Non-Invasive Treatments After Weight Loss
The options for non-invasive treatment after weight loss are almost endless.
We’ve divided these by concern to help provide a comprehensive, digestible list:
01
Loose Skin
There are many non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments to help with loose skin. Most of these include transducers that are placed over the area of skin laxity. Most of these transducers emit energy in the form of laser, radiofrequency or laser to heat the skin and cause tightening. The results from these treatments are variable and depend on the degree of skin laxity, the location of skin laxity and overall quality of the skin in those areas. These treatments are generally performed in office without the need for numbing or anesthetic and without any significant downtime following treatment. Most of these treatments require several sessions over a few weeks to achieve the desired result.
Minimally invasive skin treatments are similar but include placement of the transducer just under the skin. This is usually done with local anesthetic, sedation or general anesthetic to ensure comfort during the procedure. These procedures tend to have more significant positive effects on the skin and also have minimal downtime.
02
Stubborn Fat Deposits
Weight loss will result in overall improvement in body contour but many patients continue to be bothered by stubborn areas of excess fat or poor contour that remain despite achieving a healthy weight and active lifestyle. Similar to non-invasive treatments for loose skin, transducers emitting laser, radiofrequency, ultrasound or cooling energy can be used on the surface of the skin to shrink underlying fat deposits.
The results from these treatments are variable and depend on the amount of fat, the quality of the overlying skin and the location of stubborn fat deposit These treatments are generally performed in office without the need for numbing or anesthetic and without any significant downtime following treatment. Most of these treatments require several sessions over a few weeks to achieve the desired result.
03
Skin Quality
Many people notice significant changes in skin quality after significant weight loss. Some of these changes include a change in the thickness of the skin with the skin feeling thinner and more fragile. Some notice a change in the texture of their skin and some notice a change in pigmentation or evenness of the colour of their skin. Of course, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles can be a feature as well. It is common to experience more than one of these changes. In-office treatments using laser, microneedling, ultrasound and/or radiofrequency can be used to improve these various aspects of skin quality.
Surgery After Major Weight Loss
In many cases, especially after major weight loss, patients will have excess, loose skin that hangs uncomfortably or feels uncomfortable. This amount of lose skin will not go away with time despite healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise and cannot significantly be improved by non-invasive treatments.
Surgery after major weight loss improves the shape of skin and tissues after extensive weight loss has been achieved. Excess sagging pockets of skin are removed to treat conditions caused, in part, by poor tissue elasticity. In addition, the procedure(s) can improve a dimpled, irregular skin surface, commonly known as cellulite. Surgery after major weight loss may include these areas:
Abdominal area
locally or extending around the sides and into the lower back area
Groin
that may sag into the inner thigh
Upper arms
that may sag
Chin, neck and jawline
that may need various improvements
Buttocks
that may be low, flat or shaped unevenly
Thigh
including the inner, outer, or posterior thigh, or circumferentially
Breasts
that may be flat and sagging
Surgery after major weight loss is not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. Liposuction, alone, can remove excess fat deposits where skin has good elasticity and is able to naturally conform to new body contours. In cases where skin elasticity is poor, a combination of liposuction and surgical techniques may be recommended.
Considerations
Candidates for major weight loss surgery have extra skin that must be removed by excision. This differs from liposuction, in that liposuction removes only fat through a very small incisions, but does not address excess skin. However, liposuction may be done in conjunction with surgical techniques to smooth and contour. A thorough discussion and examination are essential to determining a comprehensive surgical plan.
The following conditions could indicate that surgery is right for you:
• Have experienced a massive weight loss due to dieting, exercise or bariatric surgery
• Relatively thin layers of fat below the skin of these areas
• Overhanging skin on your body restricts your mobility and/or causes painful chafing, rashes or infection and/or inhibits your confidence or comfort in your body
Options
To achieve your body goals after major weight loss, your plastic surgeon will determine the best surgical plan for you. The following is a list of common body contouring procedures performed on patients after major weight loss. Your plan may include a combination of these procedures performed at once or over multiple surgeries. Of course, these are highly individualized procedures designed to look after specific needs. This means that these procedures are combined and modified for you after discussion of your goals and examination of the areas that bother you.
1
Lower body lift: to correct sagging buttocks, abdomen, waist, hips and outer thighs with varying incisions
2
Breast lift: to correct flat and sagging breasts with incision sites determined by the amount of excess skin to be removed
3
Arm lift: to correct sagging skin on the upper arms
4
Thigh lift: to correct sagging inner, outer, or posterior thigh skin