Procedures
After massive weight loss, patients seek plastic surgery to restore their body image. Significant weight loss leaves an individual with excess skin. Folds of skin are common around the abdomen, waist, legs, arms, breast and neck. Body contouring plastic surgery can help deal with this extra skin and give you a new image following your weight loss.
Plastic surgery after weight loss can be complex -- it usually involves multiple stages of surgeries. Areas of greatest concern are usually addressed first. During your consultation with Dr. Lincenberg, you will discuss the customized approach to removing excess skin, body contouring and achieving your new body image.
A body lift is the perfect way to enhance and rejuvenate the look of your whole body rather than just one area.
Body contouring procedures should be considered only after your weight has stabilized after a bariatric procedure. This can range from 7 to 18 months, depending on an individual's preoperative weight. Performing a skin tightening procedure prior to weight stabilization may result in the need for further skin tightening in the future.
Body Lift
Belt lipectomy, or lower body lift, offers a dramatic transformation of the mid and lower body. It resculpts the abdomen, hips, outer thighs and buttocks. The body lift procedure is performed on post-bariatric patients, and occasionally for patients who have not had large weight loss. Belt lipectomy can be done in one surgical session, or in stages, depending on the patient’s needs.
Breast Contouring
Breast size and shape often change significantly in both men and women following weight loss. The effects of aging and gravity cause the breasts to sag with time. Massive weight loss greatly accelerates this process.
Following weight loss, while some women choose to add implants, even more opt for a breast lift or mastopexy, in addition to an implant. Large and/or sagging breasts in men is called gynecomastia. For men with large breasts following weight loss, liposuction alone may provide adequate treatment. For others, a breast lift, similar to that in women, is also necessary.
Arms
Loose skin and excess fat at the arms can be a source of great consternation for both men and women following weight loss. For some patients it is of greater concern than any other area. A patient may feel forced to wear long sleeved shirts at all times.
For individuals with excess fat and relatively good skin tone at the arms, liposuction alone may provide a satisfactory outcome. Others may require a modified form of brachioplasty or arm lift.
Face
A face lift for a weight loss patient is essentially the same as for non- weight loss patients. For weight loss patients, however, the facelift usually also incorporates a neck lift to remove excess skin. Face lifting can significantly refresh the appearance of weight loss patients.
