Whenever you lose a large amount of weight, particularly if you lose it rapidly, you are likely to be left with a lot of loose skin. This is the case if you lose weight by diet and exercise as well as if you lose weight by having a gastric bypass, but is more likely to be a problem after weight loss surgery because of the large amount of weight that is lost and how quickly the weight comes off.
Many people think the problem of loose skin is caused by the skin stretching when weight is gained, but actually, the skin only stretches a little. However, as more and more weight is gained, more skin actually grows to cover the larger surface area. This extra skin isn’t going to shrink once you lose weight. It will become loose, hanging skin. Toning exercises can help a little, but they will only tighten skin a little, they won’t get rid of excess skin.
Because of this, many people look into plastic surgery after a gastric bypass. It’s best to wait at least six months after all extra weight has been lost in order to make sure that your weight is stable before undergoing plastic surgery. No sense in going through surgical procedures that might only be undone by further fluctuations in weight. Once you’ve maintained your goal weight for six months or more, though, plastic surgery can be considered.
There are several types of plastic surgery people may be interested in after losing a large amount of weight. The most common is abdominoplasty or a lower body lift to contour the abdomen, hips, and buttocks. Another common post-weight loss procedure is brachioplasty, a surgical procedure to correct hanging skin under the arms (sometimes referred to as “batwings”). Mastopexy, or a breast lift, is another common procedure. Breast implants may also be desired. There are other surgical procedures that may be desired after a gastric bypass, but these are the most common. Surgeons usually do not like to perform all of these procedures at one time, so if more than one procedure is required, multiple surgeries may be required.
Paying for plastic surgery after a gastric bypass is a concern for many people. Health insurance will not usually cover the cost of plastic surgery, although there are a few exceptions. If the pannus (loose stomach skin) hangs very low so that it gets in the way of daily activities, insurance may pay for abdominoplasty. Also, a hanging pannus sometimes causes skin rashes and infections. If these do not respond to topical and/or oral medications, insurance may pay to have the excess skin removed.
Most people will have to finance their plastic surgery on their own, however. Many plastic surgeons offer payment plans, and of course credit cards can be used to pay for plastic surgery. Some people choose to travel abroad to have plastic surgery performed in places like Mexico or Costa Rica, where they procedures generally cost a lot less. This is a valid option, but people are advised to do their homework and make sure they are seeing a qualified plastic surgeon and are being treated in an appropriate medical facility abroad.
Sources:
Don Revis, Jr, MD. http://www.beautysurg.com/learn/articles_body_bariatric1.html. Body Contouring After Gastric Bypass Surgery.
