Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss in Las Vegas
Achieving an attractive appearance can be a daunting task after losing weight. There’s no guarantee that you’ll end up satisfied with your appearance, even if you maintain a healthy diet and consistent workout regimen. This is often due to hanging skin that remains following weight loss.
Men and women of all ages seek out Dr. Alexander for his expertise in performing post-weight-loss plastic surgery. Whether you want to get rid of excess skin, stubborn fat, or reveal your hard-earned muscles, cosmetic surgery may provide the results you seek.
What Can Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss Help With?
After extensive weight loss, you may face new challenges to your desired appearance. Some issues that may occur after weight loss include the following:
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Excess Skin
Many people have excess, sagging skin after losing a large amount of weight. Removing excess sagging skin not only enhances your appearance but can improve your self-esteem as well.
Some of the common areas where skin can sag after weight loss are the breasts, arms, stomach, thighs, and neck. There are surgical procedures to remove this extra skin and tighten the skin that remains.
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Stubborn Fat
After losing a large amount of weight, you may notice discrete fat pockets that refuse to go away, despite diet and exercise. These stubborn fat pockets can reside in the arms, thighs, stomach, and breasts.
Liposuction can remove these unwanted fat pockets and adjust your body contour to your desired outline.
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Lax Muscle Tone
Just because you have lost weight does not mean that your muscles will become visible and defined. Surgical treatments can help those looking for that firmer muscle tone in their abdomen. Many body contouring procedures reveal and accentuate existing muscle tone. This can be done in most places that people most desire muscles, such as the stomach.
Tummy tuck surgery can go even further than that, manually strengthening certain loose abdominal muscles.
“Dr. Alexander and his staff are incredible. He is one of the most caring and professional surgeons I have ever met - and that is saying something because I work in a hospital. The staff is equally incredible and kind. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable. 5 months ago Dr. Alexander performed a breast augmentation surgery and the results are so natural my friends did not even notice I am 3 cups bigger! I have already referred Dr. Alexander to close friends. He is the best in the Valley.”
“Doctor Alexander is a miracle and made my experience exceptional, he really listened to my concerns and answered all my questions regarding the whole procedure. He made my breasts look like sisters again, I would even recommend him to my daughter and anyone looking for a breast augmentation or exchange. He is not your typical plastic surgeon and he really cares about your outcome. He is the best!!”
What Are Your Concerns Concerning Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss?
Post-operative recovery times will vary dramatically depending on your chosen procedure. Here are some general guidelines on how most recoveries tend to progress. Your plastic surgeon will provide a more personalized timeline for your recovery during your consultation.
Immediately After
A compression garment may be worn over or around the treated areas. Swelling and mild to moderate pain may occur, which can be minimized with prescription medications.
2 Weeks After
Most patients feel good enough to return to work within a week or two, although physical activity and exercise is discouraged.
4-6 Weeks After
Light exercise is permitted as your results become more apparent. Strenuous physical activity may be resumed gradually for most patients.
6-12 Months After
The full results of your treatment will be visible at this point. Residual swelling may linger around incision points. Scarring should begin to fade.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
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While elective cosmetic surgeries are generally not covered by health insurance, some procedures may be covered by health insurance if the operations are deemed medically necessary. This is especially true if the patient has recently lost a large amount of weight (i.e., a hundred pounds or more). This may vary from insurer to insurer, so consult with your health insurance provider to determine which procedures are medically necessary.
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The cost of skin removal can vary dramatically depending on which procedures you choose, where the surgery is done, and the surgeon’s skill set. Combination procedures tend to cost more upfront; however, they offer lower lifetime costs compared to doing a series of procedures separately. Financing is available with CareCredit®.
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For your safety, it will be vital that you do not smoke for six weeks before and after your cosmetic surgery. The effects of smoking can induce complications during the surgery, and slow or even disrupt the recovery process. Some procedures require longer smoke-free durations.
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Plastic surgery results tend to last for years, with the effects of some procedures lasting decades or the rest of a patient’s life. These procedures do not prevent additional weight gain or slow the natural aging process. Consult your surgeon about the benefits you can expect from your specific operations.
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Plastic surgery comes with a risk of infection, scarring, and poor anesthesia reactions, among others. You can help minimize these risks by following Dr. Alexander’s post-operative instructions. Overall, healthy patients who follow Dr. Alexander’s pre and post-op recommendations do excellent.
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Most plastic surgery is done under general anesthesia, so there is little to no pain during surgery. Dual anesthetic is often administered while you are asleep during surgery, making post-op recovery more comfortable. Depending on your chosen procedures, there may be mild to moderate discomfort during the recovery period, which can usually be treated with prescription medications.
