Gastric Bypass: Q&A
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Do All Post-Bariatric Patients Need Plastic Surgery?
My insurance will cover bariatric surgery (I'm in the morbidly obese category) but I know I'm likely to need reconstructive tummy tuck or lift after I lose the weight. I can't afford this. Do you ever have patients whose skins "spring back" and doesn't need plastic surgery?
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8 Doctor Answers |
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anon
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Plastic Surgery After Bariatric Surgery
After bariatric surgery, patients sometimes choose to have plastic surgery for problem areas. The likelihood of needing plastic surgery is higher when the BMI is higher and when the patient is older. Patients younger than 40 and with a BMI of less than 50 will have less excess skin than patients that are older and have a higher BMI. Patients can decrease the need for plastic surgery by exercising and improving their muscle tone. Having good muscle tone can improve the look of this skin...
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Skin laxity after massive weight loss is universal, removal is your choice
Almost no patients with massive weight loss will be left with no excess loose skin. The weight gain destroys the elastic fibers in the skin and these will never recover even with weight loss. It is up to you, though, if it bothers you enough to need surgery to remove it.
Parenthetically, I am a fan of TV's Biggest Loser because I love the success stories these people have. However, I think the show does a disservice by not addressing the issue of extra skin and...
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Do All Post-Bariatric Patients Need Plastic Surgery?
Regarding: "Do All Post-Bariatric Patients Need Plastic Surgery?
My insurance will cover bariatric surgery (I'm in the morbidly obese category) but I know I'm likely to need reconstructive tummy tuck or lift after I lose the weight. I can't afford this. Do you ever have patients whose skins "spring back" and doesn't need plastic surgery?"
Respectfully, I think you skipped over the MOST important issue in the MORBID obesity discussion. Your health...
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Plastic surgery after massive weight loss
Everyone has her own body shape, both before and after weight loss. Some women have more loose skin on their abdomen after weight loss, while others end up with more loose skin on their legs. Still others have loose skin everywhere. It's exceedingly rare to have no loose skin after massive weight loss--and it does NOT matter how slowly or quickly you lose weight. The skin damage is done with the weight gain, not the weight loss. Weight loss just unmasks it...
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Plastic surgery is most likely necessary
Based on your level of obesity, it is very unlikely that your skin will "bounce back" into place after bariatric surgery. As a post-bariatric plastic surgery specialist, I have worked with countless post-bariatric clients, all of whom were left with sagging skin. That being said, it is your choice whether or not you choose a cosmetic procedure to improve your body contour after weight loss. Plastic surgery is by no means mandatory but the excess folds of skin can interfere with daily...
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Plastic Surgery after gastric bypass
The most common plastic surgery procedure after gastric bypass is a tummy tuck. Probably about 50% of patients will undergo plastic surgery after massive weight loss. Some insurance companies will cover a tummy tuck if you document recurrent intertrigo of rashes below the skin folds.
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Insurance often covers Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery
Not all patients who lose weight with Bariatric surgery need or want plastic surgery. For those who do need it many health insurance plans cover some procedures. I perform at least one such procedure every week. Generally these are removal of excess tissue in the abdomen, but we've had arms, breasts, and thighs covered on several occasions.
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Patterns of skin laxity following massive weight loss
In my experience nearly all massive weight loss will demonstrate loose and redundant skin but each individual varies in the extent of where the laxity is most notable; Some show marked facial laxity while others show it in varying degrees and combinations effecting their breasts, arms, legs, backs, buttocks, etc.
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