Bariatric surgery has the power to lift your spirits and change your life, but after all that weight loss, did you know that you'll likely need additional plastic surgery to lift drooping and loose skin?
After drastic weight loss, the skin is not capable of tightening itself, meaning that additional surgery is needed to remove loose skin in the lower abdomen, breasts, thighs and arms.
There are two main types of body lifts — the lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, and the upper body lift. When upper and lower body lifts are performed on the same person, it is referred to as a total body lift.
In general, a body lift aims to improve the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. It is typically performed after massive weight loss, including that which occurs after bariatric surgery.
A newer approach known as corset trunkplasty, or corset procedure, creates a sleeker waistline by removing loose skin in both the upper and lower abdomen. A thigh or butt lift can be performed at a later date to complete the body transformation.
Ask your selected plastic surgeon about his or her experience with body lifts, and ask to talk to some past patients.
Another important consideration when selecting your body lift surgeon is board certification.
* Extended abdominoplasty / lower body lift
* Thigh lift
* Upper arm lift
* Breast lift / reduction
To understand why loose skin is an after-effect of weight loss, here’s an explanation: when someone is overweight, the skin stretches to accommodate the increased volume of weight. After weight loss, the skin often fails to tighten, and so it sags. In many cases, it hangs. It acts as a constant reminder of the weight you once were. Further diet and exercise WILL NOT tighten skin (exercise never tightens skin – only muscles). The only way to tighten loose skin is through surgery.
If the problem is…
Then the solution is…
Loose abdominal skin
Tummy Tuck
Loose arm skin
Arm Lift (brachioplasty)
Loose breast skin
Breast
Lift (mastopexy)
Loose inner thigh skin
Inner thigh lift
Loose thigh and buttock skin
Outer thigh and buttock lift
Most people who accomplish significant (100 pounds or more) weight loss often need or want to have all of these operations.
The ideal candidate for the body lift procedure exercises regularly, eats a healthy diet and has been at a stable weight for at least three months; but hopefully six. Special laboratory testing is important so that mineral, vitamin and protein deficiencies — which are common in people who have had weight loss surgery — are identified and treated.
Women considering a body lift who are also planning to have children should consider delaying the procedure until after they have given birth.
Sources: http://www.wangplasticsurgery.com/body-lift.cfm
http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/body-lift/
http://www.infoplasticsurgery.com/body/body-lift/info
After drastic weight loss, the skin is not capable of tightening itself, meaning that additional surgery is needed to remove loose skin in the lower abdomen, breasts, thighs and arms.
There are two main types of body lifts — the lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, and the upper body lift. When upper and lower body lifts are performed on the same person, it is referred to as a total body lift.
In general, a body lift aims to improve the shape and tone of the underlying tissue that supports fat and skin. It is typically performed after massive weight loss, including that which occurs after bariatric surgery.
A newer approach known as corset trunkplasty, or corset procedure, creates a sleeker waistline by removing loose skin in both the upper and lower abdomen. A thigh or butt lift can be performed at a later date to complete the body transformation.
Selecting a Body Lift Surgeon
The body lift is an extensive surgery best performed by an experienced plastic surgeon screened and vetted by MedToGo International.Ask your selected plastic surgeon about his or her experience with body lifts, and ask to talk to some past patients.
Another important consideration when selecting your body lift surgeon is board certification.
Popular Body Contouring Procedures
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the top four body contouring procedures performed following massive weight loss are:* Extended abdominoplasty / lower body lift
* Thigh lift
* Upper arm lift
* Breast lift / reduction
To understand why loose skin is an after-effect of weight loss, here’s an explanation: when someone is overweight, the skin stretches to accommodate the increased volume of weight. After weight loss, the skin often fails to tighten, and so it sags. In many cases, it hangs. It acts as a constant reminder of the weight you once were. Further diet and exercise WILL NOT tighten skin (exercise never tightens skin – only muscles). The only way to tighten loose skin is through surgery.
If the problem is…
Then the solution is…
Loose abdominal skin
Tummy Tuck
Loose arm skin
Arm Lift (brachioplasty)
Loose breast skin
Breast
Lift (mastopexy)
Loose inner thigh skin
Inner thigh lift
Loose thigh and buttock skin
Outer thigh and buttock lift
Most people who accomplish significant (100 pounds or more) weight loss often need or want to have all of these operations.
Is Liposuction an Option?
Not if your problem is due to loose skin. The only time liposuction is a better choice is when there is a lot of fat and the skin is tight.Incisions and Scars
As with any surgery, scars will be present. The more skin that is removed, the more extensive are the scars. For a body lift, they will extend from along the lower abdomen, around the hips, and toward the buttock crease. There is another scar in each groin crease due to the inner thigh lift. One way to look at it is that this operation exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars). In general, those with very loose saggy skin following significant weight loss are likely to find this exchange worthwhile. Those with a small amount of looseness will probably not want the scars.Body Lift: Is it Right for Me?
The body lift procedure isn't right for every body. If you have had weight loss surgery, you should wait 12 to 18 months before considering a body lift. This should provide adequate time for you to lose weight and adjust to the necessary diet and lifestyle changes following surgery.The ideal candidate for the body lift procedure exercises regularly, eats a healthy diet and has been at a stable weight for at least three months; but hopefully six. Special laboratory testing is important so that mineral, vitamin and protein deficiencies — which are common in people who have had weight loss surgery — are identified and treated.
Women considering a body lift who are also planning to have children should consider delaying the procedure until after they have given birth.
How long does a body lift take?
Each procedure will take several hours to perform, with surgical time depending on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed and the difficulty of reconstructing the surgical area. Typically, body lift surgery ranges from four to seven hours and is performed under general anesthesia.What can I expect after a body lift?
Because it is comprised of many surgeries over an extended period of time, body lift can cause discomfort, and may require one to three days of care in a hospital or other care facility. Often, patients who undergo body lift after bariatric surgery are at greater risk for complications because of weight-related illnesses such as sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, or malnutrition.How long before I can return to normal activity?
Most patients return to non-strenuous activities within two weeks, and begin low impact exercise within four to six weeks after surgery.Sources: http://www.wangplasticsurgery.com/body-lift.cfm
http://www.yourbariatricsurgeryguide.com/body-lift/
http://www.infoplasticsurgery.com/body/body-lift/info
