Plastic Surgery after Bariatric Procedures

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER PLASTIC SURGERY AFTER A BARIATRIC PROCEDURE?
Loose skin can be a problem anytime an individual loses a sizable amount of weight, but excess skin present after bariatric surgery is often times much more of an issue than it would be following more traditional weight reduction methods. Anytime significant weight loss occurs, problems can arise, ranging from minor things like certain types of clothes no fitting right, to more serious appearance-related or medical issues. The question is, should you consider having plastic surgery after weight loss?

There are many different types of plastic surgery after weight loss with lapband or another form bariatric surgery. One possible operation removal of excess skin after weight loss that a person may face is that to correct problems around the upper arm area near the bicep or tricep. Another possible area where surgery focused toward tightening losse skin after weight reduction is upper leg or thigh area. Note, though, that in most cases it will be at least a year or two before a patient should undergo cosmetic surgery after weight loss, and even then there will be an extended recovery time required and permanent scarring is possible.

However, most occurrences of plastic surgery after weight loss surgery involve the presence of abundant skin in the abdominal area. There are two main procedures used to correct this problem, and while each is a distinct procedure they can be confused for one-another by doctors or insurance companies. If anyone tries to combine the two and convince you that these operations are one and the same, don't listen. There are highly noticeable differences between the two operations.

The first method of tightening loose skin after weight reduction surgery around the abdomen is known as a Panniculectomy. This procedure involves the actual removal of excess skin that hangs from the abdominal area (which is also called a "pannus"). A Panniculectomy is the surgery of choice when the pannus created an action medical problem -- an abdominal infection, for example. This operation does not require the surgeon to attempt to rebuild the abdominal wall, nor does it need him or her to tighten any of the abdominal-area muscular tissue. Typically, Panniculectomies can be done on an outpatient basis and rarely take more than a few hours to complete.

The alternative procedure is a "tummy tuck" or, according to the medically correct terminology, an abdominoplasty. In an abdominoplasty, excess skin is removed from the abdominal area, but the similarities to a Panniculectomy end there. A tummy tuck also requires doctors to tighten the muscles in this area in order to make the stomach appear flatter. Since the major difference between an abdominoplasty and a Panniculectomy are largely cosmetic, most insurance providers refuse to cover tummy tuck procedures. Additionally, regulations make it impossible for insurers to even cover the base cost of a Panniculectomy and leave the difference to the patient -- the patient must cover 100% of the costs. Additionally, abdominoplasties can take doctors three times longer to complete than Panniculectomies.