Tighter Skin for a Slender New You

Dr. Shillingford has spent close to a decade working with patients struggling with weight from all over Florida and the surrounding vicinity. While many patients are locals from Aventura, Hialeah, South Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, some travel to his South Florida office in Boca Raton from Central Florida (Orlando, Lakeland, Ocala) and the West Coast (Tampa, Naples, Sarasota). Working with such a diverse group of clients allows Dr. Shillingford to address the challenges obesity presents to clients from all walks of life with surgical weight loss procedures such as the Sleeve Gastrectomy (Gastric Sleeve), Gastric Lap-Band, and Gastric Bypass.

Regardless of which procedure Dr. Shillingford and his patients determine is best for them, each and every patient receives highly personalized and compassionate care every step of the way. Part of this approach is to help patients find the comfort in their own bodies they have long lived without. Comfort is key in a healthy body and unwanted saggy skin in the chin, neck, stomach and arms as a result of rapid weight loss is always a possibility. However, it should not deter you from making the choice to improve your health on the inside. To help the outside look and feel as good as you do following bariatric surgery, Dr. Shillingford recommends patients consider some the following tips pre- and post-surgery:

• Don’t Delay

  Skin loses it’s ability to rebound as we age, therefore, the earlier in life you lose weight, the better your skin will be able to mold to your slimmer figure.

• Control the Urge to Lose Quickly

  Skin takes time to tighten after weight loss, therefore slow and steady wins the race.

• Use a body scrub & get a monthly massage

  Exfoliating and massaging encourages blood flow and removes dead skin, both of which promote healthy elasticity.

• Supplement with Collagen

  Collagen, found in your skin, bones and cartilage, is responsible for skin’s elasticity and decreases with age. Supplements can be taken in pill and liquid form and applied to the skin as a cream.

• Weight Train

  Pre-surgery and a month after surgery, patients can benefit greatly from weight training 3 times a week. Building lean muscle tone helps skin look tighter. Examples include:

  • Lunges & squats for upper thighs
  • Bicep curls for underarms
  • Planks and crunches for stomach
• Keep Hydrated

  There is no substitution for water, and when it comes to promoting healthy skin, nothing compares. Aim to drink around 64 oz of water a day.

• Honor the Journey

  Set realistic goals for your body and remember that it will take time for your skin to adjust to your more slender figure.

• Choose Lean Protein

  Encourage healthy muscle tone with a good exercise routine and by recovering with nutritious and collagen stimulating ground sirloin, eggs, chicken, and fish.

• Avoid Harsh Sulfates

  Often present in body wash, these compounds irritate and dry out skin.

• Limit Sun Exposure

  Sun damage is by far one of the biggest culprits for flabby skin,wrinkles, and of course, skin cancer. Stay away from tanning beds and apply sunscreen anytime you are out in the sun.

These simple guidelines can drastically improve skin’s appearance over time. Dr. Shillingford is an advocate for helping patients achieve weight loss results that reflect who they are inside and out. If following these non-invasive methods is still not enough to achieve the results you are looking for, you may consider plastic surgery as a last resort.

Dr. Kahlil Shillingford is a board certified surgeon who specializes in bariatric or weight loss surgery including the Sleeve Gastrectomy (Gastric Sleeve), Gastric Bypass, and Lap-Band procedures. His patients come from across the state of Florida including Aventura, Hialeah, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Orlando, Lakeland, Ocala, Tampa, Naples, and Sarasota. To learn more about Dr. Shillingford’s integrative weight loss surgeries and all-inclusive fees please call his office in Boca Raton, Florida at (561) 483-8840.