Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Losing a significant amount of weight is a monumental achievement that often leads to improved physical and mental wellbeing. However, there often lies one hurdle that impedes complete fulfillment: excess or loose skin. Plastic surgery after weight loss can be an excellent solution to transform your body, enhancing your appearance and boosting your overall confidence. This article sheds light on why you might want to consider plastic surgery after weight loss, the different types of procedures, and the candidacy.
Understanding The Need for Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Although your body may adapt to incremental weight loss by shrinking fat cells and muscles, after excessive weight loss, your skin might not be able to retract back to its initial size and tightness. This is majorly due to the degradation of collagen and elastin fibers that give our skin its elasticity. Factors such as age, genetics, the amount of weight lost, and the duration of obesity also affect skin elasticity. This often leads to sagging skin that can cause discomfort or pain, skin conditions, limited mobility, and dissatisfaction with appearance. Plastic surgery provides a solution to these issues, helping individuals complete their weight loss journey with improved physical aesthetics.
Types of Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Various procedures can tailor your body contours following significant weight loss. The type you choose depends on your specific needs and preferences, including the areas affected by sagging skin and your aesthetic goals.
1. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty): This involves the removal of excess skin from the abdomen. It can also repair disrupted muscles, offering a firmer and smoother abdominal profile.
2. Arm Lift (Brachioplasty): This procedure eliminates sagging skin under the upper arms that often resembles ‘bat wings.’
3. Thigh Lift: Excess skin around the thighs is removed, giving more proportionate contours to thighs and lower body.
4. Full abdomen lift: This procedure addresses your full abdominal area, including the lower abdomen, upper abdomen, and helps narrow the width of the waist removing excess skin and improving overall body shape.
5. Breast Lift (Mastopexy): This procedure addresses sagging, flattened breasts after substantial weight loss while uplifting and reshaping them.
It’s essential to understand that these procedures primarily focus on removing excess skin and do not remove significant fat deposits or serve as a weight-loss solution.
Candidate for Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Not everyone who has lost weight needs or is a candidate for plastic surgery. Suitable candidates usually:
– Have stabilized their weight loss. Surgeons suggest waiting at least 12-18 months after weight has stabilized before considering plastic surgery.
– Are in good health without any medical conditions that can impair healing.
– Possess a positive outlook and realistic expectations.
– Are non-smokers or ready to quit, as smoking can significantly increase the risk of complications and jeopardize healing.
Choosing plastic surgery after weight loss is a personal decision. It requires careful evaluation along with a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands your requirements and objectives. It’s crucial to remember that plastic surgery comes with its potential risks and benefits, and it is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle.