Is Plastic Surgery Necessary to Remove Excess Skin After Weight Loss Surgery?

Many individuals opt to undergo bariatric surgery as a way to fight obesity, an uncontrollable epidemic that is currently apparent in our society. It is normal for people looking at bariatric surgery to think about the excess skin that will be left after losing a considerable amount of weight. Did you just undergo a weight loss surgery and found yourself with excess skin? There are several things you can do without having to take plastic surgery.

The Surgery: Before and After

Weight loss surgery is now the popular choice among obese patients, and bariatric surgery advances have made it a very safe option. As a person gains weight, the skin is forced to expand due to the expansion of the underlying layers of fat, and over time the skin will no longer snap back as it should. Many people wonder whether they will need plastic surgery after weight loss surgery, in order to return their skin to its intended state. Sadly, the skin will probably never look as it once did, but coming close to that is a possibility.

The question then basically becomes a matter of personal preference. Anyone who has been overweight and then drastically loses weight as you would with bariatric surgery will face an excess skin issue. It is just a matter of physics. Some people have no problem dealing with the excess skin and are just pleased to be rid of the extra weight. Others value their own self-image to a point where they need to do something about it. How much excess skin there is will primarily determine what your options are after weight loss surgery.

Aside from the surgery, there are natural methods to shrink the skin so it does not sag. If you can afford plastic surgery and the thought of going under the knife does not bother you at all, then you could just go ahead with the procedure after your bariatric surgery. If the excess skin does not bother you that much and you have limited funds, you might find a non-invasive approach more appealing.

Non-Surgical Treatment

There are ways to tighten up excess skin after weight loss surgery, and they involve lowering your percentage of body fat through weight training, cardio and a diet that features low-fat foods. There is no reason you should not at least attempt this before settling on plastic surgery. Even if a person will end up having the surgery, it makes sense to try this first, and at the very least, you can minimize the skin that must be removed after bariatric surgery.

Surgical Treatment

Removing excess skin after weight loss surgery is fairly common, and the first surgery to remove excess skin for any reason took place over forty years ago in France and Brazil, yet they had many complications and side effects. Since things like bariatric surgery have entered the medical field, there have been many advances in skin removal techniques. There are many different procedures that can be considered, such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, thigh lift, arm lift and even more complicated procedures. Consult with your physician or your post-surgery counselor to review your options after weight loss surgery.