How to Minimize Excess Skin After Significant Weight Loss
The great news is that you met your goal and lost all the weight you wanted. Congratulations are in order!
The not so great news is that you may be left with excess skin that is sagging and looks just awful. Now that you’ve gotten rid of the fat you are confronted with another challenge: how to get rid of this excess skin.
When you lose a significant amount of weight your skin can sag just about everywhere from your face and neck to your buttocks, arms, legs, and stomach. The amount of weight you lost and the length of time that you were overweight both contribute heavily to this result. Unless you are prepared to cover yourself up from head to toe for the rest of your life, other options should be considered.
Best Natural Remedies to Minimize Excess Skin
Let’s start by telling you it won’t be easy. When you have been overweight or obese for a very long time, you skin loses its ability to retract. This is due to loss of collagen and elastin damage. The older you are, the more difficult it will be.
Strength and Resistance Training
This type of workout can decrease the appearance of loose skin, can help to replace the fat, and can build muscle mass. Lift weights, use resistance bands, and practice yoga to build muscle. The best part is that this particular method can help both younger and older people.
Take Hydrolyzed Collagen
It comes in a powdered form and can be found at health food stores or online.
Stay Hydrated and Eat Certain Nutrients
Think Vitamin C for protections against skin damage, protein for collagen production, omega 3 fatty acids in fish to promote elasticity, and drink more water every day for widespread benefits all over your body. It is proven that staying hydrated will improve your skin’s appearance.
Don’t Smoke, Stay out of the Sun, and Use a Rich Moisturizer
Do these things to improve the appearance of your skin and reduce the look of wrinkles.
The Bottom Line
These fixes work well for someone who has lost a small to moderate amount of weight. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to remove the hanging skin and skin folds from significant weight loss only with these methods.
When managing this excess skin, be sure to keep any folds dry and clean to prevent rashes or infection.
The Surgical Options
There are several surgical options to minimize and reduce saggy skin after losing a significant amount of weight, but this one remains the most prominent choice.
Body Contouring
These surgeries involve an incision and the removal of fat and skin. The incision is closed with tiny stitches to minimize any visible scars. Body contouring can include a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, or lower body lift to remove fat from the lower belly, buttocks, thighs, and hips. You can also remove excess skin from the breasts and back, upper arms, and inner and outer thighs using this surgical method.
The process of several surgeries can take years, but they are the most common and most effective ways to remove excess skin after significant weight loss.
See Dr. Wendy Gottlieb for recommendations if you are unhappy with your saggy excess skin after weight loss.
As always, if you have any further questions, please call (703) 668-9499 or request an appointment online today!