After Weight Loss

WHAT IS AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY?
This surgery encompasses a number of surgical techniques that are used to sculpt and tone the body after significant weight loss from bariatric surgery or another weight loss treatment. Once patients lose fat, there is often a large amount of stretched skin that remains. Even though patients have accomplished significant weight loss, this excess skin can still make them feel self-conscious about their bodies. After weight loss surgery is a cosmetic procedure that focuses on skin removal, improving a patient’s figure and restoring confidence.

WHAT TYPES OF ABDOMINOPLASTY ARE INVOLVED?
Almost every post-weight loss patient will need some type of abdominoplasty, a procedure also referred to as a tummy tuck. Our commonly performed abdominoplasty procedures include the following: - - - Extended abdominoplasty: The extended abdominoplasty is an expanded tummy tuck procedure that can help eliminate skin on the patient’s sides. This treatment is best suited for patients who would like to eliminate love handles in addition to the typical benefits of a tummy tuck. Fleur-de-Lys abdominoplasty
- Around-the-World abdominoplasty: The around-the-world abdominoplasty is a combination of a tummy tuck, thigh lift, and butt lift. This enables us to improve the appearance of the entire lower torso for patients who have undergone massive weight loss.
Some patients who have experienced significant weight loss may have considered a panniculectomy. It may not deliver the results that a traditional tummy tuck can. A panniculectomy targets only the overhanging skin at the bottom of the abdomen, at the waistline. A tummy tuck, on the other hand, can maximize the tightening and contouring effects by tightening the abdominal muscles as well as the surrounding tissue and the flanks. 

WHAT IS AN UPPER BODY LIFT SURGERY?
An upper body lift is made up of a number of different surgeries that help to improve the appearance of the upper body and back. In some cases, patients will need an upper abdominal lift in addition to their tummy tuck to achieve their desired results. For most patients, however, the upper body lift will be composed of either a breast lift, an arm lift, or both. Due to the severity of excess skin, a breast lift after massive weight loss can be much more challenging than a typical breast lift surgery. Typically, breast implants are required in addition to the lift in order to restore a firmer, more pleasing shape to the breasts. For male patients with breast enlargement or drooping excess skin, called gynecomastia, we usually recommend Laser liposuction in addition to excisional procedures. This allows us to remove the excess skin and reshape the chest to create a more masculine appearance. At this point, men can also choose to add pectoral implants to further improve the appearance of the chest. An arm lift, or brachioplasty, eliminates redundant skin and fat hanging off the upper arm. Through an incision which runs along the inside of the arm from the elbow to the armpit, an arm lift eliminates the extra skin that many patients hate. Even though the arm lift scar is one of the hardest to hide, these patients love their arm lift surgery because it leaves their arms with a more desirable contour. This can be performed with one of two techniques: either the full scar arm lift or the short scar arm lift. The amount of skin to be removed and the patient’s aesthetic goals will determine which technique is used.

WHAT IS A LOWER BODY LIFT?
A lower body lift helps improve the appearance of the buttocks, the flanks, and the legs. These procedures typically include the full lower body lift or isolate parts of the body with a butt lift, posterior body lift, or a thigh lift. In most cases, Laser Liposuction is used to further enhance the results. Some patients choose to add gluteal implants to their lower body lift, as this helps patients achieve sculpted legs after their lower body lift procedures. The around-the-world abdominoplasty is a lower body lift procedure that also targets the abdomen.

WHAT IS A THIGH LIFT?
Thigh lift surgery reshapes the inner thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases, fat. This creates smoother skin and better-proportioned contours on the body. Inner thigh lift surgery is usually the final stage in the post-bariatric body contouring process. An abdominoplasty must be performed before a thigh lift because it is the anchor to the thigh lift procedure, and it helps us minimize scarring.

HOW MUCH DOES AFTER WEIGTH LOSS SURGERY COST?
To determine the cost of your post bariatric surgery, we invite you to schedule a private consultation at our practice. During your consultation, we will assess your cosmetic goals in order to pursue a treatment plan that matches your unique needs. Then, we will be able to provide you with a clear breakdown of the costs associated with your treatment. At Body Up Medical Spa, we accept a number of payment and financing options, including cash, checks, money orders, major credit cards, and CareCredit® financing. We also offer simple and secure online payment options for the convenience of our patients. If you are considering this or other cosmetic procedures, contact us today to schedule your initial consultation. We proudly serve patients living in and around the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, Brownsville, and all of South Texas.