Getting rid of excess weight isn't easy for most people. It takes time, commitment, and dedication to a weight loss plan that typically involves calorie cutting and exercise. However, while unfortunate, many people who are successful in achieving their weight loss goals still won't be happy with the way that their body looks because of excess skin. If you're worried about this or are already dealing with excess skin on your belly due to weight loss, here's what you should know about tummy tuck surgery.

The Likelihood of Skin Snapping Back

A lot of people wait after losing a lot of weight in order to see if their body will do the job of removing the excess skin that's no longer needed. In some cases, this can actually happen, but it's an extremely gradual process and won't happen for everyone.

You're less likely to experience this benefit if you gained weight rapidly at any point. This can damage the skin, inducing visible problems like stretch marks. Once the skin is damaged, it loses much of its elastic quality and doesn't snap back after losing weight. You can wait as long as you like, but if you have stretch marks, it's unlikely that your skin will become taut again.

The Danger If It Doesn't

Being overweight isn't good for anyone, but even once you lose the weight, there can still be some remaining problems, especially if you have loose skin.

The biggest issue here is that if your skin doesn't go away on its own, you're likely to have an overhang of loose skin. This is unsightly, but the real problem is that it can cause friction or rubbing and provides a great place for dangerous bacteria to grow. Skin rubbing against itself can create sores and open wounds that will let bacteria in. And since moisture tends to accumulate under skin from sweating, this creates a great place for bacteria to feed and reproduce, increasing the risk of a major skin infection.

What To Do

If you have loose skin and don't know what to do about it, going to visit a cosmetic surgeon is a good first step. Don't worry — you don't have to commit to having surgery even if you go on an initial visit.

By visiting a cosmetic surgeon for an assessment, they can take a look at your skin and determine if it's damaged and unlikely to snap back on its own. If it is, the two of you can discuss the possibilities of a tummy tuck and any other skin tightening procedures you may need to restore your figure after losing weight.

While it is a commitment to undergo surgery and the recovery period following it, undergoing this procedure can help you to have a great looking figure and restore your self-confidence. It will also eliminate the risk of bacterial growth and sores developing on your belly, eliminating the risk for an infection from skin rubbing.

For more information on tummy tuck surgery, consult with a doctor.