OPERATION
Patients who have undergone bariatric surgery for weight loss have lost a large amount of weight which has left them with empty and flaccid areas of skin in the arms, breast, trunk, and thighs. Surgical correction and removal of the excess skin and fat are staged over two or three procedures. Usually, the trunk is addressed first, and the arms, breasts, and thighs are split into one or two more procedures. Dr. Izquierdo has been involved in this type of surgical correction for many years with many satisfied patients.
SCARRING
They will be red or pigmented for 1-2 months and gradually fade to pale by 4-6 months following surgery. Sometimes complete fading can take up to a year. Scars are rarely troublesome, although patients should be aware that all scars are permanent and height, width and final coloring are not predictable.
RECOVERY
Immediately following each of the procedures, patients wear a compression garment over gauze dressing. Drains are sometimes needed for 1 or 2 days after surgery. The operated sites will be bruised, swollen and uncomfortable for a few days. Pain is usually not severe and will be relieved with pain medication. Within a few days, lesser dressings can be used. External sutures, if used, will be removed after the 7 days. The first week may also accompany a temporary loss of feeling in the operated areas due to swelling. Swelling will continue to subside after the first week. You will be seen 1-3 days after surgery and then in one month, and finally 4 months after surgery.
HEALING TIME
Up and about in one to two days. Back to work in typically seven to ten days. More vigorous sports will require four to six weeks of healing.
TIME TO RETURN TO PUBLIC EYE
Depending on the extent of surgery, typically within three to seven days.
ACTUAL RESULTS
The shape of the newly contoured areas will improve within the first several weeks, although final reduction of swelling may not produce the final desired results for six months.
RISKS
All attempt is made to reduce the size of scarring there may be rare cases where scarring is red or thick, infection, loss of sensation in nipples or breast and unevenly positioned nipples.
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