Facelifts Increase In Conjunction With Weight Loss Surgery
We hear it time and time again…”I lost the weight and now I have all these wrinkles!” It’s incredibly frustrating for those who have worked to hard to lose a great deal of weight only to be left with sagging skin in their face and entire body. While still proud and happy to have achieved their weight loss goals, many patients feel they can’t fully appreciate their results. They now look in the mirror and while they do see a much healthier, thinner version of themselves they also see one who looks older and more tired.
Hanging skin can also be painful and difficult to leave an active life with, which is why many turn to cosmetic surgery to have it removed.
While a facelift primarily focuses on addressing sagging skin and wrinkles in the face and neck, it is can also be used to address additional loose skin caused by weight loss surgery or other procedures. However, it’s important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate your individual case and recommend the best course of action for you. Additional procedures beyond a facelift may be necessary for optimal results.
Effects of Weight Fluctuations
Weight fluctuations can have a significant impact on the appearance and condition of our skin, including the facial area. When we gain or lose weight rapidly, our skin may stretch or contract accordingly, which can result in loose and sagging skin. This effect is particularly noticeable in the face, as the skin is thinner and more delicate compared to other parts of the body.
For example, if someone experiences significant weight loss, especially in a short period, their once plump cheeks and youthful contours may appear deflated and droopy. On the other hand, rapid weight gain can put undue stress on the skin, leading to stretched an d lax facial tissues.
Understanding the effects of weight fluctuations on facial skin is crucial when considering facelift procedures.
Reason To Get a Facelift After Losing Weight
Here are some reasons why someone might choose to have a facelift after surgery for loose skin in other areas:
- Overall Aesthetic Balance: Some individuals desire a more balanced and harmonious appearance. If they have successfully addressed loose skin and sagging in one part of their body, they may want to achieve a similar rejuvenation in the face to maintain overall symmetry and proportion.
- Comprehensive Rejuvenation: Combining procedures can provide a more comprehensive approach to rejuvenation. While body contouring surgeries target specific areas, a facelift can address signs of aging in the face and neck, helping to create a more youthful and refreshed overall look.
- Timing and Convenience: Undergoing multiple procedures during a single surgical session may be more convenient for some individuals. It can reduce overall downtime and recovery periods, allowing them to address different areas of concern simultaneously.
- Psychological Benefits: Enhancing one’s appearance can boost self-esteem and confidence. For some, achieving the desired results in both body and facial areas can have a positive impact on their mental well-being.
- Personal Preferences: Each person’s aesthetic goals are unique, and some individuals may simply have a strong desire to improve their facial appearance after addressing loose skin in other areas.
- Surgeon’s Recommendations: Qualified plastic surgeons assess each patient individually and may recommend combining procedures if they believe it is safe and beneficial for the patient’s overall goals and health.
Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss
In the 2014 report, breast lifts were up 3 percent from 2013 and thigh lift and tummy tuck procedures increased by 5 percent. Among people who experienced massive weight loss, the procedures increased by 10 percent just since 2013.
Arm lifts are becoming more popular and have increased 4,000 percent since the year 2000.
The increase seems to come in conjunction with weight loss surgery, which the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recently reported an increase in.
“As these patients lose weight they may have excess ‘loose’ skin and need plastic surgery procedures to remove it a year or two later,” Dr. Justin B. Dimick, chief of minimally invasive surgery at the University of Michigan said.
He recommends waiting until the weight loss is complete and the patient has been able to maintain their weight for a certain period of time. Each operation poses it’s own unique risks so it’s important to talk to your plastic surgeon and try to perform one procedure at a time.
Many patients come to Dr. Thompson to have the loose skin facial skin removed after weight loss and their features restored while visiting a full body plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Dunkley of Envision Cosmetic Surgery, to address other areas of the body. Loose skin in the face leads to wrinkles, lack of definition in the jaw and neck, and often leaves one looking more tired and older than they actually are.
Dr. Thompson is able to address the lower face, mid-face, and neck with his comprehensive facelift procedure. Liposuction under the chin is performed and fat transfer is often added to restore some of the volume loss in the face for a more youthful appearance.
Dr. Thompson and Dr. Dunkley will be teaming up for an episode on The Younger You with Troy Thompson after performing surgery on a woman who lost 140 pounds. Her story is incredible, as are her results, and we look forward to the episode airing on The CW30 later this year.
You can learn more about restoring the lower face and see before and after photos on our facelift page.
Consultations can be made by calling (801)776-2220 or by submitting your photos through our Virtual Consultation page.