Losing weight is a great accomplishment. If a significant amount of weight was lost, however, then loose and sagging skin may result in some areas on the body. Oklahoma plastic surgeon, Dr. Clinton Webster, offers after weight loss surgery for patients who require skin removal and skin tightening to reach their weight loss goals. This surgery can be performed on the breasts, abdomen, hips, buttock and thighs. It is a common surgery for those who lose 100 pounds or more, and can result in a tighter, more toned silhouette.
Weight loss patients will consider after weight loss surgery to correct or enhance one or more of the following conditions:
The goal of after weight loss surgery is to reduce the amount of loose skin that collects and hangs on the body and to lift the body part, so it appears tighter. Multiple areas of the body may need to be addressed, depending on the needs of each patient. Most surgeons will group body parts together and stage them as multiple surgeries. Doing so helps reduce the risk of complications, such as blood loss and infection. Examples of this grouping include:
After weight loss surgery is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility. Patients are usually required to spend the night in the hospital so they can be monitored. The recovery following this surgery can be a slow process. While the post-surgical results can be life-changing for many weight loss patients, scarring is an unfortunate part of this process. Every attempt is made during surgery to minimize scarring as much as possible. Patients should adhere to a healthy lifestyle so that the results achieved through surgery are not compromised.
Common body parts that may need skin reduction surgery include the abdomen, buttocks, upper thighs, breasts, arms and neck. The breasts and abdomen are among two of the most popular areas addressed. A large majority of individuals will address the breasts (with a breast lift), and the tummy (with a tummy tuck) in a single surgery. As you lose weight, you will notice which areas are most concerning, and you can begin discussing cosmetic surgery with your plastic surgeon.
Most plastic surgeons require patients to be at or near their goal weight before moving forward with this surgery. However, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, removing the loose skin is all it takes to accelerate the loss of the final pounds—especially if the loose skin is getting in the way of exercise and mobility.
