According to the National Institutes of Health, as estimated 133.6 million Americans are either obese or overweight. For the vast majority of people, dieting and exercise are the main methods used to lose weight. Some individuals who are morbidly obese may pursue a form of bariatric surgery to aid them in their weight loss. When a great deal of weight is lost, typically 100 lbs. or more, the body is left with a considerable amount of excess skin that can be bulky and unsightly. There are several ways to improve and eliminate excess skin on the body.

Surgical Option

A surgical option called body contouring can help get rid of excess skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Usually during significant weight loss, excess skin is scattered all over the body, with the abdomen, thighs, upper arms and neck being operated on the most. Surgeons will take several factors into consideration to determine whether or not a skin removal surgery is right for you. Such factors include overall health, weight stability and realistic expectations. For each surgery, the doctor will remove a large section of the excess skin and tighten the muscles underneath the skin, according to emedicinehealth.com. The skin is then pulled tighter over the respective area, leaving little to no excess skin. Due to the extensive amount of weight that people often lose, the different body contouring procedures may be performed over the course of several weeks or months to minimize complications. Recovery time following excess skin removal is usually two to four weeks.

Nonsurgical Options

While surgical options may represent the best chance to remove excess skin, there are nonsurgical options to improve appearance. The most widely recommended tactic for tightening skin is to build muscle, according to thefactsaboutfitness.com. Muscle will tighten the skin while it transforms fat into muscle. In order to build muscle, taking part in a weight-training program can improve certain parts of the body, especially arms and legs. Some people may find skin toning and tightening cream good options, although results can be mixed. Keep in mind that skin will slowly contract back to its regular size somewhat, due to the fact that skin is elastic. It will take time, but your body needs to slowly adapt to your dramatic weight loss and your skin may improve on its own.

Source:

Cleveland Clinic: Body Contouring Surgery

The Facts About Fitness: Everything you need to know about excess skin and weight loss

EMedicine: Excess Skin Removal After Extreme Weight Loss