After Weight Loss Surgery

Gain the Confidence that Comes Along with Looking and Feeling Your Best.

After Weight Loss Surgery

Congratulations on your life-changing transformation towards a healthy body weight. Now it’s time to look as great as you feel.

What is After Weight Loss Surgery?

After weight loss surgery, also commonly known as fitness surgery or skin removal after weight loss is a general term for any procedures done specifically to remove loose and hanging skin after significant weight loss.

Carrying extra weight places enormous stress on the skin. Once stretched past a certain point, the cells responsible for keeping skin firm and tight become damaged. Unfortunately, overstretched skin will never have the ability to contract like it once did and people who have shed a large amount of weight are typically left with excess skin. Often, the quicker the weight is lost, the more pronounced the excess skin. At minimum, this loose, droopy skin effects self-confidence but, often can also be an impediment to exercise, future weight loss, and even become irritated or cause physical pain. No amount of exercise, creams, or medications will restore skin elasticity.

Who is a Good Candidate for After Weight Loss Surgery?

A good candidate for an after weight loss procedure is a person with moderate to severe skin laxity or skin excess after weight loss which interferes with daily routines and/or emotional well-being. Weight should be relatively steady for 6 months and with-in 10%-15% of the final target weight. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or other related health concerns must be monitored and well controlled to allow for optimal recovery and healing.

What are the Different Options for After Weight Loss Surgery?

After weight loss surgery can target a certain area, but often involves a combination of plastic surgery procedures to address multiple areas of concern. After a detailed examination and review of medical history a surgical plan is developed and tailored to each individual’s goals.

Common procedures performed after significant weight loss include:

• Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) – to remove excess abdominal skin and tighten the muscles of the abdomen.
• Buttock Lift – to remove excess skin of the lower back and lift sagging skin of the buttock and outer thighs.
  A 360 lift- A lower body lift to contour the entire circumferential waist. This procedure includes a tummy tuck, flankplasty (excision of the love handles) and buttock lift.
• Liposuction – to remove any stubborn areas of fat remaining after weight loss.
• Breast Lift (Mastopexy) – to bring the breasts into a more lifted and youthful position.
• Breast Augmentation – to add volume and shape to deflated breasts.
• Arm lift (Brachioplasty)– removes excess fat and skin to reshape the upper arm.
• Thigh lift– skin removal to tighten and lift the inner thighs.
• Face lift – to lift sagging skin and restore volume to the face
• Neck lift– to repair and lift the support structures of the neck and remove excess skin (the “turkey neck”).

Is it Safe to Have Multiple After Weight Loss Procedures Done at the Same Time?

Yes, it is common to do multiple procedures during the same surgery. However, since after weight loss surgery can cover several large and distinct areas, it is common to break-up the overall plan into two or three surgeries with each focusing on a distinct area of the body, extremities and/or face. For example, a common plan may be to address the core with a 360 body lift (abdomen, flanks, back) in the first procedure, the chest, arms and thighs in a second procedure and the face and neck with a third procedure. Staging the skin removal and contouring procedures in this manner will optimize recovery and ultimately provide you with the best end result.

Since multiple areas are normally addressed at one time, the majority of contouring procedures are performed under general anesthesia to allow surgical efficiency and strict monitoring to ensure patient safety. Surgical time will vary based on the surgical plan.

How Long Do I Have to Wait In-Between Procedures?

In general, a minimum of three months is needed between stages of surgery to optimize healing and replenish your body’s energy reserves before proceeding with the next stage of after weight loss surgery.