Weight loss surgery opens the door to a new life, all kinds of opportunities start showing up in a patient’s life and his or her health usually improves in a dramatic way. But as a patient it is important to be prepared for the changes you will see in your body and the options you have when facing the final part of your process.
Many of the people who reach their weight loss goal after living with obesity for a long time can expect to have a lot of excess skin; as excess body fat disappears, the skin becomes loose and it sags.
A healthy diet accompanied by good supplementation and hydration will help your skin to respond in the best possible way. Soaps and creams with ingredients that promote firmness can also be part of post-surgical care, but for those who find that the excess skin has become a physical, emotional or health problem, plastic surgery can offer very satisfactory results.
Before even thinking about plastic surgery, patients should complete their bariatric program or reach a point in which their doctor feels it is all right to start considering a procedure of this kind. Typically, a patient must wait a full year after bariatric surgery to have plastic surgery, because it is important to first achieve metabolic, nutritional and weight stability, and to have found a balance between the way of eating and physical activity.
After major weight loss, excess skin tends to appear in the abdomen, arms, thighs, breast, neck and face. In response to these conditions, plastic surgery offers procedures such as:
- Tummy tuck (correction of abdomen)
- Blepharoplasty, upper or lower (correction of bags in eyelids)
- Braquioplasty (arm surgery)
- Lifting of the breasts (with or without implants), face, neck and thighs, among others.
When it comes to plastic surgery for the bariatric patient who has had significant weight loss, the plastic surgeon’s preparation and knowledge in bariatric medicine and obesity are fundamental. Some patients are just starting to overcome some of their co-morbidities and the surgeon must have a full grasp of their medical condition before suggesting the procedures that may successfully complete the patient’s weight loss journey.
Patients should talk to their plastic surgeon about any possible risks, recovery times for the chosen procedure and the type of scarring that can be expected. It is the doctor’s responsibility to clearly explain to the patient the results that can be obtained in an honest and professional way. Current plastic surgery techniques and post-surgical care have now allowed for scarring to be less noticeable and problematic for the patient.
If you are contemplating plastic surgery after drastic weight loss, here are some things that you should consider:
- Plastic surgery is not a strategy to accomplish more weight loss, just a procedure to obtain a more aesthetic appearance.
- If you had weight loss surgery, you may be eligible for plastic surgery once your weight has fully stabilized.
- You should see a plastic surgeon only after your bariatric surgeon has given her or his approval.
- Your plastic surgeon must be aware of your clinical history and any comorbidities (past or present). It is best to consult a plastic surgeon that belongs to the same medical practice as your bariatric surgeon or that works closely with him or her.
- It is fundamental to have clear expectations about what plastic surgery can achieve for your body with your type of skin and figure.
If your health and emotional condition allow it, and if you have your bariatric surgeon’s approval, plastic surgery can play an important role in the healthy lifestyle that you’ve adopted, helping you feel more comfortable in your own skin while achieving the figure you’ve always dreamed of.
For more information call LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity toll free at 1(844) 4546277 or fill out a contact form here to receive a free evaluation.