Body Contouring (Post Weight Loss)

Depending on various factors including the amount of weight lost, age, genetics and others, body contouring patients may suffer from excess skin in many locations on the body. You may be a good candidate for post weight loss plastic surgery if you have:

• Excess skin or fat in abdomen, flanks, lower back, or breasts
• Excess skin or fat in the buttocks or thighs
• Excess skin in the arms or neck

Body contouring surgical procedures can address all of the issues above, and Dr. Zuckerman will tailor a treatment plan to your needs including possibly staged treatment consisting of multiple procedures. More than any other type of cosmetic surgery, post weight loss surgery patients vary in their needs. At your initial consultation, Dr. Zuckerman can address any and all questions, and he will discuss all facets of body contouring procedures that may be a good fit for you. The Zuckerman Plastic Surgery patient care coordinator will also guide you throughout your surgical treatment and can provide you with information on payment options including financing and health insurance coverage where applicable. Note that most body contouring procedures are considered “cosmetic” and not covered by health insurance with the exception of a panniculectomy.

Several of Dr. Zuckerman’s most common body contouring procedures after massive weight loss are listed below. Most are “lifts” of some form, and because these procedures may represent significant surgery, Dr. Zuckerman’s patients often undergo procedures in stages with a few months in between each.

Body Contouring Procedures of the Lower Body

Lower body procedures in this section are listed in the order of increasing surgical intervention. Dr. Zuckerman can help you determine which procedure may suit you best at your initial surgery consultation. Note that it is important for Dr. Zuckerman to examine you in person for these types of surgery, and he prefers to avoid video / virtual consultations. As a result, we most often recommend that patients who do not live locally schedule a future consultation date with Dr. Zuckerman and if at all possible, make the trip to New York City. However, please contact us to discuss your options.

Body Contouring Procedures of the Lower Body

Lower body procedures in this section are listed in the order of increasing surgical intervention. Dr. Zuckerman can help you determine which procedure may suit you best at your initial surgery consultation. Note that it is important for Dr. Zuckerman to examine you in person for these types of surgery, and he prefers to avoid video / virtual consultations. As a result, we most often recommend that patients who do not live locally schedule a future consultation date with Dr. Zuckerman and if at all possible, make the trip to New York City. However, please contact us to discuss your options.

Post Weight Loss Surgery Abdominoplasty

The abdomen is one of the most common areas in which post weight loss patients experience skin laxity. For mild to medium conditions, Dr. Zuckerman may be able to perform a traditional abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck. This procedure results in a single scar low on the abdomen from hip bone to hip bone. Dr. Zuckerman is an expert in this procedure, and it is the most common type of cosmetic body operation that he performs in his Manhattan practice. He takes great care to place his abdominal incision where it is easily hidden by most swimsuits and underwear and to create aesthetic-pleasing gender-appropriate contours.

Visit the Zuckerman Plastic Surgery tummy tuck surgery (abdominoplasty) guide for more information. For those who have undergone one or more pregnancies and have also lost significant weight, a combination procedure similar to that of a mommy makeover might be appropriate.

Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty or Vertical Abdominoplasty

A traditional abdominoplasty has limited ability to address vertical skin excess of the upper abdomen, above the belly button. However, by pairing the horizontal incision of the traditional abdominoplasty with a vertical incision down the midline of the abdomen, Dr. Zuckerman can much more effectively address more extensive abdominal skin laxity. During this procedure, Dr. Zuckerman creates two interlocking, perpendicular elliptical incisions: one vertical and one horizontal. First, he removes excess laterally, then stretches abdominal tissue downward to remove excess skin at the site of the horizontal incision. After surgery, patients have a vertical scar and the traditional horizonal tummy tuck scar. This operation is generally required for those who have lost over 100 pounds, although there are exceptions.

Lower Body Lift or Circumferential Body Lift

A circumferential body lift addresses excess skin all the way around the midsection including the back. It involves a single incision around the full circumference of the body. This procedure addresses ptosis, or sag, from many areas of the lower body including:

• Abdomen and flanks (love handles)
• Buttocks (Dr. Zuckerman can create a mild auto-augmentation of the buttocks combined with a lift if desired.)
• Lower back
• Lateral thighs

Dr. Zuckerman places the incision low on the abdomen, similarly located to a traditional abdominoplasty incision, which is easily hidden under most undergarments. On the back, the incision is placed slightly higher, just above the buttocks. Depending on the patient’s needs, Dr. Zuckerman may also pair this procedure with a thigh lift.

Panniculectomy Procedures

Medically speaking, a panus is excess skin that hangs below the belt line. This condition may have deleterious health effects including: hygenic issues, skin ulcers, and others. In severe cases, the weight of a panus may cause back pain or make it difficult to walk or stand. To eliminate this overhanging skin, Dr. Zuckerman can perform a panniculectomy. In addition, unlike other body contouring procedures which are in most cases considered cosmetic, demonstrated health issues due to a panus may allow the cost of this procedure to be covered by health insurance. Dr. Zuckerman and his staff can help you determine if you are candidate for insurance coverage and help you through the process of approval.

Dr. Zuckerman may also employ liposuction with any of the above procedures to remove excess deposits of fat and to ensure a smooth, athletic contour.

Body Contouring of the Upper Body, or Upper Body Lift

These are a set of plastic surgery body contouring procedures that address excess skin of the arms, breasts, and upper back. Dr. Zuckerman employs these to restore a firm, more fit appearance to each area. Please visit each page below for more information. These procedures may result in surgical scarring, but such scars typically heal to thin, relatively imperceptible lines over time. Dr. Zuckerman will also make recommendations for optimal postoperative scar care, and he takes the utmost care to craft a treatment plan which minimizes needed incisions without compromising your final result.

• Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
• Breast Lift
• Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants
• Breast Reduction

Dr. Zuckerman performs these procedures under general anesthesia, and operative times vary depending on the extent of your surgery. Most are completed within three to four hours but last longer if combinations of procedures are performed. Depending on the extent of your treatment, Dr. Zuckerman may be able to perform your procedures in his accredited in-office operating facility located in midtown Manhattan. Otherwise, if required given the extent of your surgery or based on your preference, Dr. Zuckerman also has operating privileges and is on staff in the department of plastic surgery at major hospitals in New York City including Lenox Hill Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai.

Dr. Zuckerman and his staff are here to help through your entire surgical process inluding financing information, potential insurance coverage approval, and other aspects of your surgical journey. We can also connect you with former patients, physical trainers, or nutritionists. Dr. Zuckerman will discuss any and all questions you may have at your initial surgical consultation.

Recovery from post weight loss surgery / body contouring procedures varies with the extent of surgery performed. Individual procedures guide pages linked above contain further recovery information. Full recovery may require up to two months, but most patients resume their normal routines before then. In addition, undergoing combined procedures is often a good way to minimize needed downtime: the recovery periods are not additive. Recovery from two operations is often of similar length, or slightly longer, than the longer recovery period of the two and only slightly more intensive, although this may vary. Dr. Zuckerman provides customized postoperative care instructions to each patient and can give you a better idea of your likely recovery period at your initial consultation. Some procedures involve compression garments to minimize any swelling and expedite the healing process.

Scar Care After Body Contouring (Post Weight Loss Surgery)

One of Dr. Zuckerman’s specialties is to minimize incisions and scarring and to optimize the ultimate appearance of postoperative scars. The treatment plan and surgical techniques that he will recommend to you will be mindful of the ultimate amount of visible scarring required, and in most cases, incisions are placed in discreet, mostly hidden, locations. Dr. Zuckerman will also provide you with a comprehensive scar care program for up to one year after surgery. He offers several scar treatment products that have been proven efficacious and maintains detailed knowledge of scientific, cutting edge, new treatments.

As with recovery time, possible complications vary according to which procedure or procedures you choose to undergo. Body contouring is very common and overhwelmingly safe when performed by a highly-trained board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Zuckerman. However, all significant surgery involves risks. A non-exhaustive list of possible complications include:

• Wound breakdown
• Infection of the incision sites
• Hypertrophic, raised, scarring
• Bleeding or hematoma formation

Note that these body contouring procedures often involve significant surgery and require a significantly different surgical skillset to bariatric surgery. It is not common to undergo post weight loss surgery with a bariatric, or general, surgeon. In most cases, bariatric surgeons will refer patients to a plastic surgeon specialist like Dr. Zuckerman.

Below are the answers to some questions Dr. Zuckerman most frequently receives from prospective patients. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact Dr. Zuckerman’s office, and a member of his staff will be glad to reach out to you.

Must I finish losing weight / reach my goal weight before undergoing body contouring or post weight loss plastic surgery?

Generally speaking, yes. While a few pounds typically won’t make a difference, you will attain the best results if you are near your goal weight, because in that case, the amount of excess skin is unlikely to change after surgery. Significant weight loss after undergoing a body contouring procedure may lead to further skin laxity and in some cases, may require reoperation. In addition, none of these body contouring procedures, including liposuction, is a tool for weight loss in and of itself. They are meant to eliminate skin laxity and/or to sculpt the body in the case of liposuction.

What types of body contouring procedures are available after weight loss?

There are several body contouring procedures that can help you achieve a more toned appearance after significant weight loss. Options include arm lifts (brachioplasty), breast lifts, tummy tucks (abdominoplasty), thigh lifts, and full body lifts, among others. These procedures are often tailored to your specific needs and can be done individually or in combination. The goal is to remove excess skin and tighten the underlying tissues to enhance your body’s contours.

Is it necessary to reach a stable weight before having body contouring surgery?

It’s generally recommended to reach and maintain a stable weight before undergoing body contouring surgery. Ideally, you should be at or near your goal weight for at least six months prior to surgery. This stability ensures the best possible results, as significant weight fluctuations afterward could lead to additional skin laxity, potentially requiring further procedures.

How much does body contouring cost, and can it be covered by insurance?

The cost of body contouring varies depending on the specific procedures you need. Dr. Zuckerman and his team accept several methods of payment including CareCredit, the most popular form of cosmetic medical treatment financing. Some insurance plans may cover the cost of the procedures if they are deemed medically necessary. However, coverage is not guaranteed and should be discussed with your insurance provider.

How soon after significant weight loss or bariatric surgery can I undergo body contouring surgery?

It’s best to wait till your weight stabilizes, which is key to achieving long-lasting results. Rushing into surgery before your weight is stable could compromise the outcome and may lead to the need for additional procedures down the line.

Are you ready for your body contouring consultation with Dr. Zuckerman? He will perform a thorough evaluation of your desired outcome and needs based on your anatomy and medical history. Dr. Zuckerman will also address any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery and discuss with you the details of his approach: incision location(s), procedure length and techniques, likely operative outcome, etc. Contact our office by clicking the button below or by calling (212) 231-9897. Dr. Zuckerman also offers consultations via Skype and a process for out-of-town patients to visit New York City to have surgery with him.