After years of watching shows centered on extreme weight loss, we all know that when you lose fat, you run the risk of gaining loose skin. But what about loose skin after liposuction? Well, it depends.
Liposuction vs. Weight Loss
With liposuction, a relatively small number of fat cells are removed from a targeted area of the body. Weight loss, however, reduces the size of fat cells across the body as a whole. Depending on how extreme the weight loss is, fat cells can significantly reduce in size.
Sometimes, loose skin will develop after liposuction. However, you can take steps to minimize this.
This means that skin sagging is more likely to occur after weight loss than liposuction. But, that doesn’t mean that skin sagging can’t happen after liposuction as well.
For most people who do experience this, it is most apparent in the first weeks or months after surgery. With time, the skin tends to adjust and firm up, eliminating the appearance of skin laxity. However, for those who are older, have had children or experience significant weight fluctuations, this laxity may remain. Additionally, some people are genetically predisposed to greater skin laxity and may have loose skin even if none of these other conditions apply to them.
Combating Loose Skin
If you do experience loose skin after liposuction, you don’t have to live with it. There are ways you can address it. If the skin laxity is minimal, you can adjust your diet and take supplements to promote collagen and elastin.
Developing your muscles can also help to better fill out loose skin. For moderate laxity, certain med spa skin tightening treatments might work. Finally, skin removal surgery is also an option.
To learn more about liposuction and what to expect after surgery, speak to Dr. Stephen Davis. Call us at 615-327-7407 or head over to our contact page.
Author: Dr. Stephen M. Davis
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen M. Davis and his experienced team are committed to total patient satisfaction and excellent results. Green Hills Plastic Surgery first opened its doors in Nashville, TN in 1998 and continues to provide patients with time-honored plastic surgery procedures at TriStar Centennial Medical Center.
