Surgery After Weight Loss
Some people are able to lose weight on their own with diet and exercise. Others chose weight loss surgery such as bariatric surgery and gastric bypass surgery. With massive weight loss in a short time, skin often does not shrink well. Surgery after weight loss in the Walnut Creek / Danville area can help deal with this extra skin to refine your new look after losing weight.
The American Society for Bariatric Surgeons estimates that there were 200,000 bariatric surgery procedures performed in 2006. Here in East Contra Costa County, we have one of the finest bariatric surgery centers in the nation located at John Muir Medical Center in Concord. Local patients who have lost massive amounts of weight are turning to plastic surgeons in increasing numbers to help them improve their quality of life and self-esteem.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Mariotti performs well-designed, strategically staged procedures with excellent, consistent results while maximizing patient safety. Dr. Mariotti has performed major contouring procedures on many of the bariatric surgery patients not only from John Muir Medical Center, but also from Stanford, San Francisco, San Diego and many from out of state. If you'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Mariotti, simply request a consultation online or call his office at 925-685-4533.
The Role of Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Massive weight loss is defined as the loss of greater than 100 pounds or 100 percent above the person's ideal body weight. Patients are usually left with a large amount of excess skin. The need to remove this excess skin is not only for aesthetic benefit but, in some cases, may help treat medical conditions. To address these problems, patients are first evaluated when they have reached their plateau of weight loss. This is usually a year after their gastric bypass operations. Body contouring surgery is planned only for patients who are psychologically stable and willing to accept staged operations to achieve the expected goals.
The exact sequence is customized to the needs and desires of each patient. Surgery after weight loss for Danville, San Ramon and Walnut Creek patients typically includes a belt lipectomy for the abdomen followed by a thigh lift and an arm lift. Women who have lost a large amount of weight often have extremely droopy breasts and need a breast lift. Liposuction can also be performed in conjunction with any of the lift procedures and is especially effective for the upper abdomen, flanks and thighs.
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
Excess skin on the upper arm is treated with brachioplasty. An incision is made along a line connecting the armpit to the elbow and excess tissue is removed. The scars are well hidden.
Abdominoplasty or Lower Body Lift
This is indicated for patients with generalized loose skin encircling the torso. This procedure takes a tummy tuck and continues it around the back to not only tighten the abdomen, but also droopy thighs and buttocks.
Mastopexy (Breast lift/reduction)
The excess skin is surgically removed and the nipple is elevated to create a more youthful appearance. Sometimes excess tissue from the lateral chest wall can be used to augment the breast volume.
Thigh Lift
Usually one of the last procedures to be performed, this can involve either removal of the upper inner thigh skin only or, in cases where the skin is loose over the entire leg, the incision may be placed down the inner thigh to remove a greater amount of skin.
Insurance Coverage
Many insurance companies have tightened the requirements for coverage of plastic surgery after weight loss. San Ramon and other East Bay patients should understand that no insurance company is in the business of covering procedures that are primarily cosmetic. However, if there are medical problems associated with the excess skin, such as chronic rashes previously treated with conservative measures, coverage may be possible. The most common coverage is for a panniculectomy, which is the removal of the skin which hangs below the pubic area. Although no insurance company will pay for a cosmetic tummy tuck, many patients choose to combine an insurance-covered panniculectomy with a tummy tuck to help offset the costs of the more complete cosmetic procedure. Insurance coverage always requires the submission of a letter from Dr. Mariotti along with supporting documentation and photographs.
