It is something not often mentioned, but liposuction does not mark the end of one’s body transformation. In fact, because of the loose and sagging skin, one is left with after undergoing the procedure, it actually marks a beginning.
To be clear, liposuction involves removing the volume beneath the skin by eliminating excess fatty tissue. Unfortunately, because skin without good laxity usually does not bounce back and retract the way one would like, saggy skin is left.
Liposuction does not produce loose skin or even cause sagging skin. Tissue laxity is a matter of chemical imbalance, not fat.
Over the course of time, the skin and superficial tissue are plumped, firmed, and smoothed with chemicals. Among these chemicals are collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The cells that make these vital nutrients go dormant during a person’s 20s. As a result, lines, wrinkles, jowls, and similar issues begin to appear in one’s 30s or 40s.
Significant weight loss also provides another reason why the skin may not bounce back post-liposuction. This is because the skin has been stretched too much on a person prior to weight loss.
What You Can Do To Improve Skin Elasticity
Although your skin loses elasticity as previously mentioned, there are ways to help in this regard particularly after going through liposuction.
Healthy Diet
By getting much-needed nutrition, your skin will be both healthy and elastic. It’s important to consume a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your skin’s benefit.
Stay hydrated
That old adage that your body needs six to eight glasses of water a day is even more true for your skin’s health. Staying hydrated helps your skin’s elasticity as well as its tone and texture.
Cardio exercise
To both tone your physique as well as firm up your skin, it would be ideal that you get some form of regular exercise. Sneaking in 45 minutes of simple cardio daily like walking, jogging, running on a treadmill, or a Zumba session will also allow nutrients to reach your skin with more ease.
Lift weights
Aside from cardio, lifting weights around three times a week will result in faster tightening of the skin. By choosing weightlifting exercises that target specific body areas to tighten your skin, your aid in that effort. Squats and lunges will improve the loose skin on the hips, thighs, and buttocks while the skin around your arms tightens faster when doing bicep curls and triceps dips.
When to Consider Surgery
Surgery should only really be considered as a last option for those who have lost a significant amount of fat after liposuction. The excessively sagging skin that you are left with can be too difficult to remedy without going under the knife. Thus, surgery can tighten the skin around the neck, stomach, and upper arms.
In cases of severe skin sagging, a better option to consider is surgical excision. Examples of this include a facelift, a neck lift, or an arm lift.
Get that slim and firm body
Loose, post-liposuction skin can be a bother to patients who paid good money to remove a substantial amount of fat. To remedy that dilemma, schedule a consultation with Memorial Plastic Surgery today and allow us to make your body look more like how you envision it to be.
