Weight-loss surgery is an umbrella term for a series of procedures that aim to help patients lose weight, e.g.gastric sleeve,gastric bypass, or SASI-S. These procedures have helped many individuals take back control of their health and well-being.
Losing a massive amount of weight may cause the skin to sag; this happens because once the skin stretches, it can hardly go back to its original state. This is an issue that many bariatric patients face: while they are overjoyed at their weight-loss progress they may experience overhanging skin that can also cause discomfort and rashes.In this case, body contouring procedures may help.
These plastic surgery procedures can help patients improve the appearance of their abdomen, arms, hips and legs.We are going to give you an overview of the most popular body contouring procedures afterweight-loss surgery and what you can expect to achieve with each of them.
Body contouring procedures: Am I a good candidate?
If you had weight-loss surgery and would like to tackle problems related to loose, saggingskin that followed weight loss, you might wonder if you are a good candidate for a cosmetic procedure.
As a rule of thumb, eligible patients are in good health and their weight has stabilised. This means that you are close to your ideal weight, or a few pounds above or below it. However,we can only assess your eligibility by running a health check and getting to know you.
Get in touch any time and one of our patient coordinators will be in touch with you!
Body lift
Just as the name suggests, a body lift aims to “correct” the shape of your body. Practically,with this procedure, the surgeon operates the lower back and abdominal region, trimming and repositioning your skin as desired. A body lift is an extensive surgical procedure, and it is carried out using general anaesthesia. It can be done in one or multiple sessions.
We will discuss with you what the best option is in your case.A body lift can also be combined with liposuction to remove fat deposits.If you are considering body lift surgery, remember that you will be off your feet for several weeks.
This is a major surgery and you will need time to rest and take care of yourself. You
will notice results right after the procedure but they will be completely visible up to two years
after the procedure.
Arm lift
Sagging skin in the upper arms is a common consequence of massive weight loss. Excess fat and skin in these regions are removed performing an arm lift, or brachioplasty.
You will be placed under general anaesthesia (occasionally, the procedure can be performed using local anaesthetic), and the procedure lasts on average 2 hours for both arms.
The surgeon creates a few 3-4 mm incisions around your arms to remove fat deposits and
loose skin and achieve a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Breast lift
Breasts can also be impacted by major weight loss; as skin loses elasticity with weight and age, it cannot conform to the new shape when we lose a lot of weight. As a consequence,breasts sag and nipples point downward. With a breast lift, or mastopexy, the surgeon can lift and correct the position of your breast by trimming any overhanging skin and reshaping the underlying breast tissue.
A breast lift is carried out using general anaesthesia and lasts 2 to 3 hours on average.
There are different breast lift techniques to choose from: your surgeon will advise you on
what is the best option in your case.
Tummy tuck
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthesia. There are several types of procedures available, depending on the amount of fat and skin you wish to remove. Like the other body contouring procedures, during a tummy tuck, the surgeon removes any excess skin or fat, and tightens your abdominal muscles.Tummy tuck procedures include miniature abdominoplasty, full abdominoplasty, extended abdominoplasty and fleur-de-lis tummy tuck.
Bariatric patients typically undergo an extended abdominoplasty: with this procedure, the surgeon is able to remove more skin and fat around your midsection. In some cases, the surgeon may choose to combine liposuction to removefatty tissue.
Thigh lift
Thigh lift surgery is a procedure that aims to reshape the thighs by reducing excess skin andfat. Your surgeon will remove extra skin folds in your inner thighs and give your thighs a smoother contour.
A thigh lift is performed under general anaesthesia and takes approximately two hours for both legs.
Body contouring: How to prepare for surgery
First, have a consultation with your doctor. If you need support, get in touch with our patient coordinators! They will walk you through your surgery options and give you a detailed overview of what body contouring procedures entail.
During the initial consultation, we will ask you questions about your overall health, ask you if you have health issues, or if you’re taking medications regularly.
You will be advised whether you need to stop taking certain medications before surgery.
As mentioned above, you should have reached a stable weight, as if you lose more weight after surgery, new pockets of sagging skin may form. Gaining a lot of weight after surgery may cause wide scars and large stretch marks, as well as harm your skin.Make sure you quit smoking a few weeks before surgery. Smoking can hinder recovery as well as increase the risk of complications during surgery.
We might ask you to run some tests to assess whether you are fit to undergo surgery. Tests may include an electrocardiogram (ECG), pulmonary function tests and blood tests. Once surgery is confirmed, we will inform you about all the pre-op guidelines you should follow.
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