Body Contouring After Weight Loss

Losing a significant amount of weight through bariatric surgery is a life-changing event. It can improve diabetes and sleep apnea and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. But, it can also present a new challenge: excess skin. Body contouring after weight loss is designed to address this issue, so that your body contour reflects your hard work.

Common problems after bariatric surgery

Sagging upper arms
Flat breasts that point downward
Heavy folds of skin around the midsection
Drooping pockets of skin on the buttocks, groin, and thighs

In addition, heavy pockets of skin can make it difficult to exercise, find clothes that fit, and clean your body properly. For all of these reasons, we strongly recommend body contouring after weight loss for many of our Austin patients.

Body contouring after weight loss:

A completely custom approach

The way your body responds to dramatic weight loss is unique. Your body contouring procedures will be, too.

Body contouring can include a tummy tuck, a breast lift, a lower body lift and more. It depends on your body shape and goals. Your surgeon may recommend multiple surgeries at the same time, or it may be in your best interest to space them out over a period of months or years.

The benefits

A smoother, firmer body contour
An easier time finding clothes that fit
Minimized risk of rashes and sores between folds of skin
Improved personal hygiene
Enhanced quality of life

Am I a candidate?

Body contouring is for men and women who have reached their goal weight and stayed there for a period of time. Any future weight fluctuations will impact your results, so it’s important that your weight loss journey is at a stable point.

Your consultation: Planning your transformation

There are a number of body contouring procedures that can help you achieve your post-weight loss goals for firming and sculpting. During your private consultation at our Austin office, we will review the options with you and help you determine which of the following are in your best interest:

Arm lift to reduce loose, flapping skin when you wave and move your arms
Lower body lift to firm loose tissue on the buttocks and thighs.
Thigh lift to smooth and reshape the upper legs
Tummy tuck to restore a firm and flat midsection
Breast lift to create a perky, elevated chest

After a close assessment of your medical history, along with a physical examination and detailed discussion about your expectations, we will provide you with our recommendations for surgery. You will leave our office with a detailed overview of your procedure, recovery and expected results.

The procedures:

What to expect

Your body contouring procedures will be done under general anesthesia. To begin, your plastic surgeon will make an incision in the location of the excess skin, being careful to place them in discreet locations that can be hidden by clothing. If you want to address multiple areas of your body, we will likely recommend doing the surgeries in stages so the recovery periods are more manageable.

Through those openings, your surgeon will tighten the underlying tissues and excise heavy flaps of excess skin. We will then drape your skin over your new, reshaped contours and close the incisions.

Your recovery

Your recovery period will depend on which procedures you had performed, along with their extent and complexity. In general, you can expect to rest at home and avoid strenuous activity for several days to a few weeks. We will be sure to provide you with detailed instructions on how to stay safe and care for your drains and incisions as you heal.

The results

The general results of your body contouring surgeries will be apparent immediately. However, it can take up to two years for the final results to emerge. As long as you maintain your weight moving forward, the results of your procedure should be very long-lasting.

FAQ

Will my scars be noticeable?

The short answer is “yes.” Body contouring after weight loss requires significant incisions to address large amounts of excess skin, and that inevitably results in scarring.

However, your scars shouldn’t be unsightly or overly visible. At Austin Face & Body, we want you to be happy in your body, and confident in your skin – especially after a long journey that consists of bariatric surgery and body contouring procedures. As such, we will carefully place the incisions so they can be hidden with clothing and close them using advanced techniques to ensure that the scars are as discreet as possible.

Providers who perform Body Contouring after Weight Loss at Austin Face & Body

Dr. Chris Schneider

Dr. Chris Schneider is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, who also specializes in microsurgery. He is a native Texan who is proud to return home to the Lone Star State after nearly a decade of intense surgical training.

Dr. Chris Schneider »

Dr. Cain Linville

Double board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Cain Linville is an outstanding cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon who delivers exceptionally patient-centric care.

Dr. Cain Linville »

Schedule a consultation today

If you are struggling with extra skin after bariatric surgery, a custom body contouring procedure can sculpt the figure you deserve. Please contact Austin Face & Body today to schedule your private consultation.