Pictures of a South Carolina man who has lost 300 pounds in weight have set social media on fire

Before and after pictures of a morbidly obese man’s dramatic weight loss have divided the internet.

South Carolina’s Cole Prochaska has lost more than 336 pounds in less than two years – but despite the big accomplishment, he’s still body-conscious.

That’s because the dramatic weight loss comes with an unwanted side effect — it’s now left with massive amounts of sagging skin.

Prochaska shared his findings on Twitter this week and wrote: “It’s very hard to share a shirtless pic but I’ve come this far.

“Over 336 pounds down! Most didn’t believe in me, but I believed in myself.’

Cole Prochaska began documenting his weight loss journey less than two years ago (pictured left). This week, he shared the results of his 336-pound weight loss on Twitter (right). His next step is body contouring, also known as body sculpting or skin removal surgery

Now up to about 224-226 pounds, body contouring surgery is next on the agenda.

Also known as body contouring or skin removal, this surgical procedure removes loose skin left behind after massive weight loss.

It can be focused on any of the following areas: arms, breasts, face, lower abdomen, thighs and upper body.

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery states that good body contouring candidates have reached their goal weight and have remained stable for at least six months.

Mr. Prochaska tweeted that if insurance doesn’t pay for the skin surgery, he has to rely on GoFundMe to cover the costs.

The 2020 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report estimates these procedures cost between $4,000 and $15,000.

The Kardashian doctor says he sees sagging skin and “deflated” butts in patients who lost weight too quickly on Ozempic

dr Simon Ourian, a cosmetic dermatologist in Beverly Hills, has dubbed the phenomenon “Ozempic Body.”

This type of surgery is considered a major procedure, meaning it can take weeks to months to fully heal. Risks include scarring, bleeding, bruising, swelling, and infection, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

In addition to excess skin, losing weight too quickly can also have health consequences. As you lose fat, you can also lose muscle mass and bone density.

However, becoming severely obese has more lasting effects.

Regardless of size, when you reach adulthood you retain the same amount of fat cells. When you gain a lot of weight, fat cells enlarge. When you lose a lot of weight, these cells shrink.

Fat can also surround vital organs like the liver and stomach. This is visceral fat that has been shown to increase the risk of life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Research also suggests that visceral fat contributes to insulin resistance, which can lead to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

A February study by Johns Hopkins University found that 86 percent of adults in the United States with type 2 diabetes were overweight or obese, as were 62 percent of adults with type 1 diabetes.

Mr. Prochaska attributed his success to the “gym, the right diet” and “at least 10,000 steps a day” on Twitter.