Body Lift
Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
Post Weight-Loss Body Contouring at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa
Losing a significant amount of weight—whether through bariatric surgery or injectable medications such as semaglutide (known commercially as Ozempic®)—is a notable accomplishment you should be proud of.
But you may still feel self-conscious if you’re left with excess skin hanging from your new, smaller body. Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Michelle Spring and Dr. Michael Hromadka perform body contouring plastic surgery in Kalispell for patients from Whitefish and Great Falls, Montana; Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, Idaho; and throughout the Northwest. Learn more about how plastic surgery can put the finishing touches on your weight loss journey.
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A body lift procedure targets loose hanging skin, excess tissue, and stubborn fat deposits that remain after significant weight loss or bariatric surgery. By surgically removing remaining skin and reshaping underlying tissue, body contouring enhances skin elasticity, tone, and overall body shape, allowing you to fully enjoy the results of your healthy lifestyle. Body contouring after massive weight loss typically involves surgical procedures such as a lower body lift (circumferential body lift), thigh lift, tummy tuck, and arm lift.
Body lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia, often taking several hours depending on the extent of the procedure.
Your plastic surgeon carefully removes excess skin and fat, tightening the remaining tissue across the entire circumference of the body, particularly the lower abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks. The incisions are strategically placed to minimize scarring, and skin adhesives or sutures close the incisions. Compression garments are applied to drain excess fluid, reduce swelling, and support newly shaped contours during healing.
Different types of plastic surgery procedures may be needed after losing significant weight. Depending on your condition and cosmetic goals, your surgeon may recommend one or more of the following procedures:
Body contouring after massive weight loss effectively addresses loose skin, excess skin folds, and sagging skin.
These conditions often affect multiple areas, including the lower body, upper body, arms, thighs, and abdominal area. Procedures like belt lipectomy and total body lift surgery specifically target these areas, resulting in dramatically improved body contours.
Benefits of Body Lift Following Weight Loss
Body contouring significantly improves body contours, creating a smoother, firmer appearance free from excess skin and fat. Patients enjoy increased comfort, reduced irritation from skin folds, improved mobility, and enhanced confidence. By removing loose hanging skin and tightening the underlying tissue, body contouring provides lasting, transformative results that support your ongoing commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen, creating a firmer and smoother abdomen. This procedure can significantly enhance your appearance and boost your confidence by creating a more toned and contoured midsection.
Before and after image of a 28 year old female preoperatively 5’9” and 190lbs, history of significant weight loss. Received an abdominoplasty with PAL flanks
Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, is beneficial for patients experiencing sagging breasts after weight loss.
This procedure raises and reshapes the breasts, removing excess skin and tightening surrounding tissue for a perky, uplifted appearance. It restores firmness and improves the overall contour of the breasts, enhancing your post-weight loss figure.
A facelift tightens facial tissue and redrapes facial skin for a smoother, more youthful appearance. Facial fat grafting restores lost volume and improves facial contours using fat from another area of your body. When performed together, these procedures revitalize your appearance by addressing the sunken, droopy appearance often caused by significant weight loss.
If you’re considering body contouring surgery after weight loss, you may be experiencing some or all of the following:
You should be in good overall health and maintain a stable weight for at least 6 months before the surgery. You should also be committed to maintaining a reasonably steady weight after the procedure because weight fluctuations can compromise the results.
Even though these procedures are typically associated with patients who have lost significant weight, they can also benefit those with excess skin caused by aging. Besides enhancing your confidence, body contouring surgery is also appropriate for patients whose surplus skin causes chafing, infection, or other skin conditions and makes exercising difficult.
You don’t need to pay the full surgical cost upfront. We accept several flexible payment options so you can feel comfortable moving forward with your procedure and getting the relief you deserve. Learn more about patient financing at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa.
Recovery from body contouring surgery is extensive and requires careful planning. Because body contouring after massive weight loss often requires multiple surgeries (either all at once or separately), your surgeons will work with you to create a personalized recovery plan and timeline during your consultation. Here is what you could expect for average recovery times, depending on the procedure in question:
Most patients return to routine activities within 4 to 6 weeks, gradually resuming full activity as their body heals and swelling subsides.
Your surgeon will provide detailed instructions on wearing compression garments, managing pain, preventing complications like deep vein thrombosis, and maintaining a healthy diet to aid recovery. It's essential to follow these guidelines carefully to achieve optimal results and minimize risks.
Recovery from a tummy tuck typically involves 2 to 3 weeks of downtime. You can expect swelling and discomfort, which gradually subsides. Most people return to normal activities within a month. Full recovery takes a few months as the tissues settle and heal.
Recovery from a breast lift usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks, with initial swelling and bruising. Patients should avoid strenuous activities for 4 to 6 weeks. Like abdominoplasty, complete healing occurs over several months.
Recovery from a facelift or facial fat grafting involves 1 to 2 weeks of downtime. Most patients return to normal activities within 2 to 3 weeks, with full recovery and final results visible within a few months.
Patients experience immediate improvements following cosmetic surgery, with ongoing refinement as the body heals. The new shape and tone will become more evident as swelling subsides over several months.
Results are long-lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight through continued healthy lifestyle choices. We will support you through the healing process, ensuring you have the best chance of achieving your aesthetic goals safely and confidently.
Are you ready to discover how body contouring surgery at Mountain West Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa can help you look as good as you feel? To discuss your options with one of our two highly trained plastic surgeons, request a consultation using the online form. Or you can call our office at (406) 609-0210 to schedule an appointment.
Semaglutide is an FDA-approved medication for weight management that mimics a hormone responsible for regulating appetite. It can help you feel satiated longer and consume fewer calories, leading to significant weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control.
Originally intended to help adults manage their diabetes, semaglutide has become increasingly popular as part of a medically managed weight loss program for those who are overweight. Semaglutide has been clinically shown to substantially reduce patients’ body weight and improve their metabolic health.
Once patients reach their ideal weight, they may seek plastic surgery as a next step. Rapid, significant weight loss often results in excess, sagging skin, so surgical procedures addressing skin laxity and contour issues can help patients achieve their cosmetic goals.
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide that is used specifically to manage type 2 diabetes. While both medications contain the same active ingredient, their primary difference lies in their intended use and dosage.
Semaglutide, marketed under different names like Wegovy®, is prescribed at higher doses for weight management. Ozempic is typically prescribed at lower doses for blood sugar control in diabetes patients. The dosing schedule also differs between these medications.
To ensure the best results and the safest outcome, we recommend you wait until after your weight loss journey is complete and you have maintained a stable weight for at least 6 months.
Yes, significant weight loss from Ozempic often leads to facial changes, such as sagging skin or a sunken, gaunt appearance. These changes are often referred to as “Ozempic face.” Procedures like facelifts or facial fat grafting can restore a youthful appearance.
A facelift to address the physical changes caused by Ozempic/semaglutide use is sometimes called an “Ozempic facelift.”
Weight loss after a breast lift can affect your results, potentially leading to further sagging or changes in breast shape. We recommend you reach a stable weight before undergoing a breast lift to maintain the best outcome.
Ideally, you should reach a stable, healthy weight and maintain it for several months before considering body contouring surgery. Most plastic surgeons recommend being at or near your goal weight to achieve optimal, long-lasting results.
A tummy tuck focuses specifically on tightening the abdominal area by removing excess skin and fat, while a lower body lift, or belt lipectomy, addresses excess skin around the entire circumference of your lower body, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and thighs.
Body lift surgery typically takes between 4 and 6 hours, depending on how many areas are treated and the extent of excess skin and tissue removal required.
Body lift surgery requires incisions, which will result in scars. However, our surgeons carefully position incisions to minimize scarring. With proper aftercare, scars will fade significantly over time.
Results are typically long-lasting, provided you maintain a stable weight, healthy diet, and active lifestyle. Significant future weight fluctuations or pregnancy can impact the appearance of your results.
Yes, multiple procedures like arm lift, thigh lift, or tummy tuck can often be combined during one surgical session, reducing overall recovery time. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the safest combination based on your health and goals.
While body contouring is major surgery, pain is effectively managed with prescribed medications. Most patients report discomfort as manageable and significantly improving within the first week of recovery.
To minimize complications like blood clots or poor wound healing, follow your surgeon’s instructions closely, including wearing compression garments, staying active as advised, avoiding smoking, and not taking certain medications or herbal supplements.
Insurance typically considers body lift surgery cosmetic, although exceptions might be made if excess skin causes medical issues like infections. Our team can help guide you through questions about body lift costs and financing options.
Most patients return to light daily activities within 2-3 weeks. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should be avoided for 6-8 weeks. Your surgeon will provide personalized guidelines based on your healing progress.
Start Your Journey With Montana’s Premier Aesthetic Experts
For our valued patients traveling from Whitefish, Missoula, Great Falls, and Helena, we offer a seamless and supportive out-of-town patient experience, ensuring your comfort and peace of mind from your first inquiry through your complete recovery.
