Massive weight loss as a result of diet and exercise and/ or bariatric surgery is a great achievement, however it can leave some people with excess skin on the body that will not go away without surgery. Whilst Plastic Surgery is not always necessary, it can help the patient feel that their journey of weight loss is complete. There are both reconstructive and aesthetic reasons for surgery after weight loss.
Excess skin can be unsightly, uncomfortable and cause skin irritations and infections. Body contouring surgery can address these issues. It restores both normal function and improves aesthetic appearance.
Body contouring after weight loss surgery needs to be planned and staged over a period of time. The best results from this surgery are achieved when the maximum weight has been lost and weight loss has been stable for at least 6 months.
The Surgery
Surgery usually involves multiple areas of the body such as tummy (abdominoplasty), breast (reduction, lift, or augmentation), arms (brachioplasty), thighs (thigh lift) and face (facelift). Dr Safvat will discuss which surgeries are best for your desired outcome and also the timing for each surgery. Some of these surgeries can be combined, others are best as a stand-alone procedure.
Body contouring after weight loss recovery
A compression garment is worn post-operatively for 6 weeks. This is to prevent fluid collection and reduce swelling and help with recovery.
Gentle walking is encouraged after discharge, however strenuous activities are postponed for a couple of months post-operatively. Time off work is dependent on the procedure you are having and the type of work you do. This will be discussed with you in your consultation with Dr Safvat.
Costs
Some or all of these surgeries may have a Medicare item number enabling you to recover some costs from Medicare/Private Health Fund. Medicare has strict criteria that must be met. This will be discussed in details with you after your consultation by Dr Safvat and an estimate will be given.