What are the types of excess skin removal procedures?
There are several different procedures for removing excess skin. Most people need a combination of surgeries to get the look they seek. Your doctor can help determine which procedures will benefit you the most.
Excess skin removal procedures include:
- Arm lift (brachioplasty) to remove excess skin that hangs down from your upper arm.
- Breast lift (mastopexy)to firm up breasts by tightening tissue and removing excess skin.
- Facelift (rhytidectomy) to give your face a smoother, younger appearance and get rid of excess skin around your neck.
- Lower body lift to remove excess skin and fat from your stomach, butt and outer thighs.
- Panniculectomy to remove the apron of excess skin (called a pannus) that hangs below your belly button.
- Thigh lift to give your inner thighs a sleeker appearance.
- Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to remove excess skin and tighten weak or separated abdominal muscles.
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What can I expect before excess skin removal surgery?
Follow your doctor’s recommendations when preparing for surgery. You may need to:
- Get blood work (lab tests).
- Stop taking certain medications that increase bleeding risk, such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Not take vitamins and herbal supplements.
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products.
What happens during excess skin removal surgery?
Depending on the procedures, you may have surgery at a hospital and stay overnight. Or the procedure may take place at a surgical facility, and you’ll go home the same day (outpatient procedure).
Excess skin removal often takes place in stages. You may need multiple surgeries. Certain procedures, such as a lower body lift or a panniculectomy combined with a tummy tuck, can occur during the same surgical appointment.
Can excess skin removal take place at the same time as another weight loss surgery?
No. Excess skin removal surgeries can only take place after bariatric (weight loss) surgery. A plastic surgeon can’t remove the excess skin until you lose the extra weight. It may take one to two years to achieve your goal weight after bariatric surgery. You also need to maintain that weight loss for at least six months before getting body contouring procedures.
Also, two different types of surgeons perform these procedures:
- Bariatric surgeons perform weight loss procedures like gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.
- Plastic (cosmetic) surgeons perform body contour procedures.
You may have heard that you can have liposuction and body contouring, such as a tummy tuck, at the same time. Liposuction can help remove stubborn fat deposits, but it isn’t a weight loss surgery. Your surgeon can discuss if a combined procedure is right for you.
