Congratulations! You have achieved your goal weight and are done with the hardest part of your weight loss journey. You’ve taken this positive step towards a healthier you — but what if you are left with excessive, loose skin in certain areas? Most bariatric patients, or individuals who have lost a significant amount of weight, deal with this issue in the aftermath of losing 100 lbs. or more. Loose, sagging skin is a byproduct of extreme weight loss but there is a way to fix it.

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Erick Sanchez, specializes in after weight loss surgery specifically for bariatric patients. A leading expert in Baton Rouge, Dr. Sanchez can provide the best cosmetic options and answers to help patients struggling to transform their body after significant weight loss. Here is some helpful information on why you might want to consider body contouring options to get rid of that excess skin and how Dr. Sanchez can help.

The skin problem after weight loss

It is not an uncommon issue for both men and women who have achieved a significant weight loss goal to be dealing with extra skin left behind. Skin becomes stretched and loses elasticity when individuals gain weight. When that extra weight is gone, skin in certain areas has a hard time “snapping back” into place. Many patients seek plastic surgery help for the following body parts: neck, arms, breasts, abdomen, back, thighs, and buttocks. Skin tightening or cosmetic lift techniques can be the solution to help with this common issue after extreme weight loss which is not only a cosmetic issue but can also be a health problem.

Not just a cosmetic issue

Many bariatric patients in the Baton Rouge area deal with a myriad of issues when struggling with excessive, sagging skin. Patients can start to endure dermatological issues as skin folds become irritated, prone to itchy rashes, and in some cases can become infected. It is also harder to be physically active as excessive skin can be heavy and a hindrance when exercising. This can lead to weight creeping back in if bariatric patients are unable to remain active due to skin issues. Skin removal and tightening procedures help tone and smooth out those target areas and can even make buying new clothes easier.

Corrective surgery can be the solution

Patients often endure skin issues after weight loss. Skin has to expand in order to accommodate extra fat cells that accumulate with weight gain. When a patient loses weight, skin also loses elasticity therefore both men and women who have undergone bariatric surgery are typically left with sagging skin. No amount of exercising or weight training can tighten loose skin left behind. The solution of corrective surgery to remove that excess skin to further contour the body is the only answer. Individuals in Baton Rouge who have worked hard to lose weight can feel good again in their new skin.

What are my options?

If you are dealing with excessive, loose skin after weight loss, you have several options. It is always advised to consult a board-certified, experienced plastic surgeon such as Dr. Sanchez to get the best treatment options. It is also highly recommended that any corrective or cosmetic procedure be considered after a patient has maintained their ideal body weight for at least 6 months. This helps patients get the results from their body contouring treatments that they deserve. Some are those treatment options are:

• Facelift (commonly includes a neck lift done at the same time)

• Breast lift or breast augmentation (commonly done at the same time)

• Upper arm lift

• Tummy tuck

• Thigh lift

• Butt lift

• Upper or lower body lift (combination of more than one type of lift procedure in target areas)

What should you do next?

Skin removal and skin tightening procedures take special planning with a specialist like Dr. Sanchez. Most bariatric patients have lost a significant amount of weight, so they are experiencing loose, sagging skin in more than one area. It is common to undergo one or two procedures at the same time, but it can vary by patient. In some cases, an entire body contouring process is necessary, which has to be staged out over a series of months in order to allow the body to properly heal between procedures. Working closely with a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon, like Dr. Sanchez, is a crucial part of the body contouring process to get the best results from each corrective surgery.

After achieving weight loss, any of these types of cosmetic surgery procedures can transform your body so you can enjoy your new weight achievement. A skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon in Baton Rouge, like Dr. Sanchez, is imperative to helping you look your best. He will know what types or combinations of body contouring procedures will be necessary so you can get optimal results. Take your body to the next level and boost your confidence by removing that extra skin left behind so you can move forward with an even healthier you.

If you want to get rid of the skin that is left behind after weight loss, then now is the time to consider corrective cosmetic surgery. Body contouring procedures can remove excess skin and tighten up your body so you can look and feel even better. If you are in Baton Rouge, LA or surrounding areas and are struggling with the aftermath of loose skin due to weight loss, then we invite you to call or schedule a skin removal consultation with Dr. Erick Sanchez today.