If you’ve recently undergone gastric bypass surgery, the last thing you’re probably interested in is another surgery. But usually a second surgery to address your overstretched, excess skin is necessary — post-bariatric surgery. After all, now that you’ve reached the weight that may have been just a dream for years, what good is it if your now-baggy skin hides your new skinnier self?
What is post-bariatric surgery?
Post-bariatric surgery is performed to remove excess skin that sags, is overstretched, or hangs loose after gastric bypass surgery and the accompanying extensive weight loss. Although not usually essential for your physical health, post-bariatric surgery is very common and helps you look and feel your best. These lifts can be performed on most parts of the body, although you should, of course, consult with your surgeon for your specific situation.
There are many different types of post-bariatric surgery, including:
- Arm lift (brachioplasty). This procedure removes the extra skin that hangs off the under arm.
- Neck lift (platysmaplasty). Applying to both the neck and parts of the lower face.
- Lower body lift (belt lipectomy). This procedure reshapes the abdomen, waist, hips, thighs, and buttocks through an incision made around the circumference of the body.
- Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). A tummy tuck removes loose, excess skin and fat and tightens slack underlying muscle.
- Thigh lift (thighplasty). After massive weight loss, your thighs hold lots of extra skin. A thigh lift removes extra skin and fat to give you tightened, toned, and better-proportioned thighs.
- Breast lift (mastopexy). This procedure treats sagging uneven breasts, decreased breast volume, drooping nipples, and stretched areolas. A lift is often combined with breast implants to give additional shape and fullness to your breasts after significant weight loss.
The various procedures can be performed at the same time, or in phases, depending on your situation. While an additional surgery or surgeries might sound expensive and painful, the procedure(s) are perfectly safe and are usually needed to finish your weight loss plan. Without all the baggy skin, you will be able to truly enjoy your new body.
