Obesity affects more than 60 million Americans.
Obese people often suffer serious health problems and have higher rates of
heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and cancer. For severely obese people who can't
lose weight any other way, weight loss surgery can quite literally be
lifesaving.
But weight loss surgery is no quick fix. To be
successful, surgery must be followed by lifelong changes in eating and behaviour.
And weight loss surgery, like any major surgery, carries risk. What can you
expect after undergoing weight loss surgery?
Is Weight Loss Surgery Right for You?
Recovery After Weight Loss Surgery
Most gastric bypass surgery is laparoscopic.
The small incisions from laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery make recovery time
shorter. Most people stay in the hospital for two to three days, and resume
normal activities in three to five weeks.
If the surgery must be "open" (a
laparotomy, requiring a large incision), healing time will take longer.
How Much Weight Will You Lose After Surgery?
The main thing to expect after weight loss
surgery is -- as expected -- weight loss! On average, people lose 61% of excess
weight after gastric bypass surgery.
Other surgeries such as gastric banding, result
in about 47% of excess weight loss.
Obesity-related medical problems generally
improve after weight loss surgery. Some of these improvements can be dramatic:
Obesity-related medical problem
|
Percent of people with resolution after surgery*
|
Obstructive sleep apnea
|
74%-98%
|
Diabetes
|
83%
|
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
|
72%-98%
|
Degenerative joint disease or orthopedic
problems
|
41%-76%
|
High blood pressure
|
52%-92%
|
*Ranges mean that different studies found
different percentages.
Studies also suggest people undergoing surgery
for weight loss live longer than people of similar weight who don't have
surgery, and 95% of people report an improved quality of life.
Potential Problems After Weight Loss Surgery
Most people experience no serious problems after
weight
loss surgery though 10% do have minor complications. Less than 5%
experience serious (potentially life-threatening) complications.
Wound infections
can happen up to three weeks after surgery. Symptoms include redness and
warmth, pain, or thick drainage (pus) from the surgical wound. Wound infections
require antibiotics and sometimes further surgery.
Constipation is
common after weight loss surgery. Liquid cathartics like mineral oil can help.
Avoid granular fiber (Metamucil or psyllium), which can cause obstructions.
Bleeding in
stool, which can appear as reddish or black stools, can be serious. Let your
doctor know about this immediately, or go to an emergency room.
Blood clots to
the lungs, called pulmonary emboli, occur less than 1% of the time. They
are the most common cause of death after weight loss surgery. Blood clots can
usually be prevented with blood thinning drugs and frequent activity.
Leaks in the new
connections made by the weight loss surgery are rare, but serious. They usually
occur within five days of the surgery. Abdominal pain and feeling ill are
common symptoms -- these should prompt a call to your doctor.
Gallstones commonly
occur with rapid weight loss. Up to 50% of people will develop gallstones after
gastric bypass surgery and these are usually harmless. However, gallstones can
cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, requiring surgery. About 15% to 25%
people require gallbladder removal after gastric bypass surgery.
Dumping syndrome
occurs after eating high-sugar meals after weight loss surgery. Sodas or fruit
juices are common culprits. The sugary food rushes through the stomach and can
cause nausea, vomiting, and weakness.
Excess skin may
need to be removed after rapid weight loss. This requires additional surgery.
Nutrition After Weight Loss Surgery
Nutrition After Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery causes significant changes
in how the body absorbs food. It becomes harder to absorb certain nutrients,
including:
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
Up to half of patients undergoing "roux-en-Y" gastric bypass surgery experience some vitamin deficiency. Anemia (a low blood count) is also common. Most of these vitamin deficiencies can be reduced or prevented.
Taking a "one-a-day" multivitamin
isn't enough, though. Your doctor can check the levels of nutrients in your
blood. Many people will require supplements of specific nutrients, like iron or
vitamin B12.
Lifestyle Changes After Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery can produce dramatic results. But the gains from losing weight are
not automatic. The process requires permanent lifestyle changes to be
successful.
Eating small frequent meals. The small stomach created by weight loss surgery can only hold so
much. Eating large meals can cause problems. Many people with obesity are
"binge eaters." Adapting to eating smaller meals can be a challenge.
Committing to nutrition. Serious malnutrition occurs easily in weight loss surgery patients.
Avoiding it means taking a new approach to diet and nutrition. A dietitian can
help create a plan.
Exercise . People
who exercise after weight loss surgery are less likely to regain weight.
Exercise can often be easier after substantial weight loss. Many severely obese
people are not used to exercising regularly.
Many weight loss surgery centers offer
behavioral counselling programs. These can help people make the change to a
healthier lifestyle before and after weight loss surgery.
Post Weight Loss or Post Bariatric Surgery
If you have recently undergone bariatric weight loss surgery, or have recently lost a large amount of weight without surgical treatment, you have completed a major step in fighting morbid obesity and living a healthier life with a slimmer physique. You’ve worked very hard to lose significant amounts of weight, and now may be the time for the next stage – addressing the aesthetic effects of weight loss. Extra skin folds and fat pockets brought on by significant weight loss are common after-effects that patients experience following bariatric surgery. These effects can be addressed with a variety of plastic surgery and body contouring procedures available from the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group. At our Post-Bariatric Surgery Center, a “Center of Excellence” within our practice, we can provide you with safe, effective treatment designed to eliminate excess fat and skin folds left over from significant weight loss. Many of our plastic surgeons are some of the most experienced in the area, and have been educated and trained at respected medical institutions and Universities such as Harvard, Duke University Medical Center, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Our LIPSG plastic surgeons can help you achieve your goals of having a fit, contoured physique to go with your new, slender appearance.
Please contact LIPSG to schedule a consultation for post-weight loss surgery. At your initial consultation, our plastic surgeon can address your questions and concerns, and discuss all aspects of procedures you are considering. With some procedures, we can also offer you a digital view of what the aesthetic outcome may be. Vectra 3-D imaging technology is able to show you a picture of the potential results from aesthetic enhancement procedures before you even set foot inside an operating room. You will also meet with a patient care coordinator who is an expert in post-weight loss surgery procedures and can help guide you throughout the treatment process. Our team here at LIPSG will be happy to speak with you about insurance questions and financing options for these procedures.
Post-Weight Loss/ Post-Bariatric Surgery
Individuals who have lost large amounts of weight through traditional diet and exercise, and those who undergo bariatric weight loss surgery procedures such as gastric bypass and adjustable gastric banding, often experience drooping, excess skin folds and pockets of fat in many areas of the body. This can not only diminish a patient’s self-confidence, but can also cause skin infections and problems with hygiene.
Post-bariatric surgery and after-weight loss surgery involve procedures designed to eliminate these areas of excess fat and loose skin for a more contoured appearance. While adapting a more healthy diet and a steady exercise regimen are standard parts of the post-bariatric surgery process, cosmetic enhancement procedures can go a long way in helping you attain a tighter, fit-looking physique.
Plastic surgeons at the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group will meet with you in an initial consultation and go over all aspects of post-bariatric surgery procedures with you. Your surgeon will work with you to develop an ideal plan based on your aesthetic enhancement priorities. We can also answer your questions regarding insurance coverage and financing options available for procedures you are considering. Please contact LIPSG to schedule a consultation. Our expert post-weight loss patient coordinator will assist you with your needs throughout the treatment process.
Body Lift Procedures
After-weight loss procedures can involve a number of procedures designed to provide more defined contours and tighter skin to your body. Many of these options can be combined for a total or partial body lift. We offer phased surgery treatment programs that will address a variety of body areas with surgical procedures performed in stages. Your LIPSG plastic surgeon will discuss the details of our programs with you during your initial consultation. Major procedures include:
Lower body lift (Torso lift)
A lower body lift involves removing excess fat and skin from the area of the midsection. These areas can include the buttocks, hips, love handles, abdomen, and thighs. Excess fat is eliminated and the remaining skin pulled taut for a tighter, fit appearance.
Lower body lift procedures involve an incision made around the belt-line and across the lower part of the stomach, down to the inner thighs. One of our plastic surgeons will remove extra skin and excess fat, and tighten the remaining skin for a smoother, more toned aesthetic.
Upper body lift
An upper body lift focuses on the arms, back, and breasts. Excess fat and skin folds are eliminated in these areas and the remaining skin is sculpted to achieve a firmer aesthetic. The upper body lift can be combined with a lower body lift for a complete body contouring makeover.
This procedure involves a number of smaller procedures, such as the breast lift and arm lift, performed in combination to achieve more complete skin tightening and elimination of excess skin folds and fat deposits in the upper regions of the body.
Patients should also be aware that there will be scarring after body lift procedures; however, scars typically lighten over time and become less noticeable. Plastic surgeons at LIPSG are some of the most experienced in the New York region. Our surgeons are highly skilled and adept at making scars from surgical procedures as discreet and easily hidden as possible.
Panniculectomy Procedures
One of the areas of the body that can be particularly affected by significant weight loss is the lower stomach. Excess skin that hangs below the belt line is referred to as the pannus, and can be so severe that it can often cause skin ulcers, rashes, back pain, and problems maintaining hygiene. This condition can also make it difficult to walk and even stand. Our plastic surgeons at LIPSG can perform a panniculectomy to get rid of the excess skin and fat that causes the pannus to form.
Your surgeon will remove the excess through two incisions made in the lower abdominal region and the pubic area. The remaining skin will be pulled taut. A panniculectomy typically takes about three to four hours to complete.
Other Body Lift and Contouring Procedures
A number of procedures for body contouring are available that focus on specific areas. These can be performed one at a time, or in combination for those who are candidates for body lift surgery. They include:
- Arm Lift, an arm lift (brachioplasty), involves an incision made from the armpit to the elbow. Loose, excess fat is removed and the remaining skin is redraped for a tighter appearance. Residual scarring from the incision is very discreet and should fade significantly with time. Learn more about arm lift surgery.
- Breast Lift
- Breast Augmentation with Implants
- Breast Reduction
- Facial Enhancement
- Thigh Lift, a thigh lift eliminates extra fat in the thighs and tightens the skin around the thighs and hips. Small incisions are made in the thighs and excess tissue and fat is removed. The area is then resculpted for a more fit, toned aesthetic. Learn more about thigh lift surgery.
- Buttock Lift
- Liposuction
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
Depending on the extent of your surgery, some post-weight loss procedures can be performed in operating rooms here at the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group. Many of our doctors also have privileges at major hospitals throughout the area for the convenience of patients.
Patient coordinators here at LIPSG will be here to help you through the process of post-weight loss surgical procedures. They can assist you with insurance coverage, financing information and many other aspects of pre- and post-operative surgery. The team of experts at our Post-Weight Loss Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery Center here at LIPSG are committed to helping you realize your ultimate weight loss goals. As part of our program, we can connect you with previous patients who can help you through your decision-making process and continue down the road to better health and an improved appearance.
The Long Island Plastic Surgical Group partners with leading bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, physical trainers, and psychologists in the region to help create life change. We also offer free seminars to discuss the range of post-weight surgery options available to you.
Please contact LIPSG for more information, or to schedule a consultation.
Post-Weight Loss Surgery Recovery
Recovery from after-weight loss surgery will depend on the type and extent of procedures you undergo. Full recovery from lower and upper body lift procedures may take up to two months for the body to completely heal. Although scarring from surgical procedures is often inevitable, the appearance of scars typically fade with time. Our LIPSG plastic surgeons work to minimize scarring and place incisions in areas of the body where scars can be easily hidden. Compression garments and scar reduction products can also help to reduce the noticeable signs of scarring after surgery. During your initial post-weight loss surgery consultation, you will receive more detailed recovery information once we have determined the specific procedures you are considering.
Body Contouring Risks
Risks and benefits of body contouring surgery vary with each procedure. Our LIPSG plastic surgeons are well-trained and experienced with these procedures, and make every effort to minimize the risk of complications before, during, and after surgery. At your initial consultation, our plastic surgeon will discuss all aspects of procedures with you and address any questions or concerns you may have. At this consultation you will also begin discussing with your surgeon which procedures may be the best options to meet your goals.
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