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Surgery after weight loss

Cosmetic Procedures to Put the Finishing Touches on Your Post-Weight Loss Achievement

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Often times there is seldom anything more gratifying than achieving a personal goal you set for yourself.  For many of my patients, achieving dramatic weight loss goals is quite a feat that should be celebrated but instead, it is put on hiatus due to excessive skin left over from significant weight drops.  As a board certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience specializing in cosmetic breast and body procedures, helping my patients reach the pinnacle of their weight-loss journey is invaluable to me.

The biggest challenge after dramatic weight loss/gain is excess skin and tissue that can be difficult to manage with proper exercise and nutrition and can be embarrassing for a patient.  There are a number of procedures that are designed to eliminate any cause for concern, to create their desired sleek, toned silhouette.  Below are some of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery treatments for men and women following weight loss:

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For more information about body contouring procedures like tummy tuck, breast, arm or thigh lift, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, today. Be sure to also stay updated on the latest plastic and reconstructive news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

3 Body Contouring Procedures that Help with Excess Skin

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Congratulations! Through your hard work and dedication, you’ve reached your goal weight. Once the pounds are shed, you deserve to celebrate the new you without any hang ups. A common frustration seen by board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott is excess skin after significant weight loss. In many cases, excess skin cannot be removed by even the most diligent of diet and exercise plans. Because of this, it’s often best to seek the help of an experienced surgeon. Below, find three popular procedures that post-weight loss patients often seek to achieve the toned, tightened results they desire.

  1. weight-loss-plastic-surgeryTummy Tuck: Tummy tuck surgery removes fat and excess skin in the lower abdominal region to provide a smoother, leaner physique. Also known as abdominoplasty, Dr. Elliott performs this procedure with a small incision across the lower abdomen, easily hidden by a bathing suit or underwear.  If necessary, the abdominal muscles can be tightened. “Mini” tummy-tuck procedures are suitable for individuals who have minimal fat and excess skin, but do not address weakened or separated abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks provide notable long-term results in post-weight loss patients.
  1. Arm Lift: Excess arm skin left after weight loss can be difficult to conceal, leaving you self-conscious about wearing clothing and bathing suits. With arm lift surgery, Dr. Elliott carefully makes an incision towards the back of the arm to minimize scarring. The size of the scar is dependent on the area that needs to be removed. Dr. Elliott will discuss how much improvement you can expect with each option and where the scar will be located. Results after arm lift surgery, also known as brachioplasty, are long-lasting but continuing the healthy lifestyle maintained during your weight loss lifestyle change is encouraged to maintain optimal results.
  1. Thigh Lift: Another place that excess skin lingers is the thighs. The best candidates for thigh lifts, which removes excess skin and tissue from the inner and/or outer thighs to create tightened proportions, are those who are at a stabilized weight. When you reach your weight loss goals, thigh lifts are a great method of body contouring to bring overall balance to your body.

For more information on body contouring procedures, please contact us today. Be sure to stay updated on the latest plastic and reconstructive news by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

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

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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+.