Achieving significant weight loss is an accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated. But after all your efforts, you may feel discouraged if excessive, hanging skin prevents you from fully enjoying your trimmer physique. If this is the case, you’re not alone. Body contouring surgery after weight loss is a popular and effective option for achieving a streamlined look that better reflects your health and fitness.
At Synergy Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas, our skilled and experienced plastic surgeons understand the life-changing impact these procedures can have. That’s why we’re passionate about helping weight loss patients put the final touches on their transformation through customized body contouring surgery.
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What Is Body Contouring Surgery After Weight Loss?
Significant weight loss almost inevitably leads to sagging skin that has lost its elasticity from being stretched out for an extended period. Body contouring procedures remove this excess skin and reshape the underlying tissue to create a more toned appearance.
Most patients require a combination of procedures to fully address their problem areas. The following are some of the most common operations we perform:
Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck, targets two key concerns—hanging abdominal skin and separated abdominal muscles.
The following types of tummy tucks are excellent options after significant weight loss:
- Fleur-de-lis tuck includes a vertical incision to firm the hips and narrow the waistline.
- Extended tummy tuck continues the horizontal abdominoplasty incision around the sides of the body to the back for circumferential contouring.
Learn more about the types of tummy tucks we perform in this related blog post.
Upper Arm Lift
This surgery effectively adds attractive tone and shape to the upper arm, an area often plagued by hanging skin after significant weight loss or aging.
The procedure involves an incision made along the inside of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow. Through this incision, your surgeon carefully excises the excess, inelastic skin and tightens the remaining tissue for a tighter, smoother contour.
Thigh/Buttock Lift
Once the weight is gone, many patients are dismayed by the heavy, hanging skin remaining on their thighs and buttocks. This is not only an aesthetic issue, but it can also severely impair mobility and cause chafing and irritation.
A surgical thigh/buttock lift removes this loose skin through careful incisions. Your plastic surgeon will then re-drape and tighten the remaining thigh/buttock tissue to restore a sleeker, firmer contour in these areas.
Liposuction
Although most excess fat will be gone following your weight loss, pockets of stubborn fat may linger in areas such as the:
- Abdomen
- Thighs
- Arms
- Flanks
- Chest
Liposuction precisely suctions away these localized fat deposits through small incisions—refining your new slimmer contours for smooth, proportional results.
Breast Lift With or Without Augmentation
Weight fluctuations can leave the breasts deflated, saggy, and lacking their previous fullness. A breast lift raises the breasts to a higher, perkier position on the chest wall. During this surgery, your plastic surgeon will:
- Remove loose, stretched-out skin from around the breast
- Reposition the nipple/areola complex
- Tighten the remaining tissue for a firmer, uplifted shape
For added volume, this procedure can also include breast augmentation. The results are rejuvenated breasts with a fuller, more youthful projection.
Beyond Aesthetics: What Concerns Can Body Contouring Address?
Besides enhancing your appearance, these procedures provide relief from multiple issues faced by weight loss patients, including:
- Bulky, redundant skin
- Feelings of self-consciousness
- Ill-fitting clothing
- Struggles with mobility caused by heavy skin folds
- Inability to comfortably exercise
- Persistent sweating and skin irritations
These can all negatively affect your self-confidence and make it difficult to fully enjoy and celebrate your weight loss.
What To Expect During Recovery
Body contouring after significant weight loss involves relatively extensive surgery to remove excess skin and lift and tighten the remaining tissue. Depending on which procedures you have, you can expect a recovery period of several weeks to a few months. You may also have to have multiple procedures performed in stages.
- You’ll need to rest in the first few weeks and avoid strenuous activities.
- Prescriptions will be provided to help manage discomfort. Drains may be used temporarily to prevent fluid buildup. You’ll also need to wear compression garments to facilitate healing.
- Your surgeon will outline specific activity restrictions, but you can expect to be off work for at least 2 to 3 weeks and strenuous exercise for up to 2 to 3 months.
After you’ve recovered, you’ll likely experience an improved quality of life with renewed vitality and self-confidence.
Take the Next Step
If you’ve reached your weight loss goals but are bothered by excess hanging skin, body contouring may be the final step to achieving the appearance you’ve envisioned.
Take the next step and contact Synergy Plastic Surgery at (512) 244-1439 or request a consultation. Our caring, experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons will develop a customized surgical plan to enhance your transformed shape. You’ve earned it.
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