Can a Tummy Tuck Help with Skin Laxity After Major Weight Loss?
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If you've lost a significant amount of weight, you may be feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment in achieving your goals and improving your health, along with pride in your newly slimmed-down physique. For many patients, however, weight loss comes with an unexpected side effect that can overshadow those feelings: loose skin. Having loose, hanging skin after weight loss can be physically uncomfortable and psychologically distressing, keeping patients from celebrating their achievements and truly embracing a new chapter of life.
At Sawan Surgical Aesthetics in Oklahoma City, OK, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kamal Sawan understands the deeply personal and frustrating nature of extra skin after weight loss and specializes in a full range of body contouring solutions that help patients finally feel like the new-and-improved version of themselves they've worked so hard for. In many cases, loose skin after losing weight is most noticeable in the midsection, making the tummy tuck particularly popular for post-weight loss patients. Keep reading for more information about getting a tummy tuck after weight loss to slim down and firm up a problem area.
Can you get a tummy tuck for loose skin after losing weight?
Tummy tuck surgery, formally known as abdominoplasty, is one of the most popular after weight loss surgeries performed today, with many men and women turning to the procedure to address skin laxity resulting from having lost a significant amount of weight. During a tummy tuck, Dr. Sawan uses his specialized 3D abdominoplasty approach to remove excess, hanging skin folds on the stomach area and around the sides and flanks, repair and reposition the abdominal musculature, and pull the remaining skin taut to create a smoother, firmer, slimmer midsection that can be enjoyed from each side.
How soon after weight loss can I get a tummy tuck?
After you reach your goal weight, you may be understandably anxious to shed your excess skin, especially if it is causing physical issues — like chafing, irritation, or limited mobility — or if it is compromising your emotional well-being. However, it is important to wait at least 6 – 12 months after reaching and maintaining a healthy, stable weight before undergoing skin removal surgery.
This allows your body time to adjust and settle into its new state of normal while also giving you the opportunity to establish healthy habits that are sustainable in the long run, as weight gain after tummy tuck can lead to newly stretched skin, essentially reversing results.
Can I combine tummy tuck and arm lift?
In many cases, it is considered safe and appropriate to combine multiple skin removal and body contouring procedures within the same surgery. Depending on your specific concerns, goals, and other factors, Dr. Sawan may recommend some combination of the following for your after weight loss surgery plan:
With his 3D abdominoplasty technique and a full collection of additional body contouring treatments available, Dr. Sawan can help you realize your ultimate aesthetic goals and achieve a more complete weight loss transformation.
Find out if Oklahoma City tummy tuck surgery may be the final step in your weight loss journey
If loose skin after weight loss has you feeling stuck, body contouring surgery may be the next — and potentially last — step in your weight loss transformation. To learn more about the exciting benefits of 3D abdominoplasty after weight loss, call our friendly team at Sawan Surgical Aesthetics to schedule your private consultation with Oklahoma City board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kamal Sawan today.