Your body will dramatically change over the next 6 to 18 months following gastric bypass surgery. As we covered in prior articles, great results are not guaranteed, and rely heavily on the patient’s willingness and capacity to live this new life style on a daily basis. And one of the post-surgery conditions you as a patient may experience and need to cope with is excess or sagging skin.
Age and genes play a factor
A number of factors like your age, genes, and the amount of weight you lose, as well as some medical illnesses that cause skin thinning, whether you exercise or smoke has an impact on how your body heals after gastric bypass surgery and influence how much your skin tightens or sags afterward. It takes roughly 3-4 months for the sagging skin to restore its state after the operation but results differ depending on the patient.
While excess or sagging skin is unavoidable, there are many steps we can take to reduce its impact or efficiently take it under control. With this article we will try to provide you with some tips and suggestions:
There are natural solutions
After gastric bypass surgery, there are a few things you may do to help with the healing process of your surgery wounds and reduce the appearance of sagging skin:
- Give Your Body What It Needs! Your Body Needs To Have The Essential Building Tools So You Must Eat A Well-Balanced Diet And Take Vitamin Supplements As Directed By Your Physician. The Post-Surgery Diet You Follow Must Avoid Malnutrition And Include Supplements Like Iron And Vitamin B12.
- Maintain A Healthy Level Of Hydration! Your Skin Will Be More Elastic And Able To Handle Variations In Your Body Weight If You Keep It Hydrated.
- Strengthen Your Muscles! Building Muscle Not Only Helps You Maintain Your Weight Loss, But It Also Helps Fill Out Any Sagging Skin.
- Take Care Of Your Skin! There Are Several Body Butters And Lotions You May Use For Moisturizing Your Skin And/Or Minimizing Stretch Marks. But Always Consult With Your Physician Before Using Such Supplementary Applications
Cosmetic Surgery is an option
As we mentioned, sagging rates vary from patient to patient depending on how overweight the patient is and how fast weight loss occurs. The faster the weight loss, and the greater the weight excess rate, the more sagging patients may suffer.
Therefore, some patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery may prefer plastic surgery as a solution for sagging skin after they complete their weight loss process. Such patients are monitored for a period of 12 months, prior to plastic surgery to make sure that their weight remains stable.
If you are thinking about having gastric surgery but worried about having loose or sagging skin afterward, remember that there is a lot you can do to overcome this issue. Our expert medical staff will be there to help you at every step.
Feel free to call us to get more information about gastric bypass surgery and make an appointment at CatchLife.
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