Major weight loss, whether through surgery or diet and exercise, is highly transformative for patients, leaving them healthier, happier, and more energetic. However, the weight loss is often just the first step in their journey. In many cases, as the body shrinks down to its new, smaller, healthier size, the skin cannot shrink along with it due to a loss of elasticity.
The result is excess skin along the face, breast, arms, waist, and thighs that detracts from the new hard-earned physique. You can fix this with a cosmetic body procedure. A post-weight loss or post bariatric procedure in Fort Worth can help remove this excess skin so you can admire your new look.
Plastic surgery after weight loss or bariatric surgery, ranging from a mini tummy tuck to a full “body lift,” can dramatically reverse these changes. Each treatment approach will be different depending on your goals and priorities, so the first step will always be talking to a plastic surgeon in Fort Worth who specializes in post-weight loss surgery about what will work for you.
Dr. Matthew H Steele is a double-board certified plastic surgeon who can help make your cosmetic goals a reality. If you are ready to learn more about post bariatric or post-weight loss surgery, request a consultation online with Dr. Steele, or call our office.
Your Surgical Options
Many patients who have achieved significant weight loss will require more than one body contouring procedure, often in stages. Additional procedures can improve the appearance of the breast, arms, and face. If you have obtained a stable weight and are maintaining a healthy lifestyle, the time may be right to visit Dr. Steele in Fort Worth for body contouring surgery. Because weight loss affects each patient differently, Dr. Steele will take the time to answer your questions and help design an individualized surgical plan to optimally and safely achieve your goals. Weight loss patients commonly undergo the following lifting and tightening surgeries:
This procedure is designed to deal with upper arm skin and fat (often called “bat wings”). Through an incision along the inner arm running from the elbow to the armpit, the skin and fat is excised, often in conjunction with liposuction of the arm. In milder cases, a limited-incision brachioplasty may be an option with the incision limited to the armpit. Click here to see arm lift photos.
A lower body lift, also referred to as a circumferential tummy tuck or belt lipectomy, is an extension of a tummy tuck that removes excess skin along the upper hips and buttocks. The result is improved contour and skin tightening around the entire trunk. Click here to see body lift photos.
Similar to the upper arm, the inner thigh can be left with residual skin and fat after weight loss. An inner thigh lift, often combined with liposuction, will rejuvenate and tighten the inner thigh. After a body lift, most patients will notice a small improvement in the upper/inner thigh. For that reason, the inner thigh lift is typically performed in a staged fashion after the body lift or tummy tuck procedure
Like many women who have had children, weight loss patients will often note significant sagging and loss of breast volume. A breast lift or breast lift with implants may be an option to rejuvenate the breast by reshaping the breast, while adding volume to the upper breast. In some weight loss patients, the extent of sagging can be such that it is unsafe to combine a lift with implant at the same operation. In these cases, Dr. Steele recommends proceeding first with a mastopexy (lift) with a delayed breast augmentation 3-6 months later.
Because of the poor skin quality in most weight loss patients, liposuction alone is typically not performed due to worsening of the skin laxity. However, many of the above procedures will be combined liposuction to remove fat in combination with skin excision for tightening.
Unfortunately, significant weight loss can result in loss skin in the face resulting in a turkey neck and jowling. This often makes people look older than their actual age. A facelift can tighten the face/neck skin and reposition the tissues into a more youthful position.
