How Does Lower Body Lift Surgery Address Loose Skin After Major Weight Loss?

While most of the changes typically associated with losing a significant amount of weight — like improved overall health and boosted energy levels — are positive ones, there are some downsides that may accompany weight loss. Among the most frustrating consequences of extreme weight loss for many people is developing loose, hanging skin folds. This is particularly common in the lower body, affecting the abdomen, flanks, and more. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery can help to remove loose skin after weight loss and give patients the slimmer, smoother, more desirable physique they've worked so hard to achieve. Here, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kamal Sawan and the experienced team at Sawan Surgical Aesthetics explain how lower body lift surgery in Oklahoma City, OK can help remove hanging skin, transform your figure, and serve as the next step in your weight loss journey.

How can I get rid of loose skin after losing weight?

For younger men and women who lose a mild to moderate amount of weight, the skin often has enough remaining elasticity to "snap back" to its newly slimmed contour. However, many people — including those who are middle-aged or older, as well as those who have lost a large amount of weight and/or have been overweight for a long period of time — often find themselves left with hanging skin folds due to pronounced skin laxity. In very mild cases of skin laxity, topical products or nonsurgical skin tightening may help to firm up loose, wrinkled skin to some degree. For more extensive cases — including when patients have a significant amount of excess skin that hangs or folds over their natural contours — surgical skin removal may be the most appropriate and effective option. Because loose skin after extreme weight loss is especially common in the lower body, a lower body lift is often a suitable post-weight loss body transformation procedure.

What areas are included in a lower body lift?

Because every person's body, anatomy, and goals are unique, Dr. Sawan tailors each lower body lift surgical plan to align with the individual patient's needs. Still, the majority of lower body lift procedures are designed to target the classic problem areas associated with loose skin after losing weight. Generally speaking, areas where loose skin is removed during a lower body lift include:

• Lower abdomen
• Hips
• Flanks
• Buttocks

During a lower body lift, Dr. Sawan creates a circumferential incision around the lower abdomen or hip area — near where a belt is typically worn — which allows for the optimal amount of skin removal and skin tightening while also ensuring a complete and well-rounded transformation. Additionally, stubborn pockets of fat can be reduced with liposuction during a lower body lift for an even more dramatic and exciting outcome. This combination of fat removal, skin excision, skin tightening, and body contouring can be a life-changing step after losing weight that helps to improve mobility, comfort, self-esteem, and more.

Lighten the burden of loose skin with a lower body lift after weight loss in Oklahoma City, OK

Loose, hanging skin folds after major weight loss can prevent you from looking and feeling your best and, in many cases, even be a source of physical discomfort. Free yourself from the burden of skin folds after weight loss and get the smoother, sexier figure you deserve by calling Sawan Surgical Aesthetics to schedule your Oklahoma City lower body lift consultation with esteemed board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kamal Sawan today.