We hear it time and time again…”I lost the weight and now I have all these wrinkles!” It’s incredibly frustrating for those who have worked to hard to lose a great deal of weight only to be left with sagging skin in their face and entire body. While still proud and happy to have achieved their weight loss goals, many patients feel they can’t fully appreciate their results. They now look in the mirror and while they do see a much healthier, thinner version of themselves they also see one who looks older and more tired.
Hanging skin can also be painful and difficult to leave an active life with, which is why many turn to cosmetic surgery to have it removed.
In the 2014 report, breast lifts were up 3 percent from 2013 and thigh lift and tummy tuck procedures increased by 5 percent. Among people who experienced massive weight loss, the procedures increased by 10 percent just since 2013.
Arm lifts are becoming more popular and have increased 4,000 percent since the year 2000.
The increase seems to come in conjunction with weight loss surgery, which the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recently reported an increase in.
“As these patients lose weight they may have excess ‘loose’ skin and need plastic surgery procedures to remove it a year or two later,” Dr. Justin B. Dimick, chief of minimally invasive surgery at the University of Michigan said.
He recommends waiting until the weight loss is complete and the patient has been able to maintain their weight for a certain period of time. Each operation poses it’s own unique risks so it’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon and try to perform one procedure at a time.
Many patients come to Dr. Thompson to have the loose skin facial skin removed and their features restored while visiting a full body plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Dunkley of Envision Cosmetic Surgery, to address other areas of the body. Loose skin in the face leads to wrinkles, lack of definition in the jaw and neck, and often leaves one looking more tired and older than they actually are.
Dr. Thompson is able to address the lower face, mid-face, and neck with his comprehensive facelift procedure. Liposuction under the chin is performed and fat transfer is often added to restore some of the volume loss in the face for a more youthful appearance.
Dr. Thompson and Dr. Dunkley will be teaming up for an episode on The Younger You with Troy Thompson after performing surgery on a woman who lost 140 pounds. Her story is incredible, as are her results, and we look forward to the episode airing on The CW30 later this year.
You can learn more about restoring the lower face and see before and after photos on our facelift page.
Consultations can be made by calling (801)776-2220 or by submitting your photos through our Virtual Consultation page.