People who have lost body fat on a healthy weight journey may find that they have excessive loose skin. Skin stretches with weight gain but often does not contract with weight loss as the skin and tissues lack the elasticity to conform to the reduced body size. Surgical body contouring following major weight loss removes excess sagging skin and fat while improving one’s overall body shape. The result is a more normal appearance with smoother contours.
What is body contouring?
Body contouring is a way of removing excess skin in specific areas to better follow the frame of the body after weight loss. There are different surgical procedures that fall under the term "body contouring" and an aesthetic plastic surgeon will work with patients to determine what procedures will provide the best benefit for their needs.
Do you need to get plastic surgery after weight loss?
No, not every person on a weight loss journey needs plastic surgery. Every body is different and responds differently to weight changes. Not all patients will experience the same issues that can come with loose skin after losing weight.
There can be many reasons why a person chooses to have body contouring after they have lost weight. Physically, they may find that the loose skin becomes an irritation, preventing them from being able to move as easily as they would like, or leading to rashes or yeast infections in the folds of the skin. There is also an emotional or mental component, in that they do not feel that their outer appearance reflects how they feel on the inside.
What are the different kinds of body contouring surgeries?
Body contouring surgeries can be performed from head to toe.
Face and neck surgeries
Face lift and neck lift surgeries can be done to lift and smooth the skin in those areas.
Chest surgeries
Breast lift surgery involves tightening the skin of the breast while simultaneously lifting the nipple position. Some patients seek breast reduction surgery after weight loss as the breast size seems disproportionate to their slimmer frame and they would like to decrease their breast volume. Gynecomastia surgery can remove excess skin, breast tissue, and fat from a man's chest. Surgery in the upper back, sometimes referred to as a bra line lift, can also help tighten the skin around the back and shoulders.
Abdominal surgeries
Abdominal contouring surgeries include panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, and liposuction. Panniculectomy removes the “pannus” or “apron” of excess skin and fatty tissue of the lower abdomen that hangs and overlaps the pubic area. Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, can remove extra skin from the torso as well as tighten the underlying muscles creating an internal corset. Liposuction can remove focal areas of fatty tissue.
Extremity contouring
Brachioplasty is a surgery to remove excess skin from the arms, usually from the armpit to the elbow. A thigh lift removes the extra skin and some remaining fat tissue from the upper inner legs.
How much weight do I need to lose before having body contouring surgery?
The amount of weight a person needs to lose before considering body contouring surgery is very individualized. We all carry our fat tissue in different ways, and we all lose that tissue in different ways, too. Some people may see a dramatic shift on the scale but not have many issues caused by excess skin, while others may lose less and have more loose skin.
Can plastic surgery remove belly fat?
There is fat that forms inside the abdomen around organs and fat that forms on top of the abdominal muscles and under the skin. As part of a body contouring procedure, a surgeon can remove the fat that is between the muscles and the layers of skin. Losing weight in the abdomen will likely reduce the volume of fatty tissue both above the muscles and around the organs, but plastic surgery can only remove any remaining fat above the muscles.
What are the risks involved with body contouring?
Body contouring surgeries are largely safe and involve minimal risk. The biggest concern for most patients is the scarring that will result from the removal of skin tissue. Most patients heal well with scarring that tends to fade over time.
Some individuals may experience thicker or discolored scars. Larger surgeries to remove more skin may require drains to reduce fluid accumulation in the area. Slow wound healing is also somewhat common with skin removal surgeries.
It is important to also note that results may change due to weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and general aging.
Do I need surgery, or can I do non-surgical skin tightening?
Non-surgical skin tightening devices can help but are never going to achieve the results of surgery. Those devices are not able to remove excess skin or lingering fatty tissue like surgery can. Depending on your anatomy and your goals, non-surgical or surgical techniques may be helpful.
How much weight can I lose with skin removal surgery?
Surprisingly, while excess skin may feel like it weighs a lot, in most patients it does not. Most patients notice weight loss of less than ten pounds after body contouring surgery.
What is recovery like after body contouring?
Recovery varies from patient to patient, depending on the body area treated and how much skin is removed. Special compression garments are required to reduce the risk of fluid formation or swelling for about six weeks. Most patients are recovered within two to eight weeks.
Can I have multiple surgeries done at once?
Yes, multiple body contouring procedures can be done at the same time. Having multiple surgeries at once can consolidate a patient's total recovery time while not significantly increasing overall surgical risk.
What will my skin be like after body contouring?
Your skin will be slightly different than it was when you were younger or at a lower weight. This has less to do with the surgery and more to do with the fact that as we gain weight, our skin stretches out. For some patients, the skin can rebound somewhat, but it will never have the same elasticity and will be slightly thinner than it was before gaining weight.
Any reasons someone should not get plastic surgery after weight loss?
If someone is still actively trying to lose weight, or has a goal of losing more weight, it is best to put off having surgery until they reach their goal weight. If you have already lost enough weight to have excess skin that is causing functional issues, work with your primary care provider on ways to help minimize these issues until you have reached your goal weight.
Younger patients who are considering having children and giving birth in the near future should also hold off on having body contouring surgeries, as our bodies naturally change during pregnancy.
When should I get plastic surgery after weight loss?
Patients should be at their goal weight and in a stable weight range (some small weight fluctuation from month to month is normal for everyone, regardless of size) for at least six months before undergoing plastic surgery to remove excess skin. Surgeons also want to ensure that their patients are nutritionally optimized with no severe vitamin deficiencies. These deficiencies, which can happen when a person's diet is restricted, can lead to slower healing times and higher risk of infection.
If you have lost weight and are wondering if plastic surgery is right for you, we are here to help! The team at Brown Health Medical Group Laser and Aesthetic Surgery can answer any other questions you have and help you decide if plastic surgery is right for you. Visit us online or call 401-444-7546 (SKIN) to learn more.
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