Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss (Bariatric Surgery)
Men and women who have lost significant amounts of weight following bariatric surgery have special concerns which may not be familiar to all plastic surgeons. Dr. Fan has trained with some of the most prominent plastic surgeons in the world to perform post-bariatric body contouring surgery.
Patients who undergo significant weight loss often find that the skin throughout the body develops a loose, hanging appearance. This excess skin may cause difficulties with discomfort, hygiene, exercise, the ability to wear clothing, irritation, and infection. At the Bay Area Center for Plastic Surgery, we can help remove this excess skin through secondary surgical procedures such as the tummy tuck, body lift, thigh lift, breast lift, arm lift, and face lift.
Procedures:
• Tummy Tuck
• Body Lift
• Thigh Lift
• Breast Lift
• Arm Lift
• Face Lift
Please scroll down to see more information about each procedure.
Please feel free to call our office or to contact us here if you have additional questions.
Tummy Tuck
Tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, corrects a protruding abdomen resulting from weak abdominal muscles, weight gain, or pregnancy. During this procedure, loose skin is removed from the abdomen, and the stomach muscles are tightened. The result is a dramatically flattened abdomen with an incision that is hidden in the bikini line. A tummy tuck is often combined with liposuction of the waist, abdomen, and back to produce an even more dramatic improvement in contour.
Body Lift
A body lift, or belt lipectomy, is performed to remove excess skin and fat that exists on the body as a result of aging or extreme weight loss. The body lift is performed on the lower torso and upper legs and involves the belly, hips, back, buttocks, and thighs. People who have excess skin or fat in all of these areas may benefit from a body lift procedure.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift is appropriate for patients with loose skin on the inner thigh. This loose, extra skin can result from weight loss or aging. Constant rubbing can result in chronic irritation and infection. A thigh lift removes loose skin and fat from the thighs and can improve both appearance and comfort. The incisions are placed either in the groin crease or on the inner thigh, depending on how much extra skin there is.
Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, restores a more youthful appearance to a woman’s breasts. Over the years, breasts can lose their shape and firmness due to pregnancy, aging, or genetics, causing them to sag. A breast lift will raise and reshape the breasts to reverse the effects of aging and gravity. In some cases, the placement of an implant may also be appropriate to restore breast fullness. There are several techniques available to perform a breast lift. We will help you determine which lift procedure is best for you to help create the best shape with the least amount of scars.
Facelift and Necklift
The effects of gravity, sun exposure, weight loss, and the stresses of daily life take their toll on our faces over time – deep creases appear beside the mouth, the jawline slackens, and fat deposits and folds appear on the neck. Facelift surgery, or rhytidectomy, restores a more youthful appearance to the face by tightening the facial and neck muscles as well as removing any excess skin. After surgery, some patients appear 10-15 years younger.
A facelift is performed under attended local or general anesthesia. Incisions are made within the hairline (or along the hair margin) above the ear, extending down around the earlobe, and ending in the hairline below the ear. The muscles of the face and neck are tightened, the facial skin is redraped and lifted, and any excess skin is removed. A facelift significantly improves facial appearance and also has a dramatic effect on the neck, enhancing its contour and profile.
A facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery, a forehead lift, chin augmentation, and/or neck liposuction to rejuvenate the entire face.
Arm Lift
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is suitable for patients with loose skin on the upper arms, usually as a result of aging or weight loss. The procedure removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm through an incision along the inner aspect of the upper arm, where it is most hidden.