Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Many patients who have lost a lot of weight often experience massive loss in the elasticity of their skin that leads them to plastic surgery after weight loss.
Any significant amount of weight loss that happens within a short period of time will lead to saggy skin in areas, which is usually the case with a procedure such as liposuction.
Plastic surgery after weight loss provides a great improvement in the shaping and toning of the tissues in the arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks and thighs.
There are a variety of cosmetic procedures that are being performed depending on the area. The plastic surgery after weight loss is modified to suit the different needs of the patients. The different types are: body contouring (body lift surgery), arm lift, breast lift, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and buttock augmentation.
Click here to read more about the Gastric Sleeve vs Liposuction.
Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss – The Options
Here is a list of the more common types of plastic surgery you may need to undergo following a dramatic weight loss:
- Body Contouring (Body Lift)
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
- Bra Line Back Lift
- Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
- Butt Lift
Body Contouring (Body Lift)
The body contouring procedure is one of the most familiar procedures to help improve the body’s overall appearance following the surgery. Here is what will happen throughout the procedure: One incision will be made on the abdomen, then the surgeon will remove the unnecessary skin and will lift and tighten the buttocks, waist, thighs, hips, abdomen, and arms in a single procedure. Liposuction is oftentimes utilized in getting rid of the fat thus improving the shape of the body. The buttock augmentation may also be opted since the buttock oftentimes tends to flatten with great loss of weight. Dramatic changes on the overall appearance after the body lift surgery can be noted, and the end results are permanent apart from the slight normal firmness that is lost when aging, but many people have experienced a smoother and normal body form after the procedure.
Price Range of the Body Lift: $10,500 to $50,000
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
The tummy tuck is regularly done as a part of the body lift procedure in order to tighten the skin, and in a few cases, aid in tightening of the abdominal muscles while creating a smoother and firmer abdomen. The tummy tuck procedure can help in flattening the stomach.
A complete tummy tuck procedure involves a big incision starting from one hipbone over to the other in the area of the navel. The surgeon will then maneuver the skin tissues and the muscle while also repairing the frail muscles in the abdomen. The belly button will then be lifted so that it would look satisfying. In rare cases, the surgeon will make a second incision in order to remove the surplus skin of the upper abdomen. The scars might be present at first, but over time it will eventually fade. The end result of the procedure will be a flatter abdomen that will surely match the new trim figure.
Price Range of the Tummy Tuck: $3,000 to $6,000
Breast Lift (Mastopexy)
If the breasts are sagging due to weight loss, undergoing a breast lift can aid in lifting, firming and reshaping them. In the breast lift procedure, the excess skin and tissues are removed, then the nipple will be moved a bit higher on the chest. Some patients may require a breast implantation in order to improve the shape of the breast.
Sometimes a touch up procedure is needed if there is a bit of difference in the size of each breast, or an uneven distance between them.
Price Range of the Breast Lift: $3,000 to $5,500
Bra Line Back Lift
This is the solution for the stubborn fat that has accumulated on the back and in spite of daily exercise and dieting it still cannot be eliminated. With this procedure, excess fats and protruding budges can be removed while the scar will be made just below the bra line. The procedure will require the patient to go under general anesthesia, and the entire procedure will take about an hour to finish.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make a long incision across the back to remove the unwanted tissues. Next, the surgeon will then will reattach the remaining skin together. There are actually a lot of advantages that this procedure can bring about like concealing the scar, enhancement of the physical appearance, boosting self confidence and the results can be seen immediately afterwards. More often than not, the risks that are related with the bra line back lift procedure may only include the scars.
Price Range of the Bra-Line Back Life: $7,500 to $10,000
Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Sagging arms, or bat wings, are a very common effect after losing a lot of weight. Arm lift surgery is the answer to this sagging arm problem. In this procedure, the fat or skin is eliminated. The procedure on average will take about 3 hours, but in some situations it may take more depending on the amount of work that will be done. A local anesthesia will be given through intravenous solution, so you are fully conscious throughout the procedure minus the pain. But if the patient prefers to be asleep during the entire procedure, the surgeon may put the patient under general anesthesia.
During the procedure, the surgeon will make an incision on the inside of the arm or behind the arm. The incision may extend up to the underarm or just above the elbow. For those patients who have already undergone bariatric surgery, a big incision may be entailed because of the amount of sagging skin on the arms.
Price Range of the Arm Lift: $4,500 to $7,000
Butt Lift
The buttock lift procedure removes the excess fat and the sagging skin and at the same time will help in reshaping the hips, waist and lower back.
The butt augmentation that is combined with the butt lift can make a big difference. A lot of alternatives are made available that can aid in adding the volume and fullness again the buttocks, and that includes implanting silicone butt implants, fat grafting, or fat flaps that will be removed from the back and will then be grafted to the buttocks.
The butt procedure is usually done while the patient is under general anesthesia. 1 to 2 nights might be required to stay in the hospital. The total amount of time that will be spent in the procedure is around 2 hours, although it may increase up to 6 hours if the butt lift will be done in conjunction with the lower body lift.
Price Range of the Butt Lift: $4,000 to $6,000
Is Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss Necessary?
Any type of drastic weight loss over a short period of time will usually mean plastic surgery. If you have undergone a liposuction procedure for example, the weight loss is immediate, which does not allow the skin to tighten. In other procedures, such as a gastric sleeve, the weight loss happens over a 12 – 24 month period. This longer span of time gives the skin the chance to tighten up and adjust as the weight is lost. However, in some cases, even a gradual weight loss can lead to saggy skin. This typically happens in older patients, whose skin has lost its elasticity. In those cases, plastic surgery after weight loss will be necessary. To qualify for plastic surgery after weight loss, you must meet these criteria:
- The weight has stabilized after the weight loss
- The patient does not have a medical condition that can impair the healing process
- The patient is a non smoker
- The patient has a positive outlook and realistic goals on the procedure
- The patient is committed to the proper nutrition, fitness regimen and healthy lifestyle
Women who are planning to have a family are highly advised to wait until after giving birth before deciding to undergo plastic surgery after weight loss.
