Over the past several years, men and women across the nation have begun to experience a new, healthier lifestyle following weight reduction surgery.  Technology has afforded us the opportunity for a second chance and the new gastric procedures can literally add years to a person's life.  Unfortunately, the effects that weight gain have on the body are not remedied with gastric surgery alone.  Many feel that is is difficult to adjust to their new lifestyle without some additional fine-tuning.  Plastic surgery can offer just that - an opportunity to look as good as you feel following drastic weight loss.  Dr. Lavine is an experienced surgeon when it comes to reconstruction for weight loss patients.  Procedures may include tummy tuck, breast lift, brachioplasty or reduction of the loose skin of the arms, thigh lift and facial corrective procedures.  These can be done individually or in combination with one another to help reduce the excess skin, which can be unsightly and uncomfortable.

If you have undergone dramatic weight loss that has resulted in excess sagging skin, surgical body contouring may be right for you.  In general, body contouring following major weight loss reduces excess fat and skin that has developed in multiple areas of the body.  The result of surgery is a smoother, more attractive body.  This can be an important and rewarding phase of your challenge to have a healthier, more confident body image.

The following information is an overview of many procedures that may be performed following your weight loss.  You may or may not need or desire to have all of these procedures.  Dr. Lavine will discuss each of these procedures with you in detail and help you to decide which procedures will best help you fulfill your personal goals.

WHERE DO I START ?

The condition of being significantly overweight can have a negative effect on your health in any ways.  Physical activity is limited which leads to weak muscle tone and skin tone.  Weak and sagging skin that becomes macerated (wet or infected) is not only unattractive and uncomfortable, but can also be a serious threat to your health and must be treated.  Surgical body contouring improves the excess fat and skin, resulting in a more normal appearance to the body.  This is, in essence, the final phase of your total weight loss experience.

To begin this phase of your journey it is important to be sure your weight loss has stabilized.  If you have the corrective surgery too early and continue to lose a significant amount of weight following your surgery you may develop sagging pockets of skin.  If you rapidly gain back some of the weight  you have lost, you will stress the skin that is already weakened and thin causing further stress to the skin.  This can result in undesirable scarring, and the possibility of secondary revisional surgery. 

A consultation is the first step to learn how these procedures can help you achieve the body image you desire.  Dr. Lavine will meet with you to discuss your goals and evaluate your individual needs.  He will give you all of the options available to you and help to educate you about body contouring and what you can realistically expect from this surgery.  It is also imperative that you be a non-smoker.  If you currently smoke, we can help you to stop prior to your procedure, as there are increased risks of complications associated with smoking.  In order for us to carefully evaluate your needs, you must be willing to honestly share your expectations, disclose your health information and commit to follow physician's orders.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS ?

Your procedures will be individualizes to your specific needs and the areas of the body that you desire to have treated.  The procedures necessary to help you achieve your goals will be discussed with you and may include:

Tummy tuck or Panniculectomy - a procedure used to remove the apron of excess skin hanging over your abdomen.

Breast Lift or Mastopexy - this procedure is performed to correct sagging, flattened breasts and may or may not include the placement of breast implants to replace any breast tissue lost during weight loss.

Medial Thigh Lift - a procedure to correct sagging of the inner, outer and mid-thigh areas. 

Facelift - this procedure can help reduce the sagging skin in the lower face, jowl and neck areas.

Brachioplasty or Arm Lift - a procedure that can eliminate the sagging skin or "bat wings" on the underside of the upper arms.

These procedures can be performed in stages or in combination.  For the comfort and safety of our patients, we normally require an overnight stay with any combination of these procedures.

It is important to remember that any corrective surgery will involve incisions and therefore, scarring will be present.  Incision length and pattern will depend on the amount of skin to be removed.  Dr. Lavine will explain where all incisions will be located.  Most incisions can be placed in strategic locations where the scar can be hidden by most types of clothing, but this is not always the case.

PREPARING YOURSELF FOR SURGERY AND BEYOND  

It may have taken you a year or more to lose all the excess weight and it may take equally as long for the results of your body contouring to be complete.  The initial healing will include swelling and bruising.  Discomfort is common but can be controlled with medication.  You will be given specific instructions about your activities following surgery, as well as our post-operative plan for you including how to care for the surgical site, when you will need to return to the office, medication instructions and more.

The results of your surgery will be visible almost immediately.  However, it may take some time for the final results of all the procedures to fully develop.  The results are generally long lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight and general fitness.

Plastic Surgery can restore the harmony between your skin and you body.  You can truly have that long awaited second chance and begin the next chapter of the new you.

Take a moment to view our before and after photos.  Please keep in mind that some of these photos are of stages procedures and not all surgeries have been completed.

Also, spend some time with some of our patients who have agreed to share their journey with us. Click here to view one woman's success story.