Bariatric surgery has the power to lift your spirits and change your life, but after all that weight loss, did you know that you'll likely need additional plastic surgery in Pasadena or the Inland Empire to lift drooping and loose skin?

Dr. Wang offers confidential consultations to tell you more about body lift. You can request a consultation online or call Wang Plastic Surgery at (888) 360-6688 to schedule your appointment at any of our three plastic surgery offices: the Upland office near Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga in the Inland Empire, our Pasadena office, or Santa Ana office in Orange County.

To help manage and minimize discomfort after surgery, Dr. Wang offers his patients the On-Q PainBuster® Post-Op Pain Relief System. This system consists of a small balloon that pumps anesthetic directly to the surgical site through a tiny tube. Benefits of the On-Q system include:

• Automatic and continuous pain management for up to 5 days
• Reduced potential for breakthrough pain and need for narcotics
• Compact size for discreet and comfortable use
• Simple removal once all medication has been delivered

With the ON-Q system, you can get back on your feet quickly and enjoy all life has to offer.

How is a body lift performed?

Inland Empire plastic surgeon Dr. Wang performs body lift after your weight has stabilized following gastric bypass surgery, generally 12 to 18 months later. To fully recontour your body, several surgeries may be needed, with a minimum of three months between the procedures. After a discussion of your cosmetic goals at the consultation, Dr. Wang will suggest a sequence of procedures to give you the best results in the shortest period of time.

Many of the procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, depending on your overall health. The body lift procedure targets five trouble areas that commonly plague patients after bariatric surgery:

Abdomen

Extreme weight loss normally leads to excess abdominal skin and loose abdominal muscles. The heavy, hanging skin can cause such conditions as recurrent rashes, moisture trapping and infection, requiring removal of excess abdominal skin and fat through Pasadena tummy tuck surgery. Patients who have undergone drastic weight loss may need more extensive forms of tummy tuck such as belt lipectomy or panniculectomy.

Thighs and Buttocks

Thigh lifts can help correct excess folds along the inner thighs or fat deposits along the outer thighs. This surgery may require extensive incisions along the entire length of the thigh and leg. In some cases, post-bariatric surgery patients may also benefit from a buttock lift to recontour and raise this area.

Both men and women may experience considerable sagging skin in the breast area after gastric bypass surgery. Dr. Wang can raise this drooping skin with breast lift surgery. Women may want to supplement their lift with breast implants in the Inland Empire / Upland, California area. A breast enlargement procedure can help these women achieve their ideal look, while in some cases men who suffer from gynecomastia may need liposuction to fully reduce breast size. Breast surgery may be combined with upper body lift surgery, which removes excess upper torso skin folds.

Arms

Loose skin and excess fat that hangs on the underarm area can be removed through brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery. Once the excess fat and skin are removed, Dr. Wang tightens and sews together the remaining skin to create a slimmer arm appearance.

Face and Neck

After intense weight loss, wrinkles and sagging skin on your face and neck may become more noticeable. Dr. Wang can help correct this condition by performing facelift or necklift, which tightens muscle and deep tissue while sculpting your face and neck skin. Facelifts are performed through incisions concealed inconspicuously within the hairline and by the ears.

How long does a body lift take?

Each procedure will take several hours to perform, with surgical time depending on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed and the difficulty of reconstructing the surgical area.

What can I expect after a body lift?

Because it is comprised of many surgeries over an extended period of time, body lift can cause discomfort, and may require one to three days of care in a hospital or other care facility. Often, patients who undergo body lift after bariatric surgery are at greater risk for complications because of weight-related illnesses such as sleep apnea, diabetes, heart disease, or malnutrition. Dr. Wang carefully monitors patients in these situations both before and after the surgery, and provides specialized care as needed.

What is the recovery period like?

You will be sore for several days, but you are encouraged to engage in activity when you feel ready. Dr. Wang fits patients with elastic compression garments, which must be worn continuously for several weeks, and then for a few more weeks during exercise or strenuous activity.

How long before I can return to normal activity?

Dr. Wang will carefully monitor your progress and guide you through recovery. Most patients return to non-strenuous activities within two weeks, and begin low impact exercise within four to six weeks after surgery.

The information about Body Lifts after Gastric Bypass Surgery is provided for Pasadena and Inland Empire plastic surgery patients courtesy of Dr. Stewart Wang, board certified plastic surgeon.