360 Body lift for Massive Weight Loss Patients
Obesity is defined as a BMI (Body Mass Index – ratio between weight in Kg over a person’s height in m2) over 30. It is a global problem with 650 Million obese adults recorded in 2016. There are clear links between obesity and causes of death like Heart Disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Osteoarthritis, Cancers (Uterus, Breast, Ovaries, Prostate etc).
As the awareness of the problems associated with being overweight or obese increase, the desire to lose weight increases. As a result, the weight loss industry has been growing rapidly, it was worth $72 Billion in 2019.
One of the facts about weight loss that does not get much publicity, is the reality of WEIGHT LOSS SKIN. As you loose weight, the skin needs to adapt to the shrinking volume, if it can’t adapt to your new shape your skin will sag. The areas of your body were you skin will commonly sag are the arms, chest, tummy, buttock, thigh.
There are several factors that will influence if you will have weight loss skin sagging.
Similar to the way the tummy skin of a pregnant woman will shrink after she delivers the baby, your skin does have the ability to shrink as it adapts to the shrinking fat volume. As we describe in this article there are many ways of promoting the skin contraction. But there is a limit to how much slack the skin can take up. Dr Prashant advises all patients to allow a period of 6 – 8 months following weight loss to allow the skin the maximum contraction possible. Following this period, you can revaluate the situation and plan for body contouring surgery if required.
As we discuss there are many factors that will influence if you are going to have skin sagging, following your weight loss. Clearly if you lose a 100 Pounds (7 Stone or 45 Kg) your skin will struggle to cope with the shrinking volume, leaving you with sagging arms, breasts, tummy, buttock, thighs. Compared to that if you are loosing 50 Pounds (3.5 Stone or 23 Kg) over a 4 – 6 month period and you are young with good quality skin you might not have the problem of sagging skin.
So, there is no specific answer to the question “how much weight loss causes loose skin”. Clearly the answer has many factors like, how much weight have you lost, over how many days, what is your age, what is the quality of your skin.
As Doctor Prashant advises his patients at Reforme Medical in Cardiff, SLOW, STEADY WIEGHT LOSS is the key to keeping your skin from sagging. In addition to this advice these are the things Dr Prashant recommends:
Loosing your weight slowly over a period of 6 to 12 months through a combination of lifestyle changes, diet and exercise, is generally associated with the least about of skin sagging following weight loss.
One of the ways to minimize loose skin during weight loss is to lose weight slowly. Dr Prashant recommends a 500 gms to 1 kilo (1 to 2 Pounds) weight loss every week as being a sensible rate of weight loss that will allow your skin to adapt to the changing form.
Types of weight loss surgery
There are an increasing range of Weight Loss Surgeries, some are listed below:
a) Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve,
b) Roux En Y Surgery,
c) Lap Band or Gastric Band,
d) Gastric Balloon,
e) Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal (POSE) Procedure.
Yes, the use of devices that use energy in the form of Radiofrequency (VelaShape) or Ultrasound (ULipo) has been promoted to tighten the skin following weight loss. The devices clearly have a limitation and can’t deliver the results of Body Contouring Surgery.
If you have reached the weight loss target you wanted to reach, and if you have been at this targeted weight for more than 6 – 8 months, you will be an ideal patient for Body Contouring Surgery.
These Plastic Surgical procedures are designed to remove all the excess skin while hiding the scars along natural creases were possible. While there are many kinds of contouring surgeries a list of more common ones is given below:
We are ready to treat you.
General Medical Council
Associations of Plastic Surgeons of India
The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Royaldata-srcCollege of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Disclaimer: The content on this website is purely generated for awareness and educating purposes only. This shall not be considered as a substitute for professional advice or prescription. Every individual and their case is different, so the results mentioned on the website may vary from person to person.