Plastic Surgery
Major weight loss causes loose and sagging skin. Post-bariatric cosmetic surgery can improve your body contour and help with your ongoing health and weight loss journey.
Contact Stop Obesity Bariatric Surgery for affordable plastic surgery in Tijuana, Mexico.
Body Contouring After Major Weight Loss Why You Might Need Cosmetic Surgery After Bariatric Procedures
Weight loss surgeries like gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy) and gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) help patients combat obesity and achieve a much healthier body mass.
The substantial loss of subcutaneous and visceral fat will naturally lead to loose skin in different areas of the body, particularly around the stomach and trunk. Some of this loose skin will shrink back on its own, but not all of it will.
Surgery Can Get Rid of Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Cosmetic surgery procedures are the only way to remove this loose skin and smooth away stretchmarks. For many patients, post-bariatric cosmetic surgery helps improve their body image and quality of life.
Cosmetic surgery often signals the final stages of a patient’s weight loss journey—the finishing touches that demonstrate how far they’ve come.
Plastic surgery after weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is common because significant weight loss often leads to excess skin and tissue laxity, which can cause discomfort, hygiene issues, and emotional distress. These procedures, often called "body contouring" or "post-bariatric plastic surgery," help reshape the body for better function and aesthetics.
Common Treatment Areas After Weight Loss
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1. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Purpose:
- Removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen.
- Tightens abdominal muscles (often stretched after weight loss).
- Creates a flatter, more contoured stomach.
- Can be combined with **liposuction** for better contouring.
Types:
- Full abdominoplasty: Removes a large apron of skin (common after major weight loss).
- Mini tummy tuck: For less excess skin (usually below the belly button).
- Extended tummy tuck: Also addresses love handles and lower back.
- Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty: For extreme weight loss, removes vertical and horizontal skin.
Recovery:
- 2–4 weeks (avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks). -
2. Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Purpose:
- Removes "bat wing" sagging skin from the upper arms.
Techniques:
- Traditional brachioplasty: Incision from armpit to elbow (leaves a scar on the inner arm).
- Limited-incision brachioplasty: For mild looseness (shorter scar).
- Liposuction-only: If skin elasticity is good but fat remains.
Recovery:
- 2–3 weeks (avoid heavy lifting initially).
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3. Lower Body Lift (Belt Lipectomy)
Purpose:
- A 360-degree procedure that removes sagging skin from the abdomen, waist, buttocks, and thighs in one surgery.
- Often performed as a circumferential procedure.
Best for:
- Patients with circumferential skin laxity after weight loss.
Recovery:
- 4–6 weeks, with compression garments for support. -
4. Thigh Lift (Medial or Lateral)
Purpose:
- Tightens loose skin on the inner or outer thighs.
- Improves chafing and mobility issues.
Types:
- Inner (medial) thigh lift: Incision in the groin crease.
- Vertical thigh lift: For extreme skin laxity (longer scar down the inner thigh).
- Outer (lateral) thigh lift: Often part of a lower body lift.
Recovery:
- 2–4 weeks (swelling may last months).
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5. Breast Surgery (Women & Men)
Purpose:
- After weight loss, breasts often lose volume and sag.
- A lift removes excess skin and reshapes the breasts.
- Some women opt for implants if volume loss is significant.
- Men may need **chest contouring** for gynecomastia (excess breast tissue).
For Women:
- Breast Lift (Mastopexy): Reshapes sagging breasts, repositions nipples.
- Breast Reduction: If excess tissue causes pain.
- Breast Augmentation: If volume loss is severe (implants or fat transfer).
For Men (Gynecomastia Surgery):
- Liposuction: Removes excess fat.
- Excision: Cuts out glandular tissue and excess skin.
Recovery:
- 1–2 weeks (avoid strenuous exercise for 4–6 weeks). -
6. Facelift or Neck Lift
Purpose:
- Addresses sagging skin and jowls after facial fat loss.
Procedures:
- Facelift (Rhytidectomy): Addresses mid-face and jawline.
- Neck Lift: Removes "turkey neck" excess skin.
- Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty): For drooping upper lids or under-eye bags.
Recovery:
- 1–2 weeks (bruising subsides in 2–3 weeks).
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7. Buttock Lift or Augmentation
Purpose:
- Restores volume lost after weight loss.
Options:
- Buttock Lift: Removes sagging skin for a perkier shape.
- Fat Transfer (Brazilian Butt Lift, BBL): Uses your own fat for enhancement.
- Implants: Less common but an option for severe volume loss.
Recovery:
- 2–4 weeks (avoid sitting directly on buttocks for BBL). -
8. Mons Pubis Lift
Purpose:
- Reduces sagging skin in the pubic area (common after tummy tuck).
Often done with:
- Tummy tuck or lower body lift. -
When to Consider Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
- Stable weight for at least 6–12 months (to prevent complications if weight fluctuates).
- Good overall health (no uncontrolled medical conditions).
- Non-smoker (smoking increases risks of poor healing).
- Realistic expectations (scars are permanent, but they fade over time).
Set Up a Free Plastic Surgery Consultation Contact Our Tijuana Office to Learn How Much You Can Save
If you’ve lost a substantial amount of weight and are ready to undergo body contouring for excess skin, our team is ready to help. Stop Obesity Bariatric Surgery has changed the lives of over 10,000 patients. We’re here for you whether you’ve seen us before for a bariatric procedure or just require cosmetic rejuvenation after weight loss.
To learn about the cost of plastic surgery, treatment plans, payment options, and what results we can achieve, contact our surgical center in Tijuana, Mexico .
(609) 532-0090
Recent Patients Share Their Stories Experience High-Quality & Affordable Surgery in Tijuana, Mexico
Nadia Michelle Feliciano
2024
The experience with Dr. Ismael Cabreras has been excellent, the entire staff at Premier Hospital in Tijuanas is very professional. I recommend it 100%
View On GoogleBeatriz Salvatella
2024
Great services, they explain the process with very much detail, they are ver courageous and caring’s I will recommend them 100% .
View On GoogleCreating a Total Body Lift Just for You Custom Body Contouring Treatment Plans After Weight Loss
Every patient has different needs. While similar surgical procedures may be performed on different parts of the body, our team will take time to develop a custom treatment plan just for you. This will ensure the best possible total body lift outcomes.
During your free consultation, we can review different plastic surgery procedures and how they can help you achieve your desired results. Your cosmetic surgeon can also discuss pricing and payment options.
Panniculectomy and Abdominoplasty
When treating loose skin around the lower abdomen and flanks, cosmetic surgeons will typically perform a panniculectomy and/or an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck).
A panniculectomy removes skin and fat around the lower abdomen. After weight loss, a substantial amount of tissue can remain and hang over the pubic region and sometimes the thighs. A tummy tuck also removes loose skin and fat around the lower stomach and love handles, but the procedure also tightens the abdominal muscles.
Lift Procedures for the Lower Body
It’s common to experience loose skin around the buttocks, thighs, and hips after weight loss. Women tend to have more sagging tissue around these parts of the lower body than men simply given the nature of fat distribution.
A buttock lift can help tighten and tone the buttocks following major weight loss. For the hips and thighs, plastic surgeons can perform a thigh lift (thighplasty). Liposuction can also help with any remaining pockets of excess fat around the hips and thighs.
Lifts for the Chest and Upper Torso
The loss of excess fat around the chest and upper torso can lead to sagging breasts, a flabby chest, and a less athletic appearance overall.
For women, breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation can be performed to address aesthetic flaws. These procedures help improve the perkiness and firmness of the breasts following bariatric surgery . For men, male breast reduction may be recommended. This typically combines liposuction with the removal of excess skin and glandular tissue.
Lifts for the Shoulders/Upper Arms
Weight loss from bariatric surgery will often lead to flabby triceps and hanging skin. This loose skin is often located along the triceps, shoulders, and the upper torso area where the chest meets the upper arms.
Arm lift (brachioplasty) is the most common cosmetic surgery solution for contouring the upper extremities. This will eliminate the loose skin of the upper arms, allowing your muscles and slimmer frame to shine through.
Facial Rejuvenation After Weight Loss
Weight loss can affect your facial appearance. This is particularly true of the cheeks, lower face, and neck. Facial plastic surgery can improve the appearance of your face and even help with anti-aging.
For many bariatric surgery patients, a neck lift and lower facelift are ideal. These procedures get rid of excess skin around the neckline and double chin area while also tightening up the jawline and reducing the prominence of the jowls.
Successful Surgeries and Satisfied Patients Attentive Surgical Treatment in a Safe and State-of-the-Art Facility
Rayne Lounge
2024
Everything was amazing. I would highly recommend this clinic. From the door staff to the front desk to the nurses and doctors. Everyone was so attentive and caring and never let you out of there sight. I felt really well cared for and the bedside manner was amazing.
View On GoogleAlex Ortega
2024
My wife used this clinic and doctor Ismael was absolutely amazing, the staff and the clinic very professional and super attentive. They guided us from the beginning and be with us in every step, answering questions and giving us the proper advice, we definitely recommend them. Also the clinic is very well located and the whole process is absolutely worth the money you are paying for.
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