pooling down and in the way. Men may avoid wearing anything even slightly form-fitting because sagging skin on their chest looks like they have deflated breasts.
Skin Irritation And Infections
When excess skin folds create skin-to-skin friction, it can become very irritated, cause a rash, or even cause chafing. If the irritation is severe enough, it can bleed, swell, or begin to develop scabbing. The areas most susceptible to chafing are the inside of the thighs, under the arms, stomach, or pannus (excess skin hanging down in an apron-like formation below the belly). These areas can also become infected if moisture is trapped between the layers, allowing bacteria to develop.
Mobility
Loose skin after weight loss surgery can make it difficult for you to carry out your daily tasks because, if severe enough, it can create physical barriers that inhibit your movement. You may find any type of physical activity, like bending, walking, or even sitting down, uncomfortable or almost impossible. Many people become frustrated because their weight loss has increased their energy levels, but their excess skin is preventing them from enjoying it.
Gastric Sleeve Before And After Skin Elimination
Below you will see a picture of a real patient who experienced significant weight loss and had cosmetic surgery to remove the excess skin and fat that remained. You can see for yourself how great of a difference having the excess skin and fat removed makes in the patient’s appearance, and you can be sure that their mobility has improved and their clothing fits and looks better as well.
What Are The Options For Removing Loose Skin After Gastric Sleeve?
Many areas of your body can be left with loose skin after you have lost a great deal of weight. You may find that you have excess skin issues on your arms, thighs, back, chest, stomach, flanks, etc. You may be unhappy with how this looks or you may be experiencing difficulty doing routine tasks, but take heart because these issues can be alleviated. Depending on the locations and severity of the excess skin, there are both surgical and non-surgical ways to treat it.
Surgery To Eliminate Extra Loose Skin
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
- Dr. Angelina can perform a tummy tuck to remove excess skin, tighten weakened or separated abdominal muscles, and even reposition the belly button if needed to smooth out the entire stomach area and provide a natural-looking appearance.
- Pannus Removal (Excess Skin Hanging Down Below The Belly Button)
- The loose skin that hangs down under the belly button and often covers the pubis area can be eliminated and alleviate chafing, making it easier to exercise and improve the way your clothing fits. Dr. Angelina cuts away this excess skin in a surgery called a panniculectomy. This surgery only gets rid of extra loose hanging skin and does not tighten the abdominal muscles like during a tummy tuck. If you desire to know which surgery will correct your cosmetic concern, set up a consultation to speak with Dr. Angelina.
- Lower Body Lift
- Excess skin can accumulate in different locations and affect each person differently after losing weight with gastric sleeve surgery. Dr. Angelina can customize a lower body lift to correct loose skin that has developed on the top of the thighs, on the back, and buttocks to help eliminate physical discomfort and improve their appearance. Sometimes, a thighplasty may be necessary to eliminate loose skin on the legs after weight loss surgery.
- Arm Lift And Bra Roll
- Loose skin on the upper arm can be surgically removed during an arm lift, and a bra line lift can help eliminate any loose skin that is draping from the upper back. Sometimes this is done in conjunction with liposuction to ensure smoother, more natural-looking contours.
- Breast Lift
- After losing a bunch of weight, women often complain that their breasts are flat and appear deflated. Dr. Angelina often pairs a breast lift with breast implants to correct the excess skin and restore natural-looking volume to the breasts.
Men can also experience an accumulation of fat on their chests and loose skin after weight loss that causes the appearance of deflated breasts. This can be corrected with surgery to remove loose skin to flatten this area and create more masculine chest contours.
Non-Surgical Options For Eliminating Loose Skin
Less invasive med-spa treatments may be used to eliminate minimal amounts of loose skin as well as enhance its surface. Some of the treatments available include:
- BodyTite™
- BodyTite is minimally invasive and reduces fat and tightens skin using radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis (RFAL). During this treatment, Dr. Angelina inserts one part of a small instrument beneath the skin into the fat layer while the rest of the handheld device passes over the skin’s surface, working together to eliminate fat and tighten the skin.
- Morpheus8
- Morpheuse8 combines microneedling and radiofrequency to tighten loose skin and reduce cosmetic imperfections. It works by delivering energy deep into the skin’s layers to trigger collagen and elastin production and can significantly correct mild to moderately loose skin without the need for surgery. Patients notice gradual but marked improvements in the texture and appearance of their skin over the course of a few months after Morpheus8.
- SylfirmX
- This treatment is very similar to Morpheus8 but can penetrate a bit deeper into the skin’s layers to safely treat a number of skin issues, including mild to moderately loose skin. It combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy and stimulates collagen and elastin production which results in tighter and firmer-looking skin. It also helps to improve skin texture by reducing fine lines and balancing skin tone.
- Evolve
- Evolve is a collection of body contouring treatments designed to eliminate fat, tighten skin, and tone muscles. Evolve Tite, Evolve Trim, and Evolve Tone do not require surgery and can be used individually or together depending on the results you desire. These procedures are painless, quick, and safe for all skin types, with no downtime required.
- Evolve Tite uses heat energy to tighten up the subdermal layers of the skin, leaving your skin smoother and tighter-looking while also boosting the production of new collagen;
- Evolve Trim uses a combination of vacuum suction and heat to treat subcutaneous fat and reduce smaller areas of visible cellulite;
- Evolve Tone can enhance muscle definition once excess fat and skin have been eliminated. It can help enhance a toned appearance while actually making your muscles stronger without having to exercise.
- PHYSIQ
- PHYSIQ treatments can tighten loose skin, improve your muscle tone, and get rid of stubborn fat deposits. They are a great finishing touch after you have done as much as you can to sculpt and tone your body with diet and exercise.
Maintaining Your Results
After losing weight with gastric sleeve surgery and eliminating excess skin with cosmetic surgery, you will have to continue making healthy lifestyle and behavior choices to maintain your amazing results. You will need to eat a healthy diet that is full of nutrients and engage in exercise and strength training to prevent flabby skin from forming.
Make sure to stay engaged with your support system and reach out to your weight loss doctor or cosmetic surgeon with any questions or concerns.
Who Can Help Me With Loose Skin That Resulted From Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss?
Dr. Angelina Postoev is a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon with SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics who can eliminate excess skin after gastric sleeve surgery or after other procedures resulting in significant weight loss. You can soon compare your before and after skin removal pictures and see the wonderful results.
If you have lost weight and are dealing with loose skin, set up a consultation with SurgiCare Arts & Aesthetics. Dr. Angelina will chat with you about your medical history and current health and determine the best plan to eliminate your loose skin and give you the results you want.
If you are planning to have weight loss surgery, she can help you create a plan to deal with the excess skin you will have left after you hit your weight loss goal. She can also help you be prepared in what to expect along your weight loss journey and provide you with tips and strategies that can enhance your results. Set up your consultation today to learn more.
