Will I Need Plastic Surgery After a Bariatric Procedure?

Bariatric procedures, such as gastric bypass, gastric band, and gastric sleeve, are amazing solutions for treating obesity. When diet and exercise fail to produce your desired results, bariatric surgery adjusts the digestive system to assist in significant weight loss and improve your quality of life.

While weight loss varies based on procedure type and by the individual, once the patient is out of surgery and in recovery, they can expect to lose an average of 50 to 100 pounds of excess weight. As a result of drastic weight loss, patients are typically faced with two common concerns: scarring and loose skin.

Minimize Post-Bariatric Surgery Scarring

Medical advancements make bariatric procedures minimally invasive; however, some small incisions between the belly button and chest are still necessary. Your surgeon will provide a post-surgery plan with proper wound care. Depending on the patient’s diligence, incisions typically heal and begin to transition into scars within a few months.

Scarring is normal. While scars are more visible just after surgery, they will fade within the first and second years post-surgery. However, there are several things patients can do to speed up the fading process.

Incision Scabs

Don’t irritate or pick at your healing incisions. When you disturb your scab, it forces the skin to restart the healing process. Your skin will naturally shed the scab and heal on its own. 

Prevent Infection

Follow your surgeon’s recommendations for cleaning and caring for your incision site to avoid infection.

Hydrate

Drink plenty of water to avoid dry skin, which leads to additional damage.

Sunscreen

Protect your vulnerable skin from dangerous UV rays.

Moisturize

Supplemental collagen-containing creams and daily moisturizers keep your skin soft and refreshed to encourage proper healing.

Avoid Tobacco Products

Smoking constricts blood vessels, stopping the delivery of crucial nutrients to the cells and hindering healing. 

Excess Skin Concerns

Over time, our skin stretches to compensate for the extra body weight that accumulates from obesity. This extra skin typically gathers around the belly, buttocks, upper thighs, and upper arms and can linger post-surgery.

The excess skin will attempt to naturally re-tighten on its own; however, age, the amount of weight lost, and post-surgery care can influence the skin’s ability to tighten. 

Bacterial Skin Infections

Excess, sagging skin often accumulates around the lower belly area, creating an uncomfortable skin flap on the abdomen called a “pannus.” The heavy skin flap, especially in warmer weather, causes skin irritation and rashes, resulting in threats of painful, difficult infections.

Emotional Distress

When a patient experiences drastic weight loss but is unable to shed the post-surgical skin folds, they may feel stressful reminders of their previous health and obesity struggles, as well as negatively affected self-esteem. Even if they’ve met their goal weight, the extra skin can make it difficult to fit into clothes, causing a drop in confidence.

When Should I Consider Plastic Surgery After My Bariatric Procedure?

Plastic surgery procedures after bariatric surgery help people struggling with the physical or emotional side effects of extreme weight loss. 

Goal Weight

Most surgeons will require patients to attempt to reach their weight-loss goal and experience weight stability before opting for skin-removal surgery. After bariatric surgery, it typically takes 12-18 months for a patient to reach and maintain their goal weight.

Nutritional Balance

Surgery takes a toll on the body. After bariatric surgery, the body goes into a negative nutritional balance, which affects the ability to heal properly from additional surgical wounds so soon after the initial procedure. 

Scarring

Depending on the bariatric surgery, you may be left with minimal scarring. After completing plastic surgery to remove or reduce excess skin, some patients are left with a fresh set of surgery scars.

Consult Your Bariatric Healthcare Experts

Wellstar’s board-certified bariatric surgeons, nurses, nutritionists, and healthcare professionals provide comprehensive care from your first evaluation to post-surgery follow-up appointments and support. 

We will walk you through each procedure, including post-surgery scarring and excess skin concerns, to ensure a successful recovery and help you achieve the lifestyle change you want. If you’re considering bariatric surgery, contact Wellstar to start your weight-loss journey – we would love to hear from you!