cOSMETIC PROCEDURES > body > Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss
Surgical body contouring following major weight loss removes excess sagging fat and skin while improving the shape of the underlying support tissue. The result is a more normal appearance with smoother contours.
What is body contouring?
Dramatic weight loss has many benefits. But after weight reduction surgery, or any substantial amount of weight loss, the skin and tissues often lack the elasticity to conform to the reduced body size.
Surgical body contouring following major weight loss removes excess sagging fat and skin while improving the shape of the underlying support tissue. The result is a more normal appearance with smoother contours.
Is it right for me?
Body contouring procedures may include:
Facelift: sagging of the mid-face, jowls, and neck
Breast lift: sagging, flattened breasts
Tummy tuck: apron of excess skin hanging over the abdomen
Lower body lifts: sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin, and outer thighs
Medial thigh lift: sagging of the inner, outer and mid thigh
Brachioplasty (arm lift): sagging of the upper arms
In general, good candidates for body contouring are:
Adults whose weight loss has stabilized
Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
Non-smokers
Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals
Individuals that are committed to leading a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and fitness
Consultation and Preparing for Surgery
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Why you want the surgery, your expectations, and desired outcome
Medical conditions, drug allergies, and previous medical treatments
Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
Previous surgeries
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Evaluate your general health and any preexisting health conditions or risk factors
Examine your body and take detailed measurements
Take photographs for your medical record
Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
Discuss likely outcomes of body contouring and any risks or potential complications
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Get cleared for surgery by your bariatric surgeon or primary care doctor
Get a lab test
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
Stop smoking well in advance of surgery
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Body contouring surgery should be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, a licensed ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital. If your body contouring is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
Be sure to ask questions. It's very important to ask Dr. Abedi your questions about your body contouring procedure. It's natural to feel some anxiety, whether it's excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don't be shy about discussing any concerns with Dr. Abedi.
The Procedure
The procedures necessary to achieve your goals will be defined along with a plan for the timing of these procedures. Plastic surgery procedures that may be recommended by Dr. Abedi include:
Lower body lift: to correct sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin and outer thighs
Breast lift: to correct sagging, flattened breasts
Arm lift: to correct sagging of the upper arms
Thigh lift: to correct sagging of the inner, outer and mid thigh
STEP 1: Anesthesia
Your anesthesiologist will discuss various types of anesthesia that are safe and effective for your type of surgery. Please be sure to inform Dr. Abedi of any previous complications you experienced with general anesthesia
Step 2: The Incision
All body contouring procedures require large incisions to remove excess skin. In many cases, these incisions may be extensive. Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as personal preference and Dr. Abedi’s surgical judgment. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be placed in strategic locations where they can be hidden by most types of clothing, but this is not always the case.
Body contouring is often performed in stages. Your particular condition and goals, as well as Dr. Abedi’s best judgment will all influence your surgical plan. While it may have taken you two years or more to lose all the excess weight, it may take equally as long for the results of your body contouring to be complete.
Body Lift
Breast Lift
Arm Lift
Thigh Lift
A complete lower body lift treats sagging buttocks, abdomen, waist, hips and outer thighs in one procedure. Incision patterns vary, and may include a circumferential incision around the body to remove the "belt" of excess skin and fat.
The incision patterns for lifting a woman's sagging breasts will be determined based on the amount of excess skin to be removed. These may include one or a combination of incisions in a circular pattern around the areola, in a line extending from the areola to the breast crease, and horizontally along the breast crease. A breast implant also may be recommended to enhance breast shape and size.
Sagging skin in the upper arms is treated with an incision from the underarm area extending along the inside or back of the upper arm. Additional incisions on the arms may be necessary anywhere excess skin has formed sagging pockets. The smoother, tighter contours that result from upper arm contouring are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising. The ultimate scar will be more obvious when the arms are raised.
Reshaping of the thighs is achieved through incisions in the groin that can extend downward to the knee along the inner portion of the thigh. Improving contours of the outer thigh may require an incision extending from the groin around the hip. Through these incisions, Dr. Abedi will tighten tissues for a smoother thigh.
risks and safety
The decision to have body contouring surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
Risks include:
Bleeding
Infection
Fluid accumulation
Poor wound healing
Skin loss
Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism which can cause death
Excessive or widened scars
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
Anesthesia risks
Unfavorable scarring
Residual skin laxity or contour irregularity
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with Dr. Abedi
RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY
Following surgery, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions. Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
Dr. Abedi will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for the surgical sites, activities to avoid, what medications to take and when, and specific concerns to look for. Your follow up will also be arranged prior to your surgery.
You may be instructed to avoid bending, straining, or heavy lifting for several days to 4 weeks. Where tightening of the abdomen or thighs is involved, Dr. Abedi may also instruct you to avoid standing fully upright and stressing any internal sutures as they heal, and to sleep with pillows elevating your knees.
To minimize the risk of DVT (blood clots in the legs) you will need to be up and walking as soon as possible, and drinking plenty of fluid. Follow all instructions carefully - this is essential to the success of your outcome.
results
The results of body contouring following aggressive weight loss are visible almost immediately; however, it can take two years or more to see the final results. Visible scars are something you must accept in your goals to achieve a body contour that matches your new weight and proportion. The results of body contouring are generally long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent.
Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and revisional surgery may be necessary.
Following Dr. Abedi’s instructions is critical to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing.
When you go home
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for body contouring procedures can vary widely. Dr. Abedi offers patient financing plans through Beautifi, so be sure to ask.
Cost of surgery include:
Surgeon's fee
Surgical facility costs
Anesthesia fees
Prescription medication
Post-surgery garments
Medical tests
Please contact our office to obtain a quote if you are interested in this procedure.
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