Home|Body Contouring After Dramatic Weight Loss
Whether you lost your weight with the help of bariatric surgery or through strict diet and sweating it off in a gym, first and foremost you should be very proud of your accomplishment! Putting your health ahead of everything else is something everyone should do more often. Now, the harder part. You have spent months if not years trying to improve your overall shape and are finding no gym in the world can undo stretched skin or lift sagging breasts. According to some of our patients at Advanced Aesthetic Surgery, this can be as frustrating as losing the weight in the first place.
Our plastic surgeon in the Marietta area partners with you to make a comprehensive plan for restoring you to a better shape, keeping in mind that we can’t do everything at once and still do it safely. If you have had bariatric surgery, we will also work with your surgeon, ensuring that you are optimized for our surgery from a medical standpoint. Post-weight loss surgery typically combines a number of smaller procedures that can tighten and tone the body, remove redundant skin, and reveal a sleeker silhouette.
During your initial consultation, Dr. Thomas Lintner will perform a physical exam, thoroughly discuss your personal goals, review your medical history, and create a custom treatment plan designed to meet your expectations.
Post-weight loss body contouring surgery offers patients struggling with excess skin and stubborn fat after weight loss a variety of aesthetic and functional benefits, including:
During a consultation with Dr. Lintner, he will discuss your aesthetic goals and areas of concern to develop a customized treatment plan to help you look and feel your best.
Ideal candidates for post-weight loss surgery are in good overall health and have maintained a stable body weight for at least 12 months. Post-bariatric body contouring can be an optimal solution for individuals who have attained significant weight loss and desire an overall slimmer appearance by getting rid of drooping, excess skin folds, and pockets of fat. Dr. Lintner carefully reviews each individual’s medical history and may not recommend surgery for people with significant health problems that can put them at greater risk during the procedure.
Can’t say enough about my great results! Dr. Lintner is amazing as well as the nurses and office staff. Their communication is unmatched and they make you feel like family. Thankful they were always willing to accommodate me for my four hour drive to see them pre and post op! Dr. Lintner is a perfectionist and you will not be disappointed!Holly
In general, skin removal and body lifting procedures may be considered 12 to 18 months after undergoing bariatric surgery. However, there are a few factors to consider that will help to support safe, successful aesthetic results. First, you must be fully recovered from your weight loss surgery, and it is highly recommended to be at or near your goal weight, which should be a weight that can be maintained over the long-term. Additionally, healthy eating habits and regular exercise should be considered a normal part of your daily routine to uphold a healthy lifestyle through recovery and into the future. It is best to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Lintner, to receive a thorough evaluation in order to determine if you are ready for post-weight loss body contouring or if more time may be necessary.
A panniculectomy is an advanced form of tummy tuck surgery that is designed to remove a significant amount of excess skin hanging from the beltline. This procedure specifically focuses on an area of the abdomen called the pannus, and can alleviate many common problems caused by excess abdominal skin, such as rashes, ulcers, or back pain.
A mastopexy augmentation is a combination of a breast lift and breast augmentation, offering the benefits of both procedures. Significant weight gain can cause the breasts to stretch and sag, dramatically changing the appearance of the breasts, even after losing weight. In addition to removing excess skin and elevating the position of the breasts to a more youthful position, implants can rejuvenate the breasts with a beautiful, full, and natural-looking shape.
Even with a nutritious diet and rigorous exercise, many people still have isolated pockets of fat that prove resistant to these traditional methods of weight loss. For patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight, liposuction may serve as the “finishing touch” for areas of the body that retain a little excess weight. This procedure can be performed on nearly any area of the body for a slimmer, more contoured appearance.
A lower body lift is designed to remove lax, excess skin from the lower back, flanks (love handles), and buttocks. This skin tightening surgery can help patients achieve smoother, sleeker contours, a firmer appearance, and improve the fit of clothing.
A thigh lift can eliminate loose or sagging skin as well as excess fat from the thighs for enhanced contours. Many patients feel more comfortable wearing dresses, shorts, or swimsuits after having this procedure performed.
A brachioplasty, more commonly called an arm lift, targets the upper arms and can create a more toned appearance. For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, the upper arms often carry a substantial amount of excess skin due to a loss of elasticity. An arm lift can help these patients achieve an improved appearance that cannot be accomplished with diet or exercise alone.
For patients who have undergone bariatric surgery or lost significant weight with diet and exercise, a facelift can restore a smooth, youthful appearance to the face. Excess or sagging skin is removed and signs of facial aging such as wrinkles can be minimized. The neck may also be rejuvenated during this procedure.
A tummy tuck, often referred to as an abdominoplasty, is designed to give the stomach a flatter, more toned appearance. By removing excess skin as well as tightening the underlying musculature, patients who have an abdomen that protrudes due to stretched or torn muscles can achieve a more contoured silhouette.
Generally speaking, it may take several months for the body to completely heal. Each patient’s recovery period will be different and depends on the number of procedures performed and how extensive an individual’s treatment was. During your consultation, Dr. Lintner can give you an estimated time frame of how long the healing period will be considering your unique circumstances. In addition, he meticulously tries to make incisions in inconspicuous areas of the body so that scarring can be less noticeable over time. He may recommend wearing compression garments and using scar reduction products to facilitate healing in the recovery process. Ultimately, we advise our patients to follow Dr. Lintner’s detailed post-operative instructions to optimize their surgical outcome.
The price of treatment will depend on the number of procedures combined and the complexity of the surgery. Multiple procedures may need to be performed in more than one surgery which can increase the total cost. Anesthesiology fees, hospital stays, operating room fees, and post-surgical garments can also add on to the overall expense of post-bariatric body contouring. Medical insurance may cover the cost of treatment, so we advise our patients to consult with their insurance provider to gather more details. For any out-of-pocket expenses, we do offer financing options through Prosper Healthcare Lending, Parasail, and CareCredit® for qualified applicants. We can provide a more detailed estimate of your surgical plan during your initial consultation. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions. Our patient care coordinator, Sabrina, would be happy to help you throughout the financing process.
Post-weight loss surgery requires a highly-qualified surgeon meticulously trained in skin removal and body contouring techniques to achieve the best possible outcome. It is imperative to thoroughly research potential surgeons so you can feel confident about making a well-informed decision. Dr. Linter encourages individuals to keep several factors in mind when choosing a post-weight loss body contouring surgeon, including:
If you would like more information, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Thomas Lintner to talk more about your options, please contact us today.