10 Things Patients Need to Know About Body Contouring After Massive Weight Loss

1. There were over 50,000 body contouring procedures performed in 2011 secondary to massive weight loss.  The number of bariatric procedures being performed annually is estimated to be between 200,000 to 250,000.  With this drastic increase in massive weight loss patients, plastic surgeons are performing more body contouring procedures than in recent years.
2. Body Contouring is a general term that encompasses many different procedures.  The different procedures under the umbrella of body contouring include abdominoplasty, panniculectomy, butt lift, circumferential body lift, thigh lift, arm lift, face lift/neck lift, breast lift and male breast reduction.
3. It is prudent to wait about 6 months after your weight loss plateaus before considering body contouring surgery.  To ensure the best results, fluctuations in weight loss should be minimized.  For optimal healing, the body should to be in a “nutritional steady-state” which typically occurs months after the weight loss plateaus.  Additionally, if more weight is lost after a body contouring procedure is performed, recurrence of the skin laxity is likely to occur.
4. Some procedures may be covered by insurance.  Generally post bariatric procedures are considered cosmetic procedures. The most common procedures that may be covered by insurance are panniculectomy and breast reduction.
5. Multiple body contouring procedures may be done at the same time.  Obviously, every area of excess skin can not be safely taken off during one setting but multiple procedures can be done during the same setting.  This decision will be made by you and your surgeon.  We first listen to the concerns of the patient from greatest to least and then determine which procedures could safely be done at the same time.
6. Small drains are commonly used on body contouring procedures.  Because large amounts of excess skin is moved and removed, small tubes are commonly kept in place for a short time to prevent the accumulation of fluid and to optimize the result.
7. Although large amounts of excess skin are removed, patients typically do not see a large weight reduction after surgery.  The reason is two fold.  First, skin doesn’t weigh a lot. Second, patients typically experience a normal amount of post-operative fluid retention(swelling) that resolves over the first few weeks.
8. Body contouring can be done as out patient surgery.  Patients are always evaluated on a case by case basis. Your surgeon should guide you on the safest option of where to perform these procedures and if it is ok to go home the same day.
9. Smoking can significantly impair would healing and ultimately compromise the final outcome.  As physicians, we are able to council and help people with smoking cessation when desired.
10. Small pain pumps are commonly used and significantly decrease the post-op discomfort associated with large procedures.

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Curious about  body contouring surgery after massive weight loss in the metro New Orleans area? Visit our body contouring surgery after massive weight loss Procedure page where you can learn more about the multiple options available, the cost, surgical time and recovery time.  If you have questions that you would like to discuss with Dr. Sands in our Metairie office, call 504-888-4297 today to speak with our office staff or schedule a consultation.