Body Image Issues Following Weight Loss

January 31, 2013 - By Dr. Jules Feledy

You may have heard about the story of one Paul Mason, the former “world’s fattest man.” The former postman out of the U.K. went down from 980 pounds to a relatively svelte 350 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass surgery. His weight may have dramatically decreased, but now Mason is seeking plastic surgery. Why? To get rid of the excess skin left over.

Excess skin might call for body contouring surgery

Excess skin is a problem facing people who undergo rapid weight loss, especially following surgery, like gastric bypass. More people are opting to undergo this kind of surgery, as it’s considered safer and more effective than it once was. About 200,000 adults in the U.S. undergo metabolic/bariatric surgery every year.

Now, not everyone who loses weight is going to experience sagging skin. Various factors determine the elasticity of your skin following weight loss, such as how fast you lose the weight, how much weight you lose rapidly, your age, and how much the skin has stretched. The biggest factor, however, is genetics. Some people’s skin will naturally bounce back even after massive weight loss, if they’ve got the genes for it.

For those whose genetics aren’t quite as resilient, there’s body contouring surgery after weight loss. Body contouring surgery improves the shape and tone of your skin and the underlying tissue that supports it, and removes sagging folds and excess pockets of skin. However, due to the possibility of pockets reappearing if you continue to lose weight after body contouring surgery, your weight has to be stabilized before you can have the procedure performed.

If you’re interested in body contouring surgery, or are curious what other options are available to you after, or even prior to, weight loss, contact the offices of Dr. Jules Feledy to book a consultation.