Getting plastic surgery to remove excess skin after massive weight loss is a physically and emotionally significant step that often includes more than one operation. As a specialist in plastic surgery after weight loss in Los Angeles, I understand the multiple issues that body lift patients encounter both before and after surgery.
I believe that patients should be fully informed about what’s involved in body contouring procedures after losing significant weight, as well as what they can expect during their recoveries. In this blog post, I’ll address some of the general issues that patients should know about before scheduling their surgeries.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Start with reaching your goal weight. That’s important because weight gain and loss after the surgery could compromise the results. Being committed to maintaining your weight is another sign that you’re ready for plastic surgery. I also talk to my patients about having realistic expectations about what body lift surgery can accomplish. It can improve your appearance, but the results vary from patient to patient and the incisions involved with the procedure result in scars. Most patients are willing to trade excess skin for scars.
Preparing for Recovery
A lower body lift—which is the most common technique I use at my practice—typically includes a tummy tuck, a thigh lift, and a buttock lift that are performed during a single operation. You can expect to be quite sore during the initial stages of the recovery process. Depending on the extent of the surgery, this could last a few weeks.
What Are the Risks?
One of the most important discussions I have with all of my patients is explaining the potential risks involved. Any surgery includes some inherent risks. For patients who undergo body lift and other skin removal procedures, additional risks include concerns about wound healing and accumulated fluid. It’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience performing these types of surgeries to minimize risks.
As a plastic surgeon, post-weight loss body contouring procedures are among the most gratifying operations I perform. The results can be truly transformational for patients who have made the effort to lose weight. Some patients may even qualify to have some of the costs covered by health insurance if their excess skin causes medical issues, such as skin rashes and infection.
You can see the types of dramatic results in before-and-after photos of my actual patients. And if you’ve undergone significant weight loss and are thinking about getting body contouring plastic surgery, you can contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call our office at (310) 300-1779 to schedule a one-on-one appointment with me.
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