Life After Weight Loss Surgery
Life after Weight Loss Surgery
For those that are overweight and have battled countless hours, days, months, and even years of exhausting weight loss efforts, bariatric surgery has become the last result. For many who have struggled with weight loss over the years and are considering some type of weight loss surgery it is important to realize what your life after weight loss surgery will be like. Bariatric surgery will change your life. Regardless of what type of weight loss surgery you get it’s not a quick fix and will take time to adjust to your new lifestyle as well as how others will react to the “new you.”
After one gets weight loss surgery their life literally changes drastically and requires significant commitment in maintaining your weight loss journey. You need to be ready for that drastic lifestyle change; this includes changing your eating habits completely to fit your new stomach. Other things to consider is life after weight loss surgery must become extremely active; you must engage in a steady exercise regimen. In addition, depending on how much weight you lost, you may need to have follow-up surgeries to get rid of the excess fat and skin that was left behind.
What to Expect during the Aftermath: Types of Plastic Surgery to Get the Body you Want
More often than not life after weight loss surgery is filled with additional surgeries to get rid of the unwanted, saggy skin and excess fat. It is important to fully understand all of the different types of surgeries you may have to undergo in order to get your body in its ideal state.
- Arm Lift: Arm lift surgery is one of the more common surgeries done after weight loss surgery. This particular post-surgical procedure will contour the arms to get rid of the “bat wings” you may have to live with after weight loss surgery, especially if you lost a significant amount of weight.
- Full Body Lift: Getting a full body lift will tackle three major areas that are most often a concern for those that need to lose or already have lost a massive amount of weight. It improves the overall appearance of your thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. Some conditions include maintaining a stable weight for at least six months, eating healthier, and engaging in a stable exercise regimen.
- Bra Line Back Lift: This post-surgery weight loss procedure is done to remove any fat rolls on your back that are seen either just above or below the bra line. This new innovative form of plastic surgery is performed so that all scars are hidden under the bra line.
- Panniculectomy: This procedure is done after weight loss surgery and focuses on removing all excess skin and fat in the abdominal area that tends to rear after a significant loss in weight. In some cases the excess skin and fat can hang down below the knees, around the back area, and over the hips. This type of surgery should not be confused with a tummy tuck which removes excess skin and tightens the muscles in the abdomen; it only gets rid of fat and excess skin and does not involve tightening up any abdominal muscles.
- Thigh Lift: This is also one of the most popular post-surgical weight loss procedures to get rid of the unwanted excess skin and fat in the thighs. This type of surgery does not only get rid of the excess fat and skin but it also tones and slims down your thighs immediately after surgery.
Can I Get Pregnant After Weight Loss Surgery?
Many women who opt to have weight loss surgery and wish to have children often feel that life after weight loss surgery cannot go as they planned. Many women feel that it isn’t safe to become pregnant after weight loss surgery. Approximately one half of all women who have weight loss surgical procedures done are between 18 and 45 years old, also known as the reproductive age. It is much safer to become pregnant after surgery; becoming pregnant while at an unhealthy weight can be life threatening to both you and your unborn baby as well as adding on many complications and health risks.
Life after weight loss surgery also comes with many psychological impacts. Anyone that experiences a drastic change either with their family, their job, or their physical appearance will suffer from some level of psychological and emotional changes. Preparing yourself mentally for what you will face after weight loss surgery will help ease the disappointment you may feel at first post-surgery. The point of getting weight loss surgery is to look good and feel better about ourselves; how can this happen if there is so much extra skin hanging off parts of the body? Getting used to the new you is a battle in itself. Most bariatric and plastic surgeons will offer counseling services post-surgery to ensure that you are staying strong and remaining emotionally stable.