How to Deal with Excess Skin After Weight Loss Surgery

The results of weight loss surgery are exhilarating. Your new weight makes you feel good inside and out. You have more energy and more confidence. 

However, losing significant amounts of weight quickly has some side effects, like excess skin. Though often viewed as a cosmetic concern, the extra skin after weight loss surgery can affect your physical and emotional health. Finding ways to deal with it may prevent problems.

At Transform Bariatrics in Greenbelt and Rockville, Maryland, our bariatrician, Dr. Hitesh Amin, works with a cosmetic surgeon to help our patients find solutions for their excess skin.

Learn more about excess skin and how you can deal with it.

Why you have excess skin

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, covering you from head to toe. It is the first line of defense against injury, germs, and the sun. To do its job completely, your skin must expand and grow as you do, like when you gain weight.

Skin is highly elastic, stretching and retracting to accommodate the body as it grows or shrinks. However, your skin has limits and may not bounce back if stretched long. 

When you lose weight, your skin may not shrink with the rest of you, leaving behind the overstretched excess. The greater the weight loss, the more likely you will experience the side effects.

The toll of loose skin

The benefits of dramatic weight loss following surgery may overshadow any negatives, like the extra skin. However, some people don't like how loose, saggy skin affects their appearance, which may dampen the excitement of their weight loss.

The excess skin may also get in the way, making walking or participating in different types of exercise hard. Finding clothing that fits your new weight and covers the hanging skin is also challenging.

But the problem with the excess skin isn't only emotional. It can also lead to health issues. The extra skin creates folds that may rub together and cause rashes or ulcers. The warm and moist environment in the skin folds also increases the risk of skin infections.

Because it's a common side effect of weight loss surgery, we do everything possible to help our patients find ways to deal with their excess skin. 

Treatment options

Your skin may shrink and firm up over time. Younger skin is more likely to bounce back since elasticity declines with age. Strength training can also help. Research shows that lifting weights improves skin elasticity and thickness, even as you age.

Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water also benefits the skin. Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients that support skin health and strength. Water keeps your skin well-hydrated, lessening the crepey look that often comes with loose skin.

While time and exercise are essential for dealing with excess skin after bariatric surgery, it may not be enough. When you have too much extra skin after losing weight, you may benefit from body contouring procedures, which include nonsurgical and surgical options.

Nonsurgical body contouring

Nonsurgical treatments like radiofrequency energy stimulate collagen production to tighten the skin and improve appearance. Collagen is a structural protein responsible for the skin's youthful elasticity.

Surgical body contouring

Our cosmetic surgeon performs body contouring procedures, removing excess skin from the arms, abdomen, and thighs. They customize surgical plans to achieve the look you want and minimize the visibility of any scarring.

Excess skin is an unfortunate side effect of weight loss surgery, but it is treatable. If your loose skin makes it hard to enjoy the surgery's results, we can help. Call us today or request an appointment online.