Plastic Surgeon Serving North Andover, Boston, Haverhill, MA - Nashua, Salem, Manchester, NH & Nearby Areas
Following bariatric surgery or any method of rapid weight loss, it is common to have areas of loose, sagging, and unsightly skin. It is also common for deposits of fat to stubbornly remain, despite advanced weight loss techniques. For these reasons, many people look to body contouring procedures that can address excess skin and fat, and finalize weight loss results.
If you are unhappy with your appearance following significant weight loss, please contact George P. Chatson, MD today for an initial consultation. Appointments can be scheduled online or by calling our Andover, MA office at 978-687-1151 or our Nashua, NH office at 603-882-2103.
Enhancing Weight Loss Results
Post-weight loss body contouring options offered by Dr. Chatson include:
- Liposuction
- Abdominoplasty
- Thigh lift
- Arm lift
- Neck and facelift
These options may be used alone but are most often combined for optimal results. What will best enhance your frame can be determined during your initial consultation with Dr. Chatson.
Liposuction and Abdominoplasty
While there are several treatments that can be used for body contouring following weight loss, liposuction and tummy tuck surgery are common in nearly all of these procedures. This is due to the specific benefits offered by these treatment options.
Abdominoplasty targets loose and sagging skin in the midsection – skin that is often unresponsive to diet and exercise. Tummy tuck surgery also tightens abdominal muscles that have become weakened through weight gain, helping restore a toned appearance while improving overall core strength.
Dr. Chatson utilizes power-assisted liposuction to help reduce surgical risks, and assist in more thorough removal of fatty tissue. Power-assisted liposuction is very effective at treating all areas of the body and may reduce the need for some lift procedures following weight loss.
If you have lost significant amounts of weigh and are looking for the most effective body contouring options, please contact our board-certified plastic surgeon at one of the phone numbers above or by filling out our online form for a consultation. Dr. Chatson serves Massachusetts and New Hampshire from our two state-of-the-art, fully accredited surgical facilities.
Will I Need Body Contouring After Bariatric Surgery?
While everyone’s body is different, many people require body contouring after rapid weight loss. Loose, floppy, and sagging skin is incredibly common following weight loss from bariatric surgery. This skin creates a lumpy and uneven result, increases risks for rash and skin irritation, impedes body movement, and can obscure the results obtained through your procedure.
For people with exceptional skin elasticity, the skin may eventually shrink to fit the frame’s new dimensions. For others, loose and sagging skin will be permanent. If you fall into the latter category, surgical excision of the skin is the only reliable solution.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Post-Surgical Body Contouring?
Post-weight-loss plastic surgery includes several procedures, each of which will have its own recovery period. Combining these procedures reduces the overall recovery period, but it will still be slightly longer than recovery from a single procedure.
Most people can resume work in non-demanding jobs after four to six weeks. However, it may take 12 or more before you can resume strenuous tasks, including exercise. During this time, you must keep incisions clean, use compression garments, and allow your body to rest to avoid complications.
With Dr. Chatson, follow-up visits are included in the cost of surgery. During these visits, he will carefully assess your rate of recovery and help you determine when it is safe to resume normal activities.
Do I have to Reach My Goal Weight Before Undergoing Surgery?
You are not required to reach your goal weight before undergoing a body contouring procedure, but you will want to be close. During the procedure, SAFELipo® can eliminate those last few stubborn fat deposits, but liposuction is not a weight loss procedure. It cannot be relied on to remove significant fat deposits. The closer you are to your goal weight or ideal BMI, the better your outcomes will be.
Will I Have Scars Following My Procedure?
Yes. Scars following body contouring are unavoidable. However, they needn’t be pronounced or obvious. Taking care of your incisions, avoiding blood thinning medications, nicotine, and alcohol before and after surgery, and following all of the directions provided by our office will help to reduce the risks of thick and ropey scars.
If unsightly scars develop, scar revision procures, including laser skin resurfacing, can help reduce their appearance. At-home treatments, such as silicone scar sheets and scar reduction ointments, may also prove helpful. Dr. Chatson can discuss these things in more detail if they might benefit you.
