Losing weight is often one of the most challenging battles that individuals have to face, says WashingtonPost.com. Once the weight has been successfully lost, quite often the battle is not yet entirely over. This is due in large part to the excess and loose skin that can be left over once the weight has been shed.
Have you recently lost a lot of weight? Are you considering surgery to help you slim and trim up your now smaller and healthier body? Not every person is going to be the ideal candidate for the surgical removal of excess and loose skin. Learning whether you’ll be a good candidate for this type of surgery can help you to determine whether it’s the right choice for you.
How is Your Overall Health?
There is no disputing that losing a significant amount of weight can help to improve your overall physical health. In order to qualify for any surgical procedure, it’s imperative that you be in good health, without any underlying medical conditions that could potentially complicate a surgery. These could include heart disease, chronic high blood pressure, certain blood disorders and diabetes. According to the experts at having some of these health conditions could potentially lead to some complications during surgery and during the recovery process. During your consultation, be sure to share your entire medical history with your plastic surgeon.
How Long Have You Been at Your Goal Weight?
In order to ensure that you get the best in results from your surgery to remove excess skin it’s important that your weight is stable for at least 6 months. While liposuction can often be combined with skin removal surgery, it’s still best to have as little excess fat on your body as is possible. Weight can fluctuate, even after having lost a large part of your body weight, and this is completely normal. However, if your weight fluctuates too much after surgery, it can have an impact on your results. You should have a well-maintained weight and healthy lifestyle in order to ensure that you get the most out of your skin removal surgery.
Do You Have Cosmetic Goals in Mind?
What are your goals with your skin removal surgery? Are you looking to trim and tone up your tummy? Are you looking for an arm lift or a breast lift? If your areas of concern are limited then you may benefit from one surgery that addresses the loose skin in just these areas. If, however, you’re looking to address loose skin on your arms, stomach, legs and buttocks then you may find that multiple surgeries are the safer option to help you to meet your cosmetic goals, says ffsnyc.com, who offer facial feminization surgeries to clients.
Are You Realistic About the Goals That You Do Have?
Gaining a large amount of weight, and subsequently losing it, can take a toll on the body. Even the most skilled of plastic surgeons can only do so much in terms of the results that they produce. Tightening up loose skin and repairing separated stomach muscles will make a great difference in the way that you look and feel. You will still, however, have visible stretchmarks and you may still have cellulite. During your consultation with your plastic surgeon, you will be able to discuss your goals and what may be realistic for your body and the loose skin that you have.
Can You Take the Time Off For Recovery?
The recovery period from any type of cosmetic surgery can last as long as 8 weeks. Most people will need up to 2 weeks off from work, as these are the weeks that will have the most physical challenges. You will need time to recover in comfort at home, and may not be able to return to work for several more weeks if yours is a physical job.
It’s also important that you have help and support at home while you recover, as you will not be able to move without some discomfort until after a bit of recovery time has passed.
Discussing your goals with your plastic surgeon will help you to develop a great treatment plan that helps to address each of your areas of concern.