Bariatric surgery is a great way for people to regain control over their lives and bodies after their weight has spiraled out of control. After the weight comes off, though, some patients are not entirely satisfied with the appearance of their new bodies. Loose skin, sagging breasts and stubborn fat can conceal the transformative results patients have worked to achieve. Here, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Garrett Harper and Dr. Robert Graper share some of the procedures that can help to improve the aesthetics of the body.
Tummy Tuck
The most requested procedure after significant weight loss is abdominoplasty. Skin that had previously stretched to cover the larger stomach may not retract to fit snugly around the stomach’s new size. Since excess skin cannot be eliminated with diet and exercise, hanging folds of skin can only be addressed through surgery. Tummy tuck removes loose skin around the midsection and tightens the remaining skin to fit the patient’s new shape.
Other Tightening Procedures
Loose skin can also be excised from other regions such as the arms, thighs, and butt. Since skin that dangles from these areas cannot be resolved on its own, patients who want to have nicer contours will need surgery. Graper Harper Cosmetic Surgery also offers ThermiTight, a non-surgical procedure that uses radiofrequency to tighten the skin. During a consultation, surgeons can evaluate the extent of sagging skin to determine if ThermiTight is adequate for each patient on an individual basis.
Breast Surgery
For female patients, when the weight starts coming off, the breasts begin to sag. Moreover, the breasts can lose density and fullness. This can be frustrating, because while these women want to decrease the size of their bodies, most do not want this to affect the appearance of their breasts.
Breast lift is a great way to counteract drooping breasts by elevating them to a more youthful positioning. The nipples can also be adjusted so that they sit higher on the breasts and project outward in a perky manner. To address a loss of volume, breast augmentation can help women to achieve their ideal breast size and shape. Many patients choose to combine breast lift with breast implants to attain breasts that best complement their new figures.
Liposuction
Once most of the weight has come off, patients sometimes discover that they have lingering pockets of fat that do not respond to diet and exercise. Liposuction is a good way to remove unwanted fat cells that have stubbornly clung to the body. While some people mistakenly consider liposuction a weight-loss surgery, it works best for patients who are close to their goal weight and want to improve their contours.
Speak to Charlotte’s Best Plastic Surgeons
While weight-loss surgery can get you most of the way toward your ideal body, plastic surgery is likely necessary to finish the job. To discuss body contouring procedures with the award-winning doctors at Graper Harper Cosmetic Surgery, please call (704) 375-7111 to schedule a consultation.