There’s no denying the transformative role plastic surgery can play in a weight loss journey. When I appeared on season 3 of TLC’s “Skin Tight,” program, I had the opportunity to help extreme weight loss patients complete their physical and emotional transformations through plastic surgery at my Houston practice. Sharing that experience with a national audience was unforgettable, and I believe there’s a lot we can learn from these inspiring cases.
In this blog post, I’d like to discuss a few key factors worth keeping in mind for anyone considering putting the finishing touches on their new body with a surgical procedure.
Scheduling Your Surgery
While it’s tempting to pencil in a procedure as soon as you hit your goal weight, it’s important that you’re able to maintain a stable weight for several months before undergoing body contouring surgery after weight loss. Fluctuations just before and after surgery can affect the healing process. Waiting until you can be confident about maintaining your current weight for months and years will allow you to enjoy your results for as long as possible. As you near your goal, you can schedule a consultation with me to start discussing your options.
Preparing for a Change
Most men and women are more than ready for a change after major weight loss, but it’s important to know what to expect during the process.
- Time away from the gym: You can expect to take several weeks or months off your normal workout routine. It’s essential that you allow your body this time to completely heal so it can thrive for years to come.
- Temporary diet changes: Your body may require more nutrition than you’re used to during the initial recovery period. Be ready to change your eating habits so that you can provide the fuel your body needs to recover.
It’s normal to feel uncertain about this part of the process. However, as my “Skin Tight” patients would be quick to tell you, the long-term payoff typically far outweighs the short-term inconvenience.
Combining Procedures
If you have excess skin on multiple areas of your body, you may benefit from combining more than one procedure into a single operation. Procedures such as fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty, thigh lift, arm lift, breast lift with implants, and male breast reduction each address different areas of concern. Combining multiple surgeries can create a more dramatic overall transformation. We can also include nonsurgical treatments into this approach, such as dermal fillers to replace lost facial volume.
Combing procedures can increase some risks for post-weight loss patients, who often have a higher chance of developing issues such as metabolic instability or blood loss. My team and I closely monitor all patients to make sure each surgery runs smoothly. I also take any and all health concerns into consideration as I create individual treatment plans.
One of the most important lessons my “Skin Tight” patients learned on the series is that it’s never too late to achieve the body of your dreams. If you’re on your own weight loss journey and are considering a body lift procedure, I encourage you to learn more about the benefits by meeting with me for a plastic surgery consultation at my Houston practice. You can start by contacting me using the online form or by calling (713) 571-0600 to schedule your first visit.
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