Peninsula Plastic Surgery

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3400 Lomita Blvd., Suite 306

Torrance, CA 90505

body contouring

Body Contouring After Bariatric Surgery

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Bariatric surgery is often necessary to lose weight when diet and exercise have been unsuccessful and when there is a serious threat to your health due to obesity. However, bariatric surgery will often leave you with loose hanging skin. This is because added weight can often stretch the skin resulting in lost elasticity. With the weight now removed from surgery, the skin fails to spring back to normal, presenting itself as loose and hanging.
The flabby skin resulting from bariatric surgery is not only a cosmetic concern. These rolls of skin can often rub against each other, which can cause irritation. It can also result in hygiene issues and skin tags as well as emotional discomfort. So, one way people can address post-bariatric skin is through body contouring.

Is Body Contouring Necessary after Bariatric Surgery?

Body contouring is a type of plastic surgery in which the plastic surgeon removes excess skin and fat from massive weight loss. In body contouring, the plastic surgeon will also shape the underlying support tissue.  While body contouring surgery may not be necessary for everyone undergoing bariatric surgery, it can prove to be beneficial. Body contouring can help address any difficulties you may have in personal hygiene due to skin folds. The loose post-bariatric skin can also get in the way of your daily life and make it difficult for some to find clothes that fit. So, with body contouring, you can overcome these difficulties and gain some confidence in your body image. In addition, given the health repercussions, some insurance carriers offer partial coverage of body lift costs if you meet their criteria.

How Does Body Contouring Plastic Surgery Work?

Body contouring can help an individual achieve smoother body contours after undergoing bariatric surgery. By removing excess skin and improving underlying tissue tone, body contouring can bring you back to a normal appearance.  Body contouring plastic surgery does not usually happen immediately after bariatric surgery. In fact, for most people wanting body contouring, they would have to wait around one to two years after their bariatric surgery. This is because your weight should be stable before undergoing body contouring surgery.  You can often expect body contouring surgery to happen in just a single session. However, in this session, the plastic surgeon will perform the surgery in stages under general anesthesia. Additional precautions may also be necessary if you have a history of clotting disorders, smoking, a high BMI, or deep venous thrombosis. 

What Are the Different Types of Body Contouring?

There are different types of body contouring surgeries, but they are often categorized according to the area of focus. One of the most common types of body contouring is abdominoplasty, or what is commonly known as the tummy tuck. This removes excess skin you may have in your abdominal region. There’s also the mastopexy or breast lift and the brachioplasty or arm lift. For sagging skin in the abdomen, outer thighs, groin, and buttocks, there’s the lower body lift.

What Risks Are Involved in Body Contouring Surgery?

Since body contouring is a type of surgical procedure, there will be some risks involved. These include bleeding or infection from the surgery, blood clots, and other issues concerning the healing of the wounds. You may also get scars and experience numbness in the areas around the incisions. Bariatric surgery is often necessary to lose weight when diet and exercise have been unsuccessful and when there is a serious threat to your health due to obesity. However, bariatric surgery will often leave you with loose hanging skin. This is because added weight can often stretch the skin resulting in lost elasticity. With the weight now removed from surgery, the skin fails to spring back to normal, presenting itself as loose and hanging. The flabby skin resulting from bariatric surgery is not only a cosmetic concern. These rolls of skin can often rub against each other, which can cause irritation. It can also result in hygiene issues and skin tags as well as emotional discomfort. So, one way people can address post-bariatric skin is through body contouring.

Is Body Contouring Necessary after Bariatric Surgery?

Body contouring is a type of plastic surgery in which the plastic surgeon removes excess skin and fat from massive weight loss. In body contouring, the plastic surgeon will also shape the underlying support tissue.  While body contouring surgery may not be necessary for everyone undergoing bariatric surgery, it can prove to be beneficial. Body contouring can help address any difficulties you may have in personal hygiene due to skin folds. The loose post-bariatric skin can also get in the way of your daily life and make it difficult for some to find clothes that fit. So, with body contouring, you can overcome these difficulties and gain some confidence in your body image. In addition, given the health repercussions, some insurance carriers offer partial coverage of body lift costs if you meet their criteria.

How Does Body Contouring Plastic Surgery Work?

Body contouring can help an individual achieve smoother body contours after undergoing bariatric surgery. By removing excess skin and improving underlying tissue tone, body contouring can bring you back to a normal appearance.  Body contouring plastic surgery does not usually happen immediately after bariatric surgery. In fact, for most people wanting body contouring, they would have to wait around one to two years after their bariatric surgery. This is because your weight should be stable before undergoing body contouring surgery.  You can often expect body contouring surgery to happen in just a single session. However, in this session, the plastic surgeon will perform the surgery in stages under general anesthesia. Additional precautions may also be necessary if you have a history of clotting disorders, smoking, a high BMI, or deep venous thrombosis. 

What Are the Different Types of Body Contouring?

There are different types of body contouring surgeries, but they are often categorized according to the area of focus. One of the most common types of body contouring is abdominoplasty, or what is commonly known as the tummy tuck. This removes excess skin you may have in your abdominal region. There’s also the mastopexy or breast lift and the brachioplasty or arm lift. For sagging skin in the abdomen, outer thighs, groin, and buttocks, there’s the lower body lift.

What Risks Are Involved in Body Contouring Surgery?

Since body contouring is a type of surgical procedure, there will be some risks, although relatively uncommon. These could include asymmetry, infection from the surgery, and other issues concerning the healing of the wounds. Scarring and tingling in the areas around the incisions are also possible albeit these issues will decrease and/or disappear in many cases.

In Summary

Bariatric surgery is a standard procedure that involves changes in the digestive system for weight loss. This can be extremely helpful, especially if you have severe health issues because of your weight that dieting or exercising were not able to address. However, the downside is that usually your skin will likely look floppy and loose from the massive weight loss. Thankfully, body contouring surgery can help you remove these excess skin folds so that you can live a better and more confident life. Smoothen your body contours with help from Peninsula Plastic Surgery. We provide a wide array of plastic surgery procedures such as tummy tucks and breast lifts in the Los Angeles South Bay and Palos Verdes Peninsula. At Peninsula Plastic Surgery, we are dedicated to being on the cutting-edge of effective plastic surgery procedures. Book an appointment now!