Losing a significant amount of weight is an enormous accomplishment. However, many people that lose weight (especially rapidly and/or through bariatric surgery) are left with an uncomfortable reminder of their larger size: folds of loose, sagging skin that cannot contract over their smaller body shape.
If you find yourself in this situation, Dr. George Sanders understands that you may feel as though the loose skin obscures your weight loss results that you worked very hard to achieve. Exercise and being active may be uncomfortable, and the skin may impair your personal hygiene. The folds of excess skin may be prone to chafing or developing rashes or infections.
What Does Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery Achieve?
Post-bariatric body contouring can help you fully realize the success of your weight loss. It is designed to reduce excess skin to relieve discomfort and accentuate the results of weight loss. The skin is trimmed, excess fat pockets are removed and the tissues are tightened to create more attractive body contours.
Some of the most popular procedures to refine the body’s contours after weight loss include the following:
- Tummy tuck – removes folds of excess, saggy skin as well as localized fat deposits in the abdominal and hip areas
- Arm lift – removes folds of loose skin and unwanted fat pockets from the upper arms
- Thigh lift – removes folds of excess skin from the thighs
- Breast lift – removes excess breast skin and relocates the breasts higher on the chest wall and the nipples higher on the breasts
What Kind of Results Should You Expect?
Dr. Sanders believes it is important to set appropriate expectations of treatment with post-bariatric body contouring patients. He will be candid and truthful with you when explaining what can and cannot be achieved through surgery. Because your skin has permanently lost its elasticity due to your fluctuations in weight, the quality of the results is somewhat limited. Some degree of recurrence of the drooping is to be expected – luckily, your body’s contours should always look better than they did before surgery.
Another area where it is important to set proper expectations is scarring. The incisions to remove excess skin and fat scar after surgery. Although the scars will be inconspicuously placed and usually fade over time, they will never disappear altogether. However, if you are like most of Dr. Sanders’ patients, you are happy to trade some scars for better body contours and improved personal comfort!
Learn More about Post-Bariatric Body Contouring
For more information about plastic surgery after significant weight loss, Dr. Sanders invites you to schedule a consultation at our practice. Please contact us today by calling (818) 981-3333 to request an appointment.
