How to Get Rid of Sagging Skin After Gastric Bypass and Weight Loss?

Hello,
Thank you for your question.
As both a bariatric and cosmetic surgeon, performing body contouring (removal of excess skin) on my bariatric patients if one of the most rewarding surgeries of my job. In fact, we discuss the possibility of body contouring at the very first bariatric surgery consultation appointment. I understand that in addition to weight loss and the improved health that comes with it, comfort in movement and an optimal physical appearance are also a top priority for patients.
I often combine arms with breast, arms with abdomen, or abdomen with breast. I prefer to perform thigh lifts alone, as the final surgery.
Best wishes in your pursuit of health, 
Dr. Moein

After loosing a huge amount of weight saggy skin is one of the the undesired effects. To removed this excess of skin you will need plastic surgery, seek a consultation with a plastic surgeon that specializes in post- bariatric patients.

After bariatric surgery, patients are usually left with excess skin which can be unsightly and problematic.  Affected areas are generally the breasts, arms, abdomen, flanks, and thighs.  Post bariatric contouring is an area of plastic surgery dedicated to restoring normal body contour after massive weight loss.  Recent research indicated that in addition to vastly improved body contour, these procedures and help patients maintain their healthy weight and prevent unwanted post-bariatric surgery weight gains.

Congratulations on your weight loss! Your concerns are very common among weight loss patients. Fortunately, there are several body-tightening procedures available to remove the extra folds of skin that are causing your discomfort. Liposuction, tummy tuck, arm lift, face lift, and breast lift are some of the procedures I offer my bariatric patients. In some cases, insurance will pay for all or part of the surgery if it is performed for medical reasons (such as relief from your painful rashes).


It would be hard to determine whether you need one or multiple surgeries without a personal consultation. Usually, a staged approach to surgery is recommended when several procedures must be performed to achieve the ideal results. Best wishes!

I have been encouraging overweight patients considering gastric bypass or banding to have a discussion with a plastic surgeon before your bariatric surgery.  We can provide realistic expectations about how the weight loss will affect your body and to give you a future projection about the problems you may encounter with the extra skin that will inevitably develop.  Although many insurance carriers will cover the body sculpting surgery today, many are expected to turn away and decline benefits for an increasing number of patients, claiming the elective nips and tucks will be deemed cosmetic and self-pay.  We can provide you with a strategy for building your bodysculpting funds with the 1 to 2 years expected before you will actually need our services.

Patients who lose significant amounts of weight are left with excess skin which can be a problem with wearing clothes and with skin hygiene. Removing the skin has become an increasingly more common operation with many refinements in technique and scar position. Excess skin can be removed in almost any place in the body, however you trade the skin for a scar in most circumstances. The abdomen, thighs and arms can all be treated, however combination cases should be planned with safety as the primary concern. I usually approach these cases with one of my partners so that we can complete a total body rejuvenation in two operations.

I hope this helps and congratulations on your weight loss.

Dr. Trussler

  Normally we ask for pictuar after the patientes have lost the weight.  After we recived the pictures we call the patients and plan the surgery or number of surgeris to removed the unwanted skin, pependind on the case we peform one or more operations.    Normally the surgery that is perform  fiest in a Lower Body lift fallow bya Breast lift and  arm lift o braquioplasty.   Than You

Good to hear you have lost your unwanted weight! The issue many weight loss patients have to deal with is that the lost fat results in skin laxity issues, which in turn may lead to rashes developing from excess skin flapping over. The treatment for most patients is a total body lift and it is performed between 1-3 stages. If you just are looking for your abdomen, thighs, and arms you may just need to do a lower body lift and a brachioplasty, which could be performed in one stage, but stages are determined on a case by case basis.

Patients will typically have significant amounts of loose skin in many areas after weight loss surgery. These areas usually include the abdomen, thighs, arms, breasts, back, buttocks and even the face. The approach to these areas can be tailored to the patient's needs depending on their anatomy and desires.
However, most experts agree that the best location to begin is with the central abdomen, which usually involves a tummy tuck procedure that extends circumferentially around the back. This has several different names: central body lift, total body lift and circumferential tummy tuck to name a few. The reason this procedure is performed first is because it will impact other nearby areas such as the thighs and buttock.
Once a patient has recovered from this procedure, 3-6 months later, another area or areas can be addressed; such as the arms/ breasts or thighs. Some patients may require three or four separate surgeries to complete all their body contouring needs. Since safety is a primary concern, medical clearance is indicated prior to embarking on these types of surgeries.
Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon prior to scheduling any of these procedures.
Best wishes.

These types of complaints are very common following massive weight loss. While it is possible to perform multiple operations during one setting, it must be done safely. You need to choose a surgeon who has good, safe judgement in order to minimize your surgical risk. Factors that need to be considered are: your overall health, ability to heal, length of time under anesthesia, and your ability to recover from the operations.