Once you’ve decided to get weight loss surgery, you’ve gone through the different type of procedures and enquired about the dietary changes to prepare for your surgery, you might be wondering what happens after. Particularly to your body. How will you look? If you’ve been battling obesity for a long time, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges your physique will face after losing excess pounds.

There’s a lot of information regarding what you can expect immediately following the procedure, the post-surgery recovery time and lifestyle changes needed to make the most out of any bariatric surgery but not enough information on the long-term changes your body is going to experience. At VIDA Bariatrics, we are true believers that bariatric procedures are a priceless tool to help you kickstart your weight loss journey and effectively become healthier.

When it comes to getting the shape of your body back to its best, a bariatric approach might not be enough.

As we talk with patients who are considering weight-loss surgery, we realized that there are a lot of doubts regarding expectations once they’ve lost the weight. Once all of those extra pounds have been shed and their body is at a healthy state, what’s next? Once you feel great, will you look great?

It’s true that if you are trying to lose a tremendous amount of weight, bariatric surgery can do so much more than diet and exercise. However, what bariatric surgery cannot do is tighten your skin, lift your breasts or help rid those stubborn pockets of fat or rolls of skin in your body. Let’s go over some of the most common concerns and challenges patients deal with after weight loss surgery.

Will I have loose skin after weight-loss surgery?

Probably. Loose skin is usually the biggest downside of drastically losing weight, with or without the help from bariatric surgery. But since the benefits of having a healthy weight far outweigh the negatives, we feel it’s better to talk about this topic and mention some measures you can take in order to improve the tightness or amount of extra skin you have.

Why does this happen?

Let’s understand your skin. The largest organ of your body is made up of mostly collagen and elastin. Collagen’s role is to provide firmness while elastin’s is to provide elasticity. When you gain a considerable amount of weight, your skin will begin to expand. If the skin is stretched for a prolonged amount of time, the elastin and collagen will become permanently damaged and your skin will lose its capacity to shrink back. If weight loss surgery has finally helped you beat obesity, after years of struggling, it is highly likely that you’ll be left with excess skin hanging from different areas of your body.

It might be incredibly frustrating to look at the scale and see a number you feel satisfied with, look at your bloodwork numbers and know you’ve restored your body back to health and yet, look at the mirror and see excess skin hanging everywhere!

What can you do?

If you only had a small amount of weight to lose, your skin might shrink back after some time. Other patients report satisfactory enough results after following a healthy diet and exercise routine. When that doesn’t cut it, there are several cosmetic surgery options that can help. Patients report the best results with a combination of liposuction and skin removal surgery. Post weight loss plastic surgeries address these concerns and deliver the best results possible, every single time.  

Will I need a tummy tuck after weight-loss surgery?

One common area is the abdomen since this area in our bodies is a pro at storing unwanted fat. Excess sagging skin in the abdomen can be effectively removed with a post weight loss tummy tuck. During this procedure, your VIDA surgeon will remove excess skin and leave your tummy looking rejuvenated and smooth.

Are my breasts going to sag after weight loss surgery?

Another problem area, the breasts are very sensitive to drastic weight changes. Both men and women might find that their chest area is affected after dramatic weight loss.

Why does this happen?

Breasts are composed primarily of fat tissue. While men and women have a different ratio of fat tissue when you gain a lot of weight, fat cells within the breast tissue expand while weight loss causes fat cells to shrink. Apart from gravity and age, that naturally promote breasts to sag, the firmness on the skin around your breasts loses elasticity after extreme weight loss.  This is particularly inevitable after massive weight loss.

What can you do? 

The best strategy is to talk with your doctor about possible solutions to help you minimize breast sagging and measures to take if it happens.

Breast lift after weight loss.

A Breast lift performed after drastic weight loss is performed specifically to address not only sagginess but also the excess skin that needs to be removed. When planning a breast lift, your doctor will discuss with you the expected results and if the addition of breast implants would also be a good option for you.  This approach is usually the most effective and the best resource to restore a firm, full and attractive cleavage.

Gynecomastia after weight loss.

Some male patients have excess fat in their chest area due to obesity. When they lose the weight, it is possible that the deposit of fat in their chest is resistant to this. This condition is known as pseudo-gynecomastia. If diet and exercise don’t work, male breast reduction surgery can give you a flat, more masculine look in your chest.

Whatever your concerns regarding your post-weight loss life, contact the expert team at VIDA Bariatrics so we can help you make the most out of your new weight. Call us now at 1 (619) 610-1667.