Bariatric Surgery; Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgery

In 2006, approximately 65,000 patients underwent body contouring procedures following bariatric surgery.⁷ It is fairly common for bariatric surgery patients to experience “hanging” or “sagging” skin after surgery due to:

-	Time: As you get older, your skin loses its elasticity.
-	Weight: The more excess weight you carry, the more your skin is stretched and the more likely it is that you will need plastic surgery.
-	Diet history: Think of your skin as a balloon. Each time you gain weight, you inflate the balloon. Each time you lose weight, you deflate the balloon.
-	Smoking: Smoking breaks down collagen, a key protein in connective tissue that gives skin its healthy strength and elasticity.
-	Sun: Regularly laying out in the sun for hours makes skin less elastic.
-	Skin type: Some skin types have more elasticity than others.
-	Genetics: Some people are born with more resilient skin.

The most common body contouring procedures:

-	Breast reductions
-	Abdominoplasty/lower-body lifts
-	Upper-arm lifts
-	Thigh lifts

If you are interested in body contouring surgery, be sure to speak with your surgeon. He or she may be able to recommend a board-certified plastic surgeon.