How is a Tummy Tuck After Massive Weigh Loss Different?
Massive weight loss patients differ from post pregnancy tummy tuck patients in three important ways: First, the amount of laxity can be substantially greater, and the laxity more frequently extends all the way around the waist. Correcting this often requires more complicated procedures, better preoperative planning, and particularly meticulous surgical technique.
The second difference is that there is generally a greater degree of damage to the quality of the skin in patients who have lost a lot of weight than patients who have simply had pregnancies. This requires a different degree of pull on the skin. Directions of pull, the amount of pull, and other technical issues are different with weight loss patients. Patients need to understand that the impaired skin elasticity frequently prevents the result from being quite as excellent as the patient and surgeon would desire because surgeons cannot improve the underlying quality of skin. It is important for a plastic surgeon to notice the quality of the patient's skin and incorporate that into the surgical plan as well as to help the patient understand before surgery the sort of result he or she is likely to achieve.
Finally, some, but not all, massive weight loss patients have significant medical issues that need to be considered, such as diabetes, hypertension, skin rashes, nutritional deficiencies, and sleep apnea, among others. To be safe, such patients should consult with plastic surgeons experienced with helping plastic surgical patients with these problems. Dr. Teitelbaum and his nursing staff excel at managing these medical issues.