Procedures / Body

After massive weight loss, a patient’s abdominal skin tries to contract and return to normal. Unfortunately, the abdominal skin cannot recoil completely and often, one is left with a significant amount of excess abdominal skin resulting in wrinkles and rolls of skin. In addition to skin issues, there are often areas of stubborn abdominal fat. These areas of fat often do not respond to diet or exercise. Thus, after significant weight loss either by diet, exercise, Lap-band, or gastric bypass, patients are frequently left with some degree of excess skin and fat of their central abdomen.

After weight loss, a typical area for skin and fat to accumulate is the abdomen. Among other things, the amount of excess skin and fat left in the abdominal area is dependent on the age of the patient, the ability of the skin to recoil, and the amount of weight lost. Unfortunately, these rolls of skin can retain moisture and lead to chronic skin infections. Frequently, these skin infections are difficult to treat with just topical creams. Often, the only way to get rid of this skin excess and stubborn fat pocket is with surgery. There are three main surgical techniques to address the abdominal area: panniculectomy, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and a 360 body lift (circumferential body lift).