A professional woman in her late 20’s who has lost 200 lbs following a gastric bypass in 2008. She is now 5’6″ and 165 lbs. She could have considered a lower body lift, but the main problems are her loose tissues in the front and the sides. She decided to have an extended abdominoplasty, which contours the front and the sides but not the back. At 4 months after surgery, her scars are still red, but are placed in a “thong” line and are hidden by most clothing styles. The scars will continue to fade and improve for at least 2 years. An umbilical hernia was repaired by general surgery at the same time. She is thrilled with the results. Although she could come back later and have a “thigh buttock lift” to complete the lower body lift and tighten her posterior flanks, she does not feel that it is needed. Unless someone has severe laxity in the posterior flanks, I will typically recommend the extended abdominoplasty to start, with the plan to return for a thigh buttock lift if they wish to have additional tightening in the posterior flanks. But most of my patients appreciate having less expense and less morbidity (the pain of recovery) with the extended abdominoplasty as compared to a lower body lift. They find that the extended abdominoplasty typically gives them the results that they need in the front and the sides, without the added expense and recovery of a lower body lift.
Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Specialist
"I treat my patients like I would treat
- Jonathan D. Hall, MD, FACSmembers of my own family."
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