Body Contouring After Weight Loss: The Best Procedures to Tighten Loose Skin

If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight, you may be all too aware of the secondary struggle that can come afterward. Sagging, loose skin. But don’t let this struggle define your weight loss journey. There are options to eliminate this loose skin and finally see your ultimate physique.

Why Loose Skin Happens After Major Weight Loss

Loose skin after weight loss occurs because the skin has been stretched beyond the limits of elasticity. Collagen and elastin fibers become damaged due to being overextended and are then unable to return to the same position. This happens especially in areas where more excess fat was stored, like the abdomen, thighs, or upper arms. It is also more likely to happen with rapid weight loss, like what many people are experiencing with GLP-1 medications. Loose skin with sagging folds can cause physical discomfort and irritation as well as sap confidence.

What Is Post-Weight Loss Body Contouring?

The great news is there is a real, viable solution for those looking to get rid of excess loose skin who have been at their goal weight for over six months. Surgical body contouring can be used in many places throughout the body, nearly anywhere you can find loose skin, and works to remove excess skin, reshape tissue, and reveal your slimmer body contours.

The Best Body Contouring Procedures After Weight Loss

If you think it may be time to consider body contouring and would like to know more about the possibilities, below is a guide to a few of the best options.

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

An incredibly popular choice for body contouring after weight loss, a tummy tuck is a procedure that addresses loose skin and stubborn fat pockets via liposuction in the lower abdomen. Abdominoplasty can also correct lax muscles in the abdomen for a tighter, more stable core.

Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

If patients are dealing with loose skin in the upper arms, this can be addressed with an arm lift. Sagging underarms, sometimes referred to as “batwings,” can be eliminated, and the arms can be contoured for toned, tank top-ready results.

Thigh Lift

Another common, problematic area where weight loss patients experience loose skin is in the thighs, both inner and outer. With a thigh lift, folds and creases can be smoothed to reveal a slimmer, more fit look for the legs.

Body Lift (Lower or Full)

For patients who have succeeded in extreme weight loss and are dealing with multiple areas of excess, loose skin, or small stubborn fat pockets, a body lift may be optimal. Patients can combine multiple procedures for either a full body lift or a lower body lift and enjoy the benefits of comprehensive transformation and a single recovery period.

Breast Lift (With or Without Implants)

For women who have experienced significant weight loss, especially those who have gone through childbearing and breastfeeding, sagging breasts may be a big concern. A breast lift, or mastopexy, removes excess skin in the breasts and reshapes the breasts for perky, firm results. Those looking to also enhance volume could opt for breast augmentation in the same procedure.

Face and Neck Lift

While face and neck sagging may not be the first thought for many when it comes to sagging skin after weight loss, many patients do experience significant creasing or new wrinkles with the loss of facial fat. A facelift or neck lift can address weight-related facial skin laxity by redefining the jawline, smoothing out neck bands, and restoring a youthful appearance.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Body Contouring?

If you want to celebrate your weight loss and stop struggling with loose skin, discomfort, and low confidence because of it, you are likely a great candidate for body contouring. The key for body contouring is that potential candidates should wait until they have reached a stable weight and have stayed there for about six months to a year. Since these are surgical procedures, patients should also be in good health, non-smokers, and should not be dealing with any serious medical conditions that could hinder the healing process.

Ready to Reveal Your Best Body?

With stunning results and incredible transformations, body contouring after weight loss can be the final step in your dedicated weight loss journey. Before you undergo treatment, choosing the right surgeon is critical. Book your tailored Houston body contouring consultation today with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Fortes, and imagine the possibilities.