Weight-loss surgery, such as gastric bypass or gastric banding surgery, changes your digestive anatomy to help you lose significant amounts of weight. Losing as much as 100 lbs. or more can positively affect your health, but may leave behind loose skin on the stomach, arms, buttocks, thighs and chin. This is because your skin contains elastic fibers that work much like a rubber band. When they are stretched beyond their limits, they may bounce back more loosely. The same is true for your skin after significant weight loss.
Step 1
Increase your protein intake. Do so within the limits of your post-surgery diet. Protein is necessary for the body to repair itself and produce elastic fibers. If you do not consume enough following surgery, your skin may not heal sufficiently.
Step 2
Engage in a weight-training program to build muscle. Strength training helps to provide a firm surface under the skin, improving the appearance of sagging skin. Obtain a physician's approval after your surgery before beginning an exercise program. If you were sedentary before your surgery, you may wish to seek out a personal trainer who can instruct you on safe weight-training methods.
Step 3
Talk to a cosmetic surgeon. See if body contouring surgical procedures may be right for you. If you experience significant skin sagging, these procedures may be the only option to tighten loose skin. A surgeon can evaluate your condition and estimate the cost of these surgeries. If several procedures are recommended, you may need to have them performed on different days.
Step 4
Undergo skin-tightening procedures. These include an abdominoplasty, breast lift or arm lift to remove loose skin from your body. These procedures involve making incisions on the body and removing loose skin. Your physician will typically recommend you wait at least two years after weight-loss surgery before undergoing these procedures to ensure you are at a stable weight, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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