After significant weight loss, bariatric surgery patients may still need help for complete physical recovery and emotional well being

By Stuart B. Kincaid, MD, FACS

As the holiday season swings into full gear, so too do many people’s resolutions to live healthier lives in the year to come. Weight loss is perhaps the most common New Year’s resolution of them all; and with nearly one third of the U.S. population currently battling obesity, the need for safe and effective weight-loss strategies is more critical than ever before. In some cases, bariatric surgery procedures can help obese individuals to reach a healthier weight; but while diet and lifestyle changes may be enough to aid some patients thereafter in maintaining that weight, other patients may require the services of a

bariatric plastic surgeon

in order to live a healthy, active lifestyle.

The practice of bariatric surgery comprises procedures like gastric bypass surgery and lap band surgery, and is designed to help obese patients lose significant amounts of weight in order to prevent serious health problems. In some cases, individuals are able to lose this weight on their own through diet modification, exercise and nutrition counseling. But for many patients, no matter how it is achieved, weight loss is only half the battle when it comes to living a full, healthy life. According to a recent

MSNBC

report, many bariatric surgery patients require body contouring plastic surgery after experiencing major weight loss in order to remove the excess skin that is left over after surgery. And while the face generally adjusts better to significant weight loss than the rest of the body, in cases like that of Paul Brian -- a formerly 420-pound Chicago man who lost 240 pounds thanks to bariatric surgery -- sagging skin and flaccid facial muscles can cause disfiguration, speaking impairment and other complications that require plastic surgery at the hands of a qualified bariatric plastic surgeon.

Body contouring and facial plastic surgery: completing the transformation after a major weight loss milestone

After his surgery, Brian was left with heavy jowls and accumulated flesh under his chin that made both speaking and routine hygiene incredibly difficult; and as one of the nearly 200,000 people who undergo bariatric surgery each year (according to data from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) Brian is hardly alone. For those in need of body contouring or facial plastic surgery to relieve complications after major weight loss, it is important to seek out the services of a qualified, board-certified bariatric plastic surgeon for the safest possible treatment and recovery.

At our award-winning

San Diego plastic surgery

clinics located in both La Jolla and Temecula, we boast over 27 years of experience in the field and membership with the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, as well as numerous recognitions for patient satisfaction and medical excellence. We offer the following commonly performed

bariatric plastic surgery

procedures at our clinics:

• Lower body lift (Belt Lipectomy)
• Arm lift (Brachioplasty)
• Thigh lift (Thighplasty)
• Breast reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)
• Upper body lift (Backplasty)
• Vaser ultrasonic assisted liposuction

Our skilled staff members are well trained to assess bariatric surgery patients and recommend the appropriate procedures to restore natural proportion and aesthetic balance. To learn more about our services and procedures or to schedule a consultation, call our San Diego/La Jolla office (858-450-4199) or our Temecula office (951-695-9934) today – or visit us online at

www.skincaidmd.com

.