Dear reader, have you lost significant weight after gastric sleeve surgery? Surely, you have put in a lot of effort that deserves to be complemented by a toned body without sagging. The ideal solution to getting rid of excess skin and sculpting your body is body lift surgery after gastric sleeve surgery and other bariatric surgeries. Learn about the steps involved in the procedure and everything you need to know about it in the following article.

 

Gastric sleeve surgery is a surgical procedure performed to address obesity by reducing the size of the stomach. In this procedure, approximately 70% of the stomach is removed, leaving a smaller, sleeve-shaped portion that can hold only about one cup of food and drink. The surgery helps reduce the stomach size to increase the feeling of fullness with smaller amounts of food. It also leads to changes in hormone levels responsible for appetite and hunger.

After the surgery, you must follow a special diet plan and exercise regularly to lose excess weight within 6 months to a year. You must adhere to all the doctor's instructions regarding nutrition, vitamin intake, and recommended supplements for the rest of your life.

Body lift after gastric sleeve surgery is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon removes the excess loose skin resulting from significant weight loss. The sagging of the body occurs due to prolonged stretching of the skin during the previous stages of obesity, which leads to a loss of skin elasticity and the inability to shrink back to its natural size and shape.

The body lift procedure after gastric sleeve surgery is performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the excess skin and tightens the loose tissues. It addresses noticeable changes in the appearance of the skin after substantial weight loss. It is possible to address sagging in multiple body areas with the same procedure, depending on the individual's health condition.

 

Certain conditions need to be met by individuals considering a body lift after gastric sleeve surgery, including:

Weight stability: 

The weight should be stable for at least one year without expecting further weight loss. The body should be approaching a healthy weight to avoid further sagging after the body contouring procedure, especially if there is a significant amount of weight yet to be lost.

There are general health considerations, such as:

• Is the person in good overall health?

• Are there any medical conditions that would prevent surgery, such as diabetes, heart problems, or other chronic diseases?

• Are there any health issues related to anesthesia exposure?

Nutrition: 

There should be no nutrition-related issues, such as protein or vitamin deficiencies, to avoid interfering with the healing process after surgery.

Smoking slows down the healing process and increases the risk of serious health complications during and after surgery. Therefore, you must completely quit smoking for at least 6 weeks before and after surgery.

The candidate should have a positive view of the surgical results and specific goals that align with the severity of his sagging and overall body appearance.

 

The preparation process for body lift surgery after gastric sleeve surgery begins with a consultation session with the doctor. During this session, Dr. Wael Ghanem will provide all the necessary instructions to ensure a safe procedure without complications, and he will discuss the following topics:

• Available therapeutic options.

• Techniques used in the procedure.

• Taking pictures for medical records.

• Learning about family medical history and overall health status.

• Discussing expected results and potential complications, how to avoid them, and what the normal side effects are.

 

There are several available options to address excess sagging skin based on the location and degree of sagging resulting from significant weight loss. The techniques include:

There are multiple techniques used to address sagging in the abdominal area, depending on the location of the sagging. Some of these techniques include:

• Full tummy tuck: The surgeon removes sagging tissue from both the upper and lower parts of the abdomen, tightens loose tissues, and cuts excess skin. The surgical incision is made vertically below the abdomen and above the pubic area. An incision around the navel may also be made to reposition it to the center of the abdomen for a natural appearance if it is loose and reaching the waistline.

• Mini tummy tuck: The surgeon makes a surgical incision in the lower abdomen, extending between the hip bones, similar to a full tummy tuck but smaller. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the sagging tissue in the lower abdomen, tightens loose tissues, and cuts excess skin. In this case, the upper part of the abdomen does not experience sagging.

Other techniques for body lift after gastric sleeve surgery include:

• Reverse abdominoplasty is performed in the case of sagging in the upper part of the abdomen only, which is one of the less common cases.

• A tummy tuck combined with chest lift surgery involves making a surgical incision in the lower chest.

• Circumferential abdominoplasty is used in severe cases of flabbiness, which is accompanied by a flabby lower back and sides, and the surgical incision is circular around the entire circumference of the body.

In this technique, Dr. Wael Ghanem gets rid of excess skin on the sides and buttocks through a surgical incision around the thigh. This procedure can be combined with a tummy tuck in the same surgery.

The surgeon removes excess skin in the thighs through a vertical or horizontal surgical incision inside the thighs, starting from the top of the thighs to the knees, or a transverse incision in the upper part of the thighs.

There are multiple techniques available to address sagging breasts, including:

• A T-shaped breast lift is made through a vertical incision below the crease of the breasts and another horizontal incision around the areola.

• Incisions below the armpits.

• Crescent-shaped incisions around the midpoint of the areola.

• Cone-shaped incisions for cases of significant sagging that give the breasts a more longitudinal appearance.

Depending on the degree of sagging in the arms, sagging can be eliminated through a surgical procedure as follows:

• An incision is made under the armpits, extending to the elbows, in cases of moderate sagging.

• In cases of severe sagging, the surgeon may perform an incision that extends beyond the elbows.

In most cases where the face experiences sagging, the neck may also become loose, along with the presence of a double chin, or what is known as "turkey neck," especially in older individuals. The surgical incision can be made below the chin or at the beginning of the neck.

 

If the patient's health allows for multiple body parts to be addressed at the same time, the surgeon may perform a tummy tuck and a buttock or a breast lift. It is also possible to combine a breast lift with an arm lift or a thigh lift with a buttock and hip lift.

 

After undergoing a body lift following gastric sleeve surgery, the recovery period involves several points, including:

• Tubes are placed to drain fluids resulting from the surgery through the surgical incisions.

• Some bandages and gauze are placed over the surgical incisions to absorb excess fluids until the body recovers.

• Fluid drain pipes should be managed, emptied, and periodically cleaned.

• Take anticoagulants and anti-nausea medications when needed.

• Take care of the prescribed medications, especially pain relievers, and antibiotics, to prevent infection.

• Complete rest in the first few days to avoid wound opening.

• Wearing the recommended compression garment helps maintain skin appearance, prevents sagging, and aids in fluid drainage.

• Avoiding strenuous activities for a period of up to 6 weeks.

• Engaging in light walking every hour during the first week to aid fluid drainage.

• Consuming healthy food and plenty of water supports the body's recovery.

 

After the procedure, a noticeable difference can be observed in the appearance of the skin and the sagging. However, due to swelling and inflammation, especially around the surgical incisions, the final results become apparent after the incisions heal, side effects subside, and the skin returns to its natural color. The results of a body lift after gastric sleeve surgery are considered permanent in the long term.

 

It is natural for the body to undergo some changes with age, so you must exercise and engage in physical activities after complete recovery. Avoiding weight fluctuations that can cause skin sagging and staying away from aging factors such as smoking, which reduces skin quality, are also important.

 

After the surgery, some natural side effects occur as part of the body's healing process and are not an indication of any danger. These side effects include:

• Redness.

• Swelling.

• Fluid drainage.

• Pain.

In conclusion, after learning about the body lift procedure after gastric sleeve surgery, its various techniques, and its steps, we hope we have provided sufficient answers to all your questions and inquiries. If you have further questions or need more information, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Wael Ghanem's center.