Capable of effectively treating obesity for the right candidate, bariatric surgery is improving patients’ lives more and more these days. However, many feel the weight loss results are finalized with follow-up cosmetic surgeries, including what’s referred to as a “tummy tuck.” Let’s look into what bariatric surgery entails and why people often opt for additional cosmetic surgery afterwards.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
With the goal of altering how the digestive system operates, bariatric surgery refers to a collection of weight loss surgeries procedures performed by highly trained surgeons. These can include sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and duodenal switch and revision surgery.
Depending on the procedure, the surgery may involve operating on the intestines and stomach to restrict the amount of food the individual can comfortably eat and absorb. This reduction and malabsorption, along with dietary changes, leads to weight loss. The result is patients feeling more comfortable and confident in their own bodies.
Tummy Tuck After Bariatric Surgery
Once a person loses a significant weight, his or her body may be left with excess tissue and sagging skin. After years of skin stretching to accommodate added weight, the skin can become too lax to shrink back to the person’s size after weight loss. This is especially common on the front of the abdomen, although it can occur anywhere the body has experienced weight loss.
Patients with loose skin often have difficulty finding comfortably fitting clothes and may experience issues with skin irritation. It can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment as well. There could also be isolated pockets of fat in trouble areas despite the effort to decrease them. This is where a cosmetic procedure like the tummy tuck comes into play.
Usually performed 12 to 18 months after a weight loss surgery, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and helps to enhance overall body contour. Before this procedure can be scheduled, there are certain considerations that should be made. For instance, interested patients should be as close to their weight loss goal as possible and ought to remain at a stable weight for several months. It’s also recommended that they are in overall good health and are still committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
To ensure there are realistic goals and expectations for the tummy tuck procedure, speak with a trusted cosmetic surgeon. Doing so leads to a more informative discussion of all the options and helps determine which operation is the best fit.
Turn to the Experts at the Center for Weight Loss Surgery
Here at the Center for Weight Loss Surgery, we perform various types of weight loss surgery and cosmetic surgeries, including tummy tucks. If you or a loved one is interested in scheduling cosmetic surgery after a bariatric surgery, or simply looking for more information, our expert medical team is here to help. We proudly provide high-quality care for those at every stage of weight loss and are dedicated to helping our patients get back to a figure they love.
