A common question we get from men and women considering body contouring is, “Will I have loose skin after liposuction?” While loose skin can certainly occur after an amount of fat has been removed from a targeted area of the body, in most cases the effect will be temporary and the skin will gradually retighten on its own.
However, there are some cases where loose skin after lipo can be more prominent and permanent. Keep reading to see if you should be concerned about sagging skin and what steps you can take to prevent it following lipo.
Why Loose Skin Can Happen after Liposuction
For the overwhelming majority of people who have liposuction performed by a reputable plastic surgeon, loose skin is not an issue following the procedure. You might think that, since there is less fat in the area, the skin might have trouble tightening to your slimmer shape. It’s true that you may experience a temporary loss of skin elasticity in the area that was treated. But your skin should gradually adjust in the coming weeks and months, revealing a smooth, toned appearance.
So when can loose skin be a lasting issue? Some older patients may have less resilient skin which may take longer to tighten, or may remain a bit looser in the treated area. The same can be true for people who lose a lot of weight after their liposuction procedure. Rapid, massive weight loss often leads to sagging skin because the skin cannot adapt to the weight change fast enough.
If you are planning to lose a lot of weight, the best approach is to achieve your weight loss goals first and then consult with a plastic surgeon. There may be some areas you can improve with liposuction alone, but you will likely need more extensive procedures to remove excess skin and tissue so that you can fully show off the results of all your hard work. Several post-weight loss body contouring procedures such as arm lifts, belt lipectomy and thigh lifts are designed to achieve what liposuction on its own generally can’t.
To schedule a consultation and discuss your goals in more detail, please contact us online or call our Sacramento office at 916-983-9895.
