Body Contouring after Massive Weight Loss Can Complement Your Achievement

Dr. James B. Lowe offers customized body contouring after massive weight loss at his state-of-the-art plastic surgery practice in Oklahoma City, OK, to help patients achieve refined body contours that complement their weight loss success. Losing a very large amount of weight will nearly always leave you with excess fat and tissue. This is because the skin has stretched beyond its ability to retract, leaving it to hang on the body. The excess skin often contains stubborn areas of fat that obscures your slimmer figure. Areas that are most affected usually include the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, and breasts. The only way to reduce this excess skin and fat is through surgical removal. 

The benefits of body contouring after massive weight loss can be truly life-changing. 

Candidates for Body Contouring after Massive Weight Loss

Candidates for this type of body contouring have lost a massive amount of weight, usually 100 pounds or more. As a result, they have a large amount of sagging skin that results in abnormal body contours. It can also be physically uncomfortable, as the pockets or rolls of skin can chafe, pinch, and generally weigh you down. If you want to be free of excess skin following significant weight loss, you may be a candidate for body contouring. 

To qualify for surgery, you should already be at your goal weight. You should delay surgery for several months until you are sure your weight has stabilized. In addition, as a candidate for body contouring, you should have overall good health. If you have an autoimmune disease, diabetes, a blood disorder, or some other condition that may compromise healing, it can affect your candidacy for treatment. 

About the Procedure

Body contouring after massive weight loss is highly individualized. Some patients require surgery in only one or two areas to meet their goals, while others need more. Procedures include one or more of the following:

Dr. Lowe treats the area by trimming away excess skin and tightening the underlying structure. Often, he will use liposuction as an adjunct to body contouring surgery to gently remove excess fat. He will then re-drape the skin to refine the new shape. To maximize safety, Dr. Lowe typically performs multiple body contouring procedures in stages. In some cases, you can choose which cosmetic concerns that you wish to address first.

Risks and Benefits of Body Contouring

All surgical procedures involve some degree of risk. Body contouring risks can include infection, bleeding, blood clots, scarring, numbness, and anesthesia risks. Candidates for body contouring after massive weight loss also face additional surgery risks. The loss of elasticity in the stretched skin changes its quality and can lead to complications such as delayed healing. These patients may also be at a higher surgery risk because of health concerns related to their former obesity, and post-bariatric patients can have surgery risks related to nutrition. It is extremely important to choose a qualified surgeon that is aware of the special risks of body contouring after post massive weight loss and can carefully plan to mitigate them.

The benefits of body contouring after massive weight loss can be truly life-changing. Hanging skin will no longer rub together or weigh you down. In fact, the surgical removal of the loose skin will generally result in a loss of an additional 10-15 pounds. You will have more options in choice of clothing, and your clothes will fit better and highlight your new figure. Abnormal contours will no longer detract from your weight loss success, and patients can look forward to an improved body image and a boost in self-confidence. 

Contact Us to Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Lowe

If you have lost a large amount of weight, you deserve to enjoy a trim figure. Body contouring can add the finishing touches after you have worked so hard to take control of your weight and enhance your overall health. Contact Lowe Plastic Surgery to book a consultation and find out if body contouring is right for you. 

James B. Lowe, MD, FACS

Lowe Plastic Surgery

Dr. Lowe is a triple board-certified surgeon with over 20 years of experience providing comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive care. He is affiliated with several prestigious organizations:

  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons 
  • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
  • American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • Fellow, American Association of Plastic Surgeons
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons 
  • American Society for Surgery of the Hand 

Schedule your consultation by contacting us online or calling us at (405) 942-4300.

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