Body Contouring Surgery

After Massive Weight Loss

The First Step: Choosing a Surgeon You Can Trust

Selecting a plastic surgeon certified by the Mexican Board of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery and a full member of the Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery ensures that your surgeon is qualified and up-to-date, giving you confidence in your choice.

Who Is a Candidate?

Massive weight loss, whether from bariatric surgery, diet, or exercise, often results in skin and tissue that lacks elasticity and fails to conform to the new body shape. This can lead to:

• Sagging arms.
• Deflated, drooping breasts with downward-facing nipples.
• A loose, apron-like abdomen.
• Hanging skin around the buttocks, groin, and thighs.

Body contouring surgery improves the shape and tone of underlying tissues supporting fat and skin by removing excess skin and fat. This results in a more normalized body appearance, achieving the ultimate goal of massive weight loss.

To be eligible, patients should:

• Maintain a stable weight for at least six months before surgery.
• Be in good overall health and non-smokers.
• Have realistic goals and a positive outlook.
• Experience significant sagging in one or more areas that cannot be corrected with diet or exercise.

The procedure can also improve irregular skin depressions, such as cellulite. Body contouring surgery typically addresses the following areas: arms, breasts, abdomen, lower back, buttocks, groin, and thighs.

Planning Your Procedure

During your consultation:

• Discussion: Share your reasons for seeking surgery and your expectations.
• Evaluation: Your medical history, allergies, treatments, and any prior surgeries will be reviewed. A full physical examination will assess your body mass index, skin quality, and the areas of concern.
• Documentation: Photos will be taken for medical records, and ideal surgical options for your case will be discussed.
• Testing: Blood tests will determine optimal hemoglobin levels and clotting function. Pre-surgical preparations may include autologous blood transfusion, where your blood is collected two weeks prior for use during or after surgery.

The Procedure

• Anesthesia: General anesthesia is typically used, keeping you fully asleep during the procedure, which lasts approximately 5–6 hours.
• Incisions:
  • All body contouring procedures require incisions to remove excess tissue. While some incisions may be extensive, their length and placement depend on your case and preferences.
  • Advanced techniques ensure scars are strategically placed to be less visible or concealed by clothing.
  • Body contouring is often performed in stages:
    • First Surgery: Abdomen, back, buttocks, and arms.
    • Second Surgery: Thighs, breasts, and remaining areas.
  • Techniques by Area:
    • Body Lift: A circumferential incision at the waist addresses the abdomen, buttocks, waist, hips, and outer thighs.
    • Breast Lift: Incisions may be lollipop-shaped (around the areola and vertically to the breast fold) or anchor-shaped (around the areola, vertically, and horizontally along the fold). Implants may be used for additional volume.
    • Arm Lift: Incisions are hidden along the inner arm, extending from the elbow to the armpit, or confined to the armpit area.
    • Thigh Lift: Incisions start in the groin area and may extend to the inner knee depending on the severity of sagging.
• Closure: Internal sutures help create the new contour.

Recovery

• After surgery, surgical sites will be covered with tapes, dressings, and compression garments to minimize swelling and support new contours.
• A thin tube may be placed under the skin to drain excess blood or fluid.
• Specific instructions will be provided for:
  • Caring for incisions.
  • Taking medications to manage pain and prevent infection.

Your New Look

• Immediate Results: Improvements are noticeable almost immediately, but final results may take up to six months to fully develop.
• Scars: While scars are permanent, they will fade significantly over time.
• Longevity: Results can be long-lasting, particularly with stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. Although natural aging may reduce firmness, most improvements achieved through body contouring will remain, leaving you delighted with your transformation.