Ever wondered what happens when a person goes under the knife for skin removal surgery?
Well, now you don't have to.
Due to the explosion in people using the drugs Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss purposes, more and more people are now showing off their extreme body transformations.
However rapid weight loss isn't always the best approach for everyone, as melting the pounds off too quickly can lead to a number of adverse health effects.
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Rapid weight loss can lead to issues with metabolism, bone density and loss of muscle mass; it's also the reason for causing loose skin for most people, as the body doesn't have time to readjust to its new size.
In most cases, loose skin will eventually tighten up from exercise and certain dietary supplements.
However this takes time and for people who want the rapid results - particularly those who've undergone extreme weight loss - turning to skin reduction surgery is often the answer.
And now you can see exactly what happens when you decide to have excess skin surgically removed, thanks to a new simulation from YouTuber Zack D. Films – the guy behind strange videos such as 'why you shouldn't bite your nails' and what happens to the body when it falls into a black hole.
What happens during excess skin removal surgery?
According to the wonderfully detailed animation created by Zack D. Films, an incision is made alongside the bottom of the patient's navel.
The skin is then separated from the underlying muscles and fat, before it's measured and the excess cut away.
Depending on how extensive the surgery is, the patient's abdominal muscles will also be realigned.
Once this is completed the skin is then positioned in place, allowing for the surgeon to create a new belly button for the patient if needed.
Which is perhaps the most unsettling part of the simulation and entire surgery.
Indeed, according to Athena Plastic Surgery: "After the excess skin is removed, the belly button is repositioned. It stays attached to its original “stalk,” which is connected to the muscles below. The surgeon creates a new opening for the belly button in the newly tightened skin."
In the clip, the incision is then stitched up, with Zack D. Films' patient instantly healing and marvelling at his ripped new physique.
Unfortunately for real-life patients who undergo excess skin reduction surgery the recovery is much longer, with the NHS recommending four to six weeks off work and exercise.
Our animated patient was also lucky enough to avoid any of the grim side effects, which include: bruising, fluid gathering above the incision and difficulty standing up.
Meanwhile viewers were left feeling a little unsettled by watching the surgery, even if it was only a simulation.
"I really don’t understand how these surgeons are not traumatised," one viewer wondered, while a second added: "Making a new hole in your skin for a belly button is weirdly unsettling for some reason."
Brenna Cooper