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Shedding the pounds is a significant achievement for many people who have been struggling with excess weight.
The journey of achieving your ideal body is different for everyone. Sometimes it can be accomplished with diet and exercise; other times, it requires surgical assistance. Depending on how much weight is lost, some individuals develop flabby, sagging skin that didn’t contract with the tissues beneath it.
Excess skin can morph body contours and create the appearance of bulkiness, even if there is very little fat remaining.
What Is Skin Removal Surgery?
Skin removal surgery, or panniculectomy, is a procedure that removes excess skin from the body to relieve the burden of morphed body contours.
Skin removal surgery uses a horizontal incision (which varies in size depending on the amount of skin that needs to be removed) around the midsection to accommodate the abdomen, hips, upper thighs, lower back, and buttocks. Localized fat and excess tissue are removed, and the incision is closed. This procedure can take up to four hours.
If you have lost weight and are living with more moderate skin sagging, there may be alternative body contouring procedures that will remove the skin while focusing on specific areas. For example, tummy tuck surgery improves abdominal contours by tightening the skin and muscles, whereas thigh lift surgery reduces the circumference of the upper part of the legs.
When Should I Consider Skin Removal Surgery?
You may want to consider skin removal surgery if you have recently lost weight and have noticed:
- Excessive sagging in the lower abdomen
- Difficulty finding clothes due to excess skin
- Complications performing normal activities, such as exercise
- Development of skin issues, such as rash or ulceration
Aside from the way that excess skin can affect your contours, this excess also harms your ability to exercise or function. Skin irritation is common among people with large amounts of excess skin due to chafing and sweating, which can cause rashes and other painful skin issues.
You worked hard to shed the extra pounds, and you should be able to enjoy the full display of your slimmer and leaner contours.
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in skin removal surgery and would like to learn more about your options in Tempe or the greater Phoenix area, please feel free to contact Dr. Boll at (480) 833-5200 or fill out our contact form.