After Weight Loss Surgery
What is After Weight Loss Surgery or Post Bariatric Body Contouring Surgery?
There procedures specifically for weight loss, referred to medically as bariatric surgery. There are several types of surgeries including inserting a band or balloon around the upper stomach, stomach stapling, or re-routing procedures (gastric bypass or Roux-en-y bypass). It is important that you understand that with massive weight loss (>50 lbs.), you may be left with areas of significant excess skin. As the body literally deflates from the weight loss, the excess skin typically does not contract and therefore hands as excess or loose skin. The common areas for excess skin include the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, upper arms, breasts, chest wall, upper back, neck and face.Body contouring surgery is the name given to a number of procedures that address this skin excess typically by excising it. This type of surgery is a trade-off that results in a much improved body shape and size in exchange for scars. Scars are something that must be considered strongly by all patients. Patients who are comfortable and accepting of scars typically experience excellent results following body contouring procedures.
Common Procedures
• Body Lift (also called belt lipectomy, circumferential abdominoplasty and lower body lift) address the abdomen, outer thighs, and buttock)
• Breast contouring surgery will vary and includes breast augmentation, breast lift with or without simultaneous breast augmentation, breast reduction
• Abdominoplasty
• Medial thigh lift
• Brachioplasty (upper arms)
• Chest wall reduction (the lateral chest wall towards the back)
• Upper back lift
Each patient has unique preferences, physical sensitivities, and degrees of skin excess. Dr. Eckhaus’ individualized approach to each patient may involve multiple procedures to best address all desired areas. But the end result is very often extremely gratifying. After the incredible accomplishment of losing the weight, body contouring surgery helps patients reach their final goal of achieving the shape and physique they had so strongly desired.
Often multiple areas of excess skin can be contoured at the same time. However, some procedures cannot be safely combined, and this will require a staged approach (procedures are separated by a minimum of 6-12 weeks). It’s quite common for massive weight loss patients to undergo multiple body contouring procedures.
