Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss

After significant weight loss through diet and exercise or surgery, sometimes you need a little extra help to finally get that ideal shape that you’ve been working so hard to attain. Weight loss of fifty pounds or more can result in loose skin and other issues that don’t respond to diet and exercise. If you’ve hit your weight loss goals but are still dissatisfied with your body, here are some options for cosmetic surgery after weight loss that can take you the rest of the way to your new shape:

Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss

  • Arm Lift
  • Breast Lift with or without Implants
  • Tummy Tuck
  • Liposuction

Getting Rid of “The Wing”

A common complaint after weight loss is loose skin on the upper arms that can feel like wings! Patients who have lost a lot of weight often feel the need to still conceal their upper arms in long sleeved shirts because they don’t like how their arms look.

To correct this, patients may decide to undergo an arm lift. During this procedure, liposuction is done to remove any excess fat. Then, the doctor will remove a strip of skin on the backside of the arm so that the resulting scar is well hidden. Dr. Bartell in particular makes sure to place the scar so that it will only be visible if the patient decides to show it.

Arm lifts don’t require drains, so recovery is simple and straightforward. Patients are usually back to their desk jobs within five to six days.

Adding Volume and Lifting Breasts

Women who’ve undergone significant weight loss may experience sagging skin and deflation in their breasts. For these patients, a breast lift is a great option to help restore their shape.

During a breast lift, breasts are lifted back into place to where they were before. Patients often also want to add volume to their breasts, which can be done with an implant. With a breast lift, scars will be left on the breast but are placed in such a way that they’re hidden in a bra.

If implants are placed, breast lift recovery is similar to that of a breast augmentation. Patients will be required to refrain from lifting their arms for nineteen days after surgery to ensure optimal healing.

Tightening and Tucking the Abdomen

Another common area to have excess skin after weight loss is in the abdomen area. If the patient has also been pregnant, she may have a stretched-out abdominal foundation that needs repairing as well. For these patients, an abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, is a great option to achieve a taut abdomen. 

During the abdominoplasty, any excess skin is removed. If pregnancy has resulted in a separation of the abdominal muscles, the doctor will also tighten those muscles to return them to where they used to be. After the layers of the abdomen are smoothed out and where they should be, the doctor will relocate the belly button to an optimal location.

Tummy tuck recovery poses a few extra challenges, including a ten-pound lifting restriction for three weeks. It’s one consideration to take into account when planning for time off of work. 

For further reading: Does Mom Pooch Go Away? 

Am I a Good Candidate for Post Weight Loss Surgery?

You might be a good candidate for post weight loss surgery if you’ve reached your weight loss goals. Maintaining a stable weight is important so that your doctor can help you reach your final weight loss “look.” As with all cosmetic surgery, it’s important to be in generally good health beforehand, with no major issues with your heart, kidneys, or lungs, and also at a normal BMI.

While you may be interested in several different procedures, Dr. Bartell will ask you to identify your top priority and start from there. Although several procedures can be done at once in a hospital setting, only one procedure can safely be done at a time in an outpatient center such as Dr. Bartell’s. Safety first!

Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss in Madison, Wisconsin

If you’d like to see how Dr. Thomas Bartell can help you attain your ideal shape after significant weight loss, schedule your consultation today. Among other below-the-neck procedures, Dr. Bartell offers breast lifts, tummy tucks, arm lifts, and liposuction in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dr. Bartell Body Recontouring Specialist

6418 Normandy Lane, Suite 210
Madison, WI 53719
United States (US)
Fax: (608) 271-0502

Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss brought to you by Dr. Thomas Bartell