After bariatric surgery/massive weight loss, what are my options and what area should I start on first?

Men and women throughout Arnold, Perryville and other nearby communities, including Marion/Carbondale, Illinois, are invited to learn more about our body contouring surgeries.

Bariatric surgery, gastric bypass surgery, weight loss surgery, or “obesity surgery” is undoubtedly becoming a more popular method for lowering a person’s body mass index. The amount of weight a person has can impact their physical and mental health in several ways, but fortunately, weight loss devices can help. Even so, we are seeing more and more patients in consultation after rapid weight loss from bariatric surgery, wondering what surgical procedure options might help remove the last bit of excess body weight. Average weight loss following bariatric operations significantly slims the body, but patients can struggle to remove excess weight from the limbs or face. Losing weight in these areas can be challenging, even with a healthy diet and reduced calorie intake. In these cases, patients may seek further surgical intervention through bariatric procedures or metabolic surgery options such as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

We usually recommend waiting a minimum of nine months to a year after bariatric surgery procedures or when the patient’s significant weight loss has plateaued, they can sustain a healthy weight, and they are prepared for changes in their eating habits before beginning other weight loss surgeries. At the time of the consultation, we often will discuss excess weight in multiple areas, including the face, chest or breast area, arms, abdomen, and thighs. We then ask the patients to prioritize the areas that bother them the most, second, third, and so on. During the consultation, we will conduct a comprehensive history and physical examination, focusing on the areas that are most bothersome to you, and discuss the available options for addressing your concerns. Depending on the exam findings and the patient’s overall health, it may be possible to perform one, two, or potentially three areas during a single open surgery. However, these procedures are heavily individualized to each bariatric surgery patient to avoid serious health problems like digestive and kidney diseases.