Post-Bariatric Surgery: Body Contouring After Obesity Surgery

Excessive weight loss after obesity surgery can lead to sagging and deformation in the body, which can impact the individual’s body harmony. The post-bariatric surgical procedures performed by Prof. Dr. Özay Özkaya aim to restore the body’s natural shape and address deformities in areas such as the face, abdomen, arms, breasts, and legs.

Post-bariatric surgery encompasses all procedures aimed at correcting sagging and deformities in the body caused by excessive weight loss following obesity surgery, also known as bariatric surgery.

Post-bariatric surgeries are performed by plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeons worldwide and in Turkey. After significant weight loss, sagging and deformities are inevitable in areas such as the face, arms, breasts, back, abdomen, and legs.

The correction surgeries are planned based on the degree of sagging and the patient's discomfort, and the procedures are divided into multiple sessions. In some cases, multiple surgeries may be performed in a single session. Ultimately, the goal is for the patient to achieve a natural and aesthetic appearance.

When should post-bariatric surgery be performed?

Typically, after bariatric surgery, patients reach their target weight within 12-18 months. To achieve good results from post-bariatric body contouring surgeries, the patient should have reached their target weight and maintained it for at least three months. In some cases, particularly when deformities in the abdominal region start to restrict the patient's movement or cause hygiene issues, surgery may be considered earlier. However, since these patients are likely to continue losing weight in the following months, they may require secondary contouring surgery after they reach their final weight.

How should surgery planning be done for post-bariatric patients?

In post-bariatric body contouring surgeries, to minimize anesthesia-related complications and surgical risks, it is more appropriate to divide the procedures into sessions with at least a 4-6 month interval between each surgery. The first surgery typically involves the removal of excess skin and subcutaneous fat from the abdomen, waist, and genital areas, known as a belt lipectomy. After shaping the abdomen and waist, I generally perform brachioplasty (arm lift) and mastopexy (breast lift) surgeries for arm and breast sagging 4-6 months later. Finally, I recommend facial and neck lifts, along with fat injections, to treat sagging skin on the face and neck and restore facial volume.