Body Contouring after Weight Loss in San Francisco & Sonoma County

In patients who are able to lose a significant amount of weight, it is often necessary to remove large sections of skin to tighten and lift various areas of the body. Weight loss can be difficult. We recommend doing so in discussion with a nutritionist and your primary care doctor to ensure that you are doing it safely. If you have previously undergone gastric bypass surgery or a gastric sleeve, we will work closely with your nutritionist or general surgeon to optimize your healing potential and determine when is the best time for you to undergo body contouring surgery.

An ideal esthetic outcome provides a trimmer figure without the loose skin and leftover pockets of fat that can detract from the results of your weight loss effort.

An ideal functional outcome improves comfort due to reduced skin chafing and allows you to participate in a wide range of activities and lead the more active lifestyle you enjoy.

Why Choose B.A.E. Plastic Surgery

Our philosophy is that great results should be esthetic, be unique to your tastes, be achievable with your anatomy, and be safe. We also keep your lifestyle in mind when explaining the options that may best suit you.
We have adopted the latest technologies and techniques that make body surgery outcomes better and safer. From performing SAFE liposuction to using an innovative no-touch closed-loop system during fat grafting to prevent contamination, we take your health and outcomes seriously.
We perform extensive photography to analyze your body from every angle and plan a procedure to get you balanced, smooth contours all the way around.
We are adept at combining a full-range of techniques to help you get the body you want in one surgery. Whether that means a trimmer midsection, thinner thighs, more tone in your upper body, or other cosmetic goals, we can plan any number of procedures to give you the body you always wanted from top to bottom.

Now is the time to take the next step and see the difference plastic surgery can make to put the finishing touches on your weight loss achievement. Please contact us online or call / text 415-523-5235 to schedule a consultation with us.

Schedule a Consultation

Please contact us online or call (415) 523-5235 to schedule a surgical consultation with Dr. Pourtaheri.

Summary

Service Type

Body Contouring After Weight Loss

Provider Name

Dr. Navid Pourtaheri | Dr. Melissa Mueller,

Area

San Francisco Bay Area

Description

After achieving significant weight loss, trust our San Francisco plastic surgeons to lift and tighten your face, neck, breasts, body, arms, and legs.

Who Can Benefit from After Weight Loss Plastic Surgery?

Common reasons why men and women choose plastic surgery after significant weight loss include having:

Excess / loose skin and residual fat in the abdomen
Sagging skin on the thighs that may chafe during activity
Drooping skin and pockets of fat on the upper arms
Breasts that look deflated and/or have a sagging appearance
Sagging skin on the face or below the jawline
Leftover areas of fat that detract from a thinner body shape

As with any elective cosmetic surgery, active smokers should avoid these procedures until you have quit smoking for at least 4 weeks, as the risk of wound healing complications is much higher and not worth it.

Your Consultation Appointment

Before your first visit, you will be asked to complete an intake form to document your personal and medical history, prior surgeries, medications, and allergies. At your visit we will review your goals and concerns. We will also want to learn more specifically about any prior body procedures you have undergone.

You may bring in photos of other people’s bodies that you like to help us understand your goals. Try to select photos of people with a similar overall frame to yours.

We will examine your body from various angles to ensure we take into account the surrounding areas to maximize your body appearance after surgery. We will also take photographs that will be used to help plan your surgery and track your progress after. You will have a chance to review these images and discuss the plan with us prior to surgery.

Common Procedures after Weight Loss

Body Lift

A circumferential body lift or belt lipectomy can be performed to tighten the skin all the way around your waist and/or lift the outer thighs and buttocks. This procedure also may be known as an extended tummy tuck, since the common incision on the lower abdomen is extended past the hips in order to lift and tighten the entire midsection.

Liposuction

We can combine liposuction with skin excision to remove both excess skin and fat tissue that remains even after you have achieved a healthy weight. Liposuction may be performed almost anywhere on the body or face/neck depending on where you need the most sculpting.

Breast Enhancement

In massive weight-loss patients, a breast lift can be combined with a chest recontouring procedure to tighten the skin around the armpits and upper back as well. We can also place breast implants to make up for the lost breast volume that many women experience after significant weight loss.

Thigh Lift

As the thigh tissues age and sag, removing skin to slim and tighten the thighs can provide a toned look. In some cases, a short scar technique is enough, whereas in more severe cases, a longer incision can be used to tighten the entire thigh and groin area as well. There are a variety of techniques and incisions when it comes to thigh lifting that we can discuss. We will review the best options in your case, for you to choose from. Combined with our very thorough liposuction, a thigh lift can dramatically enhance your thigh shape and prevent chafing altogether!

Arm Lift

Women tend to store fat in their arms more than men do, and over time the skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag and hang. In younger patients your skin contracts better and liposuction alone can thin / tone the arms enough. However, in patients who have lost a significant amount of weight, or developed loose skin over time, we provide excisional procedures to restore the arm contours and tighten the skin.

In some cases, a short scar technique is enough, whereas in more severe cases, a longer incision can be used to tighten the entire arm and armpit area as well. There are a variety of techniques and incisions when it comes to arm lifting that we can discuss. We will review the best options in your case, for you to choose from.

Facelift / Neck Lift

In patients who have achieved massive weight loss, excess skin can result in premature aging of the face and neck region. A facelift and/or neck lift performed with special attention to these sagging areas will help restore a youthful and balanced appearance that compliments your new weight.

Recovery after Post-Weight Loss Surgery

After the operating room, you will be taken to a recovery area to be cared for. You may go home the same day or recover in the hospital if you have extensive work done. You will have a supportive garment and perhaps other supportive dressings. We may offer longer-acting numbing medication to help speed up your recovery. We let you start showering the next day and most patients can return to work 1-2 weeks after surgery.

Antibiotics are generally given on the day of surgery and are given after surgery in some patients. We find that many of our patients do not need opioids after surgery and do well with Tylenol and non-drowsy pain medications. After surgery, you will have bruising and soreness for several days. Regular walking is encouraged to prevent blood clots, starting the morning after surgery. It can help to limit strenuous exercise or high-impact activities for 1 to 2 weeks.

We generally like to check on you in person the week after surgery. We will schedule additional visits to check on your healing progress, which can be done virtually if you live out of town. Healing takes time and your body shape will continue to improve over the next several months as you wear your compression garments. You will receive after-care instructions before and after your surgery and have plenty of time to ask questions.

When you are ready to take the next step, please contact us online using our confidential form or call / text 415-523-5235 to schedule a consultation.