Losing a significant amount of weight isn’t always the final step in feeling comfortable in your body.
Whether the weight loss happened gradually or all at once, or it was thanks to medication, you did the work, and that’s something to celebrate. But now that the weight is gone, you might be facing a new issue: loose, sagging skin.
Loose skin isn’t just about appearance, either. For many people, it causes chafing, discomfort, and difficulty with movement. Some avoid exercise or intimacy entirely because of it.
At our Milwaukee, Wisconsin clinic, Dr. Mark Bosbous often sees patients who’ve reached their goal weight but feel held back by the way their skin has responded.
In this article, we’ll talk about what causes loose skin, how to know whether you’re a candidate for skin removal surgery, and what your treatment options actually look like.
What Causes Loose Skin After Weight Loss?
When you gain weight, your skin slowly stretches to accommodate the extra fat. But when that weight comes off, especially if it happens quickly, your skin doesn’t always shrink back in the same way.
That’s partly because of aging. As we get older, we naturally lose collagen and elastin, two proteins that keep the skin firm and bouncy. Without them, your skin has a harder time snapping back into place after weight loss.
Additionally, if your journey involved rapid changes, like those caused by bariatric surgery, your skin may have had even less time to adjust.
Some areas are more prone to sagging than others, especially spots where fat tends to linger. Think: the arms, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, breasts, and even the face and jawline.
Is Liposuction the Fix?
A lot of patients assume liposuction is a fix for loose skin, but that’s not actually the case.
Liposuction removes fat, not extra skin. In fact, when large amounts of fat are removed from certain areas without skin tightening, the skin can sometimes appear even looser than before.
That’s why skin removal surgery, or body contouring, is often the better option. It’s designed to take away excess skin, reshape the body, and help you finally feel comfortable in the skin you worked so hard for.
What Are the Surgical Options?
If you’re dealing with loose, sagging skin that doesn’t respond to diet or exercise, and you’ve maintained your goal weight for a while, you may be a good candidate for skin removal surgery.
Which procedure is right for you depends on which areas are bothering you the most. Here’s a look at what’s possible.
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
A tummy tuck is one of the most common procedures after weight loss. It removes excess skin and tightens the muscles in your midsection, giving your abdomen a smoother, flatter appearance.
It’s especially helpful if you’ve had multiple pregnancies or carried most of your weight in your belly.
Body Lift
This is a more extensive option that targets the lower body—hips, buttocks, thighs, and lower abdomen.
A body lift not only removes loose skin but also repositions and tightens the underlying tissue. The result is a smoother, more proportionate silhouette.
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Even after losing weight, the upper arms are a tough area to tone through exercise alone. An arm lift trims the loose skin that hangs down (what many refer to as “bat wings”) and restores definition to the arms.
Thigh Lift
For people who have lost a lot of weight in the lower body, loose skin in the thighs can become a huge source of discomfort. A thigh lift removes extra skin from the inner or outer thighs, reducing chafing and improving your comfort in clothes.
What’s Recovery Like?
Recovery time depends on which procedure you have, but most people need a week or two of total rest after surgery. Swelling and bruising are completely normal during the early days, and full results take several months to settle in.
Dr. Bosbous usually recommends waiting at least six months after reaching your goal weight before scheduling body contouring procedures. That allows your weight to stabilize, which makes your results more reliable and long-lasting.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight and are still struggling with loose or sagging skin, know that there are real, effective solutions available.
At our Milwaukee clinic, Dr. Mark Bosbous takes the time to understand your goals and concerns, creating a bespoke plan that helps you finish the transformation you started.
Ready to talk options? Schedule a consultation and let’s see what’s possible.