Behind the Scenes: TV Weight Loss Contestants and Post-Weight Loss Surgery

We’ve all seen those primetime TV shows where celebrity athletic trainers help everyday Americans lose weight the hard way—through diet and exercise. We follow them throughout the season to watch their weight loss transformations, but often don’t see what takes place between the regular season and the final results show. When individuals lose large amounts of weight quickly the skin often doesn’t have the time to keep up with the shrinkage leaving behind excess, sagging skin. Not only do weight loss patients find this extra skin to be bothersome and embarrassing, it can cause trouble during every day activities too.

Many post-bariatric and rapid weight loss patients seek plastic surgery to help eliminate the extra skin that can cause chafing, discomfort, and pain. Post-bariatric body contouring helps shape and tighten areas of sagging fat and skin while toning the underlying tissues for a more shapely and proportional silhouette. Body contouring can be performed almost anywhere to help patients achieve their desired look: arms, breasts, abdomen, back, flanks, and more.

Brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery, helps patients eliminate the sagging tissue and skin that occurs under the arm between the arm pit and the elbow. Colloquially known as a “bat wing,” this area of the arm is often hard to tone using just exercise alone. The arm lift procedure helps tighten up this sagging skin for a more toned appearance. Incisions under the arms mean scars are often hidden on the inner arm, along the back of the arm, or within the arm pit.

Breast lift surgery helps patients whose breasts may have begun to sag as a result of major weight loss. As with other areas of skin, the breasts can begin to sag and look deflated after post-bariatric surgery or even pregnancy. Breast lift surgery eliminates excess skin while moving the breasts into a more aesthetically pleasing position on the chest. For those looking to return their breasts to their former fullness, breast lift surgery can be combined with breast augmentation.

Abdominoplasty, more commonly referred to as tummy tuck surgery, involves the removal of excess skin and fat from around the waist. Oftentimes with weight loss, the lax skin left around the stomach and lower abdomen creates an “apron” appearance as it sags over the waistline. Tummy tuck surgery can remove this excess skin, and can also work to tighten underlying stomach muscles that have been stretched or torn during pregnancy.

Though you don’t see it, many contestants on weight loss shows opt for body contouring procedures after their weight loss journeys. Removing excess skin and tissue can help patients achieve their desired appearance. Dr. Franklyn Elliott offers body contouring at his Atlanta and Alpharetta locations. Contact our office for a consultation. Stay up to date on the latest plastic surgery news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.