In 2006, approximately 65,000 patients underwent body contouring procedures
following bariatric surgery.33 It is fairly
common for bariatric surgery patients to experience “hanging” or “sagging”
skin after surgery due to:
Time: As you get older, your skin loses its elasticity.
Weight: The more excess weight you carry, the more your skin is
stretched and the more likely it is that you will develop "sagging" skin.
Diet history: Think of your skin as a balloon. Each time you gain
weight, you inflate the balloon. Each time you lose weight, you deflate the
balloon.
Smoking: Smoking breaks down collagen, a key protein in connective
tissue that gives skin its healthy strength and elasticity.
Sun: Regularly laying out in the sun for hours makes skin less elastic.
Skin type: Some skin types have more elasticity than others.
The most common body contouring procedures are:
Breast reductions
Abdominoplasty/lower-body lifts
Upper-arm lifts
Thigh lifts
If you are interested in body contouring surgery, be sure to speak with the Bariatric Surgery Coordinator. He or she may be able to recommend a board-certified plastic surgeon.
