Post-Weight Loss Plastic Surgery Adds The Finishing Touches

Every day, 500 Americans undergo bariatric surgery in hopes of taking a shortcut to large-scale weight loss. Diet and exercise may only get a person so far, especially when there are 100 pounds or more needing to come off.

Not surprisingly, plastic surgeons saw huge gains in the demand for tummy tucks, as well as thigh, upper arm and breast lifts.

NYC weight loss surgery is the fastest-growing area of Dr. Aviva Preminger’s practice, as patients look to fix loose ends after shedding so many pounds.

What they don’t tell you about massive weight loss

When people go in for bariatric surgery, all they can imagine is a sleeker, slimmer physique one year later. They’re certainly not imagining excessive amounts of saggy skin that not only looks unsightly, but feels uncomfortable, too. Sometimes the weight falls off disproportionately as well, leaving patients to fixate on a bulging gut or jiggly arms.

“On the one hand, they are thrilled to have lost so much weight,” said American Society of Plastic Surgeons President Scot Glasberg, “but they are trading one dilemma for another.”

Patients coming in to see plastic surgeons report feeling like “thin people wearing a fat suit” and express great unhappiness about the state of their bodies. Words like “gross,” “uncomfortable,” “embarrassed” and “disturbing” come up quite often.

Tatiana Bobbitt, a woman who lost 190 pounds, told The Huffington Post the excess arm and groin skin was painful and often infected. Her self-esteem plummeted and she constantly worried about necrosis. “I also lost motivation because I just couldn’t see the weight loss anymore — just skin,” she said.

Her experience is not unique, according to a recent study published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Of 100 patients who had lost 100 pounds after weight loss surgery, those who did not have any cosmetic procedures ended up gaining back 50 pounds, compared to those who had body contouring done and only gained back 13 pounds. Swiss researchers concluded that excess skin removal and body contouring should be routine parts of the bariatric surgery process.

Which NYC weight loss surgery procedures can help?

Currently, about 21% of bariatric surgery patients opt for plastic surgery procedures, but that number is expected to increase.

Last year, 45,000 patients had body sculpting procedures following weight loss, including:

• Thigh lifts (up 9%)
• Upper arm lifts (up 9%)
• Lower body lift (up 5%)
• Tummy tucks (up 4%)
• Breast lifts (up 10%)

Often, these procedures can be performed at the same time to minimize recovery time and maximize results. Realistically, patients can expect to lose another 5-10 pounds with lift surgery, but plastic surgery is ideally done at the end of a patient’s weight loss, when the scale has remained stable for three to six months. Insurance companies do not always agree to cover the cost for weight loss surgery, but Dr. Preminger’s office works closely with providers to make a substantial case for clients and find alternative methods of funding whenever possible.

Post bariatric surgery in Manhattan

Whether you’ve been struggling with your self-image since losing a lot of weight or you’re still on the path to getting your bariatric surgery, working with an experience NYC plastic surgeon can be very advantageous. A consultation will help you develop more realistic expectations about your weight loss journey and plan follow-up procedures that will maximize your results.

Call 212-706-1900 to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Aviva Preminger, a Manhattan specialist in post-bariatric surgery body contouring.