After a 200 pound weight loss, is s 67 too old for such major surgery? (Photos)

Question

It took me 25+ and have lost about 200 lbs.. I did have a panniculectomy in 2023 and am happy I had that done, but now back fat, droopy arms and upper thighs as well as deflated breasts have me wondering if this is all too much surgery for a nearly 68 year old woman (in pretty good shape otherwise ) to have.

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

First, losing 200 pounds is huge. That’s an incredible accomplishment!
At 68, it’s less about your age and more about your overall health. If you’re in good shape and healed well from your panniculectomy, that’s a positive sign. Many healthy patients in their late 60s safely have procedures like arm lifts, thigh lifts, breast lifts, or back contouring.
The bigger consideration is whether to do everything at once or stage procedures to make surgery and recovery easier on your body. A thorough evaluation with a board-certified plastic surgeon would help determine what’s safe and realistic for you.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi ElaineBell, Thank you for your question about whether, after a 200-pound weight
loss, 67 is too old for such major surgery. Thank you for your history and photos.
Congratulations on your weight loss. Great accomplishment. You can undergo
reconstructive plastic surgery at age 67 if you are medically healthy. That means either
there are no medical problems, or if you do have medical issues, they must be
controlled. You mentioned that you are “in pretty good shape otherwise.” To be safe,
your chosen plastic surgeon will order blood and urine tests, a chest X-ray, EKG. To
minimize the risk of a heart attack, a cardiac stress test should be ordered. To minimize
the risk of a stroke, a carotid duplex to check for plaque in your neck is a good idea.
Though your age increases your risks for a develpoing a blood clot, your age does not
prevent you from having surgery. Your medical health prevents you from having
surgery. If your internist and plastic surgeon feel that you are medically clear for
surgery, you can proceed. Most plastic surgeons would suggest you stage these
surgeries. Most plastic surgeons would suggest that you have surgery on the areas that
bother you most. Therefore, if your thighs bother you most, do them first. then perhaps
the back, then the breasts. These surgeries are performed under general anesthesia
and can be performed in the hospital or on an outpatient basis. In general, expect a 3-
to 4-week recovery after each surgery. once yo have healed from your first surgery,
labs will be rechecked, and if everything looks good, you can proceed with your second
surgery. Therefore, your age is not the sole determinant of whether you can undergo
surgery. Your health is the determining factor in whether you can undergo
reconstructive plastic surgery after massive weight loss. Good luck. I hope I have
answered your question: after a 200-pound weight loss, is 67 too old for such major
surgery? If you have any more questions regarding reconstructive plastic surgery
procedures after massive weight loss for older patients, contact an experienced plastic
surgeon. Please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant
experience in reconstructive plastic surgery procedures after massive weight loss.
Make sure they have performed many backlifts, arm lifts, brachioplasty, thigh lift, thigh
reduction, thighplasty, breast lift, and breast augmentation, and have before-and-after
pictures to prove it. Carefully review their before-and-after photos and check their
reviews on RealSelf. If you cannot find an experienced plastic surgeon in your

neighborhood, consider traveling out of state. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. ( Plastic Surgeon,
President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American
Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery,
American College of Surgery, and International College of Surgery and member of the
American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf
Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel)

After a 200 pound weight loss, is s 67 too old for such major surgery? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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