Post-Bariatric Surgery
Continue the transformation
If you have lost weight and reached your goals, then you’ve already won the battle. The hard part is over. You’ve achieved an enormous success and will enjoy the fruits of your labor for the rest of your life. What I am offering you is a way to write the final chapter of your journey towards your ideal body together. Body contouring surgery after massive weight loss (MWL) is all about adjusting your body contour and shape to the enormous transformation that you have successfully completed. Congratulations, you are heading towards the finish line!
The essentials
Post-bariatric surgery is a must-have surgery after significant weight loss to remove excess skin, improve your body shape and feel good again in any clothing.
It brings a tremendous transformation to you body to improve its contour and shape after weight loss from diet, sport, and/or bariatric surgery.
The surgery not only improves your body shape, but is also beneficial for your body hygiene, sports activities, core strength, and self-confidence.
Several operations are possible to improve the breasts, abdomen, arms, thighs, and buttocks. If desired, procedures can be combined as well.
A good general condition is essential for a quick recovery. Be sure to check my recommendations below.
Consider a 2-week recovery time with easy dressings. Avoid physical activity for 6 weeks.
Respect the recovery time well and you will profit from the transformation for the rest of your life.
Which surgery is possible after massive weight loss ?
Whether you have lost weight through exercise, diet, or bariatric surgery, you probably feel better than ever. You feel healthier, you are less restricted in your daily activities, your stamina has improved, and your mindset set on winning. You should feel proud about yourself. The only thing that still annoys you is the stubborn excess skin that is still “hanging there”. It might have contracted a little, but there is often a general laxity of the skin that just won’t improve. The excess skin can be everywhere: your abdomen, trunk, arms, thighs, and buttocks. It is annoying when wearing clothes, it can be difficult to keep the folds hygienic, and it still reminds you of your “heavier period in life” which does not accord to your new, positive, and healthier way of life.
Body contouring after MWL focuses on removing all the excess skin in order to give you a more harmonious, tighter, and more pleasant body shape that fits perfect in clothes and swimming outfits. Consider it as the final stage of your journey towards your new body. Depending on the area of excess skin, the type of surgery can be any of the following:
Lower body lift
Upper body lift
You can click on each of the surgeries to read more about the procedure and benefits. Depending on your wishes, goals and the treated areas, my goal is usually to combine at least 2 surgeries. This brings down the costs, reduces the overall downtime, and makes you achieve your desired body shape much faster. I cannot do everything in one stage, as this lengthens the anaesthesia time significantly and will make the recovery too cumbersome. Ideal combinations may be:
Breast lift/reduction/augmentation + abdominoplasty
Arm lift + thigh lift
Abdominoplasty + arm lift
Lower body lift + arm lift
Other combinations are possible as well. It all depends on your specific body shape and areas of skin excess. The operative plan is therefor very specific to your body type. I apply a very patient-tailored approach for this type of surgery as everybody has a different body shape and loses weight in different ways. During the consultation, I will explain to you the procedure in more detail, with pictures and photographs, as well as which scars to expect and the post-operative care that will be needed. You can expect a down time of 2 weeks with light dressings.
Which incisions are needed for body contouring surgery ?
I am aware that a lot of patients are concerned about the scars that they will have after body contouring surgery. I have to be very clear about this: in case of massive weight loss, where the skin has lost almost all its laxity, no minimal invasive or non-invasive surgical treatment will have sufficient effect and give the expected results that you aim for. The only way to give you the body shape and contours you wish for, is to remove the excess skin and fat through surgical excision. This will leave incisions, and often long incisions. I definitely won’t compromise on scar length if needed, as this will not give you the results you want. Solitary techniques such as radio-frequency or pure liposuction are not indicated in MWL, as these techniques rely on the skin laxity to contract after surgery. After losing a significant amount of weight, the skin simply doesn’t retract anymore. So the only effective treatment is to go for surgical excision. There is no way around it. But my experience has taught me that patients truly appreciate the amazing and positive effect of body contouring surgery on their daily life. The scars are then a very small price to pay to get the changes you wish to have. In addition, I am very strict on a meticulous, seemless skin closure to ensure the least visible scars as possible. Most patients even forget about the scars after a while, as they are so happy with their new body and the scars themselves become practically invisible.
During the consultation, I will draw for you the pre-operative design and the incisions that I plan for your particular body. The design depends on a couple of factors: the amount of skin excess, the area of skin excess, the remaining degree of skin elasticity and skin tone, the amount of fat excess, your wishes and your expectations. My goal at the end of the consultation, is that you really understand what I will do, why I do it, and which results you can expect.
After weight loss, there is often a lack of skin elasticity which makes it impossible for the skin to contract sufficiently. The excess skin needs to be excised in order to recreate an aesthetic silhouette. All necessary incisions can be covered by normal clothing.
What are the benefits of body contouring surgery after massive weight loss ?
Despite the achievements that you already obtained and the benefits on your overall health and mindset, your body may still show a general laxity and not have the tight, more harmonious shape that you deserve. Body contouring surgery will not only give you that final body shape, but it will also have a beneficial effect on numerous other aspects of your life:
The areas that show skin laxity will be operated to give them a smoother, tighter, and slimmer appearance
Removing the skin excess will make your body fit better in clothes and swimming outfits
You will experience improved hygiene
Every form of muscular weakness of the abdomen can be treated to strengthen the core
You will feel less restricted during physical activities
You will have a boost in self-confidence
You will feel motivated to keep your weight in balance and keep a healthy lifestyle
All the other benefits of the individual surgeries that I have listed before
Are you a good candidate for body contouring surgery ?
The effect of body contouring surgery on your quality of life is huge. It is an investment of which you will benefit from for the rest of your life. Therefor, it is extremely important that you prepare yourself well for your surgery. I have listed below the criteria that are important to consider, before planning this life-changing procedure. Although this seems like a lot, most of the preparations are an integral part of your journey towards weight loss. My goal is to get you optimally prepared for surgery, so you will have a smooth recovery and long-lasting results.
You are a good candidate for body contouring surgery after MWL if:
You have a stable weight for at least 3 months
Your BMI is below 35, and ideally below 30
If you had bariatric surgery, the surgery was at least 1 year prior
If you had bariatric surgery, you are still followed up by your bariatric surgeon. Ideally, you should organise a gastroscopy prior to your body contouring surgery.
You have no deficiencies in vitamins, proteins, and iron. A blood test prior to surgery is required, with the following analysis: pre-albumin, iron, zinc, all vitamins, PTH, and Calcium
Your comorbidities are well controlled (Diabetes, Obstructive Sleep Apnee, Cardiovascular disease)
You have clearance of your General Practitioner to undergo general anesthesia
You do not mind the necessary incisions and resulting scars in order to get the body you want
You have realistic expectations
You are motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle after the surgery
If you have successfully completed your journey towards weight loss and your body is in optimal shape to undergo body contouring surgery, I recommend you to plan a consultation in order to see how we can improve your overall body shape and bring a positive impact to your life.
