Post-Bariatric Surgery
Obesity is becoming more prevalent within our society. Many patients seek to lose the excess weight through a variety of means including dieting and exercise. Some resort to surgical procedures such as the Lap-Band procedure or a gastric bypass. For those patients able to lose the excess weight, we applaud your efforts. Unfortunately, patients who lose the excess weight, are often faced with a new dilemma - namely loose, excess, baggy skin. At Lincoln Aesthetic Surgical Institute, we specialize in assisting you on your journey to reshape and restore your body to a more pleasing form. Call today to set up a free consultation to see if a body contouring procedure is right for you!
Plastic surgery offers a variety of procedures specifically tailored to dramatically improve the contour of your body, eliminating the loose excess skin and fat left behind following weight loss. Patients who are good candidates for body contouring procedures include those whose weight has stabilized. If you are continuing to lose weight, it is best to wait until your weight has plateaued in order to maximize your result. The following is a brief description of some of the procedures available to help reshape your body. Dr. Mitchell will meet with you in private to discuss what may be available to you.
Belt Lipectomy
A belt lipectomy, sometimes referred to as a circumferential abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, is a procedure designed to remove the excess skin and fat that persists around the lower trunk or mid-section. It helps to tighten and flatten the abdomen as well as narrow the waist and remove the excess tissue from the flanks. It also extends around the back and helps to elevate the sagging tissue along the buttocks and upper outer thighs. The procedure can produce dramatic improvements within the midsection. Patients are left with a scar which goes circumferentially around the waist – similar to a belt. The procedure is typically performed with the patient staying one to two days in the hospital for recovery. All sutures are placed internally to eliminate the need for painful suture removal later. Drains are placed at the time of surgery to prevent fluid buildup under the incisions. Liposuction is often performed at the time of the surgery to help improve the overall contour. Dr. Mitchell will discuss all potential complications during your free consultation.
Brachioplasty
Patients with excess skin and fat of the upper arm often complain of feeling like they have “bat wings.” Patients who have previously been overweight and have lost a significant amount of weight are left with residual loose or deflated skin of the upper arms.
A brachioplasty or arm lift is designed to remove the excess skin and fat of the upper arm. Dr. Mitchell employs the latest techniques, including liposuction, in order to reshape the arms and lessen the need for elongated scars. The procedure involves removing the excess fat and skin within the upper arm in order to help tighten and recontour the arm. Patients typically have a straight scar post-operatively which runs along the inside of the arm, as well as a zig-zag scar that may need to be extended within the armpit to improve the contour. On occasion, Dr. Mitchell may recommend initial liposuction to first remove the excess fat followed by a later procedure, approximately six months later, to remove the excess deflated skin. This will be discussed with you in detail during your consultation.
Medial Thigh Lift
After massive weight loss, the thighs may be left with loose, baggy skin. For some, a medial thigh lift can be performed to help remove and tighten the skin on the thighs. An incision is placed upon the inside of the thighs in order to remove out the excess skin and improve the contour of the thighs.