Losing a large amount of weight is a major achievement. But once you’ve reached your goal, you might find that your new, thinner body needs some additional fine-tuning. That’s because large amounts of excess skin that have been stretched around your abdomen, arms, legs, breasts and face may have lost their elasticity. After significant weight loss, the skin often fails to shrink back to its former size and shape.
Plastic surgeons at Cleveland Clinic’s Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center offer excess skin removal (body contouring) surgeries designed specifically for patients who’ve achieved significant weight loss. Procedures that remove skin or fat, tighten and lift can be used as a complement to help your clothes fit better and allow you to participate more comfortably in your favorite activities.
When considering surgery after significant weight loss, choose a surgeon with significant experience performing the procedure. Friends, family members or an internist or primary care provider are often helpful in suggesting the best surgeon.
For the best results, choose a cosmetic surgeon who’s affiliated with a major medical center, such as Cleveland Clinic. Make sure to ask your cosmetic surgeon about their credentials, training and how many procedures they’ve performed.
The best way to determine if you’re a candidate for excess skin removal (body contouring) surgery after significant weight loss is through a thorough consultation with a plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center.
The most successful outcomes from body contouring surgery are achieved when these important criteria are met:
People with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what body contouring can accomplish are also good candidates.
Preparing for surgery after significant weight loss at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center includes discussing a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle with your plastic surgeon, including:
Your Cleveland Clinic plastic surgeon will also:
There are a variety of body contouring procedures that can treat your needs after significant weight loss. Your plastic surgeon will work with you to identify areas that are the most problematic or bothersome to you.
The areas of the body that are most often treated through body contouring after significant weight loss include:
A panniculectomy only removes skin overhanging the pubis and doesn’t address skin above your belly button. Having your abdominal muscles tightened or extending the incision to the back is most often considered cosmetic and isn’t usually covered by insurance.
At times, an abdominal hernia may be found. Hernias up to a certain size can be repaired at the time of the removal of excess abdominal skin. However, your plastic surgeon may refer you to a general surgeon if the hernia is too large to be repaired during the abdominal procedure.
A body lift, or belt lipectomy, is a procedure to remove skin and lift your thighs and buttock. A surgeon usually performs this procedure as a continuation of an abdominal procedure with the incision extended completely around the back. They make the incision in the belt area in the upper hips and remove excess skin below the incision.
A medial thigh lift, designed to remove excess skin from your upper leg, involves an incision along the inner thigh starting at the groin and extending as far as the knee.
A number of breast procedures are available, including breast lift with or without augmentation (enlargement with implants) and breast reduction. To lift the drooping breast, a surgeon lifts and positions the nipples in a more typical position. This procedure requires significant incisions, including an incision around the nipple (vertical down the breast and horizontally under the breast fold).
During surgery to remove excess skin from your arms (brachioplasty), a surgeon makes an incision starting at the armpit and extending to the elbow. Sometimes, the incision extends onto the chest and can be combined with a breast procedure.
Removing excess skin around the face or neck after weight loss is similar to a traditional facelift. However, the incisions may need to be somewhat longer behind the ear and along the hairline.
A combination of body contouring surgeries may be done at the same time, as long as it’s safe to do so. An “upper body lift” may include a combination of surgeries to the arms, back and breasts/chest.
A “lower body lift” may include a combination of surgeries to your hips, thighs, abdomen and buttock. The exact procedures to be performed at one time will be individualized to your needs through a thorough consultation with a plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center.
The results of body contouring surgery after significant weight loss are visible almost immediately. If you’ll be having several procedures, they may be done in stages rather than all at one time. This approach allows for touch-ups if more skin needs to be removed from an earlier procedure. Visible scars from surgery will remain, but the overall results are long lasting if you maintain a stable weight and good fitness.
As your body ages, it’s natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent. Following up with an expert at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center is the best way to ensure long-lasting results from your body contouring procedures. View our before and after photos to see results from actual patients.
Following your body contouring procedure(s) after significant weight loss, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. You may have a small, thin tube (drain) temporarily placed under your skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that might collect. The number of drains used may vary depending on the procedure.
Body contouring surgeries may be performed in an outpatient setting or require an overnight stay (or more) depending on the procedure. Your post-surgery activities will be restricted until you’ve had plenty of time to recover. Restrictions may include no exercise and lifting of 5 pounds or more. Walking is encouraged after surgery; however, additional exercise isn’t recommended until you’ve fully healed.
A certain degree of soreness, swelling and bruising for two to three weeks after surgery is normal. Most people can return to work after two to four weeks, but people with physically demanding jobs need to wait at least three weeks. During this recovery period, you’ll be monitored regularly by your plastic surgeon to ensure the best results.
Possible risks of body contouring surgery after significant weight loss include:
Insurance rarely covers the cost of elective cosmetic surgery and procedures. Please call 216.444.4004 and ask to speak with one of our financial representatives who can explain payment options, including CareCredit financing.
