Complete Your Transformation with Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
For many of our patients, reaching and maintaining a healthier weight is not the final step in their overall weight loss plan. After losing a substantial amount of weight, many bariatric surgery patients are left with folds of hanging skin that can be both uncomfortable and a source of continued self-consciousness. For patients who want to eliminate this excess skin, California Bariatric & General Surgery Associates, located near Pasadena in Arcadia, offers body, arm, and thigh lift as well as other plastic surgery procedures after weight loss. These treatments can give patients the slim, healthy physiques they deserve after losing a massive amount of weight.
Plastic Surgery Procedures
Plastic surgery after weight loss is performed to remove surplus skin that does not fit the new shape of the body. There are treatments available for almost any part of the body, giving our patients all the tools they need to achieve a trimmer, more attractive body shape. Body lift, arm lift, thigh lift, and breast enhancement are options for both LAP-BAND® and gastric bypass patients.
Body Lift
Body lift is designed to remove excess skin from the upper and/or lower torso. It is common for people who lose a significant amount of weight to be left with lax skin in this area, which may make it difficult or impossible to sit comfortably. Many people with excess skin also experience painful rashes and skin infections for which plastic surgery after weight loss is the only effective solution.
Because each patient's needs are unique, the body lift procedure must be customized in each case. Body lift may involve treating only the lower body, only the upper body, or some combination of the two. In many cases, it is also combined with treatments for other parts of the body as part of a comprehensive procedure known as a full-body lift.
Body lift is a major surgical procedure requiring significant recovery time. For many patients, however, plastic surgery represents the final stage in a transformative process that begins with massive weight loss and ends with a slimmer body shape, a higher level of physical fitness, and improved self-confidence.
Arm Lift
Our plastic surgeons perform arm lift surgery after weight loss to remove excess skin and tissue from the upper and lower arms. When fat collects on the arms, the skin must stretch to accommodate it. Deposits normally accumulate on the back and underside of each arm. Once substantial weight has been lost, patients are left with flaps of skin that hang uncomfortably from the upper arms. These flaps are particularly visible when the arms are raised to point or gesture, which is why many people are embarrassed to do so.
Through an incision concealed along the inside of the upper arm, our surgeons can remove excess skin and residual tissue from both the upper and lower arm, performing a lift to tighten the remaining skin. The result is a slimmer arm with skin that conforms to the body’s new shape. For patients whose wardrobes were previously limited by the folds of skin on their arms, new possibilities open up; after an arm lift, they can dress as they please with the confidence that comes with having well-toned arms.
Thigh Lift
Because the thighs are a common problem area for post-bariatric plastic surgery patients, thigh lift is popular after massive weight loss. Excess skin on the thighs can make it difficult to wear shorts, swimsuits, and similarly revealing clothing. In addition, many bariatric patients decide to seek a thigh lift after finding that they are experiencing chronic chafing, rashes, and other irritation on the inner thighs.
There are several types of thigh lift procedures that can be performed to remove skin and residual fat from different parts of the upper legs. Our surgeons discuss the options in detail with each patient to determine which approach will be most effective. Thigh lift incisions are typically concealed along the inner thighs and the natural creases of the body, making it difficult to tell that surgery has been performed. After surgery, the thighs are slimmer, eliminating painful rubbing and improving the contour of the legs.
Breast Lift and Augmentation
The breasts are among the parts of the body most affected by weight loss. As a female bariatric patient loses weight, her breasts often lose their shape and firmness. The breasts may become flatter and saggier. Breast lift and augmentation are two ways to restore an attractive feminine contour to a woman's breasts after weight loss.
For women who simply want to restore their breasts to a more youthful position, breast lift is ideal: the surgeon can lift the breast to a higher point on the chest and relocate the nipple to improve the overall appearance of the breast. For women who have lost significant breast volume during the weight loss process, breast implants can improve both shape and size. There are many options available, making breast surgery an excellent option for many post-bariatric patients.
There are also options available for male patients to tighten and tone the chest after weight loss. By removing excess skin, glandular tissue, and fat from the chest area, our surgeons can restore a masculine contour to the chest through plastic surgery. After weight loss, this is often the perfect way for males to finish improving their overall appearance.
Meet Our Plastic Surgeons
Brian A. Cox, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Brian Cox is a skilled cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon with offices in Beverly Hills and Pasadena, near Arcadia, who performs plastic surgery for our patients after successful weight loss. Dr. Cox is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and he offers world-class care to patients from throughout Southern California and the rest of the world.
Having received advanced training from some of the most prestigious medical institutions in the United States in addition to his many years of practical experience, Dr. Cox is qualified to perform surgery on almost any area of the body. He completed a fellowship in aesthetic cosmetic surgery at Harvard University and attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine in Kansas City; he also trained at the University of Tennessee at Memphis and at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. Dr. Cox performs arm, thigh, and body lift procedures for our patients in addition to a host of other popular procedures, all in the comfort and safety of his state-of-the-art surgical facilities.
Lawton W. Tang, M.D.
From his practice in Altadena, award-winning plastic surgeon Lawton W. Tang, M.D., offers a range of popular, cutting-edge cosmetic surgery options. Dr. Tang has special expertise in post-bariatric plastic surgery; he has trained with some of the finest surgeons in the world, including a fellowship with the innovator of the full body lift, Dr. Dennis Hurwitz, and has contributed to groundbreaking research in the field of post-bariatric surgery. Among other awards, Dr. Tang won first place at the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation for his work performing plastic surgery after weight loss.
Dr. Lawton Tang is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Society, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He was trained at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and the Medical College of Georgia.
Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss - Results
Perhaps the best way to understand the power of post-bariatric surgery is to actually see what it can accomplish. These images show actual patients of our practice serving Pasadena and Arcadia who underwent body, thigh, and arm lift - and other plastic surgery - after successful weight loss.
Contact Our Bariatric Treatment Center for Plastic Surgery after Weight Loss
When you are ready to learn more about the benefits of plastic surgery after weight loss, contact California Bariatric and General Surgery Associates in Arcadia. Serving Pasadena and surrounding communities, our surgeons perform thigh, arm, and body lift in addition to other procedures designed to correct for the after-effects of massive weight loss. Bariatric surgery can help you become healthy; post-bariatric plastic surgery can help you look and feel your very best.
