Losing a significant amount of weight is no small achievement – in fact, if you’ve done this, then you need to give yourself a big pat on the back. However, some patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight may be facing new yet equally frustrating aesthetic challenges, mainly in the form of excess skin.
As a person loses weight, his or her skin may not be able to recover ideal elasticity to keep up with the shrinking body. As a result, the person has folds of skin that prevent the appearance of a slimmer, more contoured look.
At Beaux Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery in Lanham and Bowie, MD– serving the greater Washington, DC and Baltimore areas – Dr. Nia Banks and her talented staff members provide patients with the treatment options they need for body contouring after weight loss. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, one of the main treatments that Dr. Banks can use is a body lift, which surgically removes the excess skin to provide ideal body contouring.
A body lift is generally performed under general anesthesia; it is recommended that a patient be at a stable weight for at least one year before undergoing this treatment. Here’s what you can expect from the body lift treatment at Beaux Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery:
- The body lift is typically done in stages to ensure the patient’s maximum comfort and safety. This can also help ease postoperative recovery. Stages are usually conducted in six to eight week increments for maximum recovery.
- Surgical body contouring can typically be performed on the buttocks, breasts, arms, thighs, and other trouble spots. You’ll meet with Dr. Banks to discuss your concerns, as well as outline your expectations for the procedure.
- A body lift is typically not covered by insurance, unless the excess skin carries risks of recurrent infections or wounds. This can also be addressed by a panniculectomy, which is usually covered by insurance.
- It’s important that patients pursue active and healthy lifestyles after undergoing body contouring treatments. This includes eating well, abstaining from all tobacco products, and getting a moderate amount of exercise once the recovery period is over.
For more information about the body lift – including other body contouring treatments – schedule a consultation with Dr. Nia Banks at the Beaux Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery at our Lanham or Bowie, Maryland office today. We’re just a short drive from the entire Washington DC and Baltimore metros.
To learn more give us a call at 301-880-7022 or just leave us a message in the top left corner.