If you’ve undergone or are looking to undergo bariatric surgery, you have taken the first step of your weight loss journey and are starting to build a healthy lifestyle. Congratulations!

Sometimes, though, when we’re so busy making healthy choices in regard to eating and exercise, we can forget about our body’s largest organ—our skin. And while these choices are also great for your skin, there are some specific tips to keeping it looking and feeling great.

But before we get onto those tips, you might be wondering why taking care of your skin is so important?

Well, during weight loss, our skin is more susceptible to hormonal and environmental changes. You may also be prone to dryness, sagging and early ageing. Looking after your skin will help control and prevent these issues. Read on to find out how!

Drink plenty of water

We hear all the time that drinking plenty of water can help almost anything. And it really is true—especially so for our skin.

Drinking water keeps your skin hydrated, which is important for preventing dry, tight and flaky skin. It also promotes increased oxygenation in skin cells, which encourages healthier, more vibrant skin.

Avoid hot showers

Having hot showers every day might feel great, but they can leave your skin extremely dry.

Dry skin is more prone to suffer from wrinkles and sagging, which, as we know, bariatric surgery patients are already more susceptible to. Switch your steaming shower for a warm one, and make sure you moisturise afterwards, which we’ll talk about next.

Keep skin moisturised

Hydrated skin seems to be a common factor in this whole ‘good skin’ thing, but as we mentioned, it’s super important to ensure our body’s largest organ stays healthy.

A good moisturiser that features ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and other nourishing oils will add and seal in moisture.

We recommend the Lira Clinical range for high quality, professional-grade products that will deeply nourish your skin. Check out their spa range, Lira Spa, for some of their amazing body products.

These are available through our cosmetic clinic, Timeless Cosmetics.

Eat good foods

The health of your skin depends heavily on what you eat. As your skin is constantly shedding old, dead skin cells, it’s also producing new skin cells from the nutrients you put into your body.

Vitamin C can do amazing things for your skin. It’s a super antioxidant, which will help your skin’s ability to repair and correct damage. Antioxidants also limit the production of free radicals, which can damage your skin in the first place.

Vitamin C is important for collagen production which improves your skin elasticity, strength and plumpness (great for aiding and supporting sagging skin). Foods high in vitamin C include oranges, blueberries, broccoli, strawberries and sweet potato.

Healthy fats are great for naturally moisturising your skin within, keeping it supple and improving elasticity. Healthy fats can be found in foods such as avocados, fish, nuts and seeds—but remember to eat them in moderation.

A good selection of foods can also boost your body’s ability to heal wounds and preserve the integrity of your skin. We recommend chatting to a dietician (check out INDi Dieticians) to determine a suitable eating regime for you.

Keep your skin clean

Using a gentle body and face wash is vital in removing impurities that could lead to skin damage or imperfections. If you are a post-op patient with sagging skin/skin folds, this is especially important, as there can be an increased risk of skin injury within these folds, such as friction (which can lead to irritation and a form of dermatitis called Intertrigo), maceration, skin tears and pressure ulcer development. Keeping skin clean and dry will aid in preventing these issues.

If you suffer from any of these issues, please speak to your doctor or clinician for further advice.

Treat yourself!

If you’re feeling self-conscious about excess skin after weight loss surgery, check out the blogs below to explore some of your options:

https://emergesurgical.com.au/how-fillers-can-help-your-weight-loss-journey/

https://emergesurgical.com.au/keep-your-confidence-after-surgery/

To summarise, at Emerge Surgical, we also offer abdominoplasties to help rid you of excess skin. At our sister clinic, Timeless Cosmetics, we perform procedures that can improve your facial skin structure and elasticity and boost your self-confidence!

Get in touch

If you have any concerns regarding the health of your skin after your bariatric surgery, or are interesting in undergoing bariatric surgery, please give us a call on (08) 9544 5200 for a chat or to book an appointment. No problem is too big or small. We look forward to hearing from you!