Weight Loss Surgery, Loose Skin, And Post-bariatric Surgery
Massive weight loss can be a difficult decision. Most of you have gone through massive weight losses or are considering massive weight loss. After a weight loss, one of the biggest concerns is loose skin. Losing weight is known to cause loose skin. Loose skin is not just a result of a huge weight loss, but also natural events such as pregnancy. Patients come in first to discuss weight loss and bariatric surgeries, as well as how they work and the results.
However, many patients decide to exercise and eat a healthy diet, but worry about their skin. Patients should be realistic. Having healthy skin is more important than having it loose. There are many ways to get rid of loose skin, even if you’ve lost weight. These include post-bariatric surgery, which can include tummy tucks and breast augmentations. Although it might not appear like it, loose skin is a proud reminder about how far you have come. If you take the extra step to remove it, your body will be a trophy. We will discuss the reasons and whereabouts of this extra skin and how to reduce it or remove it.
We all know that matter can’t be destroyed or created, so if you exercise and lose fat, it isn’t simply “disappearing”. It is like water or steam, where there is a form shift. First fuel sources are glucose and sugar, which can be harnessed from carbohydrates. When the glucose is exhausted, fat takes control. Your body functions as a continuous interconnected conveyor belt, which removes vital nutrients from fat and delivers them to certain body parts. Lipase, an enzyme found in fat tissue, is activated by hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. Lipase causes fat cells to produce triglycerides. This is what makes fat cells fatty. The signal from lipase tells fat cells to expel triglycerides. Once they exit fat cells, they break down into glycerol or fatty acids which then enter your bloodstream. Lipolysis is the process of converting triglycerides to reusable energy. It involves shuffle and reshuffle to produce heat, water and carbon dioxide as well as ATP. The cells shrink because the fat tissue has lost some components.
It makes sense that skin shrinks when fat tissue is removed and cells are reduced. Both yes and no. Yes and no. Skin can shrink to accommodate moderate weight loss. This is due to its elastic collagen. But collagen has its limits. The collagen fibers become weaker with age, which can lead to wrinkles. The skin’s ability to produce collagen is affected by rapid growth and weight gain. This causes areas to become stretched, which can lead to stretch marks. These are common in pregnancy and in adolescents who go through puberty. The skin that has been stretched due to weight loss can lose its collagen strength, making it difficult or impossible for the extra skin shrink back to its original shape. This pain is felt by those undergoing bariatric or gastric bypass surgery. Corrective surgery for unattractive and incontinence skin is becoming more common as weight loss surgery becomes more popular. Extra skin can lead to infections, rashes, and even back problems.
Age is the most important factor in determining how much skin will fall off after weight loss. Because of the strength and density of collagen in your skin, patients younger than others tend to have more loose skin. The second most important factor is your weight. A person who has lost 200 lbs. Excessive skin is more common in someone who has lost 200 lbs than in someone who has lost 80. Other factors that can influence who is more likely have loose skin include smoking, sun damage, and skin color.
After a significant weight loss, the abdomen is often a major concern. Both men and women store excess fat under the skin and in the abdomen. These areas are the most vulnerable to excess skin. Hanging skin in large quantities can cause moisture to build up between skin folds. This condition is known as intertriginous dermatis. It causes irritation, redness, and pain. Sometimes, the skin can even break down, bleed, and become infected. Many insurance companies will cover the cost of a tummy tuck, abdominoplasty or other surgical procedures if you have proper documentation. Abdominoplasty is a procedure that removes excess skin from the stomach. This is ideal for women who have just had a baby.
