Body contouring can remove hanging skin left after extreme weight loss.
You’ve done the hard work of losing 50, 80, 100, or even 150 pounds with the help of bariatric surgery or a major lifestyle change. You feel like a million bucks, but when you look in the mirror or put on a pair of pants, you see excessive amounts of hanging skin.
Body contouring procedures can remove this hanging skin and help you achieve your optimal shape after weight loss.*
Our Body Contouring Cosmetic Self Evaluation can help you decide if body contouring after weight loss is right for you.
TAKE OUR SELF EVALUATIONObesity rates have risen up to 25% in California. Unfortunately, this is not good news. However, many people are fighting back. Some patients have had great success with massive weight loss through lifestyle change or bariatric surgery. Some people lose anywhere from 40 or 50 pounds up to 100 or even 150 pounds! These patients have noticed tremendous improvements in how they feel, what they can do, and in how they look. This type of weight loss is quite literally life-changing.
However, as the pounds come off, there can be a large amount of loose, excess skin left behind. Unlike smaller amounts of weight loss, massive weight loss will leave behind skin in both the front and back of the torso, as well as other places such as the chest, arms, legs, and neck. So, whereas a tummy tuck might be sufficient for modest weight changes, more involved procedures are needed for the massive weight loss patient who has excess skin
Two More Quick Questions
You may be a good candidate for body contouring after massive weight loss if you are bothered by the appearance or presence of loose hanging skin.
Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight usually have numerous but similar areas of concern. These areas usually include:
Lower Body Lift
Obviously, all of these concerns cannot be addressed simultaneously during one operation. However, two procedures can usually be safely combined. During your consultation. Dr. Fan will assess your anatomy as well as your own priorities to help you develop a comprehensive plan for your body contouring. It is not uncommon to start with a lower body lift.
You should be in good overall health, at a stable body weight within 10-20 pounds of your goal weight and a BMI under 34, be a non-smoker, and have realistic expectations.
Dr. Fan has developed a comprehensive approach to body contouring for the massive weight loss patient that includes:
Depending on the combination of procedures you choose, your surgery will probably require four to eight hours to complete.
After you are properly anesthetized, a urinary catheter will be placed to drain the bladder during the operation. This will be used to monitor your fluid status during the operation.
Once the skin has been prepared with a sterile cleanser, Dr. Fan will make the incisions necessary for the removal of excess skin and fat. If liposuction is required for contouring, it may be performed at the beginning or end of the procedure.
After the incisions have been made, Dr. Fan gently elevates the skin and fat off underlying structures. The excess skin and fat are removed, and the skin is redraped over the underlying structures. One or more drains may be placed beneath the incision to assist in healing.
At the completion of the procedure, a dressing is applied to the incisions, and a compression garment is often applied to the body region being treated to help support the incisions in healing and decrease postoperative swelling.
Some procedures may be performed on an outpatient basis, while other patients may stay overnight in the hospital.
The Results Are Worth The Recovery*
You should expect to be sore and somewhat uncomfortable during the first one to three weeks after surgery, depending on the procedures chosen. You should spend the first few days resting quietly at home, although you will be instructed to get up and walk around the house every few hours to maintain healthy circulation. If you undergo a tummy tuck or body lift procedure, your abdomen will feel tight and sore and you will initially walk in a bent-over “little old lady” position.
Temporary swelling, bruising, numbness, tingling, and tightness are also expected after surgery. Small drainage tubes, if used, are removed in about 1-2 weeks. A compression garment must be worn over the surgical site for about six weeks.
Getting Back To Normal*
You will need to refrain from strenuous activity including lifting more than 20 pounds for about six weeks. Most patients return to work in 2-4 weeks, although recovery time may vary depending on your age, genetics, skin quality, procedures performed, and occupation. You will feel “back to normal” in about 3-9 months.
Treating Bariatric Patients Requires Specialized Knowledge and Skill
It is important to choose a plastic surgeon that specializes in body contouring after massive weight loss. Bariatric patients must be treated differently from non-bariatric body contouring patients. What works well on other patients simply does not provide adequate shaping and contouring for the bariatric patient.
Dr. Fan has developed a comprehensive approach to bariatric patients who wish to achieve their optimal shape after weight loss.
Costs Vary Depending On Your Specific Needs and Desired Results
The cost of body contouring after weight loss varies from person to person and depends on a number of factors including your specific needs, desired results, and number of procedures and stages.
Factors that contribute to the cost of treatment include:
Costs of surgery may include fees for the surgeon, anesthesia, operating room, facility, equipment, implants, garments, aftercare, lab tests, and medications.
The cost for body contouring after weight loss ranges from $12,000 to $100,000.
We offer a range of patient financing plans including low monthly payment plans and plans for those with suboptimal credit histories.
See Your Results
Body contouring after weight loss can produce an extreme makeover.*
Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight usually have numerous but similar areas of concern. These areas usually include:
Obviously, all of these concerns cannot be addressed simultaneously during one operation. However, two procedures can usually be safely combined. During your consultation. Dr. Fan will assess your anatomy as well as your own priorities to help you develop a comprehensive plan for your body contouring. It is not uncommon to start with a lower body lift.
Body contouring after weight loss requires a tradeoff of losing the extra skin in exchange for gaining scars. The scars are required in order to be able to remove the excess skin. The scars often fade after 2-3 years, but they seldom disappear completely. Dr. Fan uses extremely meticulous wound closure and postoperative scar management techniques to minimize scar formation. During your consultation, Dr. Fan will review the expected location of your scars.
Liposuction is a procedure that removes unwanted fat through tiny openings in the skin. Liposuction does not remove or tighten sagging skin. Liposuction is often performed in conjunction with a tummy tuck.
A breast lift restores a youthful shape and lift to the breasts.
I lost 120 pounds after gastric bypass surgery and was left with hanging skin…everywhere. Dr. Fan gave me an extreme makeover with a body lift, breast lift, thigh lift, arm lift, and necklift. I’ve never been happier with my appearance in and out of clothes. If you’re wondering whether the recovery is worth it, it is!"*
— Ms. S
Dr. Larry Fan is an award winning, Harvard educated, and nationally recognized plastic surgeon. He is a progressive, compassionate thinker who is committed to achieving the highest levels of excellence and the very best aesthetic results. Dr. Fan is an expert facelift surgeon who is known for achieving natural beauty, never “overdone.”
Dr. Fan is known for his elegant sense of artistry and refined surgical skills. He will perform your surgery with expert, world-class execution and has the results to prov
Dr. Fan and his team are committed to providing you with exceptional care, counseling, and support before, during, and after surgery. We take pride and joy in caring for you and have received numerous awards for our compassionate care.
Come relax in our beautiful office and enjoy the comfort, safety, and privacy of our fully accredited onsite private surgery center.
In this feature length book, you will learn:
This book was written by top plastic surgeon, Dr. Larry Fan.
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Schedule your consultation with Dr. Fan here.
During your consultation, Dr. Fan will take the time to address your specific goals and to discuss your treatment options. He will determine if you are a good candidate for body contouring after weight loss and review the results that can be realistically achieved. He will also help you determine which complementary procedures may benefit you the most.
Larry Fan, MD - 77 Plastic Surgery
77 Van Ness Ave #302
San Francisco, CA 94102 Directions
care@77plasticsurgery.com