I recently lost 45 kg, and now my skin is stretched, sagging, and has a lot of excess skin. Should I have the excess skin removed? If so, are there any risks involved? (Hung, 37 years old, Hanoi )
Reply:
After weight loss, many people experience excess skin. In younger individuals, the skin will naturally tighten. However, in those who lose a significant amount of weight, the skin's elasticity decreases, preventing it from contracting naturally and resulting in noticeable sagging. These cases require surgical intervention, provided they meet all the necessary criteria: a thorough general health check, safe anesthesia, successful wound healing, and the absence of any chronic conditions that contraindicate surgery.
In reality, surgical removal of excess skin is not a difficult technique; most plastic surgeons can perform it. However, this procedure carries the risk of slow wound healing, non-healing, and potentially unsightly scarring after surgery.
Almost all excess skin on the body can be removed. In some areas involving joints, the surgeon will carefully consider the surgical approach and the amount of skin to be removed, avoiding excessive removal that could cause scarring and restrict joint movement.
Generally, after weight loss, if you have a significant amount of excess skin, you should consult a plastic surgeon for advice on removing it. In cases of large amounts of excess skin, the surgeon will calculate the shortest and most appropriate incision location to ensure optimal healing. They will then combine this with scar treatment methods to minimize scarring and speed up the healing process, such as compression bandages, anti-scarring medication, and surgical suturing techniques to reduce the length of the scar.
To minimize excess fat after weight loss, you need to lose weight gradually, and exercise regularly to burn fat naturally. You can also incorporate shapewear and compression stockings to help eliminate excess fat.
Cosmetic surgeon Tong Hai
Head of the Department of Microsurgery and Reconstruction, Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
National Burn Hospital
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