Body lift Melbourne

When people undergo a massive weight loss (whether it’s through bariatric surgery or through exercise and dietary changes), they generally do so because they want to both look and feel better. However, sometimes people are surprised to find that they are left with a large amount of excess skin after their weight loss is complete. Unfortunately, while fat tissue will respond to bariatric surgery or to lifestyle changes, skin often will not. After a person loses a lot of weight, there is nothing they can do to make their skin “bounce back” to match their new body contour. The excess skin may drape and hang from the body.

Why does excess skin remain?

Someone who is very overweight has spent many years gradually accumulating excess fat tissue. As the fat tissue grows, the skin also grows in order to accommodate it. The body grows as much extra skin as is necessary to cover the fat.

In general, the body will not reabsorb this extra skin tissue once the fat is gone. Skin is somewhat elastic, and in some people, it will shrink down to some degree. However, it’s rare that it will shrink enough to adhere to the new body contour. The person simply has too much skin for their new body size. Without tissue underneath to support it, it tends to hang from the body in folds.

There are no lifestyle changes that will get rid of excess skin in someone who has this problem. Some patients spend time at the gym in hopes of helping the skin to tighten. Exercise may build muscle tissue, but will not remove skin. There are also no supplements or special diets that will be able to make the skin shrink down and fit smoothly onto the new body shape. The only way to truly remove the extra tissue is through a surgical procedure. This procedure can be known as body contouring surgery, or a body lift.

A body lift is surgical removal of excess skin

Body lifts are custom-designed for each patient, in order to address the specific areas of concern. Because each person’s pattern of weight gain and weight loss is different, the places where excess skin remains will also be different for everyone. Some common areas that can be addressed during a body lift include the abdomen, upper thighs, breasts, and upper arms.

During the procedure, the the surgeon will carefully remove the right amount of excess tissue from each selected part of the body, tightening the skin to help it adhere to the new body contour. The placement of the incisions varies on each part of the body; this is generally chosen so as to make the resulting scars as discreet as possible. The specifics of incision placement will be discussed with the patient ahead of time.

If there are any stubborn deposits of fat that are still remaining after the weight loss, these may also be removed as part of the procedure. Sometimes, they can be removed directly along with excess skin; another option may be to add liposuction in order to address this concern.

Are you considering a body lift Melbourne?

If you’ve undergone a massive weight loss, then it’s best to wait until your weight stabilizes before considering having this procedure. It often takes about a year after bariatric surgery, but it varies from person to person. After your weight is stabilized, if you’re bothered by excess skin, then you could consider body contouring surgery.

If this is your situation, a consultation with a plastic surgeon will help to clarify what your specific needs are and what might work best in your situation. If you’re in the Melbourne area, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ross. Please contact our office to book your appointment.