Bariatric Surgery and Loose Skin - What You Should Know

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For many who have struggled with their weight for years, bariatric surgery can help you finally achieve your weight loss goals. Bariatric surgery, which alters your digestive tract, helps people lose significant amounts of weight in a short period of time. As a result, sagging skin is a typical issue following surgery.

Sagging skin is frequently thought of as a simple cosmetic issue. However, for patients recuperating from bariatric surgery, skin laxity can lead to rashes, ulcers, hygiene concerns, and infections. 

For a limited proportion of people, sagging skin may improve over time or react to noninvasive therapy. However, for the majority of patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, additional surgery is the best choice to properly repair sagging skin.

What to Know About Your Skin

Your skin is your biggest organ, and it serves several functions such as regulating your temperature, controlling your sensation of touch, detecting heat or cold, and forming a waterproof barrier.

Skin regenerates every 30-days or so. It is made up of a variety of components, including water, protein, fat, and minerals. The dermis is your skin's main layer, composed of collagen and elastin. These two proteins provide your skin flexibility, allowing it to stretch and return to its original shape.

Skin Elasticity and Weight Gain or Loss

Unlike slim pants, your skin expands when you acquire weight. However, if you are overweight for an extended period of time, you may damage the collagen and elastin fibers. Collagen and elastin synthesis diminishes with aging.

As a result, your skin may struggle to accommodate your weight reduction. The pounds are dropping off, but your skin isn't shrinking back down at the same rate. Instead, it hangs freely from your thinner figure.

How Serious Is Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery?

It all relies on you. Some people embrace their loose skin, while others struggle with it.

Excess skin following weight reduction might create issues like:

- Chafing and discomfort if it brushes against other skin folds in your groin, stomach, underarms, or inner thighs;

- Infections occur when germs accumulate inside skin creases or when skin breaks due to friction;

- Low confidence or a bad self-image.

Dealing With Loose Skin Following Weight Loss

If you're concerned about loose skin following weight reduction, you may benefit from:

- Focusing on the advantages of losing weight

You have received significant health advantages as a result of your weight loss. You've enhanced your cardiovascular, metabolic, reproductive, joint, and mental health. You've enhanced your quality of life by becoming more active and participating in activities rather than sitting on the sidelines.

- Being patient

The first 6-12 months following bariatric surgery are a period of significant transformation. You are losing weight and developing new, better food and exercise habits. Your skin will also alter. It may be baggy at first, but it will tighten as your workout regimen pays off;

- Talking about it with a psychologist

Your weight influences your self-image, but so do many other factors, such as your childhood, self-talk, career, and relationships. Those tough sentiments might linger even after you've lost weight since they were always about something deeper. Body image following bariatric surgery is typically a complex issue. Talking with a specialist can help you accept yourself;

- Nourish your skin

Eat a healthy diet rich in nutrients that benefit your skin, such as water, vitamins, and protein, which has been shown to increase skin elasticity and lean muscle mass. Exercise consistently to increase lean muscular mass and decrease sagging skin;

- Wear compression clothes to contour

The appropriate compression clothing can help you avoid chafing and achieve a smoother silhouette;

- Try laser treatment or cryotherapy

These non-surgical techniques may tighten your skin somewhat;

- Consider body contouring surgery

Some people finally decide to have body contouring surgery, which is a cosmetic operation that removes extra skin.