Losing a large amount of weight is exceedingly difficult. It doesn’t matter if you achieved the loss with the help of bariatric surgery, or if you did it through sheer willpower. You’re now down to the weight you’ve dreamed of, but there remains a problem — your skin. Without the weight to support it, your skin looks like it’s about eight sizes too big, sagging and hanging all over your frame. The skin is loose because if the skin is overly stretched for a long period, it will not return to its former degree of tautness.
If this sounds like your experience, body contouring with Dr. Lavey is the answer.
Body contouring is just as it sounds. The goal is to remove any excess skin and fat pockets, slimming your contour to match your new weight.
Where are the common problem areas?
When your skin has been severely stretched and is now unsupported by the expanded tissues and fat while you were heavy, it will sag in pockets. These are the most common areas:
- Abdominal area giving you an apron-like overhang
- Breasts, causing the nipples to point downward and the breasts to flatten
- Face, neck, and jowls giving a droopy, sad appearance
- Upper arms giving a “bat wing” appearance
- Buttocks, groin, and thighs leaving hanging pockets of skin
What surgeries are involved in body contouring?
As with any procedure, the situation of every patient is unique to that patient. During your body contouring consultations with Dr. Lavey, you will discuss areas that you both agree need to be addressed. These are the plastic surgeries that Dr. Lavey will likely focus upon:
- Lower body lift to correct sagging of the abdomen, buttocks, groin, and outer thighs
- Breast lift to correct sagging, flattened breasts
- Arm lift to correct sagging of the upper arms
- Thigh lift to correct sagging of the inner, outer, and mid-thigh
Recovery
Body contouring with Dr. Lavey targets many different areas at the same time. You will have swelling and scarring. You won’t be able to strain or lift anything for from several days to weeks. If your abdomen and thighs have been addressed, you may have to avoid standing fully upright to avoid stressing the internal sutures.
This all sounds quite dreadful, but you need to think past recovery. You’ve lost the weight. Now, the prospect of having a firmer, contoured body that matches your new smaller size is the goal, and there will be discomfort, but you need to keep the end goal in mind.
If you’re depressed by the lack of contour following your weight loss, removing the excess skin with body contouring could be your final step to the new you. Call Dr. Lavey at 925-820-3633 for a consultation.
No comments yet.