Record numbers of people in this country are overweight, and for many, weight loss surgery is seen as a viable answer when diet and exercise have failed. Bariatric surgeries like gastric bypass and Lap Band (a type of gastric banding) are gaining in popularity because they've been proven to help patients lose significant amounts of weight. What many patients don't realize, however, is that massive weight loss often results in residual fat deposits and large bags of sagging skin that cannot be eliminated via diet and exercise. Many post-bariatric patients turn to plastic surgery to remove this excess skin. Below are three of the most common post-bariatric procedures. 1. Liposuction. Many people think weight loss surgery will help them shake all of their excess fat, but that's usually not the case. Whether you slim down with a little help from a Lap Band procedure or through good old diet and exercise, it's still common to have one or more "problem" area that simply won't respond as well as you'd hoped. One solution is liposuction, which can be performed on nearly any part of the body. Most people are familiar with the traditional liposuction technique, where a long, thin tube is inserted under the skin to suction out fat cells. A newer method called ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses the same basic method, except sound waves are employed to turn fat into liquid before it's removed. This step allows doctors to suction out more fat at one time. 2. Tummy Tuck. Also called an abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a very popular post-bariatric procedure because it gives the abs a complete makeover. Not only are excess skin and fat removed, but the remaining abdominal skin and muscle are tightened, creating the appearance of a toned midsection. Some patients opt for a panniculectomy instead, which simply involves the removal of sagging skin and excess fat. There are pros and cons to each procedure, so it's wise to seek counsel from an experienced surgeon. 3. Breast lift. Breasts are made up almost entirely of fatty tissue, and when women lose a lot of weight, their busts often end up saggy, droopy shells of their former selves. Not pretty. A breast lift is the answer for women who don't want to look like Pamela Anderson but merely wish to regain the bustline they had before. During the procedure (technically called a mastopexy), doctors get rid of loose skin and then tighten and reshape the breasts. Some patients also request implants as part of the surgery. The result is firm, lifted breasts that show no signs of the weight loss your body has experienced. |
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