If you have lost a great amount of weight after bariatric surgery, skin sags may develop in certain places of your body. Some bariatric surgery patients prefer reconstructive surgery to remove this excess skin.
Plastic surgeons use contouring technics such as abdominal lifting to remove excess skin. These procedures are proven successful in supporting patients to restore their body shape and enjoy daily activities.
Patients should meet certain health criteria before reconstructive surgery following bariatric surgery. Please ask your family physician or surgeon whether you are a suitable candidate for reconstructive surgery. If you are not, please try to learn what you can do to improve your health condition in order to be evaluated as eligible for reconstructive surgery.
Requirements for plastic surgery:
- A good general health condition
- At least one year should be passed after bariatric surgery
- The weight loss process has to be completed at least six months ago.
- A BMI value of 25 or less is required for better short-, medium- and long-term outcomes.
- No vitamin/mineral deficiency
- No smoking for better wound healing
- No active pregnancy, no pregnancy planning for the next year
- A balanced diet and regular exercise
- Realistic expectations
Procedures to be assessed
Depending on the amount of lost weight and the location of excess skin, you can consider one or more of the following post-bariatric reconstructive procedures:
- Abdominoplasty: Abdominoplasty is an effective post-bariatric reconstructive procedure, which not only removes excess skin but also tightens the abdominal muscles so that a thin waistline and a flat stomach is formed. Please take into consideration that abdominoplasty leaves a long and prominent wound scar on your lower abdomen.
- Brachioplasty: Brachioplasty starts with an incision in the lower part of the upper arm. Then, excess skin is removed to form a tightened and firm appearance. Please note that brachioplasty leaves a long wound scar starting from the upper part of your upper arm and extending to the lower part.
- Gluteoplasty (Brazilian butt lift): The hip area commonly requires body contouring after the weight loss process. The plastic surgeon lifts and reshapes this part of the body to create smoother and tighter contours.
- Mastopexy (Breast Lift): As the breasts consist mostly of fat tissue, they can be significantly affected by weight loss. Breast augmentation and mastopexy are two body contouring techniques, which help lift the breast line after weight loss.
- Thigh lift: Excess skin remains in the thigh area of many patients following bariatric surgery. Thigh lift surgery may be useful for these individuals. There are many thigh lift techniques. The difference between them is the type of incision:
- Vertical thigh lift: The incision starts from the inguinal area and extends to the inner side of the knee. Excess skin is removed from the inner side of the thigh. A wound scarring may remain after healing.
- Medial thigh lift: is the most popular thigh lift technique. This type of surgery is ideal for individuals who have moderate fat and excess skin in the medial part of their thighs. An incision is made on the folding line of the inguinal area and the skin is tightened after the lifting process.
- Outer thigh lift: an incision is made from the hip to the inguinal area.
- Spiral thigh lift: is a new thigh lift procedure, during which the posterior, anterior, lateral, and medial areas of the thigh are reshaped. The incision starts just under the hip and extends towards the folding line in the inguinal area. This surgery is usually performed in patients, who need the removal of a great amount of skin and fat from related areas.
Many people want to learn whether reconstructive surgical procedures are reimbursed by health insurance or the state health system. Some procedures are reimbursed some are not.
