Have you recently undergone significant weight loss? If so, congratulations! Losing weight safely and effectively can be very hard to do, and you should be commended for your accomplishment and your dedication to taking steps to improve your health and your body.
But even if you are happy with your weight loss, you may have noticed some problems that you didn’t expect, such as sagging and bagging in your skin. Losing weight can make some areas of our bodies look unsightly due to the natural stretch of skin. When that skin was plump with unwanted fat, it was “full” and looked that way. Now that the fat is gone, however, the skin may look stretched out, like there is excess.
Areas like the abdomen, buttocks, upper arms, and thighs are particularly prone to this sagging effect, and you may be wondering what you can do to fix it. The cosmetic surgery professionals here at the Plastic and Cosmetic Center of South Texas can help.
There are a number of ways to deal with stretched out skin that can happen after weight loss. Before you consider any of them, however, it’s important to come in for a consultation so that we can talk about all the options and which one is going to be best for you.
It’s also important that you have already achieved your goal weight, or are as close to it as possible. None of these procedures should be considered a weight loss treatment, and if you continue to lose weight following any of them, you may find yourself back to the same skin issues that you fixed in the first place. Our doctors will talk to you about your health and your plans before deciding on a cosmetic procedure.
One option is a Body Lift. This is a surgical procedure that can improve the shape, tone, and tightness of particular areas of the body. Body lifts remove any remaining stubborn or excess fat and also deal with the sagging skin. In some cases, body lifts can even improve the appearance of cellulite. The main areas that a body lift can help are the abdomen (into the lower back area, if needed), a sagging groin or lower abdomen, the buttocks and the thighs. You can also consider an upper body tightening procedure to fix problems in the arms and breasts.
Combining both is possible, as is the potential addition of liposuction, and can be discussed with your surgeon. Remember though: body lifts are surgical procedures, so you will need to consider recovery and downtime if this is the option you decide you want.
Not everyone wants to do surgery, however, and we understand that. So if you are looking for a non-invasive way to treat this problem, we have a terrific option: Reaction™ by Viora.
Viora is an innovative, non-surgical, non-invasive technique that effectively tightens the skin on the body and helps contour your post-weight loss figure. It can be used safely on all skin types and shades, and has been shown to reduce cellulite, tighten loose skin on both face and body, reduce stubborn areas of fat, and help even out rough or unsightly skin texture.
There is no downtime with Reaction — you can go straight back to your normal activities after your session here in our office. There is no post-operative care to worry about!
Reaction uses radiofrequency waves in a process known as CORE technology and combines that with vacuum therapy. This combination results in three different therapeutic processes occurring during your session: deep tissue heating, mechanical massage/stretching, and the breakdown and drainage of fat. The appearance of cellulite is reduced. Elasticity of skin is improved, particularly on the stomach, thighs, hips, and underarms. Skin texture is improved. And a smoother, more contoured body results.
Plus, Reaction sessions don’t take very long at all. Treatment time is estimated at around 20 minutes per “body zone” — so treating one leg would be 20 minutes, while both legs would be a total of 40. There is no downtime or recovery time, and most patients reported seeing significant results after just one or two sessions. How many sessions you will need will be determined by your doctor.
To find out if you are a good candidate for a body lift, Reaction by Viora, or any of the complementary procedures that can go with it, call our office today.
