Surgical Skin Tightening for MWL Patients

Patients who undergo bariatric or weight loss surgery usually develop hanging skin and pockets of fats that can only be removed with body lift surgery which often involves extensive incisions and skin tightening.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 53,000 procedures were performed to correct body disfigurement caused by massive weight loss in 2010.

These were the five most commonly performed body lift for MWL patients during the same period:

·         Breast lift or mastopexy

After losing a significant amount of weight, it is not uncommon for women to have breast ptosis manifested by nipples even hanging beyond the crease of the bust.  In addition to the sagging appearance, previously obese patients are also bothered with their deflated looking breasts.

Fortunately, the sagging, pendulous breasts can be easily corrected with breast lift which involves strategically placed incisions to hide or at least minimize the appearance of scars.

·         Lower body lift

The procedure involves making a belt-like incision covering the abdomen, hips, and back to remove the pannus or the hanging skin in the midsection.  The surgery can also lift the sagging buttocks and thighs in order to correct or at least improve the disfigured body of MWL patients.

·         Thigh lift

The procedure usually involves making incisions along the groin that goes back to the buttock crease in order to lift the sagging skin and remove the hanging tissue.  But if a patient needs a significant correction, the excisions are placed at the top of the leg where the sides of the underwear are located.

·         Tummy tuck

This procedure traditionally involves a hip-to-hip incision in order to remove the apron-like skin and fats hanging from the abdomen; but if a patient needs a significant improvement, the excision may even reach the flanks (or sides of the hips) so that plastic surgeons can further trim the waistline and correct the disfigurement.

·         Upper arm lift or brachioplasty

The procedure is performed to correct the “bat-wing” caused by the excess skin that forms in the upper arms after losing a significant amount of weight.  This is done by creating incisions in the inner or outer area of the arms that start from the armpit down to the elbow; but for patients who need the most correction, the surgical excision can even reach their chest so doctors can trim more amounts of loose skin and reshape the underlying tissue.