Many people who have lost a significant amount of weight struggle with excess skin removal surgery. This can cause physical discomfort, chafing and even infections. It can also limit the types of clothing that a person can wear and make it difficult to exercise. Surgically removing excess skin can give you back the body shape that you had prior to weight loss, boost your self-esteem and improve your quality of life.
Skin Removal Surgery: Achieve Your Desired Body Contours
A number of different surgeries can be used for skin removal, including lower body lift to remove excess skin from the stomach, butt and outer thighs, panniculectomy (abdominoplasty) to reduce an apron of excess skin that hangs from the abdomen and tighten muscles, and tummy tuck to address weakened or separated abdominal muscle. A combination of these surgeries is sometimes necessary to meet an individual’s unique needs.
Before surgery, it is important that you maintain a stable weight and refrain from smoking. You should also stop taking any medications that increase the risk of bleeding, including aspirin and other NSAIDs, herbal supplements, and vitamins. It is also a good idea to start exercising regularly, as this will help with the recovery process and ensure that you don’t gain the weight back that you have lost.
Depending on the extent of your excess skin, it may be possible to have some or all of the cost of surgery covered by insurance. It is important to speak with a board-certified plastic surgeon about your eligibility for this type of coverage.