When people decide to lose weight, they look forward to all of the positive changes that will occur. They will feel healthier; they’ll be able to do more outdoor activities without getting tired; and they will be able to live longer to watch their family grow. Whatever the reason, working toward a healthier lifestyle is beneficial for the person losing weight and those around them. Unfortunately, what many people may not be looking forward to is the loose skin that comes from excessive weight loss.
In the case of pregnant women, who not only gain weight rapidly throughout a nine-month period but also lose a good deal of weight immediately after giving birth, the skin should be able to tighten back to its previous state. On the other hand, people who have been carrying 100 or more pounds for a longer period of time may find that the skin is less likely to tighten. Instead, the skin will most likely become loose and have a saggy appearance in certain areas.
Preventing Sagging Skin
However, there are a few things you can do during any weight loss journey to prevent sagging skin:
- Lose weight in moderation. By losing two to three pounds a week, your body may be able to make the moderate changes on its own. Your skin possesses an elasticity that allows it to contract as the weight is lost.
- Use mineral scrubs. Washing with a mineral scrub at least three times a week can encourage increased blood flow to your skin. This will help the skin to tighten as you are losing weight.
- Add weights to your workout. Adding weights to a workout can help you achieve your goal weight, but they also can help to tone and tighten your body. If you add weights to your workout a few times a week, your skin should tighten more easily as you build muscle.
- Avoid tanning and sunlight. It is important to use sunscreen whenever you are outside, but tanning can also have a big effect on your loose skin. Staying out in the sun too long can cause your skin to loosen, and that is the opposite of what you want.
- Eat healthier. Obviously, healthy food choices are the way to go when you are trying to lose weight. When you eat fruits and vegetables, your body will get rehydrated from the high water content and the servings can help tighten up your skin.
- Try body wraps. The current craze to get rid of excess skin is to use body wraps. This is not something that will help you lose weight, but it is a cosmetic product that can help make the skin appear tightened and toned.
Plastic Surgery for Sagging Skin
While these points outline ways that can help get rid of excess skin as you work through your weight loss journey, in some cases, these will still not be able to give you the results you want. In cases where rapid weight loss has already occurred – through gastric bypass surgery or some other tactic – the body will probably already have developed a significant amount of loose skin. Plastic surgery is available in these cases, but there a few things that will need to happen prior to the procedure:
- Your weight must be stable for at least six months, and at least two years must have passed since you started to lose the weight.
- You must have a good diet and good overall health. These factors are important to your recovery and will help the surgeon know that it is unlikely that you will revert to your previous weight.
- You need to prove your mental stamina to make sure you’re mentally capable of going through this change.
- Be realistic. The surgery will not make your body go back to how it looked in your teenage years. It’s also important to understand that your body may begin to sag over time due to the normal aging process.
Going through surgery can be painful and will always leave some scarring, but it can also increase your self-esteem and prevent the overhanging skin from causing irritations and rashes.
Do you have any more questions about excess skin? Call 901-759-2322 or request an appointment online today!