Plastic surgery after bariatric surgery
It is very common for people to look for plastic surgery after bariatric surgery, which is obvious because significant weight loss can lead to many body changes. Fat surrounds most organs and structures in the human body and when people lose fat quickly some areas like the breasts, thighs, and abdomen look flabby. After important weight loss, the main concern for patients is the amount of sagging skin that needs to be removed. Then is when plastic surgery procedures are used to restore the body contour.
What happens to excess skin after bariatric surgery?
After undergoing bariatric surgery, it’s common for there to be excess skin present due to how much it stretches out due to excessive weight gain. Most people who experience excessive weight loss after undergoing bariatric surgery deal with excess skin, which can affect their overall appearance.
Each person varies with how much their skin has the ability to shrink back to its original foundation. Men and women who have more skin elasticity have the ability to develop less excess skin as it shrinks back.
It’s common to have a lot of excess skin on every part of the body where excess fat was present before undergoing bariatric surgery. Those who had more excess weight around their midsection will also likely deal with more skin in that region as it attempts to return to its normal shape.
When should you get plastic surgery after major weight loss?
Patients who have a lot of extra skin should consider getting plastic surgery at least six months after bariatric surgery after their body stabilizes with its weight. It’s important to be as close to your ideal goal weight as possible before you schedule a consultation to remove the extra skin and undergo a plastic surgery procedure. Some people do not stop losing weight until 12 to 18 months after their surgery, making it necessary to wait until you’re done losing weight.
The surgery will remove sagging skin that is present on the arms, abdomen, thighs, back, neck, and breasts. It will remove overhanging skin and tighten areas where loose skin is present. This will reduce the risk of skin chafing, infections, and rashes that can develop. It’s capable of improving the natural contours of your body, allowing you to fit into smaller clothes and achieve a slimmer appearance. You’ll also have more comfort performing different types of tasks and activities once the skin is removed.
Candidacy
Men and women who are considered to be candidates for bariatric surgery are those who is in good overall health without suffering from any chronic medical conditions. Patients must not suffer from ailments like heart disease or diabetes. It’s also required to be cleared for the procedure by your primary care physicians.
Candidates must follow a healthy diet and have a stable weight for at least six months without the possibility of losing more weight. Patients must not have a habit of smoking, vaping, or chewing to ensure they can heal and recover.
Patients must also have realistic expectations of the results they achieve and understand that they will have permanent scarring that is left behind where incisions are made to remove the excess skin. The skin cannot be restored, and some areas of the skin may start to sag over time as the individual begins to age.
Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery procedures
Tummy Tuck or panniculectomy
Tummy tuck procedures address excess skin that is present around the abdomen and midsection as a result of pregnancy or excess weight loss. Most of the fat and skin under the belly button is removed after undergoing weight loss surgery.
Liposuction
Liposuction is performed by inserting a cannula instrument into areas where excess fat is suctioned. This is performed on areas where patients are unable to lose more weight through diet, exercise, and bariatric surgery. The most common areas where liposuction is performed are the buttocks, hips, abdomen, neck, arms, and thighs. During this procedure, the fat cells are removed, which delivers permeant results and prevents weight gain from developing again in the future.
Breast Reshaping
After losing a significant amount of weight due to bariatric surgery, many women undergo breast reshaping to create firmer and shapelier breasts. The procedure involves removing excess skin and tightening any of the tissue that surrounds the breasts to give them a permanent lift. The breasts can be reshaped without needing to add implants, and the nipples can also be lifted for better results.
Patients can also choose to have breast implants inserted to increase their size after experiencing significant weight loss.
Lower Body Lift
This type of surgical procedure removes excess skin that is present around the buttocks and outer thighs for patients who have lost a lot of weight. The surgery is effective in tightening sagging skin and reshaping features that are present on the lower portion of the body.
Many people who have lost weight undergo a lower body lift to slim their figure even more and add more shape to their features. Removing the sagging skin can make it easier to fit into smaller sizes of clothes and reduce the risk of skin irritation and rashes that can occur when too much skin is present.
Arm and Tight Lifts
Arm and tight lifts are effective in addressing loose skin and tissue that is present after weight loss has occurred. A plastic surgeon removes the excess skin from the shoulder to the elbow to reduce its size. Stubborn fat deposits may also be removed if any excess fat is still present one or two years after undergoing weight loss surgery.
This procedure further slims the arms and can make it easier to create toned and contoured arms. After removing several pounds of skin, many patients can perform more tasks and increase their physical fitness without feeling weighed down.
Combination of procedures
Many patients opt to undergo a combination of procedures following bariatric surgery to address additional problems in reshaping the body after losing a lot of weight. It’s important to work closely with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and the look you want to achieve.
Some people require a tummy tuck and breast reshaping, while others need an arm lift and liposuction. Each patient’s needs vary depending on their specific goals and how much weight they lost due to bariatric surgery.
The plastic surgeon will determine which surgeries the patient can most benefit from and which can be safe to perform when they’re combined.
Patients must be in good overall health and are close to their ideal weight to be considered for multiple procedures that are performed. Combining surgeries is more efficient and can deliver more significant results. It also means that there’s a long recovery process, and it’ll take the body longer to heal and recover.
A qualified plastic surgeon will tailor the combination of the multiple surgeries to the individual’s needs and will do what is necessary to reduce the amount of risk that is involved. These types of surgeries are typically performed in a hospital setting.
