Body Contouring Surgery Improves

May 9, 2008 (San Diego) -- For patients who lose massive amounts of weight -- 100 pounds or more -- the battle isn't over once they reach their goal weight. They're left with hanging skin and excess fat and may opt for body contouring surgery, which can include multiple operations.

The procedures have improved as surgeons have gained experience, learned when to combine liposuction and excision, and learned how to reduce complications, say surgeons who spoke at a panel on body contouring surgery at the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in San Diego.

Body Contouring: The Goal

"These patients come in and say, 'I've lost the weight and still feel fat,'" says plastic surgeon Al Aly, MD, who spoke at the meeting. His goal for these patients, he says, is to help them shed the "fat" stigma by eliminating as much excess skin and fat as possible.

That typically translates to performing a variety of procedures that may combine liposuction and surgery. Large amounts of loose and heavy folds of skin can be left around the arms, thighs, breasts, buttocks, face, and abdomen.

One of the most common surgical procedures to improve appearance is a lower body lift, in which an incision is made around the lower trunk and the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks are lifted. Nearly 13,000 of these were done in 2007, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Because buttocks tend to flatten out with extreme weight loss, a buttock augmentation may be done. A tummy tuck is sometimes done, too. More than 5,000 buttock augmentations and more than 185,000 tummy tucks were done in 2007.

Some patients also have an upper body lift, sometimes including breast augmentation to restore lost volume and an arm lift to improve droopy-looking skin there.