Good candidates for panniculectomy surgery have overhanging excess skin in the lower abdominal area and pubis, typically after losing a significant amount of weight. Often these patients have had bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass, which can result in massive weight loss.
Other contributing factors to stomach skin removal surgery include:
- Aging
- Pregnancy
- Prior surgery (like liposuction) that left sagging skin
For health reasons and to ensure optimal results, itâs best to be at a BMI of less than 30 or within 10 pounds of your goal weight, and to be stable at that weight for six months prior to surgery, says Dr. Jaime Schwartz, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.
This allows your surgeon to accurately gauge how much skin they should remove and helps ensure that youâll be able to maintain your results over time. âMost doctors would agree that itâs best to lose the weight first, then perform the skin removal procedure once the patient's weight has stabilized,â explains Dr. Moelleken.
However, in rare cases, FUPA surgery can be performed at the same time as weight-loss surgery. A retrospective study of 325 morbidly obese patients indicated that combining procedures improved quality of life during the weight-loss period, prevented the development of more overhanging skin, and helped avoid dangerous and disabling complications, including lymphedema (swelling) of the abdominal wall.Â
Another researcherâs comment on the study notes that while the aesthetic result may not be as satisfactory, the same functional goals are achievedâand patients are often pleased to avoid a second surgery.
If you plan to undergo bariatric surgery, talk to your doctor about how you can best plan for future body contouring procedures.
