Body Contouring after Major Weight Loss

When a person loses a lot of weight quickly, he or she will often have loose and saggy skin that’s been stretched out—and that’s where body contouring comes into play. Through surgical body contouring, a person’s sagging fat and skin can be removed to create a smooth, tight look. Useful on various parts of the body, from the face to the abdomen, thighs, arms and breasts, this procedure is a great way to restore a normal-looking appearance.

View Body Contouring Before and After Images

How Does Body Contouring Work?

The best candidates for body contouring are typically healthy, nonsmoking adults whose weight loss has reached a place of stability and who have a positive outlook on life. Here’s how the procedure works:

1. Anesthesia: The patient undergoes either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia before the surgical procedure, with the goal of keeping him or her comfortable and pain-free during contouring.
2. Incisions: Based upon the targeted section of the body, incisions are made to remove excess skin and fat. If multiple parts of the body are being contoured, multiple surgeries may be required, performed over an ongoing period of time.

No matter where it’s performed, each type of body contouring works to remove excess skin in order to return the body’s original smooth look.

What Is Recovery Time Like?

Recovery time after a body contouring procedure varies from a few days to a few weeks. Immediately following the surgery, a patient will typically have bandages at incision sites, as well as thin tubes placed under the skin to drain out excess fluids. Dr. Potyondy, a Seattle area based cosmetic surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, will provide instructions about caring for these dressings, as well as for taking medications. The better the patient follows instructions for recovery, the more successful his or her treatment can be.

What are the Results from a Body Contouring Procedure?

While there are no guarantees with body contouring, most patients see results as soon as they leave surgery—and complete, lasting results within two years. While some firmness may be lost with age, the overall effect of reducing excess fat and sagginess can be highly effective.