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Excess Skin after Weight loss
With major fat accumulation in some morbidly obese
people it begins during childhood or adolescence, extending the
length of time there is tension on the skin. Generally, people who
have been obese for longer periods of time tend to have more saggy
skin as it was damaged and stretched for a greater period of time
than a person who had weight gain for a short period of time.
In all areas where the body is storing large amounts
of fat, the skin becomes lax and permanently damaged over time.
This occurs because the elastic fibers of the skin are broken. In
addition, the effects of gravity combined with the skin supporting
the extra fat can stretch the skin affecting its ability to redrape
itself to the new contours of the body after weight loss. After
significant weight loss a patient may have less fat and more muscle
tone but, it cannot be seen because it is covered by the excess
hanging skin. These patients are usually good candidates for some
of the advanced body sculpting procedures performed by Dr. Corbin.
Some patients may have more extra skin than others.
There are many determining factors on why some patients will have
more loose skin and or stretch marks. In most cases, younger patients
tend to have less loose skin because their skin has not been stretched
out for a long as an older patient. Younger patients may also have
more collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, giving it a more youthful
firm appearance. Another major factor contributing to excess skin
is the amount of weight loss. A patient who loses 150 lbs. is more
likely to have excess skin than a patient losing 50 lbs. Some of
the other contributing factors to loose skin may include, sun exposure
received over a lifetime, skin type, heredity and whether the patient
is a smoker. Patients with fair skin, usually tend to develop more
loose skin than patients with dark skin. Sun damaged skin tends
to have more tissue damage over the years and consequently will
hang more following weight loss. Lastly, smoking breaks down collagen
and the body’s ability to supply oxygen to the skin. Smokers
develop more loose skin than non-smokers.
The most important thing
we do is improve your appearance and self esteem after weight loss.
The Right Time for Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss
As a weight loss patient sees their body transform
it can be both very exciting and disappointing at the same time.
As their weight and clothing size decreases, the laxity of the skin
may increase. Sometimes too soon before the total weight loss process
is completed some patients want to recontour their new body shape
to feel as good outside their clothes as they do in them.
After major weight loss some patients are surprised
at how much extra skin hangs on their body frame. Cosmetic surgery
after weight loss should be considered and performed after a patient’s
weight has stabilized and they do not plan on losing any more weight.
This varies from Patient to patient.
Generally, a Bariatric surgery patient should wait
at least 7 to 18 months after their weight loss surgery before getting
cosmetic surgery. (This time may vary depending on the weight loss
progress and each patient’s goals)
A lap band surgery patient should wait until their
new weight has totally stabilized. If a plastic surgeon performs
skin and muscle tightening procedure prior to weight stabilization
the result may require further skin tightening in the future.
Also, some complications are directly related to
ones preoperative weight, so all things being equal, patients are
better candidates for cosmetic surgery the closer to their weight
goal they are.
Usually patients want all their cosmetic surgery
after weight loss done all at once and as soon as possible. Sometimes
providing the patient with the best quality plastic surgery results
means having one procedure performed at a time instead of all surgeries
at once. Weight loss patients should be aware that often several
operations over a period of time might be needed to achieve the
optimum surgery result. Depending on the patient and the type of
surgery Dr. Corbin prefers to wait between operations. The length
of time in between body sculpting surgeries varies from patient
to patient and is discussed in detail at a personal consultation.
No matter what each patient’s options are Dr. Corbin practices
safety first.
Once the plastic surgery schedule is planned patients
need to prepare mentally and physically for cosmetic surgery.
Female candidates for cosmetic surgery after weight
loss with Dr. Corbin must be off birth control pills one month prior
to their surgery as well as one month after their surgery. All surgery
patients must be off weight loss medications and not smoking.They
must also discontinue any Aspirin, products containing Aspirin or
blood thinning medications. If a patient does not comply with these
requests Dr.Corbin reserves the right to cancel their surgery.
Cosmetic surgery results following massive weight
loss are usually extremely rewarding for both the patient and Dr.Corbin
and the physical improvements are usually very dramatic. The right
time for cosmetic surgery after weight loss should be discussed
in detail with your surgeon.
Realistic Surgical Expectations
Some of the most time consuming and most difficult
plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures are the body lifts,
thighplasty, abdominoplasty, brachioplasty, breast lifts, buttock
lifts, face lifts and neck lifts. For the best results these cosmetic
surgeries are best performed by very experienced Board Certified
Plastic Surgeons. These surgeries are not for beginners.
It is important for weight loss patients to consider
the aesthetic limitations they are starting with when evaluating
and determining what a good result is. Some patients for a variety
of reasons end up with better results than other. Some patients
have better texture and elasticity to the skin, some patients have
no stretch marks, some patients heal faster with less scarring.
Some patients have more muscle tone and a better shape naturally.
Whatever each person’s physical appearance
is, it may affect their final surgery result. Each patient’s
cosmetic surgery experience after weight loss is individual and
unique to their situation, healing, and anatomy.
No matter how good a plastic surgeon is, how healthy
the patient is, how good the anesthiologist is, there are always
risks associated with any surgery. The more education our patients
have about these cosmetic surgeries after weight loss, the more
realistic their expectations will be and the happier they will be
after body sculpting surgery.
Contraindications
Dr. Corbin does not operate on patients who have not stabilized their weight. If a patient is still losing more weight he will recommend it best to wait until they have reached their desired goal or maximum weight loss. The best results attained with plastic surgery are seen in patients who are at their ideal weigh. Ideally, Dr. Corbin prefers that the patients’ weight to be stable for at least six months before he performs body contouring cosmetic surgery. Dr. Corbin does not perform major body sculpting procedures on smokers,or patients with significant cardiac or pulmonary disease, uncontrolled diabetes, or current psychiatric problems. For the belt lipectomy procedure patients who have lymphedema of the panniculi are not suitable candidates because there is a possibility of recurrence of the panniculi following surgery.
Postoperative Care
Post
Operative Care Because most of the body contouring procedures
are major surgery Dr. Corbin may recommend over night hospital stay,
private nursing care, aftercare facility or the care of a qualified
and informed caregiver... read
more
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Additional Resources:
- Zone Diet Meal Delivery Recipes are analyzed by our staff dietitian for nutritional content. Portions are geared to your nutritional requirements, based on healthy dietary recommendations.
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