Surgery After Weight Loss

Losing a significant amount of weight is a great accomplishment – one that should leave you feeling proud and satisfied. While you may be excited about starting this new chapter in your life, something else might still be weighing you down: excess skin. After significant weight loss, Salt Lake City women and men often end up with skin that is loose and bulky that detracts from their impressive achievements.

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Post Weight Loss Surgery Candidates

If you are considering post weight loss plastic surgery, it is important that you learn if you are a good candidate. While only a personal consultation with a surgeon can tell you whether or not you can benefit from the surgery, in general, post weight loss surgery patients have:

Excess skin that hangs and is loose
The desire for a toned, taut look
Difficulty finding properly fitting clothing
Feelings of dissatisfaction regarding their physique
A desire to fully enjoy the results of their weight loss

See Our Work

If you would like to learn more about how our team can transform your image, request a consultation online or call our office at (801) 937-9650. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr Moores & Dr. Reuben, are eager to meet you and help you on your aesthetic journey.

We generally perform the following procedures:

Either combined or staged

Upper/Lower Body Lift

This addresses either the upper or lower body, including pivotal areas such as the midsection, chest, arms, or lower abdomen, hips, thighs and flanks.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift addresses the thighs and top of the legs by tightening lax skin and providing a smooth and contoured appearance.

Brachioplasty

Brachioplasty, also known as an arm lift, is designed to contour the upper portion of the arms. Reducing excess skin and fat in this area can help achieve an overall slimmer appearance.

Mastopexy

Known more commonly as a breast lift, this addresses breasts that have lost volume or have begun to sag. We may also combine this procedure with a breast augmentation for optimal breast reshaping with implants.

Buttocks Lift

Oftentimes, after weight loss, the back and buttocks will lose volume. To re-contour them, we can tighten excess skin and lift the tissue in this area.

What Our Clients Think

I took a couple consultations before a decided to go with Dr Reuben. He and his staff have been attentive, kind, and professional. They answered all my questions every step of the way. My mommy Makeover was the best decision ever made. Process was relatively painless and recovery has been smooth. Thank you so much!!!

Having my skin removal was a very vital part of completing my weight loss journey. I lost 250 pounds in 1 and a half years with only diet and exercise and have kept it off. I had my skin removal surgery in March in 2019 and the results are life-changing and beyond what I could have imagined. Dr. Reuben was very smart and gave me all of my options for success. I felt supported and loved by the care and time they put into taking care of me through the entire process. I would highly recommend him to anyone.

My experience with Dr. Reuben was wonderful. He is professional and very kind. I’m usually self conscious but I felt comfortable with him and his staff. He was very realistic about what to expect with the results and recovery. I would definitely recommend him!

Dr Reuben is a wonderful Dr He answered all my questions. I will go back to him. I would also recommend Dr Reuben to any one looking for a great surgeon. The staff was wonderful. He made me feel very comfortable. His staff also made me feel very comfortable. Thank you for the wonderful work that was done

ALL REVIEWS

Frequently Asked Questions

What procedures are generally included?

Long before we perform your procedure, we will meet with you to create your specific procedure plan. During this time, you will discuss which aspects of your body you would like to contour, and we will decide which areas can see the most improvement with surgery.

Once you and your surgeon have agreed on the treatment, we will begin your surgery. For our post weight loss surgery patients, we generally perform the following procedures, either combined or staged, to achieve your aesthetic needs:

Upper/Lower Body Lift – This addresses either the upper or lower body, including pivotal areas such as the midsection, chest, arms, or lower abdomen, hips, thighs and flanks.
Thigh Lift – A thigh lift addresses the thighs and top of the legs by tightening lax skin and providing a smooth and contoured appearance.
Brachioplasty – Brachioplasty, also known as an arm lift, is designed to contour the upper portion of the arms. Reducing excess skin and fat in this area can help achieve an overall slimmer appearance.
Mastopexy – Known more commonly as a breast lift, this addresses breasts that have lost volume or have begun to sag. We may also combine this procedure with a breast augmentation for optimal breast reshaping with implants.
Buttocks Lift – Oftentimes, after weight loss, the back and buttocks will lose volume. To re-contour them, we can tighten excess skin and lift the tissue in this area.

No matter which procedure you choose, we will begin by carefully creating the incisions and excising excess skin and tissue in the targeted area(s). Next, we will tighten any muscles that need it and reposition the tissue for a more pleasing appearance. Once this is complete, we will close your incisions and you can begin your recovery.

What to Expect Afterward?

After your post bariatric surgery, you will likely experience some pain and soreness. This is normal and will continue to subside throughout the recovery process. While experiences vary, most patients need about 1 week before they feel that they can return to light activities, depending on which procedures are performed. We will go through the recovery process with you during the appointments leading up to your post-bariatric surgery.

How soon can I have body contouring surgery after I’ve lost a lot of weight?

Once you’ve reached your goal weight, it’s important to remain at that weight for approximately 6 to 12 months. The reason for this delay is to make sure your weight remains stable. Gaining or losing more weight after body contouring surgery will likely affect your improvements and cause you to need additional body contouring surgery.

I need several areas improved. Can I have all of my procedures performed together?

It depends on which procedures you require, your health, and unique anatomy. When planning body contouring surgery, the most important factor we consider is patient safety. Performing these complex procedures is time-consuming. In order to avoid overexposure to anesthesia and reduce the possibility of complications, we may stagger groups of procedures over time. We will usually schedule the next surgery after you have healed and recovered properly from the prior surgery.

What are the risks?

In addition to the possible risks associated with any surgery such as bleeding, infection, and reaction to anesthesia, post weight loss plastic surgery involves special circumstances. Obesity stretches the skin and therefore diminishes its elasticity. Poor skin quality can increase the chances of issues with wound healing, scar migration, and aesthetics. It’s extremely important to choose a surgeon who is trained and experienced in these complex body contouring procedures as well as in managing the unique challenges of post-bariatric patients.

Why do I need to wear compression garments after my body contouring surgery?

These stretchy undergarments can be uncomfortable but should be worn as directed. By doing so, you can speed up your recovery and optimize the look of your final results by flattening scars and minimizing swelling.

Surgery After Weight Loss