Does Skin Retract After Weight Loss
I have lost 85 pounds without bariatric surgery. Weight loss has been on my mind basically my entire life, most especially since I started this journeying in earnest in July 2019. And, every bit proud of myself every bit I most certainly am for losing this weight and finally getting healthier, it is met toe-to-toe with pervasive anxiety and a nagging question: What about excess skin?
Because of the slower step at which I'm losing my weight, I oasis't nevertheless encountered loose skin, though I have at least fifty more pounds left to go. I worry, perhaps likewise much, if I will be able to get in through to my goal weight without needing skin tightening at the end of this journey.
It's a pretty unsexy topic—which is why information technology's rarely, if ever, discussed. But for those like me who are on major weight loss journeys, or whose bodies have changed significantly through pregnancy, information technology'south a question that plagues us: Am I going to run into excess skin the more than weight I lose? And if I practice, what can I do most it?
Apparently, I'thou non the only ane with questions, according to New York City plastic surgeon to the stars Lara Devgan. "Skin tightening remains one of the elusive blackness boxes in the earth of plastic surgery," she says. That said, we're all still learning about all-time practices—from me to medical professionals.
So, I decided to investigate farther. Rounding upwardly v renowned dermatologists and plastic surgeons from beyond the state, I ask them all my questions. And here's what they have to say.
If y'all want to try to reduce loose skin from major weight loss, lose the weight slowly.
"Losing weight gradually rather than rapidly may prevent excess skin after major weight loss," Los Angeles–based dermatologist Harold Lancer says. "Withal, rapid large-scale weight loss volition invariably result in excess pare." Devgan seconds that. "The best way to forbid pare laxity after weight loss is to do your best to lose weight at a slow and steady pace," she says. "Although it may sound appealing to get to the end line chop-chop, that is actually the worst thing you can exercise in terms of skin laxity." Slowly losing weight, she says, allows the skin to contract and compress as the shape of the body shrinks.
If you are having weight loss surgery, consider a surgical one-two dial: weight loss surgery immediately followed by a peel removal surgery.
Though I personally oasis't opted for weight loss surgery, many exercise—and there is zero shame in that. But because of the more than rapid pace with which weight is lost after surgery comes the greater likelihood of excess peel. Why do we accept to worry about backlog pare, especially afterward more rapid weight loss? It's "because collagen and elastin fibers are destroyed when skin is stretched significantly and remains stretched for an extended amount of time," New York City plastic surgeon David Shafer says. "Patients should plan on staged procedures if having a weight loss surgery followed by a skin removal surgery."
Peel elasticity is dependent on two principal factors: age and genetics. But lifestyle choices matter too.
"Typically, younger patients with thicker and more sebaceous skin will have more skin wrinkle during weight loss due to better elasticity," Devgan says. "Starting in the 20s, tissue elasticity begins to decline. Even in the absence of weight fluctuation, loss of tissue turgor and decreased firmness can be seen in midface descent in the late 20s, breast laxity in the 30s, abdominal laxity in the 40s, and extremity laxity in the 50s."
Even so, everyone's body is different, Devgan says. "In that location is a tremendous amount of variability in the human feel, so some patients may lose fifty pounds with minimal alter in their body, while others can lose every bit few every bit x and meet tissue laxity." If you are genetically blessed with unusually superb tissue elasticity, Devgan says, it tin can exist less dramatic. (And lucky you lot.)
Too, lifestyle choices can cistron in, as well, Boston-based dermatologist Ranella Hirsch says. How long were you at the weight y'all started losing from? Are you a smoker? Do you spend a lot of unprotected time in the lord's day? All these factors play into pare elasticity.
Keep the skin well hydrated.
"Using an emollient moisturizer rich in vitamin E will aid better the barrier protection of the pare and lock in wet," Devgan says. And the topical medical-class ingredients you utilize on your confront for firmness and tightness of the pare—like hyaluronic acrid, peptides, niacin, squalene, vitamins C and B, retinol, and bakuchiol—can piece of work elsewhere, likewise, she says. "Most people focus on using these for the face and cervix in their daily routines, but from a molecular perspective, their efficacy is nowadays anywhere on the trunk."
Our Favorite Body Creams
But save your money on creams that hope you the world.
"Losing big amounts of weight quickly tends to leave skin behind," Hirsch says. "Though creams with incredible claims grow, they actually do picayune."
Instead, consider noninvasive treatments and fifty-fifty weight training.
Building muscle through weight preparation might assist reduce the appearance of lax skin, New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman says. "This helps reduce the appearance by replacing the lost fat with musculus mass." And in that location are nonsurgical options for dealing with loose skin post-obit weight loss, but they won't help with skin folds or hanging peel.
"Noninvasive treatments such as light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation and radiofrequency can help tighten the skin, but in that location is a limit to how much they can practice," Shafer adds. "Hanging skin generally needs to be surgically excised with procedures such equally abdominoplasty, trunk lift, and arm lift." There is a difference between loose pare and hanging skin, Shafer says. "It'southward possible patients tin can manage and treat excess pare cases without undergoing skin removal surgery, such as if the skin is loose but not hanging." He adds, "In that example, noninvasive treatments may be useful, but hanging skin most often requires surgical excision."
If backlog peel is interfering with your life, and so it'south time to consider plastic surgery—with the input of multiple medical professionals.
"Afterwards major weight loss, people may have skin that hangs off their body," Engelman says. "These heavy folds can cause health problems such as pain, inflammation, and frequent infections from the skin constantly rubbing together. This can happen while exercising or during everyday activities. When a person is having functional problems because of their excess skin, it should be a sign that this problem needs to be addressed." And, of class, everyone's journeying is different.
Lancer says some individuals will tolerate moderate laxity and be happy with the weight loss accomplishment; others volition seek out peel tightening for as little as a 5-pound weight loss (he is based in Fifty.A. after all). But, he says, if plastic surgery does become the option on the table, "I would recommend getting at least three opinions from doctors who exclusively do backlog body pare reduction. Once you lot select a doctor, do ane small expanse on your body, so you can evaluate the process, how your body heals, and your results. Afterward, you can decide whether you'd similar to go on with a full-blown larger procedure."
He suggests consulting with a dermatologist for nonsurgical options, then having that doctor recommend plastic surgeons who deal with excess body skin reduction if you experience that is the correct path for you. It is a major conclusion that should not exist taken lightly. Bring medical professionals along for the entire weight loss journey (even if y'all've already started) and ask all the questions: Which specific process is best? How much will it cost? Volition insurance cover it? (From my inquiry thus far, no if it is cosmetic, but perhaps aye if information technology would help right something that is limiting the functionality of your daily life.) No question is off-limits, and don't try to make these decisions lone.
Above all—and maybe virtually importantly—be proud of yourself.
If this piece applies to you at all, be it from long-standing weight you carried or from losing weight gained from pregnancy or anywhere in between, that ways one thing: You've taken major steps toward better concrete health, and that should be applauded. "Everyone'due south weight loss story is different, and some days are harder than others," Engelman says. "I say, try to be kind to yourself. You've simply reached a huge accomplishment and should be proud of that."
Devgan agrees. "Accomplishing a personal health goal like major weight loss is an incredible accomplishment that anyone should be proud of," she says. "While excess skin can experience like a burden or source of self-consciousness, it is too a reminder of the metaphorical and literal shedding of the weight of a prior version of oneself. You cannot accept a couture gown without a seam, and you cannot take a surgery without a scar. Life has limitations, merely that does not make information technology less cute. Information technology makes it more existent."
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Does Skin Retract After Weight Loss,
Source: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/a38973337/weight-loss-excess-loose-skin-tightening-surgery-explained/
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