Excess skin can be a common concern for many bariatric surgery patients. Common areas for people to struggle with loose skin are the arms, thighs, and torso. Once a person rapidly loses weight, their skin struggles to return to its previous elasticity. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions for people with loose skin after bariatric surgery.
Why Does Skin Get Loose?
Factors like age and genetics can impact each person’s skin elasticity. As you age, your skin loses important proteins called elastin and collagen. These proteins help provide firmness and structure to your skin. Genetically, some people are predisposed to having looser skin.
For almost all patients, bariatric procedures leave some level of excess skin. Some people may have little to no difficulty having their skin “shrink back” after this significant weight loss. However, others may have more significant problems with after-care.
What do physicians say about loose skin after bariatric surgery?
Typically, our surgeons do not recommend plastic surgery for loose skin early on after surgery. Most patients won’t need it, but if you do need it, it is recommended that you wait 18 to 24 months after surgery. Here are just a few reasons why you should wait:
- After bariatric surgery, you will continue to lose weight for up to 18 months. If you have skin removal surgery early on, further weight loss will cause more loose skin, requiring more procedures.
- Your skin takes time to adjust to your new body size, and waiting gives it the best chance to shrink as much as possible on its own.
- Bariatric surgery impacts nutrient absorption, and many people need time to optimize their vitamin and mineral levels. Waiting allows you to be nutritionally stable, which is crucial for recovery from plastic surgery, reducing the risk of complications like poor wound healing.
So, what if you fall within the small population of people who do not see a natural reduction in loose skin after 18-24 months? You have quite a few options!
Non-Surgical Solutions for Loose Skin After Bariatric Surgery
Many bariatric patients may be hesitant to seek surgery for excess skin. Luckily, there are non-surgical, non-invasive options for people with moderately loose skin.
- Laser treatments such as fractional laser or laser resurfacing, target the skin’s outer layers and stimulate collagen production. Collagen is the protein that helps skin maintain its firmness and elasticity, and increasing its levels can help tighten the skin over time.
- Botox itself doesn’t tighten loose skin but can be strategically used to reduce the appearance of sagging, especially around the jawline or neck, by relaxing certain muscles that pull skin downward
- Radiofrequency treatments are non-invasive and work by heating the skin’s deeper layers, stimulating collagen and elastin production without damaging the outer skin. This tightens the skin over time and helps with elasticity.
All of these treatments, along with exercise and nutritional changes, can help deal with excess skin without needing an intensive procedure. However, keep in mind that most of these treatments require multiple sessions, their results are gradual, and they may not yield the same results as skin removal.
Skin Removal Surgery
For patients with more drastic weight loss, surgical options for excess skin may be more appropriate.
The procedure recommended for skin removal depends on the area the patient wants to focus on. Abdominoplasty, Brachioplasty, and Thighplasty all deal with specific body parts and have their own distinct processes.
While undergoing one of these procedures, a surgeon will remove the unwanted excess tissue and then try to smooth out any remaining tissue in the area.
It’s important to note that most physicians recommend waiting well over a year for skin removal if you’ve undergone any sort of bariatric surgery.
Making a Decision About Loose Skin After Weight-Loss Surgery
Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery can be daunting, especially if you’re worried about loose skin. However, the benefits of losing weight far outweigh the issues of excess skin, and loose skin often resolves itself. Plus, there are plenty of solutions for skin removal for all types of weight loss.
If you’re interested in learning more about weight loss procedures, you can check out our team at West Texas Bariatrics.
