By Carolynn Grimes
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com

Plastic Surgery is often needed after massive weight loss

If you’ve been left with sagging skin and tissue due to weight loss, aging, child birth and pregnancy, a lower body lift procedure may be for you. The lower body lift is an operation that combines a tummy tuck with a lifting of the outer thighs and the buttocks.

Dr. Peter Rubin, a board certified plastic surgeon and leader in the the field of body contouring after weight loss says, “This operation is very effective for patients who have lost a lot of weight either after weight loss surgery or just their natural dieting and exercise.” Rubin says, patients can expect a very dramatic change with the lifting of the outer thighs and the buttock combined with a shaping of the tummy or the abdomen. “This combination procedure works very well to shape the whole lower body in one stage. Of course, it’s a bigger operation, the recovery is longer, and there’s always a bit more risk associated,” he says.

Dr. Rubin states because of the higher risks, you want to get properly evaluated by a board certified plastic plastic surgeon who has experience performing lower body lift procedures. He says, “At our center in Pittsburgh, we focus very much on safety as we evaluate our patients to make sure we’re matching the right operation to the right patient.”

Before a lower body lift, patients should be close to their ideal body weight

When is the best time to have the surgery? According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), “The lower body lift should be performed when the patient is as close to their desired or ideal body weight as possible. If, for example, the patient has tightening of their lower body and then loses weight, the tightened skin will loosen and become saggy.  Conversely, post operative weight gain will either stretch the skin which has been tightened or undo the improvements of the body lift.”

Patients who might be a good candidate for a lower body lift:

1. Patients who have had massive weight loss
2. Loose skin in their buttocks and back of thighs
3. Loose skin in their hips and side of thighs
4. Loose skin in the front of their thighs
5. Loose abdominal skin or in their inner thighs
6. Acceptance of scars around the waist

By Carolynn Grimes and  Peter Rubin MD
ThePlasticsurgeryChannel.com

Sagging skin and plump thighs are among the more common aesthetic concerns for women. Age, gravity and weight loss are the usual culprits according to board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Peter Rubin. He says, “there are operations that will correct those issues, including thigh lift operations.”

A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thigh.

Dr. Rubin is director of the Life After Weight Loss program, a clinical center at the University of Pittsburgh dedicated to the care of patients after weight loss. Dr. Rubin says there is usually a lengthy scar involved in this procedure and “the patient needs to realize the scar is in exchange for the removal of excess skin.”  According to Rubin, there are some versions of these operations where the scar can be minimized.  He says, “you may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift which involves an incision only in the groin area.”

The timing and planning for one of these procedures is critical and many patients are excited to have some of their loose skin removed after weight loss.  One of the first questions many patients ask is, “when is the right time for a body contouring procedure?”

Dr. Rubin says a patient should ask themselves the following questions:

Has my weight been stable for the last three months?
Have I reached or am I close to my goal weight?
Am I committed to the lifestyle changes that are going to help me be successful with long-term weight loss success?

Once a patient feels the timing is right for surgery, patients need to know that recovery from a thigh lift can be fairly extensive.

Rubin says, “these are major operations and recovery time has to be accounted for when you’re planning for these procedures.” “Each operation is tailored to an individual’s specific body type,” says Rubin, “and your surgeon will determine what’s appropriate.” Dr. Rubin advises that these operations should be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight.

In the past ten years, the number of Americans undergoing weight loss surgery has increased 20 times over. Not surprisingly, thousands of bariatric surgery patients are opting for plastic surgery to address issues like sagging skin and prominent stretch marks after they lose 100 pounds or more. In this educational segment, Dr. T. Michael Dixon, a board certified plastic surgeon in private practice, explains special considerations concerning body contouring after weight loss surgery and reviews the most popular procedures.

Bariatric patients and those with the discipline to stick with a program of strict diet and exercise are often the best candidates for a body lift procedure. Although they achieved their goal of significant weight loss, some of the side effects from losing a lot of weight can be displeasing both physically and psychologically.

Loose or sagging skin is a common result when someone loses a large amount of weight, and can be unattractive to the individual, as well as uncomfortable when it hinders normal movement and physical activity. In addition to major weight loss, aging, pregnancy, and certain genetic skin conditions also can result in lax hanging tissues.

Body contouring procedures

The four most popular body-contouring procedures after massive weight loss are:
•    Breast lift
•    Upper arm lift
•    Thigh lift
•    Lower body lift

Patients often choose to have a combination of surgeries for a more extensive body lift, such as having both an arm and thigh lift, they will undergo a total body lift that involves surgeries on the arms, legs, breasts and stomach.

Who is eligible for a body lift?
Candidates for a body lift need to have maintained a stable weight for at least three months and should follow a healthy exercise and dietary program. Candidates who have had any gastric surgeries, such as a gastric bypass or Lap-Band® procedure, also may have to wait at least a year for their weight to stabilize before undergoing a body lift.

Women planning on having more children may be advised to postpone treatment until after having their last child. Women with normal body weight who are in their 30s and 40s may have the option of having body lift surgery to remove remaining skin and tissue after losing excess post-pregnancy weight.

What can I expect from a body lift?
During your initial consultation, the plastic surgeon will ask you to describe honestly how you feel about your appearance, how you believe others perceive you, and how you prefer to look and feel. Your doctor will want to ensure that you have realistic expectations and understand that results will vary from person to person. You should of course make sure your doctor is board-certified and also feel comfortable enough with your doctor to ask questions and discuss any concerns you have.

When considering a body lift, it is imperative that you seek out all the information you need to make the best choices for improving the way you see yourself. The more prepared you are for cosmetic surgery, both physically and psychologically, the more satisfied you will be with the outcome of your procedures.