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Atlanta excess skin

Why Do I Have Excess Skin After Weight Loss?

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Every patient has their own reasons for seeking plastic surgery, but one group of patients that I’m especially glad to serve are those who have successfully lost large amounts of weight. Whether it’s done through bariatric surgery or through a lifestyle change including diet and exercise, healthy weight loss is an accomplishment to be proud of. Unfortunately, instead of celebrating when they reach their goal weight, many patients find themselves disappointed by the excess skin that has been left loose and saggy instead of keeping up with the slimming process. On the other hand, other weight loss patients never have a problem with loose skin. Why does this affect some patients but not others?

post-weight-loss-surgery-atlantaThe answer lies in the makeup of the skin, and what makes it firm in the first place. A large proportion of our skin is made up of collagen—a protein that our bodies produce significant amounts of when we’re young. This protein gives the skin youthfulness, firmness, and elasticity. However, collagen is only effective to a point. If the skin is stretched too much for the collagen to be able to seamlessly bounce back into shape when it no longer needs to stretch as far, the results are stretch marks and loose skin. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors that contribute to whether your skin will be able to keep up with weight loss or whether it will fall behind:

  • Amount of weight lost—Understandably, the more drastic the change in size, the more difficult it will be for the skin to stay firm. For instance, patients who lose 20 pounds generally won’t experience much of a change in their skin’s firmness, while patients who lose 100 pounds are much more likely to have loose skin.
  • Age—Collagen production naturally slows as we age, which is why facial aging often occurs in the form of sagging skin. The younger you are when you lose the weight, the more collagen your skin will have, which makes it more likely that your skin will look firm and youthful after you’ve reached your goal weight.
  • How many times you gain and lose weight—We’ve all seen the effect on a rubber band when it’s been used many times—every time it’s less and less able to snap back to its original size. Your skin experiences a similar problem when weight is gained and lost repeatedly, so each time you’re more likely to have loose skin.
  • How quickly you lost weight—The patients that tend to be at higher risk for excess skin after weight loss are those who have lost their weight through bariatric surgery. In general, the more slowly you lose weight, the easier it is for your skin to gradually shrink as your body does, but when weight loss occurs more quickly, it’s more difficult for your skin to keep up.
  • Genetics—With skin’s recuperation after weight loss, as with many situations, there is a bit of luck involved. Just as some women can go through pregnancy without a single stretch mark, some patients are genetically more or less likely to have skin that struggles to retain firmness through weight loss.

It’s impossible to predict whether you’ll find yourself facing excess skin after dramatic weight loss. Rest assured, however, that weight loss is a victory that should always be celebrated, and cosmetic surgery like a tummy tuck, thigh lift, or arm lift can help weight loss patients finally reap the benefits of their hard work. To get started on your journey toward an appearance that makes you feel confident, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, or join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Why You May Need an Arm Lift, Not Exercise, to Give You Those Dream Arms

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It’s no secret (nor is it new) that many people want a slender midsection and toned legs. But one area of the body that has been receiving increasing cosmetic attention is the arms. More and more people are self-conscious of the excess skin and fat on their upper arms, and dream of having slender, toned arms that can make them feel better about beating the Atlanta heat with sleeveless tops. Unfortunately, this area is notoriously difficult to improve, and for many people, years of arm-targeting exercises won’t give them the arms of their dreams.

Why You May Need an Arm Lift, Not Exercise, to Give You Those Dream ArmsWhy won’t exercise give me slender, firm arms?
When the underside of the upper arm has a sagging, loose appearance, this is often the result of either excess fat, sagging skin, or both. While fat in the upper arms can be difficult to lose, the more persistent issue is that of the skin. Through our body’s natural aging process, over time our skin loses elasticity (the ability to remain tight and firm). In the upper arm area, this natural loss of firmness is compounded by the effects of constant gravity and of weight fluctuations throughout life, so the skin has a strong tendency to sag as we age. Exercise can reduce fat and build muscle tone, but it cannot tighten skin or remove excess skin.

What can I do to give my arms a younger, contoured appearance?
An arm lift is a plastic surgery procedure that can repair the sagging, excess tissue that extends from the underside of the upper arm. As with many surgeries, the procedure varies depending on the patient’s needs and desired results. For some patients, a combination of liposuction to remove the unwanted fat and the removal of excess skin provides optimal results. For other patients who have minimal fat on the arms (often patients who have recently lost extreme amounts of weight), the procedure may focus solely on removing excess skin.

An arm lift procedure begins with an incision that varies in size and position depending on the amount and location of the tissue to be removed, as well as how much scarring the patient is comfortable with. The incision is often placed along the inside of the back of the arm, so that scarring is minimally visible from both the front and the back of the patient. For some patients who require less tissue to be removed, the incision can be made in the armpit to minimize visible scarring. The unnecessary fat and skin is removed, and the remaining skin is tightened to create a firm and toned shape.

While the upper arms are not always the most talked-about problem area, they can be a source of constant self-consciousness for many people. I have seen many patients become frustrated because their diet and exercise efforts have not produced results on their arms, but fortunately, there is another way. To learn whether liposuction, an arm lift, or a combination of both procedures can give you slimmer, more contoured arms, set up a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, and remember to join us on social media as well for health tips and updates on our procedures.

Rejuvenation from the Neck Down

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One of the common reasons patients seek cosmetic surgery is to combat the signs of aging. With all the information we have about staying healthier for longer, many patients find that even though they still feel young and energetic, their outward appearance does not match. Most people work to resolve this by trying to minimize the impact that aging has had on the face. This is an understandable approach—after all, our face is often the first thing that others notice about us, and it is frequently exposed regardless of what we wear. However, all it takes is a dissatisfied look in the mirror to remind us that aging happens to our entire body, and that having an appearance that matches how we feel involves paying attention to what’s below the neck as well.

happy couple (small)One area where gravity tends to take a toll is the underside of the upper arm. Between the loss of skin elasticity with age and weight fluctuations throughout life, many patients find that their arms have loose and sagging skin that hangs down from the upper arm. For these patients, an arm lift procedure can take years off their appearance and help them to once again feel more confident in their appearance—especially while wearing short sleeves during the summer months. There are 3 general ways to improve the upper arms, depending on the physical findings as well as patient’s desired results—liposuction only, skin excision only, or a combination of both. In some patients who have minimally sagging skin, only liposuction is needed to improve the contour of the arm. For those with more skin to be removed, an incision either in the armpit or down the back of the arm may be indicated, depending on the amount and location of the skin to be removed, the amount of scarring a patient allows, and the amount of enhancement the patient wants. In many patients, I use a combination of liposuction and skin excision to create a more contoured and toned shape. In all of these cases, the goal is to achieve a balance between the amount of scarring, the physical findings and the desired result.

For both men and women, the chest is another area of concern that can make patients feel that their body looks older than they feel. For women, a breast lift procedure can restore a more youthful appearance to the chest. While some patients choose to implement breast augmentation with their breast lift, this procedure most often does not involve a change to the size of the breast, but simply raises the breast to a more youthful and “perky” position. For men, excess fat and lax skin in the chest area can create the appearance of breasts. Male breast reduction surgery can remove the unwanted tissue to give the chest a more contoured and rejuvenated shape.

Finally, the abdomen is a third area where patients are affected by aging. The loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone can occur naturally with age, and for some women, the tummy area is further affected by pregnancy and weight fluctuations. For these patients, a tummy tuck can provide significant rejuvenation for the midsection. This procedure varies based on the individual patient’s needs, but can involve a combination of liposuction, muscle repair, removal of excess skin, and tightening the remaining skin, a tummy tuck can give the abdomen a firmer and younger appearance while only leaving a scar that can be easily concealed by normal undergarments.

As a board certified plastic surgeon, I am honored to have worked with many patients to help them achieve a younger appearance that matches their fresh and energetic feel. Each patient has unique needs and concerns, and for some, the best way to achieve their aesthetic goals is through a combination of the procedures above or other plastic surgery options. The first step is to consider scheduling a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, to discuss how you would like to enhance and rejuvenate your appearance, and stay up-to-date on our procedures and technologies through Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.