All body contouring operations involve a major assault on the body even though this one is done in a clean, organized fashion in an operating room. For the wounds to heal properly the patient has to be in good health, the weight must be stable (non fluctuating), well nourished, chronic disease states... more
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Do eating disorder histories discourage doctors from removing excess skin?
I'm 24 years old, weigh 100 lbs and am 5'2". About 5 years ago I developed an ED that led me to lose more than half of my body weight, going from about 190-200 lbs (after I got that heavy I didn't want to weigh myself, so I don't know the exact weight - I wore a size 18, though) to 86 lbs at my worst. Thanks to the help/encouragement of loved ones I went to a doctor about 2.5 years ago and started making improvements in my life that helped me reach a healthier weight.
Unfortunately, my initial major weight loss happened over the course of 6 months and led to excess skin that serves as a reminder of the person I used to be. Given my history of anorexia and my current weight, would I be disqualified as a candidate for body contouring surgery so that I can get rid of that excess skin? After undergoing several exams, the worst doctors found that resulted from my ED was some loss of bone calcium.
2 answers to “Do eating disorder histories...”
A: Nutritional, but also psychological considerations
Excess skin is certainly bothersome, and many patients benefit from body contouring surgery to remove that excess skin. First, the doctor needs to make sure your nutritional status is normal. Second, is the fact that you may have some component of body dysmorphic disorder. You may need clearance from a... more
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223 posts
9 Jun 2009
Well, it all depends. I specialize in pst-weight loss patients and ALL have had abnormal relationships with food to where surgery was needed to correct the disorder. I get clear a sense for their weight stability, acceptance of their new program, and satisfaction with who and where they are before proceeding. My experience is that these properly selected patients are some of the most satisfied individuals in my practice !