In all cases where people lose a staggering amount of excess weight the effect of that weight loss on their bodies is profound. Whilst the majority of people feel considerably better following weight loss (easier breathing, less pressure on joints, reduced swelling of extremities), they are almost always faced with a large amount of excess skin that acts as an unwelcome reminder of their old lifestyle. That is when plastic surgery procedures can help to get rid of excess skin and make patients see that there is light at the end of the extreme weight loss tunnel.

Ways of losing weight

For people struggling with a considerable amount of excess weight there are several options available to turn their life around. Some choose to lose weight in an all-natural way by cutting down on their food intake and implementing regular exercise into their everyday life. Unfortunately, this option is not always viable for the extremely overweight as it presupposes great dedication to the cause as well as a generally active starting point. If a patient reached the stage of not being able to move freely it will be very difficult for them to start exercising. Gastric band surgery, gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy can all be options for obese patients who failed to lose weight via diet and exercise and who need the help of a surgeon to start them on their weight loss journey.

What all these weight loss options have in common is that they inevitably leave people suffering from excess skin. As their weight drops and their health improves the skin tends to shrink at a much slower rate. People undergoing extreme weight loss are therefore left with unsightly and often uncomfortable excess skin that they cannot get rid of through exercise.

Problems associated with excess skin

When we think of excess skin the first thing that comes to mind is the aesthetic aspect. It can look unpleasant and make the patient who suffers from excess skin appear larger than they actually are as well as make them look older than their years. Problem areas can include the abdomen, belly, thighs, upper arms, face and buttocks. Though looks can certainly influence people’s self-esteem and self-worth, it is important to point out that the main concern for patients suffering from excess skin is pain and reduction of functionality. Floppy skin around the thighs can result in rash and bruising caused by rubbing, the underside of sagging breasts can get red and inflamed. Other areas suffer from similar problems. In addition, some people report that hanging skin affects their ability to comfortably perform day-to-day activities such as jogging, lifting up their children and other forms of exercise. Finally, excess skin acts as a constant reminder of the more portly, heavier person they once were. Seeing folds of excess skin prevents them appreciating the fruits of their labour and fully enjoying their newly sculpted figures and increased level of fitness.

Skin Removal Surgery

The only way to help patients suffering from excess skin is skin removal surgery. Skin removal surgery can take several forms depending on the areas treated and the desired effect. One of the most often performed skin removal surgeries following extreme weight loss is abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty is aimed at improving the appearance and feel of the abdominal area by removing excess skin and fat tissue and tightening the underlying muscles. If the abdominoplasty is not quite sufficient to address the problematic area a belt lipectomy (also known as a lower body lift) can be performed. This procedure extends the idea behind the tummy tuck and works on the entire area around the mid-section of the body removing skin and tightening deeper tissue layers.

Other skin removal plastic surgery procedures include a thigh lift which is aimed at removing excess skin and tightening up the inner or outer thigh area, the arm lift aimed at contouring and reducing the size of the upper arms as well as the breast lift which is aimed at reposition sagging breasts and is often paired with other breast procedures. The general aim of all plastic surgery procedures for patients who undergone extreme weight loss is to give them back a natural beautiful silhouette to their newly shaped bodies whilst eliminating problems associated with excess skin. As a result patients can feel more confident in their new figures and can go on to enjoy their healthy, beautiful bodies for years to come.

However, an increasing number of people are reaching a critical Body Mass Index number which means that traditional forms of weight management are very difficult for them to implement. For patients whose BMI is 40 or over weight loss plastic surgery provides a viable solution and can help with problems associated with significant excess weight such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Weight loss surgery options include gastric bands (a band placed around the stomach making it much smaller) and gastric bypass surgery (rerouting the digestive system to prevent food from being absorbed).

The result of these surgeries is rapid weight loss but they can often leave patients with a lot of excess skin, which is not only unsightly but can be painful as well when folds of skin rub against each other. Plastic surgery procedures can help with the problems associated with weight loss surgeries. Face lifts, breast lifts, thigh lifts and tummy tucks are all plastic surgery options that can improve the wellbeing of patients. Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Lent is a double board certified surgeon and as such he is qualified to advise on all types of plastic surgery following weight loss.

Now a breakthrough study shows that plastic surgery plays a significant role not only in dealing with the weight loss surgery aftermath but with keeping the weight off and long-term weight management too. At the recent American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference Dr. Donna Tepper presented the findings of her study that show that weight loss patients who have undergone plastic surgery following their weight loss were able to maintain their weight longer and more successfully than those who did not undergo plastic surgery.

The study looked at 94 bariatric surgery patients and followed their progress over a 10 year period. Dr. Tepper concluded that “of the patients who underwent contouring surgery, the average decrease in BMI was 18.24 at 2.5 years, compared to a statistically significant 12.45 at 2.5 years for those who did not have further surgery”.

The reason for these results lies in the positive psychological effects of plastic surgery. When undergoing plastic surgery procedures patients regained functionality and were able to maintain a healthy active lifestyle without the discomfort of excess skin. In addition, their body image was drastically improved, they felt and looked great and had more motivation to keep the weight off and make a healthy lifestyle a long term priority. Dr. Trepper remarked, “As plastic and reconstructive surgeons, we are encouraged by the idea that improved body image can translate into better long-term maintenance of a healthier weight, and possibly a better quality of life for our patients”.

While weight loss surgery is a viable solution to patients suffering from obesity, plastic surgery procedures offer results that translate into a more aesthetically pleasing and better functioning body. Patients choosing to opt for plastic surgery are at an advantage when striving for the ultimate goal of wellbeing, positive body image and successful long term weight management.

Dr. Warren Lent is a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. As a result he can advise on both weight loss surgery and any follow up plastic surgery.