Indications
Obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, such as gastric by-pass and ring placement, when they gain the desired weight should face a body that is slim, but at the same time, with loose and excess skin. At this stage the plastic surgeon undertakes to reshape the body with a series of surgeries. These may include arm surgery, circular belt abdominoplasty, thigh and buttock lifting, breast lifting with or without breast augmentation, facial lifting.
Surgical technique
All procedures are described in the respective sections and are no different in the case of bariatric patients. In circular belt abdominoplasty, which is probably the most common procedure performed after extensive weight loss, the aim of the surgery is to treat the excess hanging skin that extends backwards to the waist area. Careful pre-operative planning is essential as the incision will be extensive and circular around the torso.
Type of anesthesia
The surgical treatment of the above conditions is performed with general anesthesia
Stay at the clinic
It usually takes 1-2 days to stay in the clinic
Postoperative period
Immediately after surgery, there are edema and swelling in the area that gradually recede. Smoking cessation and healthy eating are factors that contribute to faster healing. Pain is best described as a feeling of tension or pull and is treated with painkillers. Return to work in a month.
Back to daily activities
We recommend that our patients wait 1 week before returning to their professional activities. During the first days after breast augmentation patients should rest. Do not hesitate to get help with household chores (even the use of vacuum cleaners should be avoided during the first week). We advise our patients to lift only light objects and avoid lifting heavy objects and limit themselves to light exercise only during the first month. If you enjoy sunbathing and even topless, you should apply a sunscreen with a protective index of 50, because the quality of the scars is negatively affected by sun exposure. You can start the bath normally after 1 week, but you should avoid soaking until the crusts disappear from your incisions. Finally you can start exercising in 1-2 months.
Results
The results of this type of surgery are permanent provided that the patient has adopted a healthy diet and has no fluctuations in weight. The new body image without excess skin gives confidence and has a beneficial effect on the psychology of the patient. Scars on the other hand are the “price” for the new image, which if healed well, will fade after 1 year.