If you have taken off some weight but are only semi-satisfied with the way your body looks now, you are not alone. Many people who have trimmed down their bodies with diet and exercise are disappointed to discover that excess skin is covering up the contours they worked so hard to achieve. Long Island plastic surgeon Dr. David Funt is here to explain why loose skin forms and what you can do about it to tone up your body.
What’s Causing All This Loose Skin?
When the body puts on weight (from either an abundance of calories or pregnancy), the skin expands to accommodate the growing size of the body. In theory, skin is elastic and should snap back into place when that weight disappears, but that does not always occur. The longer that the skin is stretched to its expanded position, the more likely it is that the skin’s collagen and elastin will be harmed. Aging and sun damage also decrease collagen production.
Consequently, skin may not retract to fit snugly around your body’s new size. While some people assume that diet and exercise can tackle loose skin, that is unfortunately not true. Subcutaneous fat resides just beneath the skin rather than in the skin itself. Therefore, burning this fat will not have any effect on the actual skin.
Plastic Surgery Can Help
Luckily, there are some plastic surgery procedures that are designed to target this unwanted excess skin. You — like many others before you — may decide that a lift procedure is an appropriate solution for better showing off the body you have worked so hard to achieve through weight loss.
At Funt Aesthetic, Dr. Funt offers the following procedures:
- Abdominoplasty: Better known as tummy tuck, this procedure targets the loose skin or pooch that forms around the midsection. Because the stomach is one of the first places to expand with weight gain, it is a place that commonly accumulates excess skin.
- Arm Lift: You may find that your upper arm lacks definition after weight loss with some loose, dangling skin. Brachioplasty removes the skin for a sleeker, more youthful appearance.
- Thigh Lift: The thighs are one of the first places that fat accumulates. Even if you manage to drop that weight, the loose skin can still make your thighs appear thicker than they are. Thigh lift helps to get your thighs in better proportion to your buttocks and midsection.
Keep in mind that liposuction can be incorporated into these procedures so that you can also eliminate lingering fat deposits along with extra skin to get your contours looking their best.
Make an Appointment with Dr. Funt
If your loose skin is bothering you and standing in the way of your aesthetic goals, why not plan to have a conversation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss skin excising procedures? Schedule a consultation at either of Funt Aesthetic’s two locations: call the Roslyn Heights office or the Woodmere office at (516) 295-0404.
