Plastic Surgery Helps with Struggle of Extra Skin After Major Weight Loss

Weight loss surgery can often make people feel like they have a new beginning. That beginning, however, can sometimes involve changes to the body that can be out of your control.

With major weight loss can come great health benefits, such as decreased likelihood of diabetes and heart disease, but also can come new issues, including excess skin.

Most patients end up with loose or sagging excess skin, and how much this can affect personal appearance can depend on age, genetics, exercise, speed of weight loss, and smoking, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). 

The areas of the body that most often are affected by excess skin, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), include:

• Abdomen
• Breasts
• Buttocks
• Face, including jowls
• Groin
• Inner and outer thighs
• Neck
• Upper arms

For some people, weight loss might be gradual enough that skin adjusts along with weight loss, according to the ASMBS.

For others, the loose skin can be hidden with clothing and compression garments, according to the ASMBS. But when that isn’t enough to manage the problem, plastic surgery might be a logical next step.

In 2013, about 42,000 body contouring operations, which include reshaping the arms, breasts, stomachs, and thighs, were done on people who had major weight loss, according to the ASPS.

Surgeons often recommend waiting at least 18 months before having surgery to remove or reduce excess skin, according to the ASMBS. But patients can be evaluated leading up to that time.

Providers can work with patients to decide which areas could benefit from skin reduction or removal surgery to help improve their quality of life.

Patients will have to check with their insurance company to discuss types of surgery that are covered. 

For more information about excess skin removal, talk with your doctor or visit https://www.premierphysiciannet.com/ to find a physician.