Cosmetic Surgery After Major Weight Loss

Following major weight loss, many men and women find that their bodies are still harboring excess skin and fat — despite diet and exercise. These issues often persist, even after reaching a healthy body weight.

If you want to improve the shape and tone of your body after weight loss, it may be time to consider body contouring with Des Moines plastic surgeon, Dr. David Robbins. Body contouring is a versatile surgery that targets several problem areas in a single surgery.

Schedule A Consultation

To learn more about the treatment of Body Contouring After Weight Loss in West Des Moines, Iowa, contact us and schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Robbins.

Diagram showing how a body lift tightens tissue in the midsection

A body lift tightens tissue in the midsection.

A breast lift elevates sagging breasts after weight loss.

A breast lift elevates sagging breasts after weight loss.

A breast lift elevates sagging breasts after weight loss.

Brachioplasty tightens loose tissue on the upper arm.

When To Consider Body Contouring

Body contouring after weight loss is designed to treat multiple regions of your body in a single surgery and can be custom-tailored to address your problem areas. You may be a good candidate for body contouring if you:

  • Have reached your ideal weight and have been stable for at least a year
  • Are suffering from excess skin and stubborn pockets of fat
  • Are healthy and realistic about the surgery

Though body contouring won’t necessarily give you a “perfect” body, it can significantly improve your appearance and quality of life. Oftentimes it also allows a person to exercise without annoying skin getting in the way and makes clothes fit more comfortably.

You can determine if body contouring is right for you by scheduling a personal cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins. He is Iowa’s only quadruple board-certified plastic surgeon, and he specializes in cosmetic surgery.

Benefits of Cosmetic Surgery After Weight Loss

Losing a significant amount of weight is an achievement that can dramatically improve your health and quality of life. However, after such a transformation, excess skin and pockets of stubborn fat can remain, affecting your body’s contours and overall appearance. Cosmetic surgery provides a solution to enhance your physique and restore your confidence.

Key benefits of post-weight loss cosmetic surgery include:

  • Improved Appearance: Removing excess skin results in a more toned and attractive body shape.
  • Enhanced Comfort: Eliminating sagging skin reduces irritation and physical discomfort.
  • Increased Confidence: Achieving a more contoured body can significantly boost your self-esteem.
  • Better Fit for Clothing: A more proportionate body shape allows clothes to fit more comfortably and look more flattering.
  • Long-Lasting Results: With stable weight maintenance, the improvements from surgery can be enduring.

The Consultation Process

Your journey to a refined body shape begins with a thorough consultation with Dr. Robbins. During this appointment, Dr. Robbins will review your medical history and overall health to confirm you are a suitable candidate. He will discuss your cosmetic goals and expectations to determine the most appropriate procedures. A physical examination will be conducted to identify the areas that will benefit from surgery. Based on this assessment, Dr. Robbins will develop a personalized surgical plan tailored to your unique needs and aesthetic objectives.

Results and Recovery

Body contouring surgery can produce dramatic improvements in your appearance. While you will see immediate changes, the final results will become more apparent as swelling decreases over time.

Recovery expectations include:

  • Initial Recovery: Most patients resume light activities within two to three weeks.
  • Complete Recovery: Strenuous activities and exercise are typically resumed after six to eight weeks.
  • Follow-Up Care: Regular post-operative visits to monitor healing and ensure the best outcomes.

Cost

The cost of body contouring after weight loss varies based on several factors, including the specific procedures needed and additional expenses such as anesthesia and post-operative care. During your consultation, Dr. Robbins will provide a comprehensive cost estimate tailored to your personalized surgical plan. 

Watch A Real Patient Story About Body Contouring

Body Contouring After Weight Loss Frequently Asked Questions

Because body contouring is tailored to address each individual’s specific body type and cosmetic concerns, the actual surgical details can vary considerably.

Some of our most popular body contouring procedures include tummy tuck surgery, liposuction, arm lift surgery and body lift surgery. Each of these procedures will be discussed at length during your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins.

Surgery will take place in our fully accredited operating room located at our office. A post-recovery document explaining how to take care of yourself after surgery will be given to you before you leave our office.

One will also be sent to your home before surgery for your review. After approximately 5 to 7 days, light physical activity is recommended. In general, recovery times vary depending on the number of procedures performed as well as other factors.

Most patients should anticipate up to four weeks of limited activity. Dr. Robbins will provide you with specific post-operative instructions for returning to work and other routines during your follow-up appointments.

Scarring can be minimized, but not avoided completely. Scars are an inevitable part of the healing process, but Dr. Robbins will do everything in his power to conceal incision lines within the natural folds of your body.

Scarring is an important consequence to consider prior to elective surgery; however, most of our patients consider the resulting scars a fair trade-off after seeing their final results.

Body contouring will produce significant, long-lasting results. However, it’s important to note that your body will not be immune to the natural aging process. Additionally, significant weight changes may impact your results over time.

Like all major surgeries, body contouring presents a degree of risk. Some of these risks include adverse reactions to anesthesia, infection, numbness, potential for blood clots, need for revision surgery, undesirable scarring and prolonged healing. These risks are rare and will be discussed in-depth during your cosmetic consultation with Dr. Robbins here at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™.

Learn More About Body Contouring In Des Moines

Are you ready to make a dramatic change in your life? Let Dr. Robbins, a quadruple board-certified plastic surgeon, reveal the full extent of your weight loss with body contouring surgery. To schedule your cosmetic consultation, please contact our office at 515-221-9999 or email us through the online contact form.

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