Losing a large amount of weight is a major achievement, whether you reached your goal through diet and exercise, weight loss medication, or bariatric surgery. For many of the people I see in my practice, that achievement comes with a frustrating physical reality. Once the weight is gone, the skin
After pregnancy, the skin across the lower abdomen can stay stretched once the uterus has returned to its usual size. The 2 rectus abdominis muscles that run down the midline can also separate, a change called muscle separation (diastasis recti). Both are common after pregnancy and childbirth, and both are
In my practice, one of the questions I hear most often from women considering an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) after having children is whether liposuction is a separate operation added on top. It is not. In the majority of post pregnancy cases, ultrasound-assisted suction lipectomy (VASER liposuction) is part of the
A limited abdominoplasty (mini tummy tuck) is an operation that treats the lower abdomen, the area below the navel. It is smaller in scope than a full abdominoplasty, which treats the whole abdominal wall and repositions the navel. In my practice, I see women considering a limited abdominoplasty after they
After significant weight loss, the upper arms are often left with loose skin that is thin and hard to support in ordinary clothing. Brachioplasty (arm lift) involves removing excess skin and the loose tissue along the inner arm. In many post weight loss patients the incision runs from near the
The umbilicus, or belly button, changes shape when the abdomen stretches with weight gain, and changes again when the skin is left loose after significant weight loss. By the time many of my patients reach me, the umbilicus sits deep within the abdominal wall, has been pulled out of position,
Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery after major weight loss is more variable than post‑pregnancy abdominoplasty. In patients following significant or massive weight loss, the primary issue is excess skin rather than muscle tightening. After substantial weight loss, reduced skin elasticity and stretched abdominal skin mean the tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is primarily
Significant weight loss can result in excess abdominal skin, changes to the abdominal wall, and ongoing skin conditions that may interfere with daily activities and work. For some patients, a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) performed after major weight loss may be assessed as medically necessary rather than a cosmetic procedure. Many
A Fleur-de-Lis abdominoplasty (also known as a Fleur-de-Lis tummy tuck) is a major surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and tighten the abdominal wall following significant or massive weight loss or major weight loss. This type of reconstructive surgery is particularly beneficial for post-bariatric surgery patients who have undergone
Self-assessment measures, such as evaluating physical condition, defining Fleur-de-lis (FDL) goals, assessing skin laxity extent, and determining discomfort or dysfunction can help a patient determine if they are the ideal FDL candidates. More extensive and complex than standard abdominoplasty, Fleur-de-lis (FDL) abdominoplasty is the ideal option for anyone with skin