With the popularity of the new lap-band bariatric surgery procedure, more and more previously overweight people are approaching plastic surgeons to address the aftermath on their body of their massive weight loss of more than 100 pounds.
While bariatric surgery can do wonders to help you lose weight, the downside is that you will come out of the weight loss process with a lot of extra sagging skin and stubborn areas of fatty deposits that you simply cannot get rid of through regular exercise and diet. For some of these areas liposuction can work quite well to help contour your body. In other areas more radical procedures will have to be performed.
Skin Elasticity Issues Following Weight Loss Surgery
Where a more average-sized person can easily lose 20-40 pounds, and their skin has enough elasticity to bounce back from being stretched, the skin of a post-bariatric surgery patient simply is unable to do so because it has been over-stretched for too long.
Because of this loss of elasticity, post weight loss patients will require much more work performed by a plastic surgeon to achieve the same result as the more average-sized person is able to achieve on their own through simple diet and regular exercise.
Candidacy for Liposuction after Weight Loss Surgery
Generally speaking, the prime candidate for liposuction is the patient who is of average weight and who simply needs some targeted areas of fat removed. However, often post-weight loss surgery patients can see some good results utilizing liposuction as well.
But, it is important to know that these patients will not see the optimum results over time because as they age their skin will be much more likely to sag than someone who has not undergone a massive weight loss.
As long as a weight loss patient is realistic in their expectations of their outcome from liposuction they can be a good candidate to have it performed, usually in conjunction with other plastic surgery procedures such as a tummy tuck, abdominal lift, breast lift, arm lift, face lift, and neck lifts.
How Much Sagging Skin is Normal Following a Massive Weight Loss?
Generally, age and the amount of weight lost determine how much sagging skin you will have on your body after a massive weight loss. If you are younger, then you are in a position to have less sagging skin because skin tends to have more elasticity when you are younger versus when you are older.
Additionally, if you have lost 100 pounds you will have much less sagging skin than someone who has had to loose 250 pounds to reach their goal weight.
If you have undergone a massive weight loss, due to diet and exercise or through bariatric surgery, you are to be commended on your achievement. If you are unhappy with your new post weight loss body, then you should consider scheduling an appointment with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your options for improving your new body"s appearance. Through liposuction and various other procedures you can achieve a body that you will be happy to show off.