Written by Dr. Stacey June
GLP-1 and like medications (e.g. Ozempic) are changing medicine and our bodies. These medications have wonderful effects for multiple medical conditions… including weight loss. Unfortunately, with weight loss we also see resultant deflation which can cause you to look older than you did and excess skin that causes rashes and pain.
How can your plastic surgeon help you…
From face to fanny, follow here to learn how to combat deflation.
Face/Neck/Eyes:
Fat in the face is youthful. If volume loss is your concern, there are numerous options… from temporary fillers like hyaluronic acids to more permanent solutions such as fat transfer. These works by adding volume back to the face for a more youthful look.
Excess skin: excess skin in the face/jowls/neck area often need a more invasive procedure life a face/neck lift. These procedures put an incision around your ears to remove the extra skin.
Excess skin on the upper eyelids can sometimes interfere with peripheral vision. If this is the case, your insurance may even cover upper eyelid blepharoplasty. An upper eyelid blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure the requires an incision to remove the extra skin and can be done in the office with local anesthetics or with sedation in an operating room.
Chest:
Both men and women may end up with a sagging breast after large weight loss and there is a limitation on how much you can expect that skin to bounce back.
For men, this is called gynecomastia surgery. An excess of skin, fat, breast tissue or all 3 are surgically removed through incisions and contouring liposuction to give a more masculine shape to the pec/breast.
For women, an excess of skin alone is corrected with a mastopexy which involves surgery typically with an anchor shaped incision. If there is excess skin and breast tissue, so much so that it is causing rashes and back pain, your insurance may cover a breast reduction. A breast reduction reduces not just extra skin but breast tissue as well for someone who is looking for an elevated and smaller breast. Lastly, if your weight loss has left you with hypomastia or too small of a breast, this can be augmented by either a transfer of fat or an implant depending upon the volume needed. This could also be combined with a mastopexy to decrease the skin envelope while simultaneously increasing the breast volume.
Abdomen:
For the few whose only issue is lipodystrophy (uneven fat) of their abdomen, liposuction can be a great way to remove those stubborn areas. However, significant weight loss of the abdomen is often associated with an overhanging apron of skin and fat (called a pannus) that causes back pain and rashes. Insurance will sometimes cover a panniculectomy (excision of pannus) which will correct this overhanging pannus by surgically removing it with a long scar in the lower abdomen. However, most patients after this much weight reduction, also have concerns about their mid and upper abdomen. This will require abdominoplasty. Abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that will include a fascial plication (tightening of the abdominal musculature), remove even more fat and skin (usually to above the belly button) and umbilical transposition (moving of the belly button). In most extreme cases this is further enhanced with a vertical incision called a Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty. Which version is correct for you depends upon where your excess is and what your goals are.
Buttocks:
The loss of fat in the buttocks can leave you feeling flat. Fat can be added back into the buttock through a fat transfer (liposuction from one part of the body and transfer with cannulas back into the buttock). If there is a severe excess of skin, it can also be excised and lifted through a surgical procedure called a lower body lift.
Arms and Legs:
The most common areas to sag on the arms are the “wings” or inner upper arm. The most common areas on the legs are the medial thigh. Either area is hard to treat with liposuction alone due to the excess of skin. A brachioplasty (incision to remove extra skin of arms) or medial thigh lift ( to remove the extra skin between the legs) is often needed.
Your plastic surgeon and you…
Weight loss, whether from GLP’s, diet and exercise, or gastric bypass surgery will help you find a smaller, healthier you. It is shown to improve multiple medical comorbidities including cancer risks, heart disease, and diabetes. When you have plateaued in your weight loss (have a stable weight for more than 3 months) you can meet with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon to discuss your skin reduction needs. Every body is different and the surgeries offered to you will be based on the severity of your excess skin, your desired final results, and the expertise of your surgeon. These often need to be performed in several smaller surgeries rather than all at once. Here at ASC, we have three plastic and reconstructive surgeons who will listen to your needs and help you reach your contouring goals. To discuss your options, book an appointment today at one of our offices in Danbury, Ridgefield, or Norwalk by calling us or requesting your appointment online.
– Dr. Stacey June
– Dr. Stacey JuneDr. Stacey June is a board-certified Plastic, Reconstructive & Hand Surgeon specializing in breast surgery, including breast augmentations, lifts, reductions, male breast reduction, post-mastectomy breast reconstruction as well as facelifts, necklifts, eyelid surgery, liposuction, tummy tucks, mommy makeovers, excess skin removal, body procedures, reconstruction following trauma or surgery, treatment of hand conditions, and non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox & Fillers and more. She sees patients at Advanced Specialty Care’s Danbury, CT and Ridgefield, CT offices.
ADVANCED SPECIALTY CARE
Advanced Specialty Care’s Plastic, Cosmetic & Reconstructive surgeons have been rated and awarded as some of the very best in Connecticut, offering the newest and most sophisticated cosmetic & plastic surgery procedures, reconstructive surgeries and non-invasive treatment options for patients of all ages. Call today or request your appointment online with a doctor at any of our convenient offices in Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, and Ridgefield, CT.
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