Massive Weight Loss Leg Wounds Peripheral Nerve
Surgery Following a Massive Weight Loss
The following procedures are offered for patients who have had massive weight loss:
Breast Lift After Massive Weight Loss
The lifting and reshaping of breasts after massive weight loss is one of the more challenging procedures in plastic surgery. Women tend to have flattened breasts after weight loss, and so implants are used to help restore volume. The nipples need to be elevated into a higher more youthful position. Extra skin needs to be removed, with the scars placed below the nipple and in the shadows of the breast.
A breast lift and augmentation has one of the higher revision rates in plastic surgery due to all of the changes in breast size and shape. Some surgeons recommend a two step procedure—first to place the breast implant, and then to lift the nipples into position at a second surgery. Other surgeons recommend a breast lift first, followed by placement of the implants at a later time. Ask your surgeon what may be best for you. Also ask your surgeon about other issues associated with this surgery, including the chances for uneventful healing, time off of work, and the potential for developing blood clots in the legs while under anesthesia.
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Read more about breast lift.Back Lift
For women with a history of weight loss and extra rolls of skin under their bra, an isolated back lift with the scar remaining under their bra line. Ask your physician if you are a candidate for their procedure.
Body Lift and Abdominoplasty After Massive Weight Loss
Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight typically will have excess redundant skin on their trunk and torso. Further weight loss only makes the stretched out skin more redundant. The only means to improve the shape of an abdomen with stretched out skin is remove the extra skin.
The scars for patients who have undergone massive weight loss are typically much longer than the scars for patients that have not had weight loss. For improvement of the abdomen and trunk, a body lift carries the scar around to the buttock area. This serves to improve the sagging skin of the buttock and back at the same time as improving the abdomen. For patients who already have a vertical scar for bariatric surgery, another pattern for the skin removal involves a long vertical scar along with a second scar in the underwear line. This is called a Fleur De Lis abdominoplasty.
Patients who have had massive weight loss have some different issues after surgery than patients who have not had weight loss. Seromas, or fluid collections, occur more commonly than for abdominoplasties without weight loss, and so patients tend to need drains under their skin for 1-2 weeks. Ask your surgeon about other issues associated with this surgery, including the chances for uneventful healing, time off of work, and the potential for developing blood clots in the legs while under anesthesia.
Additional Resources
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View pre and post-operative photos
of a tummy tuck in a massive weight loss patient.
May contain graphic images. - Read more about abdominoplasty.
Thigh Lift
Patients with massive weight loss often have extra skin in their inner thighs that makes wearing pants difficult. The extra skin also can cause discomfort during ambulation. Unlike a standard thigh lift with the scars in the inner thigh area, the thigh lift scars for patients with weight loss tends to go down the inner aspect of the leg. This is exactly where tailors put the seams of pant legs. Scars are placed in this area to simplify the surgery, to remove and contour the skin better than an incision high in the groin, and to reduce complications. Ask your surgeon if you are a candidate for a thigh lift.
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Brachioplasty
Patients with massive weight loss often have extra skin in their upper arms. The extra skin often can make patients reluctant to wear anything but long sleeve shirts. A brachioplasty removes extra skin and tries to bring harmony to the relationship of the size of the upper arm to the forearm. The scars for this procedure for weight loss patients tends to start on the chest, goes past the axilla or armpit, and ends near the elbow. A side benefit is the raising of the hanging ampit skin. Some complications of this surgery include temporary or permanent numbness or tingling of the forearm skin, a poor quality scar due to the thinness of the skin, and poor location of the scar that makes it difficult for the patient to hide under clothes. Ask your surgeon if you are a candidate for a brachioplasty.