Plastic surgery after losing weight is oftentimes an important part of a full-body transformation. If you have recently lost a large amount of weight, you may find that your body is unable to adjust to your new leaner self. Substantial weight loss is often accompanied by bundles of excess skin and fatty tissue that unfortunately hides your amazing weight loss and new figure from the world. Plastic surgery after losing weight allows you to reshape your body, using a few key procedures to optimize your appearance. If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight, check out this guide to plastic surgery after weight loss to decide which treatments are best for you.
Body Contouring
Body contouring, also referred to as a body lift or body sculpting, is the most common choice for patients opting for plastic surgery after losing weight. If you have recently lost a lot of weight or are a new mom, body contouring consists of a number of different tightening procedures, all performed simultaneously, that can result in a dramatically improved appearance. The goal of the surgery is to remove excess skin and fat from a number of different areas of the body, including arms, breasts, abdomen, neck, hips, knees, thighs, or buttocks.
Body contouring can address any area of the body that does not look normal after losing weight. During a consultation, your plastic surgeon will assess which areas need attention, and develop a body contouring plan accordingly. The surgery consists of making several incisions on problem areas throughout the body and then removing any excess skin and fat. Body contouring also tightens muscles in select regions of the body. While there will be some scarring following the procedure, a skilled plastic surgeon will do everything possible to minimize the appearance of the scars.
Recovery can be a bit intense because of the different areas of the body that are operated on, but the results make it worth it. If you are not interested in a procedure as comprehensive as a body lift, then below are some components of a body lift you can opt for individually instead of getting all of it done at once.
Tummy Tuck
The tummy is an area of the body that carries the most fat in overweight individuals, tending to stretch the skin in that area in order to contain a protruding gut. If you lose a lot of weight, a good amount of it will come from the abdomen, and all of that stretched-out skin has nowhere to go. A tummy tuck is an amazing procedure to address that accumulation of excess skin, allowing you to remove hanging and drooping skin around the midsection. A skilled plastic surgeon makes an incision from hip bone to hip bone, removes any excess skin and fat, and then pulls the abdominal muscles so that they are tightly secured. The result is a trim, tight, and toned tummy. The incision in this surgery is strategically made so that it will be hidden by most clothing and undergarments, allowing you to flaunt your new tummy in a swimsuit.
Brazilian Butt Lift
While the positives of weight loss undeniably outweigh the negatives, that does not mean that there are not some small sacrifices. Some areas of your body may lose their youthful volume, and this is especially true for the buttocks following weight loss. The butt can become deflated and look flat after weight loss, making the Brazilian butt lift a great option for plastic surgery after losing weight. During the procedure, fat is removed from another area of the body using liposuction, refined, and then injected back into the buttocks. If patients do not have the necessary fat elsewhere on the body, implants can be used instead. This results in a plumper, firmer, and rounder buttocks.
Breast Lift
The same issues beguiling the buttocks after weight loss can also affect the breasts. The skin around the breasts has been stretched and expanded as you gained weight, which causes it to lose some of its elasticity. When you lose weight, you lose fat in your breasts, which may cause your breasts to sag and look flat. A breast lift aims to fix any drooping or sagging, removing excess skin and tissue as well as repositioning the areola for a natural placement. If needed (or desired), your plastic surgeon can also place breast implants during a breast lift to help shape your breasts or increase their size. As a result, you can recapture the more youthful and perkier breasts of your youth after weight loss.
Arm Lift
Unlike a lot of other areas on this list, it can be tough to hide sagging arm skin after drastic weight loss. Depending on where you live, wearing long-sleeves during the summer is simply not plausible. An arm lift surgery can give you shapelier and thinner arms, allowing you to proudly sport tank tops all summer long. The arm lift is a great plastic surgery after weight loss option, as the discreet surgery consists of an incision on the inner arm. From this incision, excess fat is removed and loose skin is trimmed away, leaving you with thinner and smaller arms.
Thigh Lift
Weight loss hits the thighs hard. The thighs are an area that seems to be especially susceptible to loose skin and excessive wrinkling following weight loss, making a thigh lift a preferred option for many individuals. Not only does a thigh lift surgery remove all excess skin and fat, but it also works to reshape the outward appearance of your thighs. The goal is to get the thighs to look smoother, tighter, and more shapely, helping you to regain the beautiful curves of your body. In some cases, liposuction will be used to help sculpt this area to your preferred appearance.
Plastic Surgery After Losing Weight with Dr. Lapuerta
If you have recently lost a drastic amount of weight, it is time to put the finishing touches on your transformation. Plastic surgery after losing weight can reshape your appearance, helping you look younger and thinner and feel more confident than ever. Dr. Lapuerta is an expert when it comes to plastic surgery for patients who have just lost a significant amount of weight, helping them get rid of any excess fat or loose skin. In general, body contouring is the best option, but if you have one particular problem area that needs to be addressed, any of the above procedures are an excellent option. Dr. Lapuerta will meet with you during a consultation to assess your weight loss and partner with you to determine the best treatment plan moving forward. To learn more or to request a consultation, contact Dr. Lapuerta today.
