After Dramatic Weight Loss
Plastic surgery after dramatic weight loss reduces excess skin and fat left behind after major weight loss. Its goal is to restore attractive proportions by removing the sagging skin around the face, neck, upper arms, breasts, abdomen, buttocks and thighs that creates a misshapen contour. Although these procedures leave scars, most patients find them to be an acceptable tradeoff for an improved appearance.
When to Consider Plastic Surgery after Dramatic Weight Loss
When to Consider Plastic Surgery after Dramatic Weight Loss
- If you have experienced dramatic weight loss from bariatric surgery or diet and exercise.
- If you have sagging skin in multiple areas, including the face and neck, breasts, arms, abdomen, back and thighs.
- If your weight has stabilized following bariatric surgery or diet and exercise. This may be 18 months or more after your weight loss.
Are you a good candidate for plastic surgery after dramatic weight loss?
There may come a time after dramatic weight loss when your weight is stable, but you are distressed by sagging and overhanging skin. If you are considering plastic surgery to improve your body contour, these characteristics make you a good candidate:
There may come a time after dramatic weight loss when your weight is stable, but you are distressed by sagging and overhanging skin. If you are considering plastic surgery to improve your body contour, these characteristics make you a good candidate:
- Your weight has been stable for at least six months with no further weight loss expected. For optimal results, body contouring should not be done for approximately two years after the start of any dramatic weight-loss program. This time allows your skin to shrink as much as possible and your nutrition to be stabilized and optimized, factors that will aid in your recovery.
- You are in overall good health without chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. People in poor health are not good candidates for body-contouring procedures. Get clearance for plastic surgery from your primary care physician or from doctors treating you for medical conditions.
- You have a healthy diet; problems such as protein deficiencies can interfere with healing.
- You do not smoke; smoking slows down the healing process and increases the risk of serious complications during and after surgery. If you smoke, you must quit at least six weeks before surgery.
- You have mental stamina; surgical contouring procedures require patience and endurance.
- You have realistic expectations; surgery will lead to marked improvements in your shape, but it is impossible to restore the skin or body to what it would have been without the weight gain or to what it was in your teens or twenties. Even after body-contouring surgery, skin continues to sag over time as part of normal aging.
Recovering from plastic surgery after dramatic weight loss
Follow all postoperative instructions. This will include information about wearing compression garments and the level of activity that is safe for you. Dr. Wagstrom or her nursing staff will alert you to the signs of problems to watch for, such as signs of infection. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies based on what your surgery entails. Here is an idea of some basic precautions and instructions to help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. However, it is vital that you get instructions from Dr. Wagstrom.
Follow all postoperative instructions. This will include information about wearing compression garments and the level of activity that is safe for you. Dr. Wagstrom or her nursing staff will alert you to the signs of problems to watch for, such as signs of infection. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies based on what your surgery entails. Here is an idea of some basic precautions and instructions to help your recovery go as smoothly as possible. However, it is vital that you get instructions from Dr. Wagstrom.
- Arrange for someone to help you get around the house and help with your medication for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Make sure you continue to have help at home—this cannot be stressed enough. You'll be tempted to try to help around the house quickly, but you won't feel like yourself for one or two weeks and you still shouldn't do anything strenuous, including lifting, for four to six weeks. If you have small children, you must put someone else totally in charge of their care for two weeks.
- Ask Dr. Wagstrom how to sleep, including use of pillows, to minimize the tension on your incisions, reduce pain and facilitate a thinner scar.
- Call Dr. Wagstrom immediately if you notice an increase in swelling, pain, redness, drainage or bleeding in the surgical area or if you develop fever, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Other red flags include shortness of breath, chest pains and unusual heartbeat.
- Dr. Wagstrom will likely supply you with a surgical bra to wear early in your recovery after breast reduction or breast lift. This will help minimize swelling. Most swelling should subside within a few weeks, although swelling may persist for up to four months after breast reduction.
- You will need to wear an abdominal binder after abdominal surgery. You may shower once the dressing, sponges and gauze pads are removed. This usually occurs within 72 hours. After showering, pat your incisions dry and replace your abdominal binder.
- Avoid heavy lifting, contact sports and jogging for up to six weeks.
