Plastic Surgery after Massive Weight Loss

The operation in short

Surgeries for the treatment of obesity are becoming increasingly popular, especially in people with morbid obesity (BMI> 40). They are called Weight Loss Surgeries and aim to help patients lose more than 50% of excess body fat. The calculation of the patient’s body weight, as well as whether it is within the normal range, can be done by comparing it with the BMI (Body Mass Index).

To determine your current BMI, divide your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in meters) and the resulting number will be your Body Mass Index (BMI). It is important to note that calculating BMI is not always accurate for very muscular individuals.

For example, if you are 75 kg and 1.68 m tall, your Body Mass Index will be: BMI = 75 / (1.68 x 1.68) = 26.7

The following classification generally applies:

Plastic surgery follows massive weight loss surgeries and its role is limited to the treatment of loose sagging skin, which often creates particular problems in a person’s everyday life (personal hygiene, clothing, sexual intercourse, etc.). It should be noted, however, that prior to any intervention by the plastic surgeon, the patient’s weight should be stabilized and remain stable for at least six months and the BMI should ideally be below 30. This eliminates the possibility of postoperative complications, especially complications related to healing, deep thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism, which are quite high in obese people.

Surgery Options for Mass Weight Loss

It is important to consider changes in diet and exercise before the patient undergoes weight loss surgery. Diet is what determines, for the most part, a person’s body weight. Exercise is a contributing factor of course, but exercise if combined with a poor diet will have little to no effect.

In terms of surgical options, there are several, including the placement of a Gastric Balloon and Gastric Band device that are reversible and do not disturb the anatomy of the stomach. The alternative is to perform a gastric bypass operation which permanently changes the way food is absorbed and is of course statistically more effective. They can now be performed either laparoscopically from a single hole (SILS-Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery) or robotically.

Effects of Mass Weight Loss

After the aforementioned “Bariatric” surgeries, patients will notice that, as they lose weight, their skin will begin to shrink. However, there is a limit to the extent to which the skin retains its elastic properties, beyond which it remains loose, in large excess, and with several stretch marks. The areas that can be most affected are the face, neck, abdomen, breasts, back, the inside of the thighs and arms but also the buttocks. The severity of the problem is determined by the amount and speed of the patient’s weight loss.

Unfortunately, this problem can only be surgically corrected by performing one or more operations, depending on the problem of each patient, which will be discussed during the preoperative examination.

The options for plastic surgery are as follows:

• Abdominoplasty
• Brachioplasty
• Aesthetic Breast Surgery (Lifting or Enlargement with Silicone Insert) 
• Correction of Enlarged Breasts in Men – Gynecomastia
• Thigh lift

Are you a suitable candidate for plastic surgery following a mass fat loss?

During your consultation and following a thorough examination we will evaluate whether Plastic Surgery After Mass Weight Loss is the right option for you, having your safety and the reduction of complications in mind. Some patients, as for instance smokers, overweight patients, and patients with a history of thrombosis, are at higher risk than others, and therefore it is not possible to combine surgeries that are longer in duration. In this case, surgeries must be performed in two separate sessions.

Medication

In our clinic, a complete medical history is always taken before each surgery. As a precaution, over-the-counter medicines or herbal products should not be taken before and for 3 days after surgery. It is also considered necessary to avoid taking non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin (salospir), ibuprofen (Nurofen), diclofenac, and any other anticoagulant or antiplatelet drug.

Smoking

If you are a smoker you should try to stop smoking for at least 1 week before and 1 week after the surgery as this will dramatically reduce the chances of postoperative complications and help achieve the best possible result.

Recovery from Plastic Surgeries following Mass Fat Loss

Your recovery time will depend on the surgeries you will undergo. For further information, you can refer to each separate surgery section, however, during your visit our physicians will be happy to answer all your questions.

Possible complications from Plastic Surgery following Mass Fat Loss

In longer surgeries, there is an increased risk of postoperative complications, for instance, a respiratory infection, hematoma, or multiple trauma surfaces at the same time. Complications such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism are particularly rare in individual surgeries, but can occur in longer surgeries and, when they do occur, can be quite serious. It is very important to consider these risks before proceeding with combining cosmetic surgeries.